Standing in the Sistine Chapel.. I am literally speechless. I'm actually somewhat grateful that pictures, as well as even speaking are not allowed in this place.. As eager as I am to document all this incredible experiences I'm taking part in, something about not worrying about a camera or about discussing the awe with someone else really allows you to take it all in. I knew this was something I needed to journal/blog about, but I found myself thinking that there were literally no words that could describe my experience. I just walked around with my head all the way back, staring at the ceiling.. I could have laid on the floor for hours just looking up. This huge chapel that Michaelangelo painted all by himself, in just five years, among the many other accomplishments of his life... it was breathtaking.
Rome is unreal. I have been to more churches than I can count, each done with such care, effort, and beauty. (I have so many pictures of ceilings it's not even funny) I have entered through the archway of the Coliseum that the gladiators came through, and seen where they fought their bloody battles. I have wandered the ancient Roman ruins, literally set foot on the same paths that they walked. I have seen the site of Julius Cesar's murder. I have walked into some rooms of Augustus' house, and seen the remnants of the chipping paint on his walls, painted in 9BC... over 2,900 years ago. (This was another thing I was not allowed to capture on film, it's always the most important things. Maybe they just know cameras are just a distraction and secretly just want you to take it all in for yourself and give it undivided attention, standing in awe...or your flash and breath are bad for the paint.. either way) I have been in the presence of Pope Benedict XVI, and received a blessing from him among a crowd of adoring fans, come from all over the world to hear his words. I still can't believe it all really happened.
It's funny how much a series of ups and downs studying abroad is. Although my weekend was breathtakingly surreal, I also suffered a few minor setbacks and went through times of emotion and stress, including money problems, roommate troubles, homesickness, actual sickness, and extreme exhaustion. Yet when things get rough, I've found it's important to remind myself it's all worth it. No matter how hard it gets, even if something disastrous happened and I had to leave to go home this very instant.. it's all worth it. I have seen and done things that most people only dream of and I am an incredibly privileged girl. Never in my life have I been able to check so many things off my bucket list and I feel very blessed to have received this opportunity.
28 February 2011
20 February 2011
Viola Per Sempre!!!!
Went to my first Italian soccer game! Gooo Fiorentina! It was raining, and freezing, and we got there pretty early. But I learned a lot…
“Sampadoriiiia, Sampadoriaaaaa Vaffanculo! Vaffanculo! Vaffanculo!”
“Vai Vai Vai Vai”
Don’t get there too early.
Bring some beers with you on the bus ride, find a nice place to drink them before entering the stadium.
Try to sit on the side with all fun, singing, decked out fans.
Don't get sat on during the bus ride home by a drunken, singing Italian guy. (sorry Case)
Learn how to insult the ref in Italian
Learn all the Fiorentina club songs.
Go on a sunny, warm day.
“Sampadoriiiia, Sampadoriaaaaa Vaffanculo! Vaffanculo! Vaffanculo!”
“Vai Vai Vai Vai”
Don’t get there too early.
Bring some beers with you on the bus ride, find a nice place to drink them before entering the stadium.
Try to sit on the side with all fun, singing, decked out fans.
Don't get sat on during the bus ride home by a drunken, singing Italian guy. (sorry Case)
Learn how to insult the ref in Italian
Learn all the Fiorentina club songs.
Go on a sunny, warm day.
I love Florence.
