Taking a year off....

We are sorry to announce that, after our very successful educational trip to Italy in March 2012,  Mr. Lio and
Dr. Piccininni will be taking a year off from trip-planning and are intending to organize a school trip to Europe during the March Break of 2013.

Instead, another faculty member, on his inaugural trip, is planning to lead a group of students on the March Break tour in 2013. The trip operator will also be different from the one (EF Tours) that helped with our the organization and operation of our March 2012 adventures.

Details are available at the school.

Six faculty members will not be returning to the Madonna campus in the fall, several different reasons. We wish them smooth travels and great adventures.

Ciao to all and good luck with your exams, students.

The 32 Day Reunion Dinner and Wrap-Up...

Well, it's been a month and a couple days since returning from Italy... so time for a reunion. Most of the Madonna girls and most of the Cardinal Newman group collected at an Italian restaurant in downtown Toronto for a pleasant dinner and opportunity to recall memories, tell some stories, look at a few photos, and have some hearty laughs. A good time was had by all.

All the Madonna group contributed a selection of their favourite photos and we have produced a compilation DVD with these 493 pictures and a couple video clips so everyone can have a copy as a remembrance of the trip.

In the main display case at Madonna, the girls have also created a multi-media display of artifacts, documents, photos, artwork, etc from the Italy trip. Mrs. Bellissimo was certainly entertained by and interested in some of the original artwork that was shown.

This seems like a good time to wind down the blog updates. Thanks to all of you who have visited - over 3600 visits as of this posting. Incredible! We'll continue to leave the blog up so you can continue to visit. If some of the students write some additional reflections on the trip, we will post these, but absent those contributions, we'll call the game complete and start thinking about the next adventure.

Now we begin the process of discussing a possible trip for next year with the most likely destinations as London and Paris (together). So much preliminary work needs to be done - principal approval, putting together an itinerary and events, getting cost estimates, selecting a tour company, arranging information meetings for students and parents, and so much more.

We want to have a very full and educational trip just like this year's trip to Italy. London and Paris offer outstanding possibilities for learning about the two European cultures that were responsible for founding the country of Canada, and their history, their art, food, and societies. Students who might be interested should pay attention to the school announcements and posters that will eventually show up.

Ciao e grazie a tutti!

From Sara's Camera.... (OK, she's back ON the free gelato list... for now)

 One great Italian tradition...at least for the Madonna girls.... gelato, gelato, gelato...mmmm!

 And another tradition... the coffee bar...otto cappuccini per favore... anche otto gelati...mmmm

 Releasing their inner Michaelangelos... and preparing for their Renaissance period presentation in history class with some fresco painting. Lisa's fresco painting wound up in an unusual location for one Florentine citizen....Let's just call  random acts of act donation. (Don't ask - don't tell...)     For more on the history of Italian great works of art, look  for Monty Python, the Pope, and Michaelangelo in Youtube.

 Several of the chiquitas climbed up to the top of Il Duomo in Florence. You can see they are at the height of the bell tower of the church complex. Great views from high above the city.

 You never know what you will see in Vatican City. Here is St. Gregory, the patron saint of Armenia, and.... wait for it.... a couple angels. (The halos are out being professionally polished.)

 In Vatican city, Sara's pointing out the Papal apartments. The Pope's bedroom is on the top floor, the last two windows from the right.

Some unusual ruins in Pompeii.... no, wait... that's Mr. Lio just getting horizontal for a few minutes while we are awaiting our guided tour of Pompeii.

Micheline's Photographic Memoirs...

 At the airport in Rome... lovely photos of all the sights and without the crowds. You could see quite a bit of Rome just wandering around the Leonardo da Vinci airport.

 This bronze wild boar is the symbol of the porcellino mercato - the boar market - in Florence. His snout is shiny because the tradition is that if you rub the boar's nose, you will be returning to Florence.

 This is a photo looking into the Vatican gardens from one of the galleries of the Vatican Museums. The gardens are not open to the public; they are reserved for the Pope and those who work and live in Vatican City.

 Here is one of the Swiss guards, the traditional security force for the Pope. Vatican City has its own police force, but the Pope's security is the responsibility of the Swiss guards, and has been thus for a few hundred years.

 Wandering through the excavated ruins of Pompeii, one comes across this ancient public fountain. Notice the face carved on the rock; the water poured through the open mouth of the face into the large rock basin. The Romans figured out very early that large towns and cities relied on an abundance of clean water; hence they invested quite a bit in building reliable water delivery systems. We did see quite a few remnants of the ancient aqueducts that delivered clean water from the hills to the city of Rome.

And finally, one more photo of Capri ... steep cliffs and blue water. We did not see Dicaprio or Clooney, but we did see the hotel they prefer ... at 1000 euros a night. Does that include a breakfast?

Vanessa's Photos and Reflections...

