After landing in Rome, we toured some of the key ancient sites of the city: the Coloseum and the Roman forum. Our guide, Edward (Ned), is an Italian whose English mother gave him a charming accent. He was exceptionally knowledgeable and great at explaining much of the history in ways that even non-history majors could appreciate. The students were able to handle jet-lag well and only a few nodded slightly now and then. His tour of the Vatican museums the following day was even more informative and gave the students a wonderful overview of art history.
We visited the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) of the UN, where we were graciously received by Keith Wiebe and his wife, Jill, an American couple, both graduates of Carleton College in Northfield, MN, who have spent the last four years in Rome. Keith gave a talk summarizing the issues of global hunger in a stunningly succinct yet comprehensive way. It was so perfectly attuned to our course subject that this talk alone was worth the entire trip!!! Thank you, Keith and Jill!!
The photos in our slide show looking down on Rome were taken from the roof of the FAO building where we had lunch. Jill took the best group photo so far. Today (Friday) we were given a tour of San Clemente Basilica, a church that is actually 4 houses of worship, one on top of another, the very bottom being a temple site from early Roman times used by a cult of Mithra. Above it was a 1st century church, above that a church from the 4th century and at contemporary ground level, the church from the 12th century!!! Tomorrow we head to Assisi, where internet access will be a bit sketchy, so don't expect posts until we get to Lyon after the 13th of January.
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