Checking in one last time then off for our 5 day weekend excursion! Tomorrow 7 am we head to Naples on our south field trip. We are touring the archeological museum then spending the rest of the day in Sorrento. On friday 8 of us fly out of Naples for Munich and Oktoberfest! So excited, this will be our first major trip out of italy and we have a great group of us going! check back on monday and I'll try to get some pics and blog posted soon after I get back!!

Discovered the Villa di Pamphili yesterday jogging with Kelsey. Best view we have had in Rome yet. It was up on top of one of rome's 7 hills so it had great scenes of the entire city and could even see the hills and mountains of the country side.

All for now,

{L

This weekend our school trip to florence got postponed, so we ended up spending the weekend here in Rome and it was fabulous. It was very nice to just have a slow paced relaxing weekend not having to worry about traveling stresses. Friday night all the roomies went out to Scholar's a local Irish bar not too far away from our apartment. Saturday a couple of us ventured out to do a little shopping, very successful :) we found lots of good shopping on one of the main streets Corso. As we decided to head back we realized we were about an hour and a half 2 hour walk from home so we walked to the vatican and hoped on a bus from there.

Sunday morning we went to the largest open air market in Rome, Porta Portese! We woke up early to get there before it gets crazy we got there around 8 and by 10:30 you could barely walk it was so packed. They sell everything from lots of boots and clothing to vintage lamps and hardware. It was a great atmosphere, hardly any tourist, a very local hangout. I contained by urge to spend money but did get a very unique ring at one of the stands.

Today, Monday is devoted to homework. With a study break jogging on the tiber with kelsey :)

Attaching a few pictures of things I've done around Rome the last couple weeks...

I threw my first coin into Trevi!

Visited the Roman Forum with my Art History Class

and the colosseum!

sketched with our mixed media class at Piazza Novona

Bernini's Four Rivers Fountain Sculpture.

{L

"Live to tell the tale and you'll have one hell of a story"

:: YO YO PRIMO ::

Starting yesterday we began an intense 2.5 day branding workshop with world renowned designer Primo Angeli. He is an AMAZING graphic artist having done work for companies such as Coca Cola, Guinness, Sunkist, Zima, Butterfingers, and the complete branding of the 1996 olympics just to name a few. He had his corporation based out of San Francisco until in sold it 5 years ago, retired, moved to Italy and starting doing workshops on the side like this with students.

Our work with him began tuesday night when he gave us a presentation on his background and work. Then by wednesday morning we had to have our power points ready to present to him on a company we had chosen to rebrand. My group chose an italian pasta company, Buitoni. After meeting with him later in the morning he helped us develop a concept to make a a special edition of Buitoni pasta rather than rebrand an already profitable company.

We continued sketching throughout the day, brought our concepts to the computer then presented to him again later in the day again. sketching n concept development continued throughout the night and into this morning and afternoon and now its 7:45 thursday night and were finally DONE! we have the final presentation with Primo tomorrow morning at 10:00...but for now putting the feet up and enjoying some ciccolato gelato!

Sweet Poster Done by Primo

San Francesco Olympic Bid

Not final design. Just a few things I put together in

the process. Thought they were fun but we decided

to go another direction so thought I would share them with you all.

{L

:: Day trip to Assisi ::

This Saturday we loaded onto our charter bus with our professors and took a day trip to Assisi, home of the Basilica di San Francesco. It was about a 2 1/2 hour bus ride from Rome and was out in the beautiful Italian country side. It was up on top a hill with beautiful views of the hills and valleys below. It was such a peaceful and calm village, and was a great break from crowded Rome. The church was beautiful with vibrant, bright colors decorating most of it. San Francesco's tomb was two layers underneath the church. It had its own small chapel and a hollowed out column so that you could actually view part of his tomb. Unfortunately you couldn't take any photos inside, but it was a great experience.

sooo peaceful... :)

in front of the church

kelsey, steph, me and carmen in assisi

{L

Next youtube sensation :)

sooo if you haven't already... check out this video my friend caitlin put together on our travels in Paris a few weeks ago! She plans on putting them together for every major trip we do, so I'll continue to post the links on here. Make sure you have the speakers turned on so you can enjoy the music with the video!

