Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Eygpt

This is the link to my pictures in Sharm El sheikh

www.picasaweb.google.com/zakiyafranklin/SharmElShekh?feat=directlink

Saturday, January 31, 2009

2 weeks later

Hey

I know it is a while since I last posted. i forgot my info, lol. I know. there is a lot that went on. I am into my second week of classes, which take up the majority of our days. Traveled all around rome and stuff.




This is a video of the street right by the monument at night. look at all the smart cars.



Same thing


The Trevi Fountain. Look how nice it is






Thats is for today folks!!

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Day 6

We went to the Flee Market today. I have never seen one so big in my life. It is about a mile long with a whole bunch of goodies, everything you can possibly think of. They had good shoes, clothes, scarfs, hats, belts, furniture, food, appliances, bags, and a lot more. Good thing I did not have any money with me. I want to get a side satchel so it is easier to carry things when we go on adventures.

Day 5

We went for along walk today exploring the center or Rome. And I mean a long walk. Longer than walking to the Vatican. The mission was to go the the four fountains of Quattro Fontaine and we stopped at some places along the way.


This first place, which I forget, but I will reference later is in the picture below. I feel a little tired right now to brush up on history, so that is why. But we had fun checking it out.
At the back of this building, you can see the ruins and the Colosseum. We did not get to it that day, but another day we will.






We talked by the president's house where a bunch of fresh new soilders were coming out and piling into a bus. They were wearing their tradtional outfits, which I know nothing about, but they had guns. They were probably around our age. Two of them were kate's and Iris's boyfriend for like 5 minutes, as well as some buys on a mopede. Talking about mopedes, I see them everywhere here. I think i really want one now....


Our next stop was the Trevi Fountain, a really magical place. Throw money in for good luck. it was another popular place for people to go since we saw so many there...



Allas, we finally reach the four fountains, but the intersection os so crowded, it was a little hard to enjoy.






Then we went to the Spanish steps, lots of people there. I lost people for a little bit, until I saw Nicki running down the stairs. I thought that everyone was at the bottom, so I started to run down as well, following her. Then when i get to her, she says that she ran down so she can run back up them...kjfkejfhbdfjh. I did not feel like running up the stairs for fun. Oh well. I finally reunited with everyone else.





We then walked down Via di Corso, which is the street for shopping. They have all the Italian name brands, like Gucci, Versace, Prada, Blvgari, Swarvaski, Mont Blac, etc. A lot and lot of people. We stopped int he Store called Mango, which is like the store Strawberry in the U.S.A. Ended up running into Menhaj, Victor, Scott, Shirley, and Nick. For everyone who doesn't know who they are, they are fellow student of mine. What are the odds of meeting them in that store in a city be barely know....


After that, we left, went to the supermarket, cooked dinner, chilled for a little bit, I took a little nap, and we over to someone else's apartment for a lilttle. Came back and went to bed.

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Day 4

So yesterday I did not get a chance to blog, I forget why, but who cares. I have more to share today. Yesterday we had so much fun filling out forms, paying close to a 100 euros, and waiting in a post office in Rome to get our permiso di messogiorno. I dont even know if that is the right spelling or even words. It is basically a document that says we have permission to be in the city, which I though the Visa handled that, but apparently not. So we have to stay low until we get it, incognito.


Then we met up with katie's aunt's friend's daughter, who is Italian. She actually lives kinda close to us. She showed us this great place where we can get a drink and a buffet for 6 euros, which is nice, and the drinks are really good to, not to hard, where it feels like drinking acid. nice and fruity, they way i like it. The problem was that the seeds from the passion fruit was getting in my way.

This is a picture of where we met her, which is on Via di Trilussa


And this is a picture of the place i just mentioned, it is just that theree is a lot of people in here, all around the food.


And then she took her to one of her bars that she goes to, which is a nice place. They have a lot of intertainment there and they have some food. On saturdays, they have a high schooler night, so it if filled with youngings. The drinking age out here is 16, so don't panic for any "adults" reading this.

This is a picture of Georgia (far left), that is the friend of Katie's, then katie, Iris, and Nicki




Then later that night, around 11:30 I would like to say, we walked to the Vatican or as Katie would say it " The Pope's backyard." What is funny about this city is that there are palm trees ll over. i get mixed feelings of a modern, tropical, ancient place. I know it doesnt make sense.



After that we then headed home, but we took a minor detour, its all good. We ended up talking through this tunnel, which was actually pretty cool



Last but least we made it home. I don't know if I mentioned how many stairs we have to climb, which is like 5 -6 stories, but i feel like I am going to die everytime. This is only the first week, hopefully, i will get used to it and it won't be that bad.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Day 3

Today, I got up at 9 this morning thinking that we had to meet, but no. So I went back to sleep and woke back up at 2:00 pm. I know, a big leap, but i was still tired. So i went to go eat this cereal that i picked up from the supermarcato, but come to find out it is fermented milk. Geez, I couldn't just find regular milk. So i ate dry cereal.
Nicki and I went for a walk to familiarize ourselves with the area. We tried going to the supermarket, but it was closed during their lunch break. We also found ourselves in the art supply store and down Viale Trastevere to the bridge and beyond. That when we went to the Pantheon..ooo... I know, you got shivers.



So, this is the Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere, right outside the building we live in. Oh, and I forgot to take a picture of the outside of the building that we live in, so i will do that soon.


This is the Fiume Tevere- the river. I learned from richard that when it reains alot, the river raises alot. so the wall helps alot. it is a really nice view


This is the island that is down the river a little bit. A hospital is there, it looks really nice and such. Good to know that there is one close by.



After walking for a while, we arrive at the Pantheon on the villa do Rotunda. I hope I said that right. it is something like that. This is an image of the front.


This statue is kinda creepy it is own way. It is part of the fountain right outside of it.


A view of the inside


The temple inside


The Opus - the top inside




This is



See ya for the day

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Day 2

My first day was a bit overwhelming with all the traveling, unpacking, and walking around. So now it is the second day and i have stuff to talk about. I took pictures of our apartment and a few nearby places; a little feel for the neighborhood. i am still sore from yesterday.....


This is a picture of our room



This is the view out of the window of our bedroom




This is is Iris and Jerome's Room:





their balcony. You look down onto someones patio. I saw a lady doing her laundry
.




The kitchen. Compact and sweet. All you need to do is move to steps to get everything you need.




This is the living room with Nicki right in the middle
Look at the refined color sequence and design.
Nicki fits so well with this scene.





This is our wonderful bathroom.
The great thing is that you can sit on the toilet and do your laundry at the same time.



These pictures are taken out on the street. Just a few random pictures

This is a street sign. Look at the antiquity......



This is just a chubby kid running past us....




Xuedi, doing her thing, you already know, no questions need to be asked.






Italian po-pos, 5-0. Police for everyone who doesnt know what




The streets are filled with smart cars. I dont think that there is a parking law or even driving laws. I think that as long as you can fit in the street, you are good. Oh, and there are a lot of mopeds. Really eco-friendly.



Just a street



Im done for the day.
Peace out