I have had a full day today. We were in classes from 8:30-6…long day! My morning class was my art history class and today we got to go into Florence and loot at and experience the art. We went to the Museum di San Marco and unfortunately we weren’t able to take pictures because the art was so astounding and I could never describe it. My favorite part of the day is that we got to go to the de' Medici Palace. After reading The Agony and The Ecstasy I really thought I got to be part of this amazing place that Michelangelo got to call home. He was invited to live there when he was younger and Lorenzo treated him like a son and he considered this more of a home than his father’s place. I was able to walk down the same halls and I am so lucky to get to do that. If only I could have been there 600 years ago.
At the de’ Medici Palace they also had an exhibition going on of a painting that was restored to its original beauty. They had pictures following the process and then the final produce at the end. It was quite remarkable. The painting on display was La Madonna del Cardellino by Raphael.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
60 degrees
Yesterday after classes my friends and I heard that an Italian leather store was going out of business so we all went to check it out. I got 175 euros worth of shoes for 30 euros. I got a really cute pair of boots and a pair of brown dress shoes, both leather! Now don’t ask me how I am going to get all this stuff home but in the end I will find a way.
Today has been a great day. It is beautiful here with the sunny shining all day and it being nice and warm. So this afternoon, after lunch, I went outside and laid on a blanket to read a book. The view was amazing, just to top it off.
Today has been a great day. It is beautiful here with the sunny shining all day and it being nice and warm. So this afternoon, after lunch, I went outside and laid on a blanket to read a book. The view was amazing, just to top it off.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Carnivale
Wow, I had a full weekend. I went to Venice for Carnivale and it was marvelous! When my friends and I got off the train we instantly got lost, Venice is not map-free friendly (But we managed to make it all weekend without a map). None of us cared that we were lost though because we were just so excited to be there. The street there are so beautiful at night, they were are all lit up and all the stores glittered with masks for Carnivale. When we got to the CHINESE hostel (only one with any room) God must have intervened because a Chinese girl walked up and was able to interpret for us.
For all of our meals we had traditional Chinese meals (I prefer the Americanized Chinese meals) it seemed like everything was pickled. We had weird chicken wings, bamboo, seaweed soup, and enough pickled veggies for a lifetime. Breakfasts there were porridge with pickled vegetables and scrambled eggs with what looked to be hot dogs.
All three days that we were there were very full with activities. One of the first things we did was find my Aunt Simonetta’s family bakery. After 75 min (it should have been a 10 min walk) of walking we found it! It was pretty exciting for me, we even got some galatis. We then meandered our way to San Marco Square where most of the festivities were taking place.
It was incredible how many people were crammed into this one area. People everywhere were dressed up in the most exquisite costumes. In all of this mess I finally found the perfect mask, it has a music theme with glitter and feathers. There were stands giving away these things that reminded me of big donut holes with raisins inside and wine. Needless to say you didn’t have to ask me twice.
After dinner on Saturday my friends and I went out to the parties. There was the big one in San Marco Square and there were also parties randomly in the middle of streets. It looked like a dance club but in the middle of a street. It was great. I think people came out from every crevice of the world Saturday night.
We were able to get next to the stage in San Marcos square and watch the performers. There was a “hot air balloon” with a trapeze artist hanging from it and a clown marching band that ended up coming right up to us and stopping. I could have reached out and touched them.
There were many drunk idiots though which lead, of course, to many fights. One of which was about five feet away from us and sent me and someone else running in the opposite direction, we slow creped back to watch the show though. I know stupid but it was like a mosquito drawn to light.
Sunday was spent just walking around and window shopping because I couldn’t afford anything there. We went into the Gucci shop just to see the prices of everything and they had a sales assistant follow us around and this big guy that we assumed was a security guard. Yep, we looked poor by their standards.
When I was back in Florence and was about to get on my bus an Italian guy got off and asked me how I was doing? I said good and went back to waiting for the bus to clear off. He then said, “You don’t have to be a BI***?” I replied with excuse me and he said it again. So I let him know that, “I don’t let anyone talk to me like that especially little boys!” He was kind of stunned/mad, so he called me a Bi*** one more time then walked off. I do have to give my dad props for that line though.
