Awe-Inspiring
Italy is beautiful and singing in such beautiful churches and basilicas is wonderful. Singing in Saint Peter's Basilica was an amazing experience that I will treasure my whole lifetime. Yesterday, we participated in Palm Sunday Mass at Siena Duomo, a gorgeous church dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Following the gospel reading and service in Italian was challenging, though Italian is very similar to Spanish and I can therefore usually figure out what people are saying in Italian. Siena was quaint, rustic, and all together breathtaking.
The ancient ruins of Rome were awesome. Rome has great and interesting history. European history in general I think is quite interesting in that it covers such a long period. For example, Sunday we saw a bank in Siena founded in 1472 -- 20 years before Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492.
Overall, it is wonderful to have such an exciting, interesting, awe-inspiring experience. Italy is a beautiful country that offers everything from wine tasting to history to sight seeing.
Scott Hale '08