Journal- 19.2.2011
Plan for the day- Boboli Gardens. I hear it is supposed to be a nice day, so I wear shorts with tights, boots, and a button up shirt. I know this will not be enough to keep me warm, but I figure I‘d rather wear this outfit on a day that‘s expected to be somewhat nice rather than any other. So I throw on my leather jacket and a scarf, crossing my fingers that I somehow won’t freeze. I walk out my door and reach Santa Croce where the sun is flooding the piazza. This weather calls for some Shwayze I think to myself, pop in my headphones and loosen up the scarf, my neck isn’t cold at all! I head down the road and upon reaching the arno, the jacket’s coming off, I’m actually somewhat hot with it on.. I don’t remember the last time I felt hot. Walking down the arno, everyone is out on this beautiful day. It’s fun to see the people laying out on the arno walls, couples stopping to enjoy their lunch in the sun, tourists taking photos of the ponte vecchio. I want to join in on the ‘doce far niente’ (the joy of doing nothing), but I’ve got to meet Hayley and Stacie at Boboli. So I continue my stroll and arrive at Pitti Palace, get my ticket (students are free-- I feel so VIP). Walking into Boboli, I am overwhelmed by how enormous this place is… and I still have to find my friends. After wandering a bit, we reunite and set off for exploring this beautiful garden in disbelief of what it actually is.. Or was. How this garden was made just for the Medici family, just to have a beautiful garden in their backyard, just because they had the money, just because they could. How Eleonora Medici was able to just come right out here behind her palace to have a picnic by the island fountain, or to take a stroll after dinner under the moonlight. With a view of all of Florence, beneath her, above all the rest. We make our way up to the highest point of the gardens to bask in the sun and take in the breathtaking views. And so I find myself here with you journal, thinking about how I could do this everyday, how there is just not enough time, to do it all, to see it all.. But to still enjoy the ‘dolce far niente.’
Plan for the day- Boboli Gardens. I hear it is supposed to be a nice day, so I wear shorts with tights, boots, and a button up shirt. I know this will not be enough to keep me warm, but I figure I‘d rather wear this outfit on a day that‘s expected to be somewhat nice rather than any other. So I throw on my leather jacket and a scarf, crossing my fingers that I somehow won’t freeze. I walk out my door and reach Santa Croce where the sun is flooding the piazza. This weather calls for some Shwayze I think to myself, pop in my headphones and loosen up the scarf, my neck isn’t cold at all! I head down the road and upon reaching the arno, the jacket’s coming off, I’m actually somewhat hot with it on.. I don’t remember the last time I felt hot. Walking down the arno, everyone is out on this beautiful day. It’s fun to see the people laying out on the arno walls, couples stopping to enjoy their lunch in the sun, tourists taking photos of the ponte vecchio. I want to join in on the ‘doce far niente’ (the joy of doing nothing), but I’ve got to meet Hayley and Stacie at Boboli. So I continue my stroll and arrive at Pitti Palace, get my ticket (students are free-- I feel so VIP). Walking into Boboli, I am overwhelmed by how enormous this place is… and I still have to find my friends. After wandering a bit, we reunite and set off for exploring this beautiful garden in disbelief of what it actually is.. Or was. How this garden was made just for the Medici family, just to have a beautiful garden in their backyard, just because they had the money, just because they could. How Eleonora Medici was able to just come right out here behind her palace to have a picnic by the island fountain, or to take a stroll after dinner under the moonlight. With a view of all of Florence, beneath her, above all the rest. We make our way up to the highest point of the gardens to bask in the sun and take in the breathtaking views. And so I find myself here with you journal, thinking about how I could do this everyday, how there is just not enough time, to do it all, to see it all.. But to still enjoy the ‘dolce far niente.’
16 February 2011
Livin' La Vida Madrid
Friday
4:00am- wake up, shower, pack, eat
6:30- get lost walking to train station
7:00- arrive at train station
7:30- leave Florence on a train to Pisa (without Amy.. the girl who's credit card we booked the hostel with)
8:30- arrive at the Pisa airport (still without Amy. oh yea.. and with no way to contact her since she has no italian phone and was alone)
10:00- reunite with Amy! (she caught the next train out)
10:30- fly to Madrid
12:30- arrive in Madrid
1:30- take the metro to the hostel
2:30- arrive at Hostel Santillian
3:30- lunch at Museo del Jamon (yea Paellaaaa!)
4:30- sightseeing and city walking
9:00- back to the hostel to get ready
9:30- meet Maxine's friend Sophie who is studying and interning in Madrid for 4 years (coolest girl ever)
10:00- traditional Spanish meal
12:00- meet Sophie's friends at a bar a get 2 free mojitos!
3:00- bedtime!
Saturday
9:00- rise n' shine
10:00- juice and bagels sandwich at the best place i can't remember the name of :(
11:00- sightseeing all overrrr the place (Old Madrid, Palacio Real, Basilica, the cathedral, Piaza Oriental, etc.)