 A local salumeria - like an Italian deli - all sorts of dried and cured meats, cheeses, etc..

 And after a visit to the salumeria... nothing better than P a la P...... panini a la piazza for lunch. Anyone see a gelato stand?

 Piazza de la Signoria in Florence at night. This building was one of the Medici family residences during the Renaissance period.

 In the court yard of the Vatican Museums. The modern art bronze globe at the centre was a gift to the pope from a foreign country.

 This is the modern town of Pompeii that has grown up around the ruins. The old ruins and archeological sites are just over the fence on the left.

During our boat tour around the island of Capri, we went to this famous wishing arch, sort of an Italian Perce Rock... if one makes a "romantic" wish as the boat passes through, it is supposed to come true. We wonder what Vanessa wished for.... read on...

From Vanessa:

Part 1:     I miss Italy. I miss the food, the culture, the language, the architecture, the art and of course I miss i bei ragazzi italiani! It is hard to summarize the most memorable parts of the trip because each day was unforgettable. For ten days I travelled with a group who never failed to make me laugh; even on the long bus rides, there was never a dull moment while travelling with the Madonna girls. Truthfully, I enjoyed the bus rides because a lot of bonding took place while we were on the road.

If I had the option to return to strictly one city I would go back to Florence. Each city was unique but somehow between getting lost multiple times, climbing the Duomo, enjoying a pizza Genovese, riding a bicycle through the city and sitting down on the steps of Santa Croce I fell in love with Firenze.

Returning to Toronto was tough. When people ask how was your trip? I always respond, "I wish I wasn't here." Everyday in Mr. Steggles' history class, the girls and I always find ourselves recounting our time spent in Italy. Even though we are back in Toronto, the girls of Madonna's Italian Miss-Adventures - 2012 will never cease to relive the wonderful moments of Italia.

Part 2:     Italy was awsome!

Vanessa D.

A few of Daniela's favourite pictures...

 Getting ready for the training session at the gladiator school near Rome. Alessandro (Alex), in the red tunic, is the head trainer.

 The purple rental bikes in Florence. Some of the group toured part of Florence by bike travelling to the far side of the Arno River.

 A couple of the artists during the fresco art painting class and practice. This is Antonio's studio where we tried this art technique which involves painting on wet plaster, the same techinique Michaelangelo used when painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

And the happy team with the results of their Italian cooking experience. Ravioli, tagliatelle, and arancini (rice balls).  That's Christopher from Cardinal Newman who was drafted by the girls for their team. 4 to 1 ratio - nice going, Chris!

Emily's turn as a photojournalist and commentator...some nice ones

 Awfully dramatic poses in quite the dramatic setting. Anyone see Russell Crowe around today?

 The Temple of Romulus in the Roman Forum. Romulus was one of the founders of Rome along with his brother Remus.

 Some of the Roman traffic. Lots of motor bikes, small cars, and of course, the ubiquitous Mediterranean pine trees in the background.

 Mrs. Tuckler and Mr. Lio wandering down a typical Italian street. Old, narrow, picturesque... the street that is, not Mr. Lio.

 Well.... we're not really sure what's going on here, but this photo just had to be added. Could be some kind of "Hawaiian" custom.

 One of the Pompeii puppies. Quite a few dogs live in the ruins of Pompeii. This little fellow is in the public baths building.

 Here is a picture of Mount Vesuvius, the volcano that erupted in 79 AD and buried the two towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum. In the foreground are some of Pompeii's excavated ruins. about 3/5 of the town has been excavated and archeological projects are still ongoing there.

                           Totally cool sunset shot. Just had to be added here.

From Emily....

Arrivederci Bella Italia, I left my heart with you, but returned home with friends for a lifetime! This truly was a trip to remember, a trip full of adventures, a trip full of culture, amazing sightseeing and of course who could forget the people watching. Visiting the Colosseum in Rome, Il Duomo in Florence, the shores of Sorrento and the boat ride to the beautiful island of Capri with the Chaminade boys. There was the bike riding in Florence, the evening strolls through the cobblestone streets, the ride on the Merry-Go-Round and all those other fun moments that we should not repeat. Remember, what happened in Italy stays in Italy, but I will say this.... "Baby Pants." There were the amazing lunches, the gelato and the sandwich making on the bus.

We had amazing tour guides, Marianna and Mary, who made us feel right at home, and as Lisa said, who could forget Osvaldo our bus driver. I would also like to than Mrs. Bellissimo for allowing us to venture across the ocean to a world full of culture and history. Of course a big shout out to Dr. and Mrs. Piccininni, and of course Mr. Lio for the amazing time and the lifetime of memories.

It seems so long ago that a great group of Madonna students and 2 amazing teachers embarked on their adventure to Bella Italia. I hope to return one day, to a world I would never have known if it wasn't for this trip. A world I hope to embrace once again when I move to Assisi and la dolce vita.

