BDE: A Triumph of Elegance

BDE = "Best Day Ever"

Our very last Forum field trip became our Centro Prom. This was an idea developed mostly by Nick and Hanner (my Centro roommate!), and allowed/endorsed by our professors. The natural result was that half of our photos were of the scholarly things upon which we were supposed to be focused, and the other half were more of this variety:

Classic prom poses were struck in front of ancient ruins.

Tri-Em-virate?

But, no matter how awesome we all looked, we were still on a learning excursion. So, this is the Basilica of Constantine, not actually built by Constantine.

(just re-appropriated by him when he took power)

Don't quote me on all the details here. I am having trouble recalling the facts without my notes, writing this more than a year after the fact.

Something memorable, noteworthy, and not found in books, happened on our journey from the Basilica to the Arch of Constantine. We were re-united with King of King. Or rather, Brookie was re-united with him.

Can this get better?

Guys in gladiator outfits are always hanging around important tourist landmarks like the Colosseum offering to take photos with people for a small fee. Most of them know a few handy phrases in lots of languages. Once when I walked past a few of them, they spoke to me first in English, then in German. They kind of try pegging what ethnicity you look like, and offer to take photos with you.

The more animated and charismatic dudes probably get more business. One day, when we were in the vicinity, one of them brandished his sword and shouted heroically at us (nothing in particular, just a sort of "Raaaa!"). Brookie, being who she is, roared back at him. He then yelled "King of King!!" And brandished his sword some more. It was duly hilarious and we went on our way.

On Prom day, we saw him again, the same guy, whom we'd now nicknamed King of King. I don't think he remembered his warrior maiden, but it didn't matter much. Our entire group busted out the cameras to get our euro's worth documenting their hilarious game of heterosexual chicken.

(Yes, it does get better)
"I'd almost pay a euro to see that." - Prof. Roman

But.. right, right. We were on a field trip. Students had presentations to give! So we turned our attentions to the Arch of Constantine.

Not up to the classical standard, if only for being composed of chunks of other monuments?

Our Triumph of Elegance proceeded to the Lateran church, where we were to eat lunch and tour the premises. On the walk up the hill, I found a big orange flower and decided it was just for me, just for prom.

Totally awesome.

The old senate doors are preserved here.

Okay, not quite this. This is the front facade of the Lateran. Impressive!


Here are those big ole bronze doors...

But while we at lunch on the steps outside in the joyful sunlight, something even more awesome happened.

Stephanie in her lovely dress is for some reason asked not to sit on the bench where she was before.

A fire engine arrives. Concern mingles with curiousity, and Emily G points out that the guy in orange looks like one of those guys who helps land planes. Soon, she is proved absolutely right.

So.. wait, is that thing going to land right here?!

I take some video footage, complicated only by the fact that the wind hits me. Since I am wearing a dress, I am suddenly overtaken by the concern that my dress is about to fly up over my head.. hence the disturbance right when the wind edge hits us:

Priceless.

In addition to wind, we are struck with lots of dust. My apple is a lot less appetizing at this point.

I'm not sure which is more entertaining.. what's happened, or Chris's reaction to it all.

Our professor talks to one of the "Wigils," a fireman, who looks suspiciously like his name should be Fabio.

...

She discovers that there is not in fact a fire or medical emergency, but rather, it is a particular saint's day, the patron of the firemen, and they are bringing all their old and new equipment to show off as tribute.


But, we are adults. We can still focus on the learning that is at hand. We are informed about the paintings inside the main area of the Lateran.

Inside Lateran!

We are totally not done. After this we still have 36 more churches! Actually, just two. And an arch.

Another good example of that ancient/modern thing they have going on in Rome.

An additional note from the editor: I didn't even remember that I'd already written a bit about this. Find that here!

A Triumph of Elegance

Today was Centro prom. Arranged by Hanner (my roommate) and Nicholas, this was essentially to be the day we all dressed up fancy to go to the forum for our last forum field trip. So, we did.

It was really a lot of fun. We took tons of pictures (yeah, they will be up on here soon.. I'm still not prepared to dedicate that amount of time yet) and made fun. Photos under the Arch of Septimius Severus. You know. That kind of thing.

In addition to the forum, we went to several churches of the most ancient variety. The one that was first begun by Constantine (Lateran), and Santa Maria Maggiore (I had been to both on an art history trip, but this was cool as well), and San Clemente, and Santa Pudenziana.

We walked to the Laeran from the forum, and had a lunch break there. I was eating lunch on a bench in front of the Lateran lawn for the second time in my life with Captain Cook (my date to Centro prom; we have an overabundance of females). There were a lot of people in uniform outside when we arrived, but they were getting onto buses and leaving. We figured some kind of parade had ended. There were some guys in uniform hanging around in front of the church, but whatever.

Then, a fire truck came wailing down the road and pulled into the piazza area between the lawn and the church. We were perplexed, thinking they were just turning around, but then they parked just next to us and started getting out. We thought maybe something was wrong. A fire in the church? Was someone hurt? What was up with the guys in big headphones and orange suits?

They made us move off the bench by the lawn. We went a bit back, to the steps of the church, and then the helicopter appeared. "Yeeaaah." It circled twice and then landed. I took video with my camera. There's an interesting moment when the blast of wind hit me and I was unable to control the camera, too worried simultaneously about my skirt flying up, and the unexpected amount of dust just then hitting the back of my throat through my agape mouth. I screamed, which of course helped (hah). I managed to regain composure and get the rest of the video.

We took pictures of (and then, with) the helicopter. Later, we found out that it was St. Barbara's day today, and she's the patron of the firemen. So they brought her all their transportation means to show.

Extraordinary. It made the day for most of us.

As an added bonus, after a tiring day walking around in "unsafe shoes" (we are always warned to wear safe shoes on field trips by our weekly schedule) I went to "Fitbox" with Biz, Jackie, Meggers, and Carla. It was exhilarating. The instructor doesn't speak English, but she is able to lead us anyway (along with her normal Italian students). It was hardcore, too. I was so beat, but really thrilled at the end. It reminded me a bit of a lady in a yellow leotard, and working out with Katelyn. I'll be sore tomorrow. But hell, hooray for endorphins. We had a fabulous dinner of burgers and fries (after the first course of spaghetti of course) and chocolate mousse panna cotta whatever it was amazingness for dessert for Carla's birthday. I ate so much I felt a little sick. But, in a good way I guess.

Today was a triumph of elegance, just as my prom invitation said.