If you are still reading this I am impressed…
There is a person in there, it's a costume
That's the clown marching band
Aunt Simonetta's family bakery
That's a street
For all of our meals we had traditional Chinese meals (I prefer the Americanized Chinese meals) it seemed like everything was pickled. We had weird chicken wings, bamboo, seaweed soup, and enough pickled veggies for a lifetime. Breakfasts there were porridge with pickled vegetables and scrambled eggs with what looked to be hot dogs.
All three days that we were there were very full with activities. One of the first things we did was find my Aunt Simonetta’s family bakery. After 75 min (it should have been a 10 min walk) of walking we found it! It was pretty exciting for me, we even got some galatis. We then meandered our way to San Marco Square where most of the festivities were taking place.
It was incredible how many people were crammed into this one area. People everywhere were dressed up in the most exquisite costumes. In all of this mess I finally found the perfect mask, it has a music theme with glitter and feathers. There were stands giving away these things that reminded me of big donut holes with raisins inside and wine. Needless to say you didn’t have to ask me twice.
After dinner on Saturday my friends and I went out to the parties. There was the big one in San Marco Square and there were also parties randomly in the middle of streets. It looked like a dance club but in the middle of a street. It was great. I think people came out from every crevice of the world Saturday night.
We were able to get next to the stage in San Marcos square and watch the performers. There was a “hot air balloon” with a trapeze artist hanging from it and a clown marching band that ended up coming right up to us and stopping. I could have reached out and touched them.
There were many drunk idiots though which lead, of course, to many fights. One of which was about five feet away from us and sent me and someone else running in the opposite direction, we slow creped back to watch the show though. I know stupid but it was like a mosquito drawn to light.
Sunday was spent just walking around and window shopping because I couldn’t afford anything there. We went into the Gucci shop just to see the prices of everything and they had a sales assistant follow us around and this big guy that we assumed was a security guard. Yep, we looked poor by their standards.
When I was back in Florence and was about to get on my bus an Italian guy got off and asked me how I was doing? I said good and went back to waiting for the bus to clear off. He then said, “You don’t have to be a BI***?” I replied with excuse me and he said it again. So I let him know that, “I don’t let anyone talk to me like that especially little boys!” He was kind of stunned/mad, so he called me a Bi*** one more time then walked off. I do have to give my dad props for that line though.
If you are still reading this I am impressed…
There is a person in there, it's a costume
That's the clown marching band
Aunt Simonetta's family bakery
That's a street
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Life's a blur...
These last few days have been mostly filled with classes. Last night was fun, we have a ping pong tournament going on now. I am having a good time just watching everyone else play. Maybe it’s because I got eliminated in the first round. After a game where I was behind by ten I caught up but still lost by 4 to my Resident Director. I keep trying to get her to laugh so she would be off her game, but it didn’t work.
Tomorrow morning I am leaving bright and early for Carnival in Venice. I am so excited. It’s just me and two other girls so it will be a much smaller group but it will be nice to get away from the pack.
I just fall in love with this place even more every day I am here. I went on a small hike, today after classes, and found the most prefect view of Santignano, the town I am living in. My Italian is improving too! Today I was able to walk into a grocery store and ask what his favorite wine is and what he recommended that we should have with our dessert, Heck YA! I’m so proud of myself! My life has been passing like a blur since I got here and it has only been ten days.
Tomorrow morning I am leaving bright and early for Carnival in Venice. I am so excited. It’s just me and two other girls so it will be a much smaller group but it will be nice to get away from the pack.
I just fall in love with this place even more every day I am here. I went on a small hike, today after classes, and found the most prefect view of Santignano, the town I am living in. My Italian is improving too! Today I was able to walk into a grocery store and ask what his favorite wine is and what he recommended that we should have with our dessert, Heck YA! I’m so proud of myself! My life has been passing like a blur since I got here and it has only been ten days.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Buonasera
Hello All!
I'm so excited and everyone is going to think I am insane, but I got peanut butter today. The food in the dinning room has sucked. Cafe food = sucky and bland, Cafe food + Bland Italian = ewww. Actually lunch today was very yummy the best I've had but the clazone I had yesterday is still the best and it was the best deal by far. It was $3 and it was huge, I could have made it 2 meals if I had wanted. But I figured I deserved the whole thing after my 20K (12.4 mile) walk on Saturday. Also my body is still killing me for walking that far. I found muscles I didn't know I had. At least I will have great looking legs this summer. LOL
For a class tonight we watched Into the Wild. I hadn't seen it before and I really liked it. I think we watched the movie to show us the importance of keeping a journal. But seriously did we have to watch a 3 hour movie, a lecture would have sufficed.
