Our last few days in Rome...

It has hard to believe that we leave in two days! It has been a marvellous trip.

Today the students have gone to the Vatican to see St Peters Basilica, The Vatican Museum (and Sistene Chapel) and climb The Dome (yes another climb). We will soon be heading to Trevi Fountain.

The Monestary is lovely, and the Sisters very cute!

So the news everyone has been waiting to hear..... my night at the Discotech with 14 students! Very similar to a Blue Light Disco i am sure. Please do not believe any rumours that you may hear about me dancing on a table or having my head patted by some random man (??) .... they are ALL rumours!

The kids had a great time. I will put a photo of the girls with their new shoes. many were hobbling after a very short time hee hee hee.

It was a very sad farewell to our friends from Bologna. Many tears. They certainly looked after us while we were there.

We look forward to being back in Australia (well.... David, Helen and Pam do!)

Thanks everyone for following the blog. Not sure if we will have the opportunity for another post. maybe???

And more greetings from Bologna!!

A photograph of the students waiting for Mr Allan, who was 5 minutes late! (after helping students by taking them up to the Leaning Tower of PISA)

Ms Leyden back again...

It has been a very very busy couple of days.

When i was last in this internet cafe, the students were tiptoeing around the Theatre Commune (opera house of Bologna). They were given the opportunity to go into the orchestra pit, go on stage, and also try on costumes! After I joined them the guide then took the students right up to the very top of the theatre (just above some of the private boxes) where the spot light is... the students were able to watch part of a rehearsal of the opera La Boheme by Puccini. This is an AMAZING and rare opportunity. The guide told us that she could get into a lot of trouble if the Producer saw us. It was incredible.

The next day (after many photos of Sunshine Beach SHS students holding up the Leaning Tower of PISA of which Jacob is giving a fine demonstration in the photograph above!) we also visited the house of Puccini, where we met his grandaughter (who is now quite elderly).

The performances yesterday were very special. The students sang in front of (and met), the Minister for Culture and Youth Policy, Nicoletta Mantovani (who is also the widow of Pavorotti). Another amazing opporunity! It is interesting to know that in Italian schools, music is not offered as a subject. The school we performed at in the morning is one of the few schools in Bologna that has a choir (only small). Senora Mantovani is hoping to try and open a school that offers Music in Bologna.

In the evening (yes, the performance didnt start until after 9.30pm) we were one of three choirs performing in the Palace of Bologna. All three choirs had rehearsed together on Tuesday evening (no rest for the wicked???) and learnt two Italian songs that we all sang together at the end of the concert (similar to our combined schools choir day with the choir from Marostica). Again, very beautiful and such a good experience.

Today, everyone is tired. As you will see in the photo of us sitting on the steps (this was taken this morning), three students have decided to stay at home until 4pm this afternoon, as they are getting sore throats and are very tired. So we were only 15 travelling to the Acadamia Philharmonica. This was the Academy that Mozart went to at age 14 years old. Also Verdi, Rossini, Respeghi, Ravel, Corelli, Torelli, Saint Saens, Paul Dukas.... Many many famous composers that the students learn about in school. They walked through the rooms that Mozart learnt composition in.

Enough for now. This afternoon we are making pasta with the seniors of Bologna, and eating dinner with the families. Tomorrow, off to Verona. And then.... a day off!!

Life is Beautiful.

Helen, David, Pam and the Sunshine Beach Students!