Lago di Garda

Last Tuesday, the 21st, most of the class went to Lago di Garda for the day. Lago di Garda is the cleanest lake in Europe and one of the largest and deepest in Italy. It has a very nice Mediterranean atmosphere to it and has long been an area of resorts. Even the Romans came here and made villas to enjoy the beautiful scenery and escape the pressures of city life. Our first stop of the day was in Desenzano di Garda on the south western side of the lake. The train took about an hour and 20 minutes to get there from Padova and cost 6.20 Euros. Right after exiting the train and heading for the town we were joined by a couple from the US who was also visiting Lago di Garda that day. They were actually from Minnesota! It was fun to talk about Minnesota a little bit before we parted ways. We saw them once more later in the day too.






We all walked down to the water first and took some pictures of the beautiful lake and town. Then we split up for a while to climb up to the castle on the hill and visit the Villa Romana on our own. The Villa Romana has some of the most extensive mosaics in Northern Italy. After visiting these sites and grabbing a bite to eat we took the ferry over to Sirmione.





Sirmione is a beautiful little town on a penninsula that juts out from the center of the southern side of the lake. The number one site in Sirmione is the castle. Once we got into town we looked for where we could get bus tickets for our ride later to Peschiera di Garda. We wanted to make sure we got them before the ticket stand was closed and we would have to pay more for them on the bus. While looking for the ticket office some of us enjoyed delicious gelatos. Next we visited the castle and took lots of pictures of the town and beautiful surroundings. It was interesting to read the descriptions about the castle too because I knew that I would be learning about these things in my classes to come.




From the castle we were able to see a path along the eastern side of the penninsula that lead to the tip along the beach. We decided to walk along this path next. Along the way we took some time to walk a little in the clear clean waters. Afterward, I felt my feet were so clean. A swan and some ducks joined us on the beach too.




We continued down the path and up a little hill with olive trees on it. Antigoni told us about how her Grandfather in Greece grows olives and takes them to a place to make them into olive oil so they never have to pay for their olive oil. At the end of the peninsula there is a beautiful lookout where we took pictures of the setting sun. There are also the Grottos. We had to make our bus to Peschiera so we didn't have time to visit them but we did have a few minutes to talk with one of the guys at the gate. He was a very entertaining guy who took a liking to Naida. Unfortunately we forgot to get a picture with him.



On the way back to the bus we took a few more pictures of Sirmione in the setting sun.




In Peschiera we walked through the town to where some Roman ruins were but not much else was open anymore because it was getting late. Some of us found a restaurant to sit down and eat a nice dinner at before leaving on the 10pm train. Since the area was known for its olive groves I had a pizza with olives on it. The olives were good but the pitts are a little annoying. All in all, a very nice day at Lake Garda!

Class

Yesterday was the first day of the official courses of the SAHC Program. I really liked the first lecture on the History of Construction and Conservationa and on the basics in Architectural Heritage and Conservation of Structures. In the afternoon we got our first assignment. It is a group assignment to write a report about the comparisons between historical constructions in a few different countries. I am working with Naida and Chris. We will be comparing a UNESCO stone arch bridge in Mostar, Bosnia with the oldest stone arch bridge in Minnesota (the one I have been doing volunteer work with in Stillwater) and with a timber bridge in Victoria, Australia. This is going to be fun!

Today's class is really interesting too. We are learning about ancient building materials like brick, stone, and Adobe, about building methods, walls, cementitous materials, foundations, columns, and various other building examples. This is exactly what I want to be studying! I am so excited!

Money Coming

Yesterday I got an email saying that they have transferred the first scholarship payment to our accounts. I checked my account but there wasn't anything in it. We were told before that it takes 3 days for the transfer. This morning I heard from Elisa Trovo that it will probably take a week for the money to get to our accounts. I hope they transfer the second payment soon too otherwise that one will be weeks late too!

INTERNET (repost)

So, the last post didn't work so well. Here it is again.

I have internet in my dorm right now. I don't know if it will last. Naida tried it on Friday and had it for a while and then it cut her off and she couldn't get back on until Monday. We got the passwords for the internet here but I think they are still putting in lines and working on the whole system so that may be the reasons for the outages. Some of the people in the flats don't have the internet ports in the walls yet and there isn't any wifi here. We were so happy that we had some internet last night that we were jumping up and down and yelling down the hall to each other. It will be so nice to be able to use Skype in the dorm room whenever I like and do personal computer stuff there.

INTERNET!!!

I have internet in my dorm right now. I don't know if it will last.
Naida tried it on Friday and had it for a while and then it cut her off and
she couldn't get back on until Monday. We got the passwords for the internet here but I think they are still putting in lines and working on the whole system so that may be the reasons for the outages. Some of the people in the flats don't have the internet ports in the walls yet and there isn't any wifi here. We were so happy that we had some internet last night that we
jumping up and down and yelling down the hall to each other. It will be so nice
to be able to use Skype in the dorm room whenever I like and do personal computer
stuff there.