I'm so excited and everyone is going to think I am insane, but I got peanut butter today. The food in the dinning room has sucked. Cafe food = sucky and bland, Cafe food + Bland Italian = ewww. Actually lunch today was very yummy the best I've had but the clazone I had yesterday is still the best and it was the best deal by far. It was $3 and it was huge, I could have made it 2 meals if I had wanted. But I figured I deserved the whole thing after my 20K (12.4 mile) walk on Saturday. Also my body is still killing me for walking that far. I found muscles I didn't know I had. At least I will have great looking legs this summer. LOL
For a class tonight we watched Into the Wild. I hadn't seen it before and I really liked it. I think we watched the movie to show us the importance of keeping a journal. But seriously did we have to watch a 3 hour movie, a lecture would have sufficed.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
I have to say, the perfect day
Today has been the perfect day. It started with a light 6.2 mile walk up a mountain to a castle. I really thought I was going to die on the walk up. The castle was amazing and so remarkable to walk through. The guy that gave us the tour, his family owns the castle. The castle was from the 1200’s and has the most incredible view. In there it had a music book that was 800 years old and the pages were made of leather. The book was probable 24” x 24” and guess what? We got to touch it! The guy, Francesco, pulled it out and we got to touch, flip, and smell the pages. For being 800 years old the colors were so vibrant and the details were so intricate. Francesco said that to make the book back then cost around the price of a house today.
On the 6.2 mile walk down the hill it was striking, we got to look out over all of Florence. It was another perfectly clear day and I could see forever. I really hope I get to come back here one day. The only downside is that my hips started to hurt pretty badly but it was more than worth it. I would do it again in a heartbeat.
After that I had to hurry up and clean up because a few of us went to mass at the Duomo, THE DUOMO!!! Amazing, simply amazing. Then we all went for some real Italian pizza. Then proceeded to bar hop. It was my first bar hopping experience and it consisted of 2 bars. It’s probably the closest that I will ever get the actual bar hopping. We had a great time just sipping drinks and having great conversations. We also watched part of a rugby game and a soccer game. We ended the night around 11pm and are now settled in to a nice comfy bed.
That is why I have to say, this is the perfect day.
On the 6.2 mile walk down the hill it was striking, we got to look out over all of Florence. It was another perfectly clear day and I could see forever. I really hope I get to come back here one day. The only downside is that my hips started to hurt pretty badly but it was more than worth it. I would do it again in a heartbeat.
After that I had to hurry up and clean up because a few of us went to mass at the Duomo, THE DUOMO!!! Amazing, simply amazing. Then we all went for some real Italian pizza. Then proceeded to bar hop. It was my first bar hopping experience and it consisted of 2 bars. It’s probably the closest that I will ever get the actual bar hopping. We had a great time just sipping drinks and having great conversations. We also watched part of a rugby game and a soccer game. We ended the night around 11pm and are now settled in to a nice comfy bed.
That is why I have to say, this is the perfect day.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Dove autobus?
Today I got to go up to the top of the Duomo. It was amazing I could see for a hundred miles. We could see snow caps on the mountains in the Alps. Simply amazing and stunning! The climb was painful though; It took 463 very steep steps to the top. We also could see our “little” villa.
After we got back down
The Ceiling of the Duomo
The Amazing View. Can you see the snow peaks?
After we were done huffing and puffing we went adventuring through the town. My friend Annelise and I just walked around until we got lost but that was ok because we found so many really awesome shops and Annelise got a skirt I would have bought if they had it in a size larger. Maybe with all this walking I’ll loose some weight and I can steal it from her.
Around dinner time we had to find our way back to the bus stop and we were on the wrong side of the rode, so when the bus came we had to run for the other side. There were crazy Italian drivers everywhere and I was going to cross behind a taxi and he stopped abruptly and I ran into it. I will never get to live it down. I have to admit it was pretty funny though.
I’m picking up enough Italian that I can get around when people give me directions but no conversations yet. I was able to talk to a baby in a store earlier! Does that count?
After we got back down
The Ceiling of the Duomo
The Amazing View. Can you see the snow peaks?
