This, my first class, was fantastic. I could not believe my luck to be discussing such great topics. I love the history of the Roman empire, and I certainly loved the nostalgic hidden meaning of the poems we discussed. They were beautiful.

Rome: On the Palatine (April, 1887)
The first one reads quite nice, and although it was difficult to interpret at first, once I figured out the meaning, I was thrilled. It was about seeing and feeling something that was not real. It was about the ruins bringing you back to their glorious days. The author felt and was able to recreate the feeling of antiquity as if he himself had been regressed to the majestic times when the ruins were important castles. This feeling of revival provides the author with the illusion that he can use all his senses in order to feel everything is real around him, even the music in his head.

Building a New Street in the Ancient Quarter (April, 1887)

This poem talks about the ruins in the ancient quarter and how they stand there so touched by time, but not gone. The structure is as magnificent as it once was, especially because of all the history behind it. It can be read like a book. The Gnomes around the building are part of the history. I believe that the author talks about the frailty of the new building because the old ruins were sturdy and have been standing for thousands of years. In a way I believe the author refuses to believe that the new structure will be able to endure thousands of years without disappearing. Frailty is key to this poem, and therefore one can imply strength from the ancient ruins.

The video by Rick Steve was very good. I thought that it was interesting to know that he shared some inaccurate information, but I suppose that is why one should not believe everything one hears on television. It was great to see the images of St. Peter's square as well as all the fountains and beautiful places in Rome and the Vatican. It made me feel so excited to know that I will be able to see all those places in person in less than two weeks. I am also looking forward to the food, which looks superb, even through a video.