Learning Italian Roman Style

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I spent this past month of July taking beginning level Italian language lessons at Dilit School in Roma. It was a worthwhile experience that provided me with basic skills in Italian. I can now order food and drink, purchase a train or bus ticket, find out how to get to Campo di Fiori or Piazza di Spagna, and best of all make new Italian friends--all in Italian. But the best part of being at Dilit was the camaraderie I shared with other international students at the school, who were also learning to: parlare italiano.

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Photos

Gelato italiano--Incredibile!!
You don't know how good Italian ice cream is until you've tried it.

Sitting in the Roman sun
A well-deserved break after an afternoon of seeing the Roman sights.

Andiamo in treno
One way to get around Roma easily with friends is on the metropolitana

All'aria aperta
A lovely ristorante along the Tevere (Tiber River)--dining outside, in the open air is the best in Trastevere on the Isola Tiberina.

Vorrei una birra alla spina
Italian beer is ice cold and excellent, especially when consumed at a favorite bar in Campo di Fiori.

Ancora una volta: gelato
I LOVE gelato!

La terazza
Taking a well-earned class break on Dilit's terrace.

La professoressa
Class break is over. Andiamo...allora...ancora...insieme...controllare...una domanda. She was a wonderful teacher.

Ostia Antica I
The foundations of the ancient Roman port city of Ostia date to 1400-400BC. In antiquity, Ostia was at the mouth of the Tiber (Tevere) River. Ostia had its heyday in the second century AD during the reigns of Trajan, Hadrian and Antoninus Pius. My friends and I had its excavated, well-preserved ruins all to ourselves one hot Sunday afternoon.

Ostia Antica II
The floor of an ancient Roman bath?

Ostia Antica III
The streets are dusty and deserted, but it feels like the people still live there.

Ostia Antica IV
Waiking down the old Roman roads.

Pizza! Pizza! Pizza!
Some (Most) of us ordered pizza at this ristorante that set a table for us in an alleyway next to its outside wall.

Occhiali da sole (Sunglasses)
The proper pair of shades can make all the difference (night or day) in Roma.

Arrivederci Roma
My farewell party. Roma was fun!!!

Comments

[peggy arbanas]

thanks for sharing a great experience
Don, I'm excited about your trip and great pictures that show why you are so enthusiatic about learning Italian. I'm looking forward to doing the same thing in Mexico for October and part of November. I'll study in Guanajuato and San Miguel de Allende. Thanks for the tip about the best place to go.

[Peatyo]

Whoa-hoa
Cool shakes and conviviality. Ostia Antica never seems to have visitors. I've been there 3x in 3 different decades and never any other visitors. The ghosts swallow them up.

[Peatyo]

Cool Shades
Ostia Antica is always empty of tourists because the ghosts eat the undesirables. The school mates and dinners look marvelous. You rock, Schlief.

[Marcos et Lorita]

Thanks
Loving your story-no navel gazing or self-adoration. Very good perspective. Light and fun. Marcos

[Snowmonk]

Ice Cream
You should try Bulgaria ice cream- is even better! And yogurt is very special. But Italy food is good and you look like good cook too. Have a good time!