Mapping & Exploring Rome 2019!

The Empire State Plaza, NY It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon at the beginning of April in Saratoga Springs.  At Case Center, we hopped inside of Joseph's car. Reshma got into the passenger seat, Mark and Emily squeezed into the back with me.  Joseph turned the engine on and began to blast music from the stereo, as we quickly pulled away from Skidmore. Once we hit the highway we began some small talk which quickly grew to funny anecdotes.  Thirty-five minutes later we began to notice tall buildings in the distance, Albany. When we first got to the Empire State Plaza, I began to notice clear signs of axiality. Initially, there was something comforting about being in the plaza because it reminded me of New York.  Gradually, I began to feel uncomfortable due to several factors. The agency buildings made me feel eerie because they were so dehumanized, as they weren’t named but numbered. As we moved across the plaza I began to question the architecture, th...

On the top of the wicked figures face, a dark purple jewel with gold flames laced along the edges is connected to a red wrap around thick layers of a black bun.  Below the bun is a crown, with flowers etched into its length, connected by small bronze beads, with beige skulls atop of every flower. Remnants of a red circle the eyes of each skull. The skull which you can find in the center of the crown is placed in between two short horns.  The crown reaches a half inch above the hairline of the figure and is placed around the circumference of the head. It rests gently on two long ears with large holes within each lobe. An inch apart from each ear, a pair of vicious eyebrows lay, with black horizontal lines running through each, from the pointed top to the curved bottom of each brow.  Below the black lines are a set of devilish eyes. The eyes are the focal point of the figure, orange iris’ burn into your soul as you first approach the figure. The eyes stare right at you...

As I finish ordering my bagel, I notice a man behind the farther end of the counter.  He catches my eye because I have no clue what he is trying to do, as he is working with large metal objects in his hands.  When I reach the entrance to the farther end, I realize that he is trying to assemble the coffee machine.  My friends and I take a seat close enough that I can watch him, but far enough away as to not be creepy.  The man who looks to be in his mid-thirties stands at the counter refilling containers of vegetables, wearing a baggy flannel underneath an apron, ragged jeans, and a thick pair of black boots.  Half of the mans face is covered in hair, with a light brown mustache above his upper lip, and a full beard connecting to it.  Country music and chatter fill the large open space when I begin to notice a few piercings in the mans left ear.  This detail piques my curiosity,  and I begin to search his hands for a wedding band, which I cannot ma...

We make our way down Clinton St. and find ourselves approaching downtown Saratoga.  The midday sun blinds me completely, seeping its way into my dark winter clothing, warming up my rough skin. A truck of different smells hits me the second we turn onto Broadway.  Hints of savory, spicy goodness float through the air, allowing us to instantly know which way to turn.  As we begin to make our way through the sea of bodies, it becomes evident just how many people decided to come to Chowderfest this year.  People left and right continue to push into me, push past me, bringing me a combined sense of annoyance and thankfulness.  I become thankful to have so many warm bodies surround me as the chilly air seeps down the neck of my jacket, sending a tingling sensation from the base of my head down my spine to my lower back.  I get pulled in the direction of whichever chowder stand is closest and bury my head into my friend's shoulder as we wait on line.  The sme...