Copy and Paste the address underneath to watch the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPg8lyp3dHk

Design Students + Italy is going to make some great memories!

Ciao

{L

:: Cinque Terre ::

Lots to catch you all up on!

This weekend we took our first trip out of Rome to Cinque Terre (translates to five lands). 5 coastal seaport villages connected by a 6 mile hiking trail. We stayed in the southern most village, Riomaggiore. The hike took us about 5 hours including stopping to explore each city. The colors of the buildings stacked up on each other in the cliffs in the Mediterranean was breath taking. I know I continue to say this but Cinque Terre once again topped the list of the most beautiful places I've seen.

If ever visiting the area don't be fooled the hike is beautiful, but still has its challenges. I think each member of our group was completely drenched in sweat by the time we finished... the plus side, the last city, Monterosso, had the best beach of all 5 so we immediately jumped in the water afterwards! Five minutes in the water and my friend Jackie had been stung by a jelly fish... lucky the life guards just put a cream on it and she was good to go. Later in the afternoon my friend Kelsey and me took a kayak out and explored farther up the coast! Totally different perspective of the villages from the water; the sea was so clear and blue you could see straight through to the coral and pebble sea floor.

We ate an early supper at a beach front cafe, which was surprisingly affordable compared to Rome, and caught our train back at 7:00 pm.

Great weekend break from the city and classes with studio work starting to pile up!

Enjoy the pictures, ever given the opportunity to visit this destination do not pass it up!!!

{L

Corniglia (town 3)

kels and me after a steep stair climb

Beautiful seaport villages.

Everything seafood!

Mediterranean Silhouette.

started early... sunrise.

Enjoying the Monterosso beach.

Riomaggiore train station.

Our first stop and a surprisingly beautiful

grunge train station.

kayaking the mediterranean

top 10 coolest things I've done in my life

The crew minus jackie.

mike. allison. me. kelsey. cait.

Campo di Fiori

Today we had to do a design on the Bounty of Italy in our studio relating to the fresh produce markets that are found everywhere throughout Rome. Soooo I though I would share with you the beautiful colors and sights I got to see this morning!

As the day went on the colors only continued to get better. There was a short afternoon shower and then the skies cleared up for probably the best sunset I've seen since I've been here. Right out of our living room window. Bella....

{L

ROMA ::ROMA

first gelato with carmen!

piazza di spagna (spanish steps)

exploring villa borghese with the crew

some of my roommates all eating together

loved cooking here so farrr

my time here so far has been amazing. roommates are great, classes are great, wine is great!

Our apartment in located in Trastevere right on Tiber River. Were third floor and have wonderful views of roman rooftops and the other side views the river and across. There are a few cute little restaurants close by that bring a delicious aroma into our apartments... but the best would have to be that we have a gelateria about a block from here! I've only had it once so far but it was delicious, I tried Pistachio!

We've walked past and looked at all the major monuments (colosseum, pantheon, spanish steps, roman forum) but haven't gone into any yet to explore...

Classes started last wednesday lots of orientation stuff so far, but we have chosen our site for our main identity and branding project. I'll be focusing on a park area called the Villa Borghese. I've been there once to explore so far but hope to get there more in this coming week. Besides gardens and beautiful walking paths the Park holds the Galleria Borghese, which was the family estate but now is a museum housing their art collections.

Our studio space is very close just across the river, located in an area known as the Jewish Ghetto. Its a very friendly and safe neighborhood with lots of little local shops and pizzerias close by.

Well... getting hungry! miss you all hope everything is well in the states!

