Italians like to get married?

I will never eat like this again

Buona sera.  So I know it's been a while but i've been pretty busy/lacking motivation to update the blog.  So I had a great weekend- I went to visit Ariel's friend Eli in Bologna and stayed with him until Sunday.  On friday we got there and walked around all of bologna.  We also climbed up one of the famous towers that had a really incredible view of Bologna.  That was cool.  That night we went out for an amazing meal- we got crescite (which is a bolognese delicacy- puffed bread mixed with fresh cheese and meats) and tortellini ragu.  Then we ventured off to this bar with live music and ended up at one of their token clubs called soda pops.  The next morning we woke up really early and went to Parma.  I really liked Parma, it's small but a very picturesque city, but a lot more modern than I expected.  We ended up going into a palace type thing there and the guy let us in for free.  The palace ended up having an incredible gallery and i saw my first leonardo de vinci painting up close!  Next we went to a salumeria that Eli had been to before and it was probably the best meal of my life.  Everything was freshly made there and the pasta was unbelievable.  I literally could not walk after the meal i ate so much.  After that we took the train back and stopped in Modena which wasn't really much but was cool to see.  Anyways since then i haven't done anything too exciting.  It's been raining a lot here, but i'm staying in Florence this weekend so I'll be able to do a lot more.  Ok that's all. Ciao

Carnevale

Buon giorno. As per ariel's request i'm updating my blog. So the last time I posted i was bound for a weekend in venezia after my prague trip was cancelled : ( Venezia was great. I had such a great time, and the city is really spectacular. We left here at the ass crack of dawn and got there around 11. We were stupid and didnt buy a map before we got there so it took us over an hour and a half to find our hotel. We were literally 10 minutes away from it and we kept walking in circles. Once we got to our hotel we ventured out for lunch and bellinis because we were all starving. We found a cute little place outside called beccafino. I ordered a pizza and a bellini but the guy said not to get a bellini because "bellinis are out." Instead he brought be a variation of a bellini with mango juice instead. It was delicious. So was the pizza. After that we walked around st.mark's square which was decorated with all of this stuff for carnevale. I was very happy about this because there were a not as many pigeons. Except i was still repulsed by people feeding the birds and having the pigeons climb all over them. We walked up to the st.mark's basilica which overlooked the square and had a great view. We stood up there for a while and watched all the people below with their costumes. Then we walked around some more, went to dinner (i had an amazing seafood dish), and then walked back to the square. Back in the square they were having a crazy drag queen contest. It was really funny. These drag queens were all about the diva american music. Their costumes were ridiculous-really elaborate I head a lot of celine and mariah. The next day we went to an island off of venezia called murano where they specialize in glass making. The island was beautiful and not touristy at all. The only thing i did not like about the island was that i had to be a euro to use the bathroom. So ridiculous. The bathroom wasn't even that nice! We saw glass being blown and the guy let me blow glass! Really cool. We stayed there for a while, and then took the train home to florence. I was exhausted. Travelling really takes it out of you. On sunday i hiked up by myself to the piazzale michaelangelo which has some really unbelievable views and then hiked around there to the forte belvedere and the chuch of san miniato. Came home that night and took a 3 hour nap. Yesterday i also went to fiesole by myself, which was nice but i think i was too tired to really enjoy it (I went for an early run in the morning). On a side note, I got paired up with an exchange partner. He's really cool, his name is Fabrizio (nickname, Pizio) and he's really nice. He knows everything about the city and has already taken me to some lesser known florentine food places. And i get to improve my italian! woo. Anyways i've got to head off to class so that's all i'm writing for today. Arrivederci

