Ms. Binkley Goes to Rome

Today we went to see the Trevi Fountain. This a famous fountain and has been in several movies. The legend is that if you toss a coin over your shoulder into the fountain, you will return to Rome!
Trevi Fountain

Ms. Binkley's son, Mr. Binkley, wanted to see some of the underground sites in Rome. Since I don't really like being underground, he set out on his own to visit them.

I went shopping!

Today we said goodbye to Rome and got on our plane to head back to Alaska.

I will see you all on Monday!

Here is a map of the trip we took to the Parco Acquedotti.

Parco Acquedotti (Aqueduct Park)

Caffetteria L'Intimo Bar
The cafe on Via Quintilio Varo where we got our picnic lunch.

Math
1. How far did we ride on the Metro to get to the park?
2. How far did we have to walk after we got off the Metro?
3. Post your answers to the Blog. Don't forget your name.

English
1. Explore the web to find out five facts about the Roman Acqueducts.
2. Post your facts to the Blog. Don't forget your name.

On our way home we met a friend for some coffee not far from the apartment.

Coffee Bar on the Piazza

Today we went on quite a long walk here and there around Rome. Follow along on the map.

Piazza del Popolo from the Pincio

Pincio Obelisk

Lake at Villa Borghese

The Galleria Borgheseis a museum that does not allow visitors to take any pictures. Tour the web site and see some of the famous sculptures and paintings.

The Foro Romano
Take a look at this web site and the map.
Be ready to answer some questions!

Temple of Saturn and Arch of Septimus Severius

Temple of Castor and Pollux

Math
1. What did the Romans use for money?
2. Where did the Romans shop?
3. Post your answer to the Blog. Don't forget your name.

English
1. Why was the Forum so important to the Romans?
2. List three things the Romans did in the Forum.
3. Why were Castor and Pollux so important to the Romans?
4. Post your answer to the Blog. Don't forget your name.

Capitoline Museum

Castor and Pollux at the top of the Cordonata

Bronze statue of Marcus Aurelius

Bronze head from a statue of Constantine

Marble hand from a giant statue

Look at the map of where we went today.

San Clemente
San Clemente is named for an ancient Pope of the Catholic Church. It is very interesting because it gives us a chance to go deep below the street level of modern Rome and see two thousand years into the past.
San Clemente does not allow photos inside any of the church levels, so you will need to explore their web site tour to answer the questions!

The main door of San Clemente

The cloister of San Clemente

Math
1. How old is the lowest level of the church?
2. How did you find your answer?
3. Post your answer to the Blog. Don't forget your name.

English
1. What is the name of the religion before Christianity?
2. On what level is the 'church' for that religion?
3. Post your answer to the Blog. Don't forget your name.

COLOSSEO (Colosseum)

Colosseo from via Foro Imperiale

Math
1. What is the population of the City of Fairbanks?
2. How many people could be seated in the Colosseo?
3. Post your answer to the Blog. Don't forget your name.

English
1. Find out about the Ludus Mangus.
2. Who lived here?
3. What did they do?
4. Post your answer to the Blog. Don't forget your name.

Ludus Magnus

Interior of the Colosseo (Colosseum)

We had lunch at a restaurant filled with local people. Ms. Binkley even ran into one of her Roman friends there!

Luzzi

Follow along on the map as I wander about my favorite area of Rome.

An old, red Fiat 500 with a moose sticker. Do you think this car is from Alaska?

A tiny Smart Car parked in with the scooters

Another interesting car on the streets in Monti

An old, red Citroen car

English and Math
1. Which car would you like to drive?
2. Tell me why!
3. Post your answer to the Blog. Don't forget your name.

Santa Maria ai Monti, the central church in Monti

A place to 'park' your dog outside a meat store

My lunch!
Parmesana Melanzana (Eggplant Parmesan) and foccacia bread

We had dinner tonight at La Cicala e la Formica. It is an interesting restaurant. I had a Sicilian style salad with fennel and my son, Mr. Binkley, had home made pasta with swordfish. Then, we each had a chocolate desert. We got really full!

Where we had dinner

Today we woke up early and decided to visit the city of Florence. It takes about one and one half hours on the Alta Veloce train from Rome.

Alta Veloce train

Math
1. How far is Florence from Rome?
2. How fast does the train go?
3. Where did you find your answers?
4. Post your answers to the Blog. Be sure to include your name.

We went to the central market to look at all the good food. Tuscany is a region of Italy that is proud of its meat.

Meat Shop

After wandering around the market, Ms. Binkley bought some gifts for her family. Her son, Mr. Binkley, bought a new wallet.

The Central Market

After all that traveling and shopping we were pretty hungry. We went to a small, traditional restaurant for lunch.

Trattoria Mario

Math
1. We paid 16 euro for lunch.
2. Look up how much it costs to buy a euro.
3. How much did our lunch cost?
4. Post your answer to the Blog. Be sure to include your name.

After we had that good lunch, we were ready for a walk around the city.

The Duomo and its bell tower

An interesting scooter

Ponte Vecchio

After we explored some of the city, we went into the Uffizi Museum.

From the terrace at the Uffizi museum

English
1. Choose one room of the Uffizi Museum.
2. Choose one painting that you like.
3. Write three description sentences.
4. Post your sentences to the Blog. Be sure to include your name.

Rome is very famous for its fountains. Here are some we discovered here and there.

Math and English
1. Why do you think fountains were so important to the Romans?
2. Pick one fountain. Tell me why you like it best.
3. Post your answer to the Blog. Don't forget your name.

An unusual toilet!

Interesting fountain with eagle crest

Fountain near Plazzo Spada

Castor and Pollux fountain with obelisk

Il Facchino - the water carrier

Egyptian Lion at the Moses Fountain

Interesting Face!

Trevi Fountain

THE JEWISH GHETTO NEIGHBORHOOD

Ms. Binkley's son, Mr. Binkley's lunch at La Taverna del Ghetto

At La Taverna del Ghetto

The famous 'Turtle Fountain' in the Ghetto

The Jewish Synagogue

Math
1. How many of Italy's Jews live in Rome?
2. When did the first Jews come to Rome?
Post your answer to the Blog. Don't forget your name

English
1. From where did the Jews come from?
2. Did Julius Caesar favor the Jews?
3. Why or why not?
4. Post your answers to the Blog. Don't forget your name

Ancient gate in the Ghetto

via del Portico d'Ottavia at the center of the Ghetto

THE TRASTEVERE NEIGHBORHOOD

An interesting car in Trastevere

Interesting graffiti on a wall in Trastevere

English
1. What does the name "Trastevere" mean in English?
2. Trastevere is on the river. Write three sentences telling why you think this was important to Rome.
3. Post your answers to the Blog. Don't forget your name.

An interesting building in Trastevere

A drinking fountain in Trastevere

Interesting streets in Trastevere

Laocoon

Follow us on the map to the Vatican Museums and St. Peter's Cathedral.

Vatican Museums

Ms. Binkley pets the Egyptian lion

Michaelangleo's Sistine ceiling

Saint Peter's Cathedral

The terraza of St. Peter's Cathedral

Swiss Guard

Assignments
For your class assignment, answer these questions:
Math
1. How big is Vatican City. Remember, it is a country!
2. How many people live in Vatican City?
3. How far did we travel on the Metro?
4. Post your answers to the Blog. Don't forget your name.

English
Today your assignment is an individual one!
1. Take a tour of theVatican Museums. Pick one thing you like.
2. Post a note to the Blog and tell me about your favorite. Don't forget your name!