I leave you with this, Ciao mi Amici!

Emily

Thought and Pictures from Laura...

 The Arch of Constantine in Rome, near the Colosseum (on the right). Emperor Constantine was the Roman emperor who made Christianity a legal religion in the empire. His mother was St. Helen.

       "Fencing" near the Roman Forum. Good thing the Romans built strong fences.

                                                          The Pantheon at night.

 
 Near the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi. This galleria is on the same level as the middle church.

 A different view of Florence. Taken from Piazzale Michaelangelo, a small flat area above the city.

Looking for prom dates? (we're really not sure what they're doing...) The red duct tape may start a new fashion trend.... or maybe not.

From Laura:

Italy was one of the greatest moments well spent with the Madonna girls and teachers. Many memories have been made through the very short 11 days:

- The first night in Rome and our little adventure walk. That was quite an unforgettable walk for a few. (Vanessa)
- The delicious lunch at the gladiator school - Mozzarella di buffalo...mmmm
- The "Hawaiian Girl's" failure to comply with directions
- Madonna's Victory in the tour bus
- Learning Italian; how to order pizza and ask for prices. "quanto costa due..."
- The perfect bike ride and picnic in Florence
- Our fleecy party
- Singing the Sound of Music in downtown Rome with Mary, our tour guide
- The beautiful boys on the soccer team
- The haunted hotel

There was no doubt a bond was created with the Madonna girls who attended the trip. I would recommend this trip for future students considering travelling. This trip was worth attending!

Laura "Hawaii" S.

A Few Italian Memories from Josie's Camera...

 The three amigas in the Roman Forum ... NEVER late and (almost) always smiling. The blue devices hanging from the girls' necks are the Whispers, radio receivers that we used on guided tours. With an earphone, we could hear the guides' commentary easily, even if we were not huddled together. They worked pretty well, but quite a few had the volume turned up too high.

 This obelisk is right at the centre of St. Peter's square in Vatican City. This was taken just a few moments after we left St. Peter's Basilica.

 From our Rome hotel. This is Lake Nemi, a lake within a volcanic crater. This area is called Castelli Romani and, since it is much higher than the city of Rome, it is quite a popular destination during the hot Italian summers. The local wine is also called Castelli Romani (Roman Castles).

 Here's Squadra Cinque - that's Team Five - in the cooking competition. They have been able to shake loose from the 5th member of the team; he was definitely the weak link. That probably accounts for the smiles.

 Orange trees were quite common in Sorrento. Quite a few homes had these in their yards and we went by several small groves as we drove through the town.

This is one of the ferry boats that shuttle people to and from Capri. The trip from Sorrrento to Capri is about 45 minutes. We took a longer ride leaving Capri, as we took the ferry to Naples where Osvaldo, our excellent bus driver, had driven during the day to meet us.

Photos and Thoughts from Patricia

 Patricia is at the keyboard for the commentary below and also behind the lens for this set of interesting photos. Looking around the older parts of the cities and towns in Italy, one can find little creative gems like this painting of the Madonna and child. They are so easy to miss; you have to keep your eyes open.

 The Colosseum in Rome - Patricia's favourite city in Italy. Let's hope the Trevi legendary tradition has some validity to it and she gets back there before too long.

 Piazza Navona - really a lovely place with a great deal of character - daytime or evening. We were there at both times, but not for long enough.

 This is the view of the lower lands below the main town of Assisi, walking up towards the Basilica of St. Francis.

 The old entrance to the Vatican Museums. Above this entrance are statues of both Michaelangelo and Raphael, considered the greatest artists of Italy. They flank the Papal coat of arms.

The 'dynamic duo' looking very fashionable and certainly like they belong here - in Capri.

Thoughts from Patricia:

Gertrude Stein once said, “America is my country and Paris is my home town.” With a few obvious modifications I can easily say that Canada is my country and Rome is my home town. Historians, movie lovers, and writers alike are drawn to the Eternal City because of its ability to capture a person’s heart. Similarly, of all the cities we traveled to, not a single one could compare to beauty of Rome. To recount, some of my favourite moments from this trip took place in this remarkable city. I will never forget standing where Roman emperors stood thousands of years before me, singing The Sound of Music aloud as we walked through the busy streets of Rome, or listening to the gentle buzz of Italian chatter in Piazza Navona, watching the city transform from day to night.

Whether we were walking through the Eternal City, standing above the city of Florence, or within the walls of Vatican City, I was surrounded by a group of people that made me laugh every step of the way. Without them, this trip would not have been as special.

Adjusting back to life in Canada has been difficult, but fortunately during our time in Rome I stood with the Trevi Fountain behind me as I released a coin from my palm in hopes that I will return home again.

 Patricia T.