Off to Austria!

Tomorrow morning I will be off to Vienna, Austria to visit my friend Martin. Thus, probably no more posts until I get back on Monday morning. Ciao!

Peanut Butter!

I found Peanut Butter and Jello!

This morning on my way to the Immigration Office for my appointment for a residence permit, I went by an international foods grocery store. I didn't have time to look in the store at that time but on my way back to the dorm after the appointment I stopped in the shop to have a look. They have all sorts of stuff. Mostly Asian food but also some American food including Jello and Peanut Butter! I have never found Peanut Butter in Europe before. People had told me that you could get it but I hadn't seen it. It is a little expensive but not too bad. They also have lots of spices and ingredients that are in English. Once I get my Scholarship payment I plan on coming back to this store to get some things necessary for cooking some American food! Mmmmm....

Scholarship Payment...

We got an email today about the first Scholarship Payment. We are supposed to get it by next Friday. The discussion this morning in the classroom has been about what "Next Friday" means. Does it mean the Friday in two days or does it mean the one a week and two days from now. Javier sent an email to get clarification. Hopefully we will find out soon.

Italian Classes

Yesterday while we (most of the class) were away visiting Lago di Garda, we got an email telling us how to register for Italian Language Classes. I registered today. Because I don't speak a Romance language and I don't know any Italian, I don't have to take the entrance/placement exam. They will just place me in the beginner class. The classes will be twice a week for 3 hours. We have to go to the classes 70% of the time to be able to take the exam at the end of the course. If we get 60% on the final exam we can move to the next level I think. The courses are 10 weeks long and we get 3 credits if we pass the final exam. They don't cost anything for Erasmus students so that is really nice. Elisa Trovo will be talking with the registration people to try to get our courses in the afternoon when our study time is and not in the morning when lectures are. Courses will be starting on the 11th of October. Wish me luck!

Nice day for a stroll through Padova

Sunday was a very nice day for a stroll through Padova. I figure that I have to take advantage of the nice weather and (sort of) free time before classes start and the weather gets cold and rainy. The first part of my walk took me down Via Ospedale Civile (Hospital is on this road). A picture of the street is shown above.

To the left is a picture of Via San Fancesco.


I found a bunch of tourist shops and quite a few restaurants on Via Del Santo, which leads off of the Piazza in front of St. Anthony's Basilica or as the locals call it, Il Santo. I think that the old columns that hold up two or three stories above the sidewalk are very interesting. Who knows how old they are.





St. Anthony's Basilica in Padova is where St. Anthony's tomb is. It is a very beautiful marble tomb elaborately carved and decorated. Also there are relics from the Saint including his tongue. People come from around the world to see this church and pray to St. Anthony. There is a place next to his tomb where people put up pictures and boxes to put prayers in. On Sunday there are Masses every hour and a constant stream of people circulating around the church to the tomb and relics. St. Anthony's is usually the first stop for those on a pilgrimage from Eastern Europe. As you can see from the picture above, there are lots of little carts set up each day in the Piazza outside the church where people can buy candles and other religious tokens, icons, etc. Inside they don't let you take pictures so I can't show you any. You will have to come visit to see for yourself.



Inside St. Anthony's Basilica complex there are a number of courtyards or cloisters with beautiful flowers, trees, and statues. In one there are picnic tables were people were having lunch and students were studying.


Only about a block away are the Botanical Gardens. I didn't go in because you have to pay but I will definitely try to go soon. I think that they are only open through the end of October. The price is very reasonable for students, 1 Euro.


Next I made my way to the Prato della Valle. This is a huge elliptical square, in fact the largest in Italy, near Il Santo and another very large church, Basilica of Santa Giustina.


On the weekends there is a market all around the track on the outside with different themes on different days. Yesterday there were mostly antiques being sold... furniture, rugs, lamps, silverware, dishes, clothing, etc.

The area is very busy with shoppers and it is difficult to walk anywhere very quickly. There are also African guys who lay out sheets with purses and toys to sell. I believe that it is illegal to do this but there doesn't seem to be very many police trying to shoo them away.



On the inner part of the square there is a moat with pretty white statues all around and bridges going to the center. There was a band setting up a stage for a concert later that night but I didn't stick around long enough to find out more. At the very center of the ellipse is a fountain with benches all round for people to sit. Many people come and have picnics on the grass or just hang out with friends.

On my way back to the dorm I walked by Il Santo again. I had to take a few more pictures and note that there is a sightseeing bus the goes around all of the major sites in Padova.