Sleeping on the Job

Dear Family, Friends, Readers...
I apologize again.  I have been sleeping on the job.

Life here in Italy has been so hectic with visitors, midterms, holidays, spring break and getting back into the swing of classes after break.  I will update more soon.


Blogs Topics to look forward to...
~My Class & Project Updates
~Love is in the Air: Bologna & Verona
~The Adventures of Bianca and Veronica: Florence & Rome
~Siena for a Day

~My Experiences with the Gentleman and one day film director: Matt Nixon

~Masquerade: Paper Faces on Parade

~Visitors, Midterms, and Holiday Celebrations

~Spring Break Parts 2 & 3 (Sevilla & Amalfi Coast)

TODAY 

After class, I went over by the Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge) to sit and read in the lovely 70 degree weather we had today.  Well the ledge along the Arno (river) is quite high; probably to avoid people falling over the side of it.  I attempted to step up onto the ledge, but the part was too hight for me to get on so I ended up just leaning on my stomach while stretching my neck out to see the river below.  I noticed people tanning on the lawn down below on a small patch next to the river... I closed my eyes, took in the rays of sunlight and imagined myself jut laying out in the summer sun.  I leaned over the ledge again to take another view down the Arno on this beautiful day, of course stretching my neck out again, and this family sees me doing this and starts to attempt to see what I was looking at.  They even make eye contact with me and motion for me to point it out.  Unfortunately, my english and italian were irrelevant to the language they spoke so me saying not to worry about trying to see what I was looking at because there was nothing there did not go over to well.  They continued to stare at me with confused expressions as I embarrassed myself even more with hand gestures.  I finally gave up and walked away while they were leaning out to see the view again and I evaded the further awkwardness of them realizing that there was nothing there, but a pretty view.  

I took a seat on the lower part of ledge and leaned up against a light pole and read. I kept that spot for about an hour.  During that hour, I was in so many tourist photos.  Especially with this group of Italian High Schoolers.  They had decided that I was at the BEST part of the river ledge and therefore all swarmed my area for pictures as I continued to read.  At one point they all raised their gelato in the air in front of me. I thought about photo-bombing their picture, but I restrained myself and kept reading.  They finished their gelato and left.  A few more tourist snapped some shoots around me... then I looked up and caught this guy with a huge SLR camera with fancy lens taking a picture of me.  When I looked up he immediately turned his camera towards the river.  It made me chuckle, I could laugh to loud because I think he was embarrassed enough.  I was certainly flattered. Anyways it was a lovely afternoon soaking up the sun and reading near the Ponte Vecchio.  


To finish off the already beautiful day, I went to bible study later that evening with a few of my SSTM friends. Our snacks during bible study: wine, cheese and cookies! Only in ITALY 

And be sure to keep checking my Bucket List for new updates... :)

Estoy enamorado de Bar-thce-lona!!!

Spring Break 2011: Part 1

Barcelona, Spain

THURSDAY, March 17, 2011

12 HOUR Bus ride from Florence, Italy to Barcelona, Spain was... an experience, along with BRUTAL!  You would get in one position and think it was UBER comfy.  Then after 5 seconds, you would realize some part of your body was going numb from the cut off circulation, but it didn't matter because you were so exhausted and just wanted to fall asleep even if it was only for an hour.  On the flip side, I did FINALLY get to watch EuroTrip along with like 4 other movies on the bus ride.  Monica and I were basically the only ones laughing on the bus... we had more fun than everyone else anyways.  

FRIDAY, March 18, 2011

We arrived in Barcelona at about 9:00 am in the morning and were allowed about an hour to freshen up and drop off bags off in a storage room (due to our actual rooms not being ready).  We went on a walking tour of Barcelona which I do not really remember because I was so jaded from the bus ride.  I don’t think many of us were coherent.  We did get to see the Sagrada Familia though.  It is a masterpiece and will not be finished until estimated 2020.  I had no idea that there was fruit on the tops of the towers... well at least it looked like abstract fruit to me.  Granted I was really sleep deprived at this point, we hadn't had breakfast or lunch yet and my favorite food group is FRUIT! 

I also saw some Gaudi and Miro architecture in downtown Barcelona.  

 The marina was BEAUTIFUL and the weather could not have been any more perfect.

