Author Archives: alp5255

Oktoberfest! Finally!

So after all the stress of planning and driving we finally made it to the first days of Oktoberfest in Munich!!! And it was totally worth it. We decided that it would be the least expensive if we drove so we ended up renting cars from the airport and driving 9 hours to get there! It was one of the nicest and most scenic drives ever!

We left Rome Thursday night from the airport and arrived in Munich around 9 AM. Oktoberfest started on Saturday so we had all day Friday to walk around Munich and sight see. One of the best parts about Europe has been the accessibility of the public transportation. After drinking our first German beer (at 10 AM) we caught the metro to the BMW Welt museum and the olympic park. 

Our hostel was very conveniently located between the city center and the field where all the tents are. Friday night we had the chance to go to the actual Hofbrau house in Munich for dinner and it was a great time. Both the food and the atmosphere totally made the experience.

Saturday was the first day of the actual festival so we waited in line for about 2 hours before entering the beer garden of one of the tents. We got to see the owner of our tent with his guests enter followed by his band before they handed out the first beers of Oktoberfest! Below is a picture from the second floor of our tent.

I really loved Germany and it was such a nice change from pizza and pasta everyday (which I feel bad saying as an Italian-American but I swear it gets old). If I had my way I would build a Hofbrau in Rome so that I could visit it whenever I wanted but still live in Italy and speak Italian. Unfortunately I don’t see that happening in the near future. Back to the real world!

Location: Munich, Germany

Ciao Ragazzi!

Saturday concluded the final festivities of the Premio Piranesi, the competition I had no idea that I was signing up for when I decided to study abroad in the fall. I can’t tell you how happy I am that it is finished! It was probably the most frustrating/stressful thing that I have participated in since I started studying architecture and that is saying something. Last time I mentioned that my group consisted of 5 international students. It is extremely difficult to work with students who are not used to the same design process and work flow. Not to mention that speaking three different languages makes it a little hard to agree on an idea. 

In the end it was really great to meet international architecture students and learn about Italy first hand from them. And you can’t complain as much when your group wins! Last night was the final dinner and party. It was a lot of fun. Below is a picture of me and some of my group members (Brian from Penn State, Sara from Milan, me, Alice from Florence).

So now my actual school schedule will start and things will hopefully be much more organized and easier to navigate. Because I have been so busy I have hardly had enough time to explore Rome! The best part is that you don’t even have to go looking for interesting architecture or experiences because you seen to just stumble upon them hidden amongst normal everyday buildings. For example, we accidentally walked right into the Pantheon and the Trevi fountain on our second day here!

I’m finally beginning to get over the culture shock and am loving it here more everyday. Sometimes I forget where I am until I walk outside and remember I’m in the most amazing city with some of the best architecture and urban design in the world. We also had a chance to visit the Colosseum (absolutely amazing besides all the millions of tourists). Below is a picture of Kyle and I standing in front of one of the many sites of Roman ruins and one looking up at the wall of Colosseum.

I can’t wait to start classes so that I can learn more about all the architecture that I am experiencing! More to come later!! Buonaserra!


Location: Tivoli, Roma, Italy

Ciao Roma!

Finally arrived and settled in the apartment just outside of Roma! It has been such a hectic week I can’t believe only 7 days ago I was packing and getting ready to leave. Originally I thought I would be able to fit everything into two suitcases, only checking one. Boy was I wrong! Two suitcases that just cleared the weight limit, a carry on, and my purse. I only had one connection in London before coming to the Fiumicino airport in Roma! Thankfully there was a shuttle van to take me from the airport to the apartment because there was no way I could have managed all my luggage on a train.

It has been somewhat tough adjusting to the culture here. The fact that I don’t know the language makes everything about 5 times harder. Most people speak at least a little bit of English so you can get around, but we have run into a few people that seem to really dislike Americans. I’ve been trying not to look like a complete tourist but that impression is ruined as soon as I open my mouth. 
The weather has been extremely hot and in the 90s for the past week. I am living in a building  constructed in 1089. Literally. So that means no air conditioning. I’m hoping it will start cooling off pretty soon. The apartment itself is nice and I’m living with all of the students in the Landscape Architecture and Architecture programs. This is a view from our courtyard:
Santa Maria.jpg
Already we have taken advantage of a few free days by traveling to places near by. The nice thing about the weather is that we have been able to visit a few beaches. The first was only an hour away by train in Lido di Ostia. The beach was crowded but the water was clear and really nice. On our second beach trip we wanted to see the Amalfi Coast. That trip took a little bit longer. Train to Napoli for 2.5 hours and then metro train from Napoli to Sorrento for a little over an hour. It was totally worth it.
Sorrento.jpg
The first two weeks of classes are occupied by the Piranesi competition organized by the Pantheon Institute that I am studying with and a partner university inviting international students from Milan, Florence, Romania, and Spain to participate as well. I am with 6 students total: 2 from Penn State (including myself), 2 from Milan, 1 from Florence, and 2 from Spain. Most of the Italian students speak English fairly well so it has been fairly easy to communicate so far. 
For the competition we had to visit 2 sites of ancient ruins; both were amazing. First we visited Villa Adriana (Hadrian’s Villa). The site is giant. We toured the majority of the building focusing on the areas where the project will be. Below is a picture of the larger baths on the site:
villa adriana.jpg
The second site we visited were the ruins of the Terme di Caracalla (the baths of Rome) which are giant sized but also amazing. I just wish I could have seen them when they were actually in use!
Terme.jpg
That’s all for now! Much more to come!! 
Arrivederci!

Location: Trastevere, Rome, Italy

August 23rd Can’t Come Soon Enough!

Hello All!

My name is Alison Pavilonis and I will be a fourth year architecture student in the Fall semester traveling to Italy to live and study in Rome!!  In only 12 weeks, 5 days, and 10.5 hours!! (Can you tell I’m counting down?)  Right now I am living at home in New Kensington, PA (near Pittsburgh) and saving up money so that I can live somewhat extravagantly while abroad (by a college student’s standards.)

I think it is finally starting to sink in that I will be in Europe for the next semester because today I booked my hostel for my trip to Oktoberfest in Munich!!  (They do their dates backwards.)

oktoberfestMuch to my surprise, it is actually not in October but begins in the middle of September!  I will be traveling there September 16 and believe it or not I still had a hard time booking a hostel this far in advance!  Although I’m planning to stay for the entire weekend, I could only find a room for Friday night! I’m wondering if this is going to be a hint as to how traveling will be on a budget.  It should be an interesting experience to say the least! I’m sure that there will be more to come on this particular adventure.

Until August 23rd when I fly out I will be making lists upon lists of what to pack (yes, I’m one of those people) and getting more and more excited!! On a final note…


Location: New Kensington, Pennsylvania