First Thoughts in Italy

Since we are split between Rome and Venice for this program, the experience has been dramatically different between the two locations. In Rome, the pace was extremely fast and actually exhausting; it was great to see everything but because there was so much to see and so little time in the city, it was a constant rush and the days were very long. Now that we are in Venice, which is where we will spend the next four weeks, the pace has slowed down and it is far more comfortable. There wasn’t any real “orientation” in either city, but we were taken on a walking tour of the surrounding neighborhoods in both cities, and our grocery stores and banks, etc. were pointed out. Because there wasn’t really an official orientation, it was kind of stressful at first- particularly in Venice- to figure out how to get places and where and what we should do. Rome was a very fast paced city, where Venice feels far more leisurely- though Venetians walk pretty fast! The two locations contrast well, because Venice is foot traffic only (and boats, of course) whereas Rome has all kinds of traffic and vehicles. Rome felt better laid-out to me- it was easy for us to look at a map and figure out where we were and how to get to where we wanted to go. And because Rome is full of major tourist attractions, major areas are clearly labeled and there are many signs throughout the city pointing you in the right direction. Venice has some signs that are helpful, but there are all kinds of bridges- both big and small- and winding streets (again, for pedestrians only) that seem to just pop up all over in between buildings and at crazy angles. I felt confident in Rome that I knew the area, and I know that in time I will have the same feeling towards Venice as well.