After seeing the Barcelona port, we stopped by the market off of Las Ramblas.  This open air market BLOWS Florence's out of the MEDITERRANEAN WATERS!  

Once Veronica was satisfied with a delicious smoothie and yummy peach candies, she went back to check in to her room and took a 3 hour nap.  It was MUCH needed, plus no one likes cranky Veronica (or as Nick Soliz puts it... I start smiling a lot and squinting my eyes).  

A bunch of us then went out to watch some flamanco dancing!  Woah, can those girls move: feet and hips.  Monica and I attempted to do a little of our own, still working on it.

Monica, Hannah, Jesse and I then went out for Seafood Paella and Sangria... I was a little worried at first, but they talked me though it.  I stayed mainly with the shrimp and crawfish, but it was still SUPER YUMMY!

SATURDAY, March 19, 2011

We ended up forming a solid group of 6: 3 guys & 3 girls, to hit the city of Barca. 

We ran through hoards of pigeous, took pictures by fountains and saw some pretty crazy street characters.  These ones in particular were TERRIFYING and I am pretty sure they were on stilts or Tom Cruise platforms...

This couple was sooooo READY to get away from these street characters on the famous Las Ramblas.  So as we were walking down Las Ramblas towards the beach and this supposedly GREAT sandwich place our friend was recommended for lunch, we ran into these ROWDY Barcelona Soccer fans from England.  They ended up convincing us that we needed to go to the game that night.  So we went to the ATM, pulled out more cash, and the 6 of us BOUGHT Barca Soccer Game tickets!!! So SPONTANEOUS :D  After 2 hours of walking, picture taking, and ticket buying... we FOUND the sandwich place!  Downside, there was a long line; upside, THERE WAS A LONG LINE... which means it is GOOD.  The sandwich was 4 euros each and monica and I decided to split one... which was ENOUGH for both of us.  It had so many things on it, that it was a challenge to eat.  DEFINITELY worth the wait.

We did the typical thing and ate it on the steps of some important building. Then it was time to check out the beach.  Oh my goodness... the Mediterranean is BEAUTIFUL! The color of the water is really a breathtaking mixture of blue-green.  

Once we finished sunbathing a bit, we decided to make the trip up the mountain (Montjuic) to see the Olympic Stadium.  THIS IS THE TORCH THAT HELD THE OLYMPIC FLAME!!! SOOOOOOO COOL!

We ended up taking an inclined metro up through the mountain!  The view up there is amazing; all of Barcelona and then one building interrupting the city: Sagrada Familia... sooooo TALL yet beautiful.  Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to see the castle ruins on top of the mountain because we needed to get back to the hostel so we had time to get ready for the game before meeting back up with the boys.  

The closer we got to the stadium, the more the excitement began to build.  Seeing more and more people in Barca attire... I was EXTREMELY excited to see a soccer match in Europe for the first time, let alone in the country that WON the world cup this past summer.  No joke, the stadium looked like it could have housed a Quidditch match!  

All the flashing cameras creating twinkles in the crowd.  

In the background you could still see a castle all lit up on the hill.  It was incredible!  Barca ended up WINNING 2-1 against Getafe, a team from Madrid.  Which meant beach CELEBRATION! :)

SUNDAY, March 20, 2011

Sunday was my last day in Barcelona because I had a flight to catch to Sevilla.  So I packed one more site in with Monica, Hannah, and MY MASSIVE BACKPACK!  

Park Guell... the Gaudi's park.  He had a house in the actually park (we hypothesize so he could work on the park as easily and efficiently as possibly, by LIVING IN IT!) 

Guell Park was sooooo cool.  There were live musicians playing, dancing and JUMPING all around!

Along with an invisible man!  This kid was so freaked out and confused by him.

The mosaics and gingerbread looking houses were CRAZY COOL.  So bright and playful! 

We were obsessed with this garden tunnel, too bad none of us has a romantic interest to hold hands with and kiss through it. (ps def. check out more pictures of the park on my flickr)
If I didn't have a flight to catch and my massive backpack, I probably would have spent the whole day here just exploring and relaxing.  Props Gaudi!

Oh before I forget, on the way to and from Guell Park, we passed by this sand court filled with old men playing boccie ball!  

It is similar to marbles except on an older and larger scale.  They drew quite a crowd... but I think they liked the attention even though they practically ignored all of us taking pictures and watching their game.