2:30- rent row boats in Retiro park while sipping 75cent Sangria and eating chips & salsa
3:30- sun soaking and relaxing in Retiro park
7:00- Reina Sofia Museum
9:00- Ciesta
11:00- get ready to raaaage
12:00- leave the hostel
12:30- 6euro mojitos and free tapas at El Tigre
1:30- back to the hostel for a quick change of the worst heels ever
2:00- meet Amy's friends who are studying in Barcelona at Areia Lounge
3:30- close out the bar and head to Joy nightclub
5:00- churros with chocolate
5:30- goodnight Madrid, we're callin it an early night (while Stacie and Maxine are still dancing away at Joy)
7:30- Maxine and Stacie come home
Sunday
10:00- wake up
11:30- coffee and jamon y queso croissants
12:30- market! (2 euro scarves, 3 for 5 sunglasses, 50cent bracelets!)
3:00- lunch at Plaza Mayor- Boccadillos de Calamres (fried calamari subs for 2.70euro!)
5:00- shoppppiiinngg
7:00- Prado Museum
9:00- dinner (best brie salad and chorizo with eggs & potatoes)
12:00- goodnight Madrid
Monday
8:00- wake up
9:00- juice place!
10:00- Egyptian Temple
11:00- Metro to the airport
1:30- goodbye Madrid!
3:30- arrive in Pisa
5:00- board the train back to Florence
6:00- arrive in Florence
4:00am- wake up, shower, pack, eat
6:30- get lost walking to train station
7:00- arrive at train station
7:30- leave Florence on a train to Pisa (without Amy.. the girl who's credit card we booked the hostel with)
8:30- arrive at the Pisa airport (still without Amy. oh yea.. and with no way to contact her since she has no italian phone and was alone)
10:00- reunite with Amy! (she caught the next train out)
10:30- fly to Madrid
12:30- arrive in Madrid
1:30- take the metro to the hostel
2:30- arrive at Hostel Santillian
3:30- lunch at Museo del Jamon (yea Paellaaaa!)
4:30- sightseeing and city walking
9:00- back to the hostel to get ready
9:30- meet Maxine's friend Sophie who is studying and interning in Madrid for 4 years (coolest girl ever)
10:00- traditional Spanish meal
12:00- meet Sophie's friends at a bar a get 2 free mojitos!
3:00- bedtime!
Saturday
9:00- rise n' shine
10:00- juice and bagels sandwich at the best place i can't remember the name of :(
11:00- sightseeing all overrrr the place (Old Madrid, Palacio Real, Basilica, the cathedral, Piaza Oriental, etc.)
2:30- rent row boats in Retiro park while sipping 75cent Sangria and eating chips & salsa
3:30- sun soaking and relaxing in Retiro park
7:00- Reina Sofia Museum
9:00- Ciesta
11:00- get ready to raaaage
12:00- leave the hostel
12:30- 6euro mojitos and free tapas at El Tigre
1:30- back to the hostel for a quick change of the worst heels ever
2:00- meet Amy's friends who are studying in Barcelona at Areia Lounge
3:30- close out the bar and head to Joy nightclub
5:00- churros with chocolate
5:30- goodnight Madrid, we're callin it an early night (while Stacie and Maxine are still dancing away at Joy)
7:30- Maxine and Stacie come home
Sunday
10:00- wake up
11:30- coffee and jamon y queso croissants
12:30- market! (2 euro scarves, 3 for 5 sunglasses, 50cent bracelets!)
3:00- lunch at Plaza Mayor- Boccadillos de Calamres (fried calamari subs for 2.70euro!)
5:00- shoppppiiinngg
7:00- Prado Museum
9:00- dinner (best brie salad and chorizo with eggs & potatoes)
12:00- goodnight Madrid
Monday
8:00- wake up
9:00- juice place!
10:00- Egyptian Temple
11:00- Metro to the airport
1:30- goodbye Madrid!
3:30- arrive in Pisa
5:00- board the train back to Florence
6:00- arrive in Florence
10 February 2011
Booking a trip to Madrid a week in advance..
