happy trails

I can honestly say that I have made some lifetime friends while on this trip.  It is a big accomplishment on all our parts that we were able to survive here, in a foreign country, by ourselves, away from our parents and everything that’s familiar to us.  There is no doubt in my mind that the friends I made here and the experiences we shared will last me a lifetime, but I also could not have had so much fun here with out them.  As we have only a limited number of days left, I am a little worried to go home and live without them.  I will no longer have Katie to make me breakfast while I read the anthropology textbook out loud to her, or Victoria, Haley, Hayley and Mic upstairs to bother when I’m bored.  Or seeing them everyday.  No more figuring out what we are doing for dinner since we are incapable of eating without one another.  These things that have become so normal and habitual are about to cease and we go right back to the same old routines at home.  Though those were once “normal” are they really going to be “normal” any more?  They are going to seem so mundane and so boring.  Ew, and I’m going to have to drive to Safeway when I’m hungry, not just walk down stairs to the kebob shop.  Well, there are no kebobs in America either, great.  I don’t want to go home : (

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Side note: I GOT INTO UCLA!!!!

 

happy travels

It is very hard to leave the beautiful city of Firenze, and all the wonderful people I have met while being on this trip. I could easily do another 3 months here. But I am very excited that I will be continuing my European adventure and traveling for another 7 weeks. This Friday, Victoria and I leave for Munich where we will enjoy the tail end of “Springfest”. I have heard wonderful things about it and am excited to see more of Europe, as this has been my first time here. From there we are flying down to Greece and working our way all the way up, hitting Croatia and eventually Prague and Budapest. Planning this trip has been enough in itself. We thought the Eurail was the way to go, and it totally it, but the trains still takes forever. From Split in Croatia to Budapest it is a 28-hour train ride. Yikes. Finding relatively cheap accommodation is another thing. Hostels are a great way to do it but they sometimes are a little sketchy. From there we are going to Amsterdam where Victoria departs from at the end of May. I will be meeting my mother a few days later in London and we are going to see Ireland and Scotland. Should be interesting… Regardless, I am very lucky and excited to be able to see so much of the world at such a young age, this really is a once in a lifetime experience.

Monday April 18, 2011

The streets are starting to fill up with tourists.  As the cafe’s get more and more crowded each day, I can’t help but be grateful that I have lived here for 3 months.  Even though each day I find a new hidden treasure, such as a restaurant or a cafe, I am no longer wandering the streets with my head looking up at all the beautiful buildings.  Sometimes I don’t even notice the Ponte Vecchio because I have become so accustomed to seeing it every day.  And just lately, seeing all the tourists with their backpacks and cameras, I no longer feel like a tourist, and am starting to feel like I actually live and belong here. The checkers at Il Centro recognize me, and the baristas at Pazawski’s and Astor know my name and order.  But all good things come to an end, just when I am starting to feel like I belong here, it’s just about time to pack up and leave.  I always felt comfortable here, and I never once missed California (though I do miss dill pickles and Mexican food which are few and far between here) but when I leave Florence and travel to places like Spain over spring break, or Rome for the weekend, I fell a little homesick for my beloved, problem-prone, closet of an apartment on “Piazza Salvemini, quindici” with the seven best roommates and the five best friends that I could have asked for.  And when I’m feeling down, I know that the old men on the street corners playing their hearts out on their accordions will be there and still, sometimes, I stop and watch for a second, because I know that there is nowhere else in the world like that.  Nowhere like Firenze.

Such a lovely day in Sorrento, and what a wonderful weekend it was with Katie and her parents, I hate to leave so soon!  But today is Monday afternoon and I have class in an hour and a half.  Though as I sit here looking out the windows on the Eurostar racing past the lush green fields of the Tuscan countryside, I feel like I am in paradise.  The stress of school and finals and presentations subsides.  The sun, finally out and shining brilliantly is calming and the small farm towns are quaint and look inviting.  Ahh, the simple life.  The monitor says that Florence will be up to 18 degrees Celsius today (whatever that means) but there is a bright yellow sun next to it so I know that means good things!  I’ve been watching and listening to these three adorable, old Italian ladies for some time, talking and laughing and enjoying life.  Exchanging stories about their grandchildren and life it self.  One of the ladies gave the others a leaf from an olive branch.  The two recipients were very grateful and happy.  I assume it is of some importance as many of the children in Sorrento were carrying olive branches around town.  My guess is that it has something to do with Pasqua, or Easter and the olive branches represent luck or good fortune or something of the sort… Time for some research!