First weekend out of florence-amazing gelato and people

Ciao! I know it's been a while but i've been busy doing so many things.  The last time I posted I was leaving for Torino and Milano.  So early friday morning I departed for Milan and got there around noon.  I met up with my roommate liz and we went and saw the duomo, the famous la scala theater, and then we ventured into the navigli district which had a lot of beautiful views.  That night we went out to dinner with her friend who we stayed with and had mexican food.  It was so good.  As much as i love italian food it was a nice change from pasta and bread that I eat nonstop here.  Then after we found the most amazing gelato place i've ever been to in my life.  It was brand new and cheap.  Before scooping the gelato they put in melted chocolate into the cone and then put the scoops on top.  Amazing. Pure bliss.  The next day we went to some castle in milan and then took the train to torino.  I absolutely loved torino.  It was so beautiful and non-touristy.  That day we checked into our hotel and walked around and went to the famous mole cinema museum which was pretty sweet.  At the bottom of the museum (it's four stories) they have really comfy seats which you can watch movies on.  Liz and i fell asleep there for a good 30 mins ha.  After that we went to Eataly which is basically half supermarket/half restaurants.  In it, they had various stations (i.e. the vegetable station, pasta station, gelato, fish, etc) and you could sit down pay like 2 euros and get a sampling of food.  Such a great dinner.  The next day liz wasn't feeling well at all so she took an earlier train home and i ventured out by myself.  I first went to a modern art museum by myself called GAM that was pretty cool.  It had a bunch of picasso works and one of andy warhols paintings.  Next I walked around into the center, and then stumbled upon a fresh food market.  I was asking a woman about her earings that she was selling and then she asked me in italian where i was from so i told her the U.S. and then in English she said "me too."  It turns out she is originally from Minneapolis and came out to study in italy on a whim.  She ended up falling in love with an italian and has been living outside of torino for 17 years.  She told me about how she completely went the opposite direction she had originally planned but wouldnt have it any way else.  She's now working as a translator and makes and sells earings for fun on the weekends.  Really interesting.  It was great talking to her though.  Then after that i ventured up a hill that had a gorgeous view of all torino.  It was spectacular.  After that I went back to the hotel and relaxed for a little bit.  I ended up befriending the receptionist who was hilarious.  His name is Gianluca and we chatted for a while.  He was telling me about how he is obsessed with america and loves the oscars and will and grace.  He also was a celine dion fanatic and told me that his lover really liked mariah carey.  I told him that mariah carey is from ny and then he proceeded to call his lover and tell him that and i talked to the guy on the phone.  We exchanged emails and i recommended a good restaurant to them in florence (they are visiting this upcoming weekend).  Overall it was a great weekend.  Really interesting experience.  Unfortunately my prague trip got cancelled this weekend (due to the weather) so i think i'm going to go to venice for carnival instead.  Anyways i'll keep you posted.  Sorry for the novel. I had lots to write,

So much to do, so little time

Buona sera.  So i figured i'd blog tonight before i venture out on my first trip by myself out of florence.  Tomorrow i'm taking the train to Milan and meeting my roomie Liz who is already there.  We'll do milan for a day and we're staying with her friend for the night.  I really want to see the scala, the duomo, and do some shopping there.  The next day in the afternoon we're heading to torino, staying there a night and then going back to florence for the night.  This week was not that active-i'm coming down with a cold and just settling into a routine with classes.  I also planned out the next few months for the most part also.  There is so much I want to do and see here.  With everything so class, I really want to try and see and do as much as i can.  So far i've planned prague, ireland, and amsterdam (which are all booked).  I would like to do london again and paris at some point.  Greece and germany would be amazing but we'll see if the money runs out (wink wink mim and did).  I'm also trying to plan out some day trips around italy but i'm happy i'm seeing two of the major town in italy this weekend.  I'll keep you posted on how it goes! ciao

Secret Bakery, the David, and blueberry steak!

Buona sera.  It's been a little while but i have lots to update on.  I am loving florence.  I've done a lot in the past few days.  This was an expensive weekend to say the least but the food was absolutely amazing.  Friday night was went to a restaurant called "I tredici gobbi" right down our street which is renowned for its famous rigatoni.  The rigatoni was absolutely delicious.  The waiters were great too.  Our waiter was hysterical, he kept making fun of us by saying "ahrighht" in a fake american accent.  It sounds stupid but it was really funny.  The next day, I woke up, walked along the ponte vecchio and then went to the accademia gallery and saw the david.  It was really cool.  I was literally staring at it for a good 10 minutes.  Really spectacular.  Then i walked down near the duomo and stumbled upon an open fresh food market which offered samples.  So that was my lunch for the day ha.  That night i went to an AMAZING restaurant called "Aqua al due."  It was literally the best meal of my life.  We ordered a bunch of samplers and then i tasted some blueberry steak.  I was still full when i woke up the next morning but it was so worth it.  Forgot to mention that on friday night after we went out we found "the secret bakery."  It's called the secret bakery because the start selling the pastries at 12 until 6 in the morning and don't have a license to do so.  So they have to keep it really secret.  We met some italians at the club we were at and on a whim i told them to take us to the secret bakery and then they actually took us!  It was creepy.  But the pastries were really good.  Anyways i've got to run now so this post is going to sort of stop abruptly.  P.s. i'm going to prague 2 weekends from now.  Wooo

