Yesterday was by far one of the days that have put the icing on the cake for my experience here in Italy. Yesterday I went to what I can say was paradise found. In Italy we call it, Isola di Capri. Isle of Capri is genuinely one of the most beautiful islands on earth, with so much natural beauty and splendor. At the moment I am currently in Sorrento in my nice Seven Hostel, five star hostel right near the coastline in Sorrento/Sant Agnello.

Capri was more than just awesome, it was paradise. The day started out by me waking up at 3:30am to catch the coach bus near John Cabot University at 4:30am. After driving 4 hours from Rome to Sorrento, the whole tour group and I hopped on a boat and we set sail for the Isle of Capri. The captain of the boat gave us a guided tour by boat as we circled the island and headed to Capri’s Marina Piccola (Small Marina). Once we arrived in the Marina Piccola, I was captivated by the amazing view of the beach and the surrounding buildings that jet from the hills. The beauty is genuinely all natural, and exotic. The rocks which jet out of the ocean are beyond awesome and the turquoise waters leave you in a state of awe.

From the Marina Piccola, I hiked up the steps to the main town of Capri, which is the first town up the mountain. While in Capri’s main piazza, I savored a nice iced lemon/strawberry drink with friends. The breathtaking view of the coast and the mountains was by far one amazing experience. From there, my friends and I hopped on the Capri public transport and went to the town of Ana Capri. Ana Capri is the town on the highest point of the island, and it was there where my friends and I went to have Limóncello - a lemon liqueur. At that store, I was also able to get two sandals hand made by a man whose been creating sandal designs for the last 60 years. It was an awesome experience to see and I am now a proud owner of Capri summer sandals.

After we were done with our shopping in Ana Capri, my friends and I went to have some authentic Sorrentine and Capri cuisine for lunch. The view from the restaurant was five star, and the food was awesome. My friends Lauren and Sarah came up with the idea to take a convertible taxi from Ana Capri to Capri, which was awesome. It was a beautiful day, not too hot, not too cold, and the breeze coming through the island from the sea was great. Convertible, beautiful coastline and mountains, nice sea breeze blowing across your face…enough said! Hahaha. My friends and I enjoyed that invigorating open air taxi ride. It was a time I will genuinely never forget.

Once Lauren, Sarah, and I arrived back in Capri, we decided it was time to go shopping once again. The streets in the center of town in Capri were lined up with the top brand stores which of course are my favorite things to see…he he. Some stores that I got to go into were Prada, Salvatore Ferragamo – my favorite, Valentino, Dolce and Gabbana, Roberto Cavalli, and Giorgio Armani. I went inside the Dolce and Gabbana store and bought a shirt and window browsed the rest of the stores. Only one day, I feel like I will be able to afford such things. I am all about Italian fashion and quality clothing. Being that I live in Italy, fashion is king, and people pay attention to detail and fashion here. Always nice to look good and make good impressions. Anyway, other than thinking of just shopping, Capri is a peaceful atmosphere that uplifts tourists, and it leaves you craving for more. The beaches are spectacular, and famous celebrities are always known to be frequenting the area during the summer months. The atmosphere is chic, and the Island is exotically one of the gems of the Mediterranean.

After frequenting the main Capri town, Lauren, Sarah, and I walked down the mountain back to the Marina Piccola to meet up with the rest of the group. We hopped on the boat and took the long way back to Sorrento. While we were on the boat we had the opportunity to see the lighthouse, and circumnavigate the rest of the island before docking in one of Sorrento’s small ports.

From the small port in Sorrento, I hopped on the bus and it took me to Sorrento’s main city center and from there I walked to my Seven Hostel. The day was definitely an invigorating one, and it really helped me relax a lot after all the stress and studying I had been doing before that. School in Rome stresses me out sometimes, and that is what makes such a small weekend getaway so worth it.

Today I plan to tour Sorrento’s main town, and also head to one of the most beautiful small towns on earth. Positano, Italy. I cannot wait to see the town, because in pictures, it is really amazing.

Ciao a tutti di Sorrento! Ciao to everyone from Sorrento…Hope all is well back in the United States!

Posted by Saint Leo University at 2:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I must be honest, and I know I may get surprising feedback from this, but in the four months that I have been in Rome, this is the first time that I have been inside the Vatican Museum, and I will have the chance to enter St. Peter’s Basilica.

I live just a five minute walk away from the Vatican, and I can finally say that I have time to go inside it. Amidst all the busyness that school brings, it has been hard to see all the usual and famous locations around Rome. I would walk by amazing monuments and sights like the Vatican on a daily basis, but I haven’t had the chance to see much of it on the inside.

Today when I entered the Vatican Museum, I didn’t realize how big it really was until I entered it. It was huge. Lots of art, and extravagant things that the Catholic Church has preserved for several hundred years now. The place reminded me of the Louvre in Paris. So huge, overwhelming, and it had lots of art. What was so intriguing, I got to see the Sistine Chapel. The Sistine Chapel was definitely awe inspiring because I got the opportunity to really cherish and savor the art and sculptures of Michelangelo. Michelangelo being my favorite, really made me really excited to see many of his famous works. I had the chance to see his sculptures such as the famous Pieta in St. Peter’s Basilica, and the art of the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. I felt like the ceiling tells a beautiful biblical story which intrigues the human person from within. That is what happened to me. It’s a definitely must see for those visiting Rome. You cannot leave Rome without seeing the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museum.

After walking around the museum observing its wonderful art and exhibits, I exited the museum and headed into the Vatican State. The Vatican State, being the smallest nation in the world was amazing to see. I had the chance to walk from the museum and into the Basilica. The Basilica of St. Peter, being the largest Catholic Church in the world, really leaves a person in awe. It’s huge, it’s vast, and it has one of the most beautiful objects of art in the world. I really enjoyed seeing the Swiss Guards and their fancy uniforms. Makes me want to own one myself…maybe for Halloween, I can dress like that. Hahaha. The dome of St. Peter’s Basilica, the Cupola, is amazingly huge. I heard you can fit the Statue of Liberty or the Space Shuttle twice in there. It is that huge… The view of Rome from up top is spectacular. One of the best views you will ever see if from the cupola of St. Peter’s.

In addition to the cupola, I had the opportunity to see the sacred papal tombs and the bones of St. Peter himself. The papal tombs were really an emotional sight for me because I have always wanted to see the bones of St. Peter, and the tomb of Pope John Paul II. Pope John Paul II has always been a role model for me ever since I was really young. My dream as a young guy was to visit Rome and visit Pope John Paul II when he was alive. It was not the best time in my life when I heard he passed away. Ever since JPII’s passing, I made it a goal to come to Rome one day to pay homage to his tomb, and being that I was there pushed me to the point where tears were rolling down my face. The only Pope I ever knew as a young guy was JPII, and his passion for youth of the world is what made me admire him so much. Being that I couldn’t see him in human form as a young teenager really was a bummer, but being there paying homage really brought peace to my heart.

Vatican City is a must see for those that visit Rome. The basilica, the Vatican Museum, and St. Peter’s Square are genuinely one of the most beautiful places on Earth. The art, the history, the wonder…it leaves you in awe and it has an affect that makes you want to come back for more. Being that it is one of the holiest places on earth, makes you feel one with God due to its sacred environment. I am looking forward to Easter Sunday because I will be heading to the Vatican for mass. I know it is a time I will never forget, and I am really excited for what will occur. I hope I can get close so I can see Pope Benedict XVI.

Posted by Saint Leo University at 2:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)