Stanford 

Rome, 1962.  Letter to parents

Dear parents,

It’s about this city. I mean, you’ve got these statues…. And fountains, too. Lots of things like that. 

The entire group arrived last Friday morning after an interesting (mixed sleepers) train ride from Stuttgart. After freshening up time and some lunch, we were treated to a three hour bus tour of the city. It was a good one, run by an American student of Roman history. We were uncaged after dinner, and, the weather being balmy, I of course, took in a little of the Forum Romanum in the moonlight.  Wild. Next day, we trisected the group, each section seeing something different; we rotated for the next two days, so that all students saw ancient (Colosseum, forums, circuses, Appian Way, catacombs, etc.), Saint Peters, the Gardens, and the museums, and renaissance and baroque Rome (bunch of buildings, notably, the Pantheon).  Our lunches and afternoons were free these three days, and I used them to very good advantage. Having brought a massive (but good) architectural book with me (Sir Bannister Fletcher), among others, I spent Saturday afternoon in the Forum Romanum, Saturday in the Capitolina Museum, Sunday morning at some church that had a 100 voice Gregorian choir, Sunday afternoon in the vicinity of the Piazza Venezia, Sunday evening at La Boheme (with Traverso as tenor: he sounded good to me), and Monday afternoon running around Saint Peters. The planning of this visit is terrific: our guides are always good and on time, and they seem to like showing off their knowledge; the tour groups of about 20 students are manageable; the tours are good; no crisis have developed yet. Tuesday morning we had an audience with The Big John, which was kind of a blast, and that afternoon lecture on modern Rome by some priest. Not so good.Tuesday evening I had another opera, but lost out: Die Fledermaus in Italian. Never again.

By Wednesday, the group knew it’s way around, so our keepers up and gave us free time until we head back to Germany. I managed to cover (in only six hours: three yesterday, three today) the picture, bronze sculpture, and marble sculpture galleries of that city. It sure beats Stuttgart 's culture buildings.

I’m really gassed by the city. Unfortunately the weather turned cold a few days ago, so tours in the open are pretty rough. I’m coming back this summer for sure (with Jim Hass, who is going to be my French-speaking, history-majoring, culturally-inclined, travel mate).

I’m sure your answer to my spring vacation inquiries is sitting in my mailbox at Stuttgart. If you’re staying at Athens, I’m heading there with a buddy (or two) who will take their own hotel, etc., (although you might recommend a few if you have time): my car will be with me. If you’re going elsewhere - like Spain - I don’t quite know where to go.

Well, back to the Eternal City. Until I see your letters, it’s

Big Sam 

Signing off