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
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