..spontaneity :)
We found it on RyanAir after searching for the cheapest flights out of Pisa on Valentine's weekend. We found Madrid and booked then and there.
Now it's here. Our train leaves at 7:30 tomorrow morning and then a couple hours later Bailey, Stacie, Maxine, Amy and I will be in Spanish heaven :)
We found it on RyanAir after searching for the cheapest flights out of Pisa on Valentine's weekend. We found Madrid and booked then and there.
Now it's here. Our train leaves at 7:30 tomorrow morning and then a couple hours later Bailey, Stacie, Maxine, Amy and I will be in Spanish heaven :)
09 February 2011
It's been a while..
Sorry for the absence.. but adjusting to life in 'Flo-town' proved to be more interesting and difficult than expected. So as it seems, the previous format has not exactly worked out seeing as how its hard to have 'picture of the day' when you're not posting a picture everyday.. or even taking a picture everyday.. which is hard to do when you've got classes and an actual schedule. Surprisingly, i've been quite busy.
I've definitely had my fair share of adventures already... if public transportation in the U.S. seems confusing, you can only imagine what it's like in a foreign country. After taking wrong buses, getting off on wrong stops, language barriers with bus drivers, paying outrageous rates for taxis after getting lost, lugging groceries around the ghetto on a cold, foggy night, there were times I was ready to throw in the towel. Yet, each time, after all the worry and frustration, in the end everything worked out, we were all okay. And even more, each experience brought growth. I have never felt more independent. Each experience left me feeling yes, drained, but also proud of myself, accomplished, and appreciative of the little things (like a jar of Nutella and a warm bed.) But my favorite thing was that each time I was met with the random kindness of a stranger at some point in the confusion. Our first trip to the supermarket ended with the meeting of a kind woman from the Philippines who thankfully spoke English and heard our desperate cries for home. She directed us to our stop and it turns out she lives on the floor below us and has been living in Florence for 26 years. She pointed us to her apt and told us that if we ever needed anything we could come to her :) Another time it was a kind young Italian man who knew English that told us which stop to get off on. One lost night, three american students pointed us in the right direction. It is the simple act of kindness performed by a stranger that warms my heart and gets me through the frustration. We are all connected, we all love the same and suffer the same. We all need each other. We all need to help each other. Why do we let ourselves forget that?
All in all, each 'adventure' has left me with more wisdom and knowledge of the culture and the city and with great stories and amazing memories with great people. Through it all, I learned what supportive roommates I have and how even though we'll go through ups and downs I have been blessed with girls that I can trust to have my back when it really counts.
I've definitely had my fair share of adventures already... if public transportation in the U.S. seems confusing, you can only imagine what it's like in a foreign country. After taking wrong buses, getting off on wrong stops, language barriers with bus drivers, paying outrageous rates for taxis after getting lost, lugging groceries around the ghetto on a cold, foggy night, there were times I was ready to throw in the towel. Yet, each time, after all the worry and frustration, in the end everything worked out, we were all okay. And even more, each experience brought growth. I have never felt more independent. Each experience left me feeling yes, drained, but also proud of myself, accomplished, and appreciative of the little things (like a jar of Nutella and a warm bed.) But my favorite thing was that each time I was met with the random kindness of a stranger at some point in the confusion. Our first trip to the supermarket ended with the meeting of a kind woman from the Philippines who thankfully spoke English and heard our desperate cries for home. She directed us to our stop and it turns out she lives on the floor below us and has been living in Florence for 26 years. She pointed us to her apt and told us that if we ever needed anything we could come to her :) Another time it was a kind young Italian man who knew English that told us which stop to get off on. One lost night, three american students pointed us in the right direction. It is the simple act of kindness performed by a stranger that warms my heart and gets me through the frustration. We are all connected, we all love the same and suffer the same. We all need each other. We all need to help each other. Why do we let ourselves forget that?
All in all, each 'adventure' has left me with more wisdom and knowledge of the culture and the city and with great stories and amazing memories with great people. Through it all, I learned what supportive roommates I have and how even though we'll go through ups and downs I have been blessed with girls that I can trust to have my back when it really counts.
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