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anacapri

We finally made it all in one piece after the not quite so normal adventure up the mountain to Anacapri.  The town was a cute little beach town with white buildings and tunnels of azaleas growing down walk ways.  Much like Sorrento, there were lemon trees after lemon trees growing all throughout the town.  We were recommended to stop at this garden called Gardin di San Michelle di Axel Munthe.  Munthe was a Swedish physician who became world reknown.  He was the first physician to treat the patient, not just the illness.  He would not accept payment from the people of Capri for the treatment he gave them but his wealthier patients gave him more money than he knew what to do with.  As he gained popularity, he became the Swedish Queen Victoria’s private physician.  She suffered from bronchitis and he recommended she spend her summers at Capri, and she did.  Starting the 1910 she spent a few months of the year in Capri living with the physician. 

The physician, Munthe, built a spectacular house and an even more spectacular garden.  Munthe had many helpers around the estate and while he paid them no wages for their services, he provided them with everything the needed.  The garden was in full bloom when we visited on that warm Satuday afternoon in April.  The view from the perimeters of the estate is incredible and shows the whole town of Capri below. 

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road. trip.

Saturday, April 16th 2011

We woke up to a wonderful complementary breakfast at the hotel La Favorita in Sorrento, Italy.  The weather was just beautiful and the hotel had a roof top terrace with a swimming pool.  We hung out on the roof for a few hours in the morning and then decided to go over to Capri when the weather started to turn.  We hopped on the ferry and took a 20-minuet ride to Capri.  When we disembarked, we were hoping to be able to see the famous Blue Grotto but unfortunately, the weather would not permit us to do so.  So instead we took a bus ride up the mountain to Anacapri.  The bus ride was, anything but normal.  To start, we were jam packed like sardines in a can and we were inches from the cliff looking down a good thousand feet and winding back and forth all the way up to the top.  If you know how Italians drive, I’m sure you’ll understand when I say that I closed my eyes basically the entire time.  The road was very narrow, not big enough for two cars but, of course, there was on coming traffic.  We narrowly missed collisions on multiple occasions and even scrapped the side of the bus on the rock wall, but all the Italians obviously used to this type of driving carried on like nothing happened.  Do I even need to say that every American on that bus was on the verge of a heart attack?  That is definitely one thing I do miss about America, not feeling like I am about to die every time I get on the road.

Forza Viola! Forza Fiorentina!

Sunday April 10th, 2011

I have to say, I’ve never been much of a futbol fan but after attending the #1 AC Milan – #10 Fiorentina game, I’ve been converted!

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After a few pre-game dinner, and drinks at the Lions Fountain with the whole gang and Katie and Kevin’s parents, we trekked over to the stadium and found the whole AIFS group sitting down in the Ferrovia section.  Maybe its just Italians and their pride and their sense of “campanalissmo” that makes the games so entertaining and exciting, or maybe its going down to the local stadium sporting Fiorentina apparel with my friends that makes me feel just that much more part of the culture here.  Either way, that experience was like none other that I have had here in Florence.  Sitting in a sea of purple watching in person what I only seldom (if ever) watch on television back in the states was exciting and transforming.  Being the naturally competitive person I am, sporting my purple and white-stripped polo complete with a Fleur de Li, I really got into the game.  Everyone had so much fun together, all rooting for the same team in unity. 


 

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It was interesting to see the crazy Italian Fiorentina fans cheering because for them futbol is a way of life.  It was cool to be in such an atmosphere like that similar to die-hard Raider fans or Giants fans back at home, who paint their faces and cheer on their team like its going out of style.  Unfortunately, AC Milan took Fiorentina 2-1 but it was nevertheless and eventful night and a great game with great entertainment and even better company!

