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Day 4 - Napoli to Roma4/29/2018 Bright and early start to the day to visit the Archeological Museum in Naples. It was also our last day in Naples which meant Gus and I were obviously trailing behind because we waited till the last minute to pack. Luckily we got to the elevator just as Dr Swanson was coming up to herd us so it didn't technically count as us being late. After the past few days of walking in the beating sun, the museum offered a cool change of pace. It was also extremely interesting to watch all the original works of art preserved so meticulously. Starting off, we were introduced to some very interesting and well preserved mosaics. The patience and precision that it took to make these mosaics was clearly on display. Perhaps the most prominent of them all was the Alexander mosaic from the house of the Faun in Pompeii, depicting Alexander and his army taking on the Persians. Measuring about 3 meters by 5 meters and having lost a decent chunk of it to time, it was one of the more iconic pieces of art I had witnessed. Moving on to the erotic section, this area displayed the Roman infatuation with sex and the anatomy of male and female bodies. From sculptures of men with oversized penises to drawings of lust and love making in all positions and forms, I can honestly say I had never seen an exhibit quite like it and will likely remember it for a while. The erotic section was followed by the arts section, specifically the paintings of ancient lore. This was arguably one of my favorite parts having grown up on the incredible myths of Ancient Greek and Roman history. Watching the emotion and action captured by these painting far outweighed the tacky comic books or cheap drawings I had read in books. It was unfortunate that we didn't spend as much time at this section than I hoped but nevertheless, the show must go on. Reaching the last part of the museum, we were introduced to the sculptures. These sculptures were some of the most beautiful and intricate pieces of art I had ever seen. The marble gleamed as the statues stood mightily. Everything from statues of gods, goddesses, kings, queens and even scenes of action were proudly displayed here. My favorite would have had to be the Hercules statue situated in the Farnese section of the musuem. This Hercules stood with such power and purpose that it almost sent chills down my spine. The rest of the art was quite incredible and I could really sit here and talk about it all day. After a brief stop at the gift shop, we made our way to the bus and it was off to Rome. Rome was clearly a lot busier than Naples. Bustling streets, numerous street vendors, incredible sights and the faint smell of pizza dough and cigarettes in the air. Once checked into our hotel, it was time for a quick walking tour of the city. And what better way to start of this tour than Rome's most iconic building, the Colosseum. Towering over us at an astounding height, the Colosseum really is the trademark for the capabilities of ancient engineering. We knew we were to come back to the Colosseum the next day on actual guided tour so we didn't spend too much time here, to everyone's dismay. I knew stepping inside this incredible feat of engineering would be a humbling experience and I was excited for it. Luckily, in Rome, monuments seemed to be stacked next to one another and so we were able to hit multiple important sights in succession. Our path led us past the Arch of Constantine and the Palatine Hill (which we are also set to explore tomorrow) and ending at the Circus Maximus, where Rome's famous chariot races were held. Once the professors dismissed us, we took it upon ourselves to do a little exploring and decided to venture to Tiber Island. All the while, I kept pinching myself, convinced none of this could be real. The people, the art, the buildings, the culture; all of it seemed so alien to me. I knew I had a lot more to learn about Italy and I was excited for the journey ahead. After splitting off to find dinner, Gus and I decided to walk toward the hotel. Taking quite a few detours, we eventually arrived at a beautiful overlook of the Roman Forum! Taking a few more steps and, to our surprise, we had stumbled upon the heart of the Capitoline Hill! It truly astounded me how well the city of Rome had combined the old roots and the new buildings of the city so seamlessly to the point that anyone can stumble upon some beautiful pieces of history like we did. After taking in all the beauty of Capitoline Hill, we decided to dine at one of Rome's many hole-in-the-wall pizzerias for some wine and pizza. It took us a second to process how far we've come and how incredible this experience has been as is still about to be. Getting sufficiently stuffed, and admittedly a bit drunk, we found our way back to the hotel for a good night's sleep before what was to be our longest day in the city of Rome.
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