Nice Photos

main plaza in nice

new friends on the nice boardwalk

beach view

carved tree at le chateau

sunset views from le chateau

Paris Pictures

hall of mirrors and the palace of versailles
Eiffel Tower
cait n me at the top of arch of triumph
arch de triumph
statues on the siene river

pre-travel:: PARIS & NICE

I feel as though I've done as much in the last 10 days as I should in a month... but I'm gonna try to flash back and recapture the first 10 days of traveling through France for you!

day one::

transportation hasn't exactly been our friend from the beginning. Our flight that was suppose to leave out of philly to paris was delayed 4 1/2 hours and we didn't get in the air till 10:30. Then landed at Charles De Gaule Airport in Paris at noon the next day. We grabbed a cab and stayed with a lady in Paris my mom knows through her store, Joan Patterson. She works for the US embassy in Paris which hooked her up with an amazing apartment just a few minute walk to the eiffle tower or arch de triumphe.

The first thing we did when we got there was grab a sandwich from a cafe across the street and walk to the arch to sit and eat with a great view! I was sooo hungry I didn't realize till half way through the sandwich that what I thought was tomatoe was indeed raw salmon! the fishiness got to me and couldn't stomach to finish it. We spent some time around that area and the Champ Elysses and then later for sunset walked to get some beautiful views of the eiffle tower.

day two ::

Jet lag hits and we decide to skip our early morning plans to see the Eiffle at sunrise...

when we eventually crawled out of bed, we grabbed a chocolate croissant which quickly became a morning tradition in paris! YUMM

Took a boat tour on the Siene River which was great to get us acquainted with the city and we got amazing views of all the major monuments and buildings. After the tour, we explored the Palais de Concorde. An old palace and plaza centered around an Egyptian oblisk. Paris was a great city to just explore a lot on foot it had beautiful walking paths right on the river. For lunch we bought a bagette and lounged around one of the Louves garden fountains.

Each bought a different cheese on the way home and picked up some wine and french beer "1664". Delicious! After dinner went to watch sunset from the top of Arch de Triumph, most beautiful views yet!

day three ::

PALACE OF VERSAILLES!

learn to use the metro and take a 30 minute train outside the city to Versailles. Absolutely stunning! Definitely a must see if ever visiting Paris. Huge golden gates surrounding the interior and golden molding decorated the top of the palace. Highlight inside was the hall of mirrors. I would say close to 100 crystal chandeliers with one wall completely lined with mirrors and the other floor to ceiling windows looking over royal gardens. After the interior we explored the gardens for awhile but began to get extremely tired and headed back that afternoon.

day four ::

After going to book our train tickets for Nice the next day, we explored Notre Dame Cathedral and its gardens. Cathedral was beautiful but sooo many people since it is free admission. Afterwards we grabbed lunch at a local cafe in the area. Next on to the Louvre and got to see famous works of art such as the mona lisa and venus of milo!

This was our last night at Joan's so we grabbed some sandwiches from across the street and vegged out for the night before we would begin our hostel stay...

day five ::

Navigated Gare de Lyon train station and caught our train at 7:30. Train ride to Nice was beautiful, french country side and costal mountain ranges were so picturesque. We arrive in Nice later the afternoon and check into our hostel. Very nice and clean, bunkbeds with 14 women in a room but showers and bathrooms are good! Hostel had a fun bar where a lot of people hung out so we got to meet a lot of people our first night there. New friends from Philadelphia Alyssa and Carlie, and Irene from Germany but goes to school in England. Also met Brooks, Lex, and Erica all originally from the west coast and go to oregon state. Lex and Chase in Florence, Italy now and Erica in Spain. It was really fun to be able to speak in English with people and hear all about their travels.

day six ::

Beach day with our new friends! Cait, Jackie, Irene, Alyssa, Carlie, and me headed down on the metro. Beautiful pebble beach but wasn't too comfortable to lay on. Swimming in the Mediterranean probably the funnest thing I've done so far! BRIGHT cyan blue water. Afterwards we explored old town, very cute little shops and markets.

day seven ::

back down to old town in the morning with cait and jackie. walked around in the harbor looking at all the sailboats, boats, and massive cruise ships. Late afternoon and sunset we explored Le Chateau the tallest hillside in Nice. Beautiful park and ruins, waterfalls, and look out points. Grabbed sandwiches and enjoyed the views, perfect end to our beach getaway!

NOW IN ROME!

getting lengthy so I'm going to cut it off now.. but tomorrow more on rome!