SICILY AND ROME

I am still alive! Internet connection hasn't really existed in Sicily. If it has, it has been too expensive to buy.

I am now sitting in my private hotel room in Rome. Turns out that my roommate decided not to go on the trip, and I have my own room.

Sicily was really great! I wouldn't have guessed, but it is probably one of the most beautiful places I've seen so far. We stayed at a beautiful hotel directly on the Mediterranean Sea. I've already uploaded more photos into the second photo album. Go check them out!

While in Sicily, we visited Mt. Etna - the island's active volcano. A short while ago, the volcano began smoking from its peak! Of course, being the crazy humans we are, we decided to take a tour to the top of Etna.

After our visit to Mt. Etna, the group went to the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, Sicily. The Valley is one of the most important archeological sites in the world. Along a long, rocky scarp are the great temples of ancient Akragas: the Temple of Hera (Juno) Lacinia, Concordia, Heracles (Hercules), Olympian Zeus (Jupiter), Castor and Pollux (Dioscuri) and Hephaistos (Vulcan). It was really neat to see the things that are in all the history books right there, in person! The views of the city from where the temples are located are just breathtaking!!! It really is a very beautiful place. Again, see my photos in the second album.

The Mediterranean Sea is also very beautiful with its clear, green waters. We all wanted to take a dip, but it's extremely cold. Even Bernardo, who is a lifeguard, couldn't get in because it was just too cold. The views are very beautiful though. The hotel served breakfast in a type of sun room that had a patio area. So, each morning, I was able to sit on the patio, enjoy my breakfast, and look out onto the beautiful Mediterranean Sea with its rocky cliffs, and smooth waves crashing against them. The only thing that bothered me about that was the intense heat! Sicily was very hot!! It really isn't a place to sit out and enjoy unless you want to lay out to get a nice tan.

The day after our concert with the community band, we flew back to Rome. The same day, we had a rehearsal with the Italian Army Band, which lasted until 11 p.m. It was extremely late. We didn't now that they wanted to have dinner with us after the rehearsal, so most of us already had dinner before the rehearsal. We didn't make it back to the hotel until after 2 a.m.

This afternoon, we went on a tour of the Colosseum and the Ancient Roman Forum. These are things I already did last time I came to Rome, but it was still great to see. The Forum has changed a bit since the last time because it is an active archaeological study site. I was able to see just a little more of the Ancient Roman city that was once the center of this bustling metropolis.

I am about to get ready for tonight's concert with the Italian Army Band. Tomorrow's update will come soon!

Ciao!