Numinous Lands

1,500 year old Byzantine mosaics in Ravenna. Hands down one of the most amazing experiences I've had here.

Cinque Terre day two, hiked from Corniglia to Vernazza, then took the train to Riomaggiore and Manarola.

First time to the Cinque Terre region of Italy, our first day of hiking from Vernazza to Monterosso.

Study Abroad. A Summery.

Rome. The monument to Victor Emmanuel.

The beautiful city of Lucca. We spent the day wandering its streets and hiking around its medieval walls.

The bell tower to whom bells I awake to every morning. I pass beneath it every day walking to school, and again in the evening, which is the view seen here. When standing at this spot when the bells are ringing in the hour, one is completely filled with the powerful yet soothing music of the Campanile.

Che Piccolo!

Some sites from around Rome.

The ruins of the Roman Forum.

There is so much I have done but I am still craving more. The halfway mark is upon me and there is still so much left to do. Spring break is here, and hopeful with it will come more time to explore.

The hall of maps in the Vatican museum.

The Vatican was simply the most stunning thing I have seen here in Italy yet. The size of it alone was absolutely astounding. The interior decoration and attention to detail was almost too overwhelming. I believe that this level of beauty and devotion could be appreciated by anyone, whether or not you are religious or simply an admirer for the arts and human accomplishment.

The Grotto in the Boboli Gardens at the Pitti Palace.

A piece of an old coat of arms on the side of a building by school fell just as some friends and I were walking by. It was a massive chunk and shattered all over the street. We went into an osteria near by and as we ate we watched as it turned into a huge scene. The police and fire department arrived to shut the corner down, and an ambulance came and took to fallen pieces away. Soon after a news crew arrived to interview the local shop owners and started recording the event. May our thoughts and prayers go out to the fallen chunks of stone.