They all seemed to put in their two cents about who was closest... so funny!

Like I said, I am IN LOVE with Barcelona... the food, the sites, the PEOPLE. <3  Wish I could go back soon rather than later.

*Spring Break 2011: Part 2

Sevilla... COMING SOON

The Run-Down of a USUAL week in Florence, Italy with Veronica

Sunday’s start off lazy.  It religiously rains every Sunday in Florence which is convenient because we usually stay in on Sundays doing homework and watch Glee.  (Tealy and I are ALL caught up :)  [possibly inconvenient when getting back from a weekend trip on Sunday and you have to walk back to the apartment from the bus/train station in the RAIN]. I go to mass at the Duomo on Saturday evenings so I don’t even have to worry about going to mass in the rain on Sundays. 

Monday’s are my catch up days for homework and/or cleaning days.  If there is anything I need to buy from food to design supplies, I usually get it on Mondays.  (when in town, I also attend morning 8 am mass with the SSTM group)

Tuesday’s are my LONG days.  I am in class from 8 am - 9 pm with a 3 hour break in the middle.  I start off my mornings with 8 am Italian class.  Then I move onto Italian cooking; which is FANTASTIC and filling!  Thus, I get to work on projects or homework during the 3 hours because I am already so full from what ever we cooked that day.  I also have a 30 minute dinner break around 6 pm.  Teal, Sarah and I usually go to our favorite little buffet spot called “Il Pirata”.  It is ALL you can eat along with a bottle of water (or a glass of vino for a euro more).  The old man that owns it is typically playing his guitar when we walk in.  All the wall tiles in the restaurant are covered with people’s signatures, many of which say they were recommended by Rick Steves; that is how you know it is good.  We haven’t signed it just yet, but we will. Anyways, it is delicious!  By the time we get back to our apartment around 9, all we want to do is get ready for bed and pop in a movie. 

Wednesdays are a bit shorter because I go from 8 am - 2:30 pm.  The usually VERY early 8 am Italian class and then we have our Design AutoCAD class.  During our 5 hour CAD class we get a 10 min coffee break (Italian’s love their coffee) and a 30 minute lunch break.  We also have a regular lunch place that just happens to be next door to Il Pirata called Il Forno.  Their pizza is cheap and INCREDIBLY amazing.  Although, we did discover a great kabobs place nearby as well that we have begun to frequent.  On Wednesday evening, SSTM (Society of St. Thomas More group I am involved in) has bible study or holy hour (adoration).  During Holy Hour, we say the Rosary in 3 DIFFERENT languages!  [decade in English, decade in Italian, decade in Latin, then Italian again, and finishing with another decade of English].  It is really neat and definitely helping my Italian :)

Thursdays seem like my easy days because I finish class before noon.  At this point in the week, I have my very hard to get up for 8 am Italian class.  I still go to it, I just may not shower until after I get back from class on Thursdays.  I also have my Modern Architecture class and every other week we have a field trip for the 2nd half of the class.   You wouldn’t think there would be so much modern architecture in Florence do to all the old churches and government buildings, but there is!  

Friday mornings when I am in Florence, I go to morning 8 am mass with the SSTM group and then we do breakfast.  First it was at Christie’s with Lucy making Banana Nutella Crepes, then it was at my place with an American breakfast of eggs, toast, fruit salad, and cereal... too bad it was the first Friday of Lent therefore we had to pass on the bacon I had bought.  We ate it later... mmmmmm tasted like AMERICA!

Now I am back to my weekends which are filled with church, rest and relaxation... when we are Florence that is.  Otherwise, we fill it with sight seeing, exploring and CRAZY FUN MEMORABLE ADVENTURES!  :D

Few Italian Comments:

Teal, Sarah and I were off to class one night and this street vendor goes “Hey Charlies Angels” Classic thus we had to take a picture once we got to class...

The other week we were going to the same class and another street vendor whispered “Ciao Ciao” near my face.  EWWWW CREEPY

As we were walking through the street leather market, a guy starts talking to Sarah (the only blonde in our group).  Going “do you want to buy a jacket, I give it to you for free, free jacket, heck I am free for you!”  He even linked arms with her for part of the time.  It was PRICELESS (bwhahaha)