When I woke up this morning, the rain was coming down hard! Then it stopped, then on again, off again; this would be the story of today. For instance, right now it is raining (I think).
Woke up about 8:00, finished up my presentation, then had breakfast. Once again, couldn't eat outside. We met in the classroom and I gave a presentation on the Roman military. Being the broad topic it is, I focused on the early wars and conquests, command structure, different units, and daily life. Good stuff! Then Caleb presented on the Roman government.
After the presentations Dr. Mann gave us an assignment. Go to the pantheon, Basilica Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, and the Chiesa San Ignasio. We had some questions to answer and some things to contemplate and then we were off.
I loaded up the camelbak and ran to the pantheon. About 3 miles in 20:43. Got to the pantheon, walked around, looked at the columns, and read some information about its building. From there I went to Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, easily identified by the elephant with an obelisk out in front. This beautiful church houses Michaelangelo's Christ the Redeemer, St. Catherine of Sienna (minus the head), and Pope Leo X (excommunicated Martin Luther). It is also the only gothic style church in Rome.
After Minerva, it took a bit of wandering to find San Ignasio but once I did, I was amazed. Let me note that this was the first building I have been to in Rome that literally forced me to sit down in order to contemplate the size. Not to say other structures weren't bigger but the towering columns and baroque ceiling were unimaginable. Interesting facts I learned about San Ignasio: It is a major Jesuit church dedicated to Ignatius Loyola; the dome is not really a dome; and the IHS (the Jesuit symbol, if you will) means Iesus Hominem Salvator (Jesus, the Savior of Men).
I canceled my flight to Munich this morning because of all this stuff going on with money, id, and the fact that it was booked on the wrong weekend. I was convinced I would receive a refund but now I'm not so sure that will happen. It sucks but I think it was the best choice. I will be traveling SOMEWHERE next weekend but that has not been decided yet. Katherine and I made dinner for the group tonight, tacos, and everyone seemed to enjoy them. We met in the classroom and Katherine presented on Roman religion while Christal talked about Pompeii. After discussing our findings today we went out for gelato with Kristen and Caleb (the RA); it was raining.
Tomorrow we head to the catacombs, then we have an assignment at San Clemente, to which I will be running.
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