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pizza... Napoleon style

I never thought I could possibly get burnt out on pizza in Italy, but after two straight weeks of my roommates having visitors, I think I can safely say, I've had enough pizza... until next week.  The first week we were here, Victoria, Hayley and I found this little pizza shop (don't know the name) that makes around thirty different kinds of Napoleon style pizza fresh when you order it.  The pizzas are massive, but, naturally, we each finish our own individual ones.  I order the "Ligure" which is pesto, tomato and mozzarella, mmm!  Its delicious!  It is by far the best pizza I have had in Italy, thus the best pizza I have had... ever.  The owner is always there working and he definitely knows us by now.  

The first day Lizzy, Katie's sister, got here, we took her to the pizza place and she loved it! And so, since she would only be in Italy for a short time and wanted to indulge, we went back two more times while she was here!  By the time Micaela's friends got here, I was already starting to be burnt out, but we trekked back to the pizza place with them and ate there two more times.  Katie's parents get here tomorrow, so I'm mentally preparing for another visit to the pizza place.  Though I'm burnt out on pizza, I'm definitely still looking forward to it. : )

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A picture of Katie's pizza! YUM

Madrid-> Barcelona

Monday, March 16th and Tuesday, March 15th 2011

On Monday we tried to see the Prado and the Thyssen but to just our luck, all the museums were closed.  We had planned to take an overnight bus to Barcelona that night but we decided we couldn’t come to Madrid and not see the Prado.  So we decided to stay one more night, see the museums in the morning and catch the bus to Barcelona around one.  I was a little disappointed with the Prado, I think mainly because I didn’t understand the culture and the history behind it.  I’ve learned European history but it mainly has been about the Renaissance and Middle Ages, etc. so I can appreciate the artwork I see in the Uffizi or Pitti Palace more so than the Prado.  The Thyssen had paintings done by Picasso and Diego Rivera, more a modern art collection but nevertheless exceptional. 

We caught an eight-hour train to Barcelona and all was going well until we got to the first rest stop.  The whole bus got off to have a snack and the bus driver said we had twenty minuets.  We went in and had some paella but before we knew it the room had cleared out and people were starting to get back on the bus.  Katie and I, not realizing this, took our sweet time, using the rest room one more time and buying snacks.  When we went outside, we couldn't recognize our bus so we started hoping on random ones and seeing if we could find our friends.  By the third bus we realized something was probably wrong, and then all the sudden we see our friend Victoria sprinting towards us yelling at us to hurry.  The bus had started to leave!  And was still leaving without any of us on it!  Victoria ran in front of it so he'd have to stop and let us on.  Luckily, we got on the bus and although it was very embarrassing walking to the way back of the bus after that fiasco, we made to Barcelona.  I found this event interesting because in America, a bus would never leave without all it's riders and we certainly would not have had to chase after it. 

 

Madrid

Friday March 11-13th, 2011

Our hostel in Madrid was located right in the heart of the city, Sol.  The first day we were there we wandered around, doing a little shopping here and there and began to get our bearings.  The next day we went over to the Reigna Sofia museum where we saw lots of modern art including some paintings by Pablo Picasso.  The museum was huge and I got lost from the group for an hour wandering by myself, entranced by the paintings on display.  Tired from our travels, we went back to the hostel to take a siesta before dinner.  We found an awesome tapas bar right night to our hostel and had a delicious meal of pallae, garlic shrimp, calamari and sangria. 

We spent most of our time in Madrid wandering the streets, eager to see what we would stumble upon.  We found a lovely park with a man-made lake in the middle, perfect for paddle boating.  While we were at the park it started sprinkling so we booked it home since none of us brought umbrellas on spring break! 

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My friend from high school, Tommy, who is studying in Madrid, told us about this market that we had to go to.  It is the biggest outdoor market in Europe and had things from fur coats to DVDs.  We pushed our way through the hoards of people, bought yummy meals, and my roommate even ended up purchasing a beautiful fur coat! 

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That night we went to a club Tommy recommended called Kapital.  The club is seven stories and has a different type of dance music on each level.  It was insane, and naturally being the wanderer I am, I got lost and failed to find my friends until I got back to the hostel at 6 am.  Needless to say, we slept in late the next day..

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