This past week in Florence and Italy has been amazing. My italian conversation skills are improving and am getting better at communicating with my host parents. I look forward to dinner time during the week, because, not only is my host mom an excellent cook(seriously I have liked everything she was made...I even made an omelette), but it also gives me a chance to practice my Italian.
Tuesday night, I went my italian cinema class to the Odeon Theatre. It is an old gorgeous, yet small, theater that plays movies in both Italian and English. My class watched a documentary about Tunisa in Italian with english subtitles. The movies was very informatative and intense. However, I enjoyed the experience.
Classes are preparing for midterms, which is kinda of stressing me out because I dont want to take the time to study here. I want to experience as much as I can during my semester abroad. But school isnt too exiciting. I go to class, do homework(sometimes) and came home. My weekends are generally more exiciting.
This weekend was one of the best weekends I have had so far. I overdosed on chocolate at the Perugia Chocolate Festival, saw amazing sites, and fell in love(No, friends and family, I didn't meet an Italian Hottie or a cute European with an accent--I fell in love with Venice. The city is probably the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. The town is full of canals, bridges, churches and all surronded by water. It gave off a romantic vibe and I would love to go back to Venice in the future with an a boyfriend or husband.
The chocolate festival was a chocolate lover's pardise. It was literally like Willy Wodka threw up all over the town. There were tents and tents filled of chocolate, chocolate scultpures and vendors giving out free samples. I over dosed on chocolate and tired too many samples...they were just all so sweet and delicious(Thus is was literally La Dolce Vita or the sweet life for those we dont speak Italian)
However, my favorite part of the weekend was Venice. Despite several issues getting there(missing the train, having to pay 8 euro to sit in the resturant car on the next train, getting lost multiple times trying to find the hotel and after finally finding the hotel searching for an open place to buy a bus ticket into the Venice City Center) the trip was overall an success, even if it drained my bank account. Upon arriving in the city center, we immediately stared taking pictures of all the scenery. Everything looked so romantic. We made our way to San Marco Square where we went inside Doge Place(which was huge and gorgeous) and the Bell Tower which had the most amazing views of the entire city(totally worth the 8 euro). Afterwards, we walked around and looked at the shops on our way to dinner. We found this random resturant with amazing prosecco(everytime I see prosecco I was tempted to order since I am since a sucker for it). Then I had some calamari pizza, which just screams my name. It is like two of my favorite things: Pizza and Calamari!! It was yummy that I ate the whole thing(I know, me finish a pizza?...Big Shocker)...But why not? I am only in Italy for 3 month, I can eat healthy in America. I might as well adjust to the Italian lifestyle.
The walk back to the hotel after dinner was one of the trip highlights. Not only was it gorgeous and romantic with all the lights, but I was pretty happy from that prosecco and pizza. I took picture after picture and even bought a glass shot glass..(I have got to stop going shopping with a buzz lol).
The next day in Venice was full of site seeing. We saw the Bascila di San Marco, the Island of Murano and a Glass blowing demonstration. The glass blowing was amazing to watch, I was amazed by how talented they were. I have no artistic ability at all and apperciate any work of art I see.
The Bascila di San Marco, is one of the largest Bascilas. The interior is decorated with several moasics and several other pieces of artwork. I fully enjoyed admiring all the work...because after learning more about art in my art history class I know how much work goes into each piece.
I would not have the ability or patience to do anything like that.
After a full day of site seeing, we headed back to the train station and stop at several churches and gift shops along the way. Admiring the masks, glass scultpures and glass jewerly at every corner. Everything was just so pretty in Venice. I didn't want to leave.
However, when the train pulled into Florence I was happy to be home. I was happy to be in a place that was familar to me. I love exploring new places, but Florence is my home now. And after days of traveling...I just want to go home.
Ciao for now!
Amy
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Sorry the Delay...But here it is...
I know it has been awhile since I last posted, but I have been so busy with my European adventures that I forgot to update my blog. The past couple weeks in Florence have been amazing. So much has happened and I have experienced so much that it will be difficult to share every detail with you...but I will try.
When I left off, I was just about to start my second week of classes. Classes are classes, nothing too exiciting there. However, that weekend following my second week of school was the craziest weekend I have ever had....I went to Oktoberfest. Oktoberfest is a huge carnival with rides, games and tons of good beer. I normally do not like beer, but this beer is different. It is German Beer!! I do not think I will able to go back to American Beer after this weekend. At Oktoberfest, you basically go inside these tents, meet people, sing, prost(toast in German) and drink liters of beers. I was pretty happy after one beer, which was great because each one costs about 9 euros! After a full day of drinking and walking around the carnival, we went back to the campsite(Yes, I actually camped, big shocker) and drank some more at the campsite's open bar. The camp site put on a party every night with drinks and dancing. It was a great way to meet people! And all that alcohol made it easier to sleep on the ground. Thus, I have decided that if I ever camp again, tons of alocohol will have to be provided.