Uffizi, a run along the ponte vecchio, and other things

Well hello! I know it's been a few days so i figured i would update this.  We finally semi-have internet in our apartment.  It is really slow though but it's much easier than having to pick up my stuff, go to the hotel, and wait for my computer to charge.  Things have been going really well.  I think i'm finally starting to get a feel for florence and it's a lot easier to navigate.  Wednesday was a great day.  I woke up early, walked around, and went to the uffizi.  Since i was a student i was allowed free entry which was a definite plus.  I then walked around and at at this cute little caffe called WINE BAR.  I had the most amazing salad i have ever eaten there.  The ingredients were so fresh.  It was excellent  and i'll definitely be going back there.  Then i got home and decided to venture out for a run because it has been raining every day here so i thought i'd savor a day where it finally wasn't raining.  I ran along the ponte vecchio and the river which was very beautiful.  I want to find other roots though that are not as crowded because i kept having to maneuver my way around people.  I was wearing a michigan shirt when i was running and i passed some guy also running in a michigan shirt and we both stopped to talk about michigan.  Random, but it shows the bond between wolverines haha.  My classes are all pretty interesting so far, but i wont bore you all with the minute details of all of them.  Last night was a lot of fun.  I went out with some girls to a relaxed bar and then we went to this club called Twice which was a lot fun.  Very cute waiters.  Today i woke up and walked around a bit but i'm going to venture out and attempt to get some swanky and fashionable italian rainboots so i can look great in the rain! A presto!

February is rainy season

So this post is going to be about the rain.  Apparently february is Italy's most rainy season.  I didn't know this and i really need to invest in another pair of rainboots and umbrellas.  It is constantly raining.  Florence is so beautiful but it makes it hard to walk around when it's constantly raining.  The streets are so narrow and everyone has umbrellas so there's no room and people are constantly jamming into each other with umbrellas.  I really should start trying to go museums when it's raining.  I was going to take a jog around the ponte vecchio today but it was pouring so i slept instead which seems like such a waste when i'm in this great city but i guess i need my energy.  Anyways that's all for now.  This is not really a post but more an observation/rant/i felt like writing.  I'm hoping it will be sunny tomorrow.  I don't have class and would really like to go for a run in the sun. 

I"m living in the most beautiful city in the world

The title encompasses everything that i'm feeling right now.  Florence is so beautiful- I like it a lot better than Rome.  It's the perfect city for me- small, lots of shopping, and amazing food.  I feel like i've been here awhile and i'm really trying to figure out how to get everywhere.  I'm awful at reading maps so i'm trying to just wander and find out how to get back.  Hmm let's see what i've done so far.  Well friday night, we went out to this bar called astor bar which was a lot of fun.  Very relaxed atmosphere, and it wasn't too crowded.  The next day i went to ikea with the roommates and bought some extra stuff we needed for the apartment.  We found a free shuttle that ran every hour to ikea (it's slightly outside the city) but it took forever to find out where it ran from.  After asking a several people where it was (who all pointed us in different directions) i finally went into mcdonalds and they told us the right place where to take the shuttle.  After that we went on a walking tour of florence to see where the classes are, important places, etc but i still feel like i have so much more to see.  Every few yards there is a beautiful piazza and so many shops.  Last night we went to a club called "space electronica" which was a lot of fun but it was really crowded and i liked astor bar better.  Space is right near our apartment so it was really easy to get home.  Today i woke up late of course but it's raining and i'm tired so it wasn't a big deal.  I got up and ate breakfast and ventured out by myself.  I found an italian bookstore and stayed in there for a while and bought a magazine called "spettacolo" which is basically the italian equivalent of "Time Out" which has all the events and places to go in february-plus it's in italian so it will help me become even more fluent.  I also went into an electronic store and tried to figure out if i could get a charger for my camera battery.  The guy was really helpful and nice and only spoke italian so it was a little difficult to explain to him the situation but he gave me something that i think should work so hopefully i wont have to worry about my camera battery dying anytime soon and i can take lots of beautiful pictures.  After, I was so hungry that i went into a caffe near the school and got a sandwich with prosciutto and mozzerella cheese.  It was so delicious.  Only 2.50 euro (wine is even cheaper than that ha).  I think i'm going to relax tonight and try to get organized before classes start tomorrow.  Anyways that's all for now.  Thought i'd leave an update on what i've been up to...i'm not sure how interesting this post will be but oh well.  Ciao  

Internet only in hotels-last days in rome, first few in florence

Ok, so again this is going to be a short post because once again i'm writing from inside the hotel that our apartments are connected to and i only have 19% left on my battery and forgot to bring my adapter so i'll try to keep it brief.  So we had a last few nights in rome which were fun.  We went and saw pompeii except it was raining the ENTIRE TIME.  Of course, me being the smart one i am forgot an umbrella and since my mom's old school rain jacket from the 80s has no hood i was pretty much drenched (everyone else was too)- it basically started hailing while we were exploring pompeii.  That night i went out to get gelato with my roommates and walk around rome.  We saw the trevi fountain which was really spectacular and walked down the spanish steps.  The next day we went to vatican city and saw everything.  The artwork and pretty much everything in there was amazing.  There were a lot of pigeons though so i was happy that we could go inside (i'm not sure what i'm going to do when i travel to venice).  We went out that night to campo dei fiori ( an american bar spot) but