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
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