After we were done huffing and puffing we went adventuring through the town. My friend Annelise and I just walked around until we got lost but that was ok because we found so many really awesome shops and Annelise got a skirt I would have bought if they had it in a size larger. Maybe with all this walking I’ll loose some weight and I can steal it from her.
Around dinner time we had to find our way back to the bus stop and we were on the wrong side of the rode, so when the bus came we had to run for the other side. There were crazy Italian drivers everywhere and I was going to cross behind a taxi and he stopped abruptly and I ran into it. I will never get to live it down. I have to admit it was pretty funny though.
I’m picking up enough Italian that I can get around when people give me directions but no conversations yet. I was able to talk to a baby in a store earlier! Does that count?
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Twist and Shout
Today was a long day filled with classes and adventuring. After Italian today a group of up walked up the hill to some shops and went looking for food. We found a grocery store and Annelise wanted some cheese but the guy working the shop knew no English. It took awhile and a lot of patience on his part but we eventually got the cheese.
After dinner tonight, the school put on a welcome party for us. It was so much fun. A bunch of us played ping pong around the world. It’s were everyone takes turns hitting the ball. You get around the table and pass the paddle after you hit it. And you run in circles. If you miss the ball or don’ t hit it on the table your out. When there is only 3 people left it is really hard because you barely make it to the paddle much less hit the ball. So much fun!
They also had a Italian band come in and play some traditional songs. There was dancing and singing and lots of laughing. It was really great to bond with the people I didn’t know in the group. It was funning because towards the end of the night they played Twist and Shout by the Beatles and it was great! Everyone got up and danced, even the teachers.
After dinner tonight, the school put on a welcome party for us. It was so much fun. A bunch of us played ping pong around the world. It’s were everyone takes turns hitting the ball. You get around the table and pass the paddle after you hit it. And you run in circles. If you miss the ball or don’ t hit it on the table your out. When there is only 3 people left it is really hard because you barely make it to the paddle much less hit the ball. So much fun!
They also had a Italian band come in and play some traditional songs. There was dancing and singing and lots of laughing. It was really great to bond with the people I didn’t know in the group. It was funning because towards the end of the night they played Twist and Shout by the Beatles and it was great! Everyone got up and danced, even the teachers.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
This is the life
I am never going to leave this place now. While I was in class this morning my bed was made all pretty like. It's nice to have a maid service. The view from my window is amazing in the day time as well as at night. After my next class the whole group is going to go into Florence and explore together. I am getting excited!
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
I have arrived!
Hello all, The gentleman I sat next to on my flight was from Romania and was very interesting and chivalrous. He even offered to move to another chair so I could lie down and sleep. I didn’t even think we could change seats. So I stretched out and lounged the whole flight.Last night we stayed at a Convent RIGHT across the street from St. Peter’s Square. We could see right in the Pope’s window and we could see someone moving around in there. We walked around outside until 10 pm and got Gelato and admired the beautiful moon that was out.
Today has been a great day filled with many adventures. In the middle of the night I had an intermission to my sleep cycle. Paula and Adrienne woke up and then woke everyone up which turned into a giggle fit. Eventually we all got back to sleep and when we woke up this morning we went on a walking tour, which Paula’s friend, Fryer Column led. We saw so many places and we had a great time. Afterwords he took us to an Irish Pub, in Italy, that played American music. It was fantastic!
We were running late for our train though and when we hit the train station it must have looked ridiculous: five girls, running through the train station, bumping into people and laughing the whole way. We got on the train with 1.5 minutes to spare.
I am in Florence now and getting myself situated. Our window over looks the Florence valley and it is unbelievable beautiful. I wish everyone could see this. I will post pictures later.
Ciao!
Today has been a great day filled with many adventures. In the middle of the night I had an intermission to my sleep cycle. Paula and Adrienne woke up and then woke everyone up which turned into a giggle fit. Eventually we all got back to sleep and when we woke up this morning we went on a walking tour, which Paula’s friend, Fryer Column led. We saw so many places and we had a great time. Afterwords he took us to an Irish Pub, in Italy, that played American music. It was fantastic!
We were running late for our train though and when we hit the train station it must have looked ridiculous: five girls, running through the train station, bumping into people and laughing the whole way. We got on the train with 1.5 minutes to spare.
I am in Florence now and getting myself situated. Our window over looks the Florence valley and it is unbelievable beautiful. I wish everyone could see this. I will post pictures later.
Ciao!
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