Where in the World is Carmen San Diego? I mean, Megan Neel ;~)

Hello there! Yep, it’s been quite a while since I have written, sorry about that. It was not due to a lack of love for all of you, just a lack of time and energy while in Rome. Rome was quite the experience. Its grandeur is undeniable, and the legacy the Romans left behind is a great one. It’s amazing to think about the effects one people had on the world. As incredible as it was to be so close to their history, to walk on the road their chariots rode on once upon a time, its hard not to be sad for the way the Roman Empire ended up. They were the greatest, the most inventive, they were grand in every way, and inventive to boot. Strong and powerful, they literally broke down and crumbled from within. They became about indulgence, taking in as much as they could as often as they could….and that was in every aspect of life. When Romans did things, they DID them in a grand way. That’s not a bad thing persay, but it is when it eats away your civilization from within. People compare Rome to America on occasion and this comparison saddens me. The lesson to be learned from Rome is that good things are good only in moderation, and when you can establish limits. I think the U.S. has that going for us, at least we try desperately to. I mean our government was built upon a system of checks and balances so that must mean we have learned something from our past. At least I hope so…

That’s how Rome got me thinking while I was there. However, I also experienced an abundance of things that I have only dreamed of before now. For example, the Sistine Chapel. For my entire life, and especially as an art major I have wondered why/how something can be thought of as so spectacular, as the epitome of masterful art. It’s a surreal feeling to see it in person. To be honest it was not what I was expecting. I did not understand that is was panels, I had always assumed that it was just the image of Adam and God…I was unaware the whole of the Sistine Chapel was so much more involved. Michaelangelo was basically forced to paint it, and it took him four years, four years of leaning backwards, painting a ceiling. I can’t imagine that he was bitter while painting that ceiling though. I know it wasn’t his choice to begin the undertaking of the chapel, but you can’t tell me his fondness for it didn’t grow in those four years. I believe it did. I think he fell in love with it…no one could have painted something that beautiful out of bitterness and angst. That work was done out of talent, determination and love for painting. That’s how I feel about it anyway. While I stood in that chapel in the Vatican surrounded by people, being scrutinized by guards searching for cameras, I was able to have just a moment of appreciation. That was all I needed to have the Sistine Chapel with me forever. Maybe the details of the chapel will fade in my mind over time, but I will remember standing there in that moment feeling awe, and feeling connected to a masterful artist who spent four years pouring his energy into that room. That’s something to remember….

Besides the Sistine I was able to experience the Colosseum at night and in the day, as well as the Roman Forum, Vatican City, going to St.Peter’s Church for a service, Keat’s House, Palatine Hill, the place where Paul was held, multiple chapels, the largest donut I have ever seen, The Dying Gaul, The Birth of Moses, The Laocoon (my favorite piece of Hellenistic art), as well as the Mouth of Truth (Roman Holiday!!!!), and the Borghese Palace (Apollo and Daphne by Bernini is one of my new loves).
We stayed busy for sure. BUT, despite being there for a week we only touched the surface with what we could have seen and done. Rome is just FULL of history and places to be explored. I am finding that in most of the places I have visited it is impossible to see everything. I am gonna see the big stuff though, which is all I can really do. I won’t get to be completely submerged into a culture until I get to Paris this week, at which point I will be settled for 2 months before coming back home.

Right now I am in Vienna, Austria…and I am loving every minute of it. If we stayed here for 2 months I would be perfectly content. As I told a friend recently I enjoyed visiting the other places and countries, but I would live here. It’s that wonderful, and it feels that familiar to me as well. It stirs up memories of my favorite city in Arizona, PRESCOTT, as well as my childhood fascination with the movie Sound of Music. It’s a perfect blend of city and breathing space, aka the woods. We have been going non-stop this entire trip but because of what Vienna has become for a lot of us, relaxing, we have been given a few days off just to breathe, and refresh ourselves before classes officially start in Paris in a couple of days….

Alright, hope that was a good update for you all! I miss every single one of you. I am realizing that travelling is eye opening and a great experience, but nothing beats HOME. Home is a blessing…as are the people who truly care for me. It’s easy to recognize the people who truly care, because their support is unwavering. Thanks for that. It means a lot to know I am being thought about. I love you for that! I might try and update the blog again before leaving Austria but don’t hold me to it if I don’t get the chance.

If not I’ll talk to you when I get to Paris!

Chuce,

<3Meg