After two days of partying at Oktoberfest, we decided to change gears and go to Dachau Concentration camp. The visit to the concentration camp was an eye opener for me. I have heard stories about the horrors of the Holocaust, but I have never really seen what it was like. Being in the camp, made me realize how lucky I am to live the life I have. I have enough food, I have shelter and I do not have to work in horrid conditions. From that moment on, I vowed to never complain about stupid things that happen in my life because as I witnessed at Dachau, things can be worse. Much worse.
The next weekend, I went to Cinque Terre, which is basically 5 little islands. It was gorgeous. We went for a walk, ate delicous seafood(we dont get much seafood in Florence) and layed out on the beach. The water was so clean and clear, I actually went for a swim.
This weekend was a busy one. I went to Rome for the day with my Art History Class. It was so exhausting. We got early(around 645) and headed for the train station. We arrived in Rome around 930 and immediatly started site seeing. We passed by the Colessium and the Roman Forum. First went into the Basilica of San Clemente...it was beautiful inside. Then we went to the Pantheon. On our way there, it started to down pour. Luckly I checked the weather and brought an umbrella with me. There is a hole on top of the pantheon, so a section was closed off due to wetness. After the pantheon, we had a lunch break, then we saw the Ara Pacis(arc of Peace) and then we went to Palazzo Massimo where we saw frescos and moasics. Walking around Rome, made me not only tired, but it made me miss Florence. Rome is a great place to visit, but it is too big of a city for me. I prefer Florence because it is easily to get around. It still has the big city feel and has tons of things to do, but it still also has the small town feel. I can walk everywhere in Florence and it already feels like my home.
Saturday I went wine tasting in Chianti. The guy was very knowledge about wine and I enjoyed listening to him. The winery was also gorgeous. I have decided that I want to move to Italy and have a vacation home in Chianti. I would not mind waking up to that view everyday. The wine was also really good. I have been spoiled but all this good Italian wine.
This has been by far the greatest experience of my life. I just want to thank my mom and dad for making my study abroad dreams a reality. I love them and can't thank them enough for this experience. I am having the time of my life here and want to experience everything I can in the smart amount of time I have here. After all, I can sleep when I am dead...or at least back in America.
Ciao for now!
Amy
When I left off, I was just about to start my second week of classes. Classes are classes, nothing too exiciting there. However, that weekend following my second week of school was the craziest weekend I have ever had....I went to Oktoberfest. Oktoberfest is a huge carnival with rides, games and tons of good beer. I normally do not like beer, but this beer is different. It is German Beer!! I do not think I will able to go back to American Beer after this weekend. At Oktoberfest, you basically go inside these tents, meet people, sing, prost(toast in German) and drink liters of beers. I was pretty happy after one beer, which was great because each one costs about 9 euros! After a full day of drinking and walking around the carnival, we went back to the campsite(Yes, I actually camped, big shocker) and drank some more at the campsite's open bar. The camp site put on a party every night with drinks and dancing. It was a great way to meet people! And all that alcohol made it easier to sleep on the ground. Thus, I have decided that if I ever camp again, tons of alocohol will have to be provided.
After two days of partying at Oktoberfest, we decided to change gears and go to Dachau Concentration camp. The visit to the concentration camp was an eye opener for me. I have heard stories about the horrors of the Holocaust, but I have never really seen what it was like. Being in the camp, made me realize how lucky I am to live the life I have. I have enough food, I have shelter and I do not have to work in horrid conditions. From that moment on, I vowed to never complain about stupid things that happen in my life because as I witnessed at Dachau, things can be worse. Much worse.
The next weekend, I went to Cinque Terre, which is basically 5 little islands. It was gorgeous. We went for a walk, ate delicous seafood(we dont get much seafood in Florence) and layed out on the beach. The water was so clean and clear, I actually went for a swim.
This weekend was a busy one. I went to Rome for the day with my Art History Class. It was so exhausting. We got early(around 645) and headed for the train station. We arrived in Rome around 930 and immediatly started site seeing. We passed by the Colessium and the Roman Forum. First went into the Basilica of San Clemente...it was beautiful inside. Then we went to the Pantheon. On our way there, it started to down pour. Luckly I checked the weather and brought an umbrella with me. There is a hole on top of the pantheon, so a section was closed off due to wetness. After the pantheon, we had a lunch break, then we saw the Ara Pacis(arc of Peace) and then we went to Palazzo Massimo where we saw frescos and moasics. Walking around Rome, made me not only tired, but it made me miss Florence. Rome is a great place to visit, but it is too big of a city for me. I prefer Florence because it is easily to get around. It still has the big city feel and has tons of things to do, but it still also has the small town feel. I can walk everywhere in Florence and it already feels like my home.
Saturday I went wine tasting in Chianti. The guy was very knowledge about wine and I enjoyed listening to him. The winery was also gorgeous. I have decided that I want to move to Italy and have a vacation home in Chianti. I would not mind waking up to that view everyday. The wine was also really good. I have been spoiled but all this good Italian wine.
This has been by far the greatest experience of my life. I just want to thank my mom and dad for making my study abroad dreams a reality. I love them and can't thank them enough for this experience. I am having the time of my life here and want to experience everything I can in the smart amount of time I have here. After all, I can sleep when I am dead...or at least back in America.
Ciao for now!
Amy
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)