As part of
my Geography degree at The University of Hull I spent a week in Rome studying
people, space, culture, food, memory and representation among many other topics
- I am a Human geographer after all!
Sunday 16th:
In the evening we explored the city, and got very lost trying to find our way
to the hotel. I think it took us an hour and thirty minutes!
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| Throwing coins into the Trevi Fountain |
Monday 17th:
We were given a guided tour of the city. We visited the Colosseum, Roman Forum,
National Monument and Piazza Navona. We celebrated St Patrick’s Day in an Irish
Pub on our lunch break before visiting the Jewish Ghetto, Piazza dei Fiori, the
Pantheon and Trevi Fountain in the afternoon. I didn’t really like the day
because the sites were very crowded with people, and I constantly felt like I
was fighting to see Rome for what it was actually. In the evening we went out
for a group meal, Italian ice cream and more Irish pub action.
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| Roman Forum |
Tuesday 18th:
Food day. We went into the suburbs and visited a market and an old slaughter
house. We then visited Eataly to see another version of access to food in the
city. We then sat in Circus Maximus and watched the sun set whilst drinking
beers – so much work I know! In the evening we went out for more food and ice
cream!
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| Eataly Shop |
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| Circus Maximus |
Wednesday
19th: Early start. Coach ride to the Abruzzo National Park to look
at rural development and food in the country. We got up, close and personal
with a wind farm – which for me was very exciting! We then visited an adorable
little village with a declining population. We visited their snake museum. Then
onto a farm where we were given a free meal. We then got in the sheep shed and
petted all the animals including the baby goats. On to wine tasting where there
was more free food and drink! Once back in the city we got a take away pizza
(what else of course!) and crashed back at the hotel.
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| Getting up, close and person with the Wind Turbines |
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| View of the village , mountains and turbines |
Thursday 20th:
We conducted our own ethnographic research project. This was where we spent the
whole day (10am-4pm) sat in the same area (Piazza di Spagna) and studied what the people were
doing and what activities were happening (because we couldn’t do too much work
could we?!). I thought it was going to be really boring and had packed books to
read, however it was one of the most interesting things I had ever done! People
watching on an extreme level! As part of our research we went into Prada and
Dolce and Gabanna to see how we would be judged. You start analyzing every
aspect of the public space down to the smallest detail and you question
everything about the space. In the evening I went and saw the sun set over the
Piazza del Popolo before going out with the (very slightly drunk) group to eat
food.
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| Piazza di Spagna |
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| Piazza del Popolo |
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| San
Lorenzo |
Friday 21st:
We started our day at the University of Rome.
We then went out of the city into the suburbs to a place called San
Lorenzo. Everywhere was covered in graffiti. We then headed to a park where we
did the last of the presentations. Then we did an ultra quick visit to The
Vatican City before coming back to the hotel – I managed to get in have a
shower, wash my hair, get dress, do my make up and my hair all within 30mins! I
was impressed! We went out for a meal with our lecturers who took us back to
the same restaurant where we ate on the first night. We drank wine, ate yet
more ice cream then went out for more drinks.
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| Vatican City |
Saturday 22nd:
We traveled all day back to Hull.
It was a
fantastic week full of sunshine and laughter. I got to know the others on my
course even better and it was nice to have a week outside of Hull. And on the
educational side, I learnt a lot and have definitely become a more dedicated
Human Geographer! #GeographyRocks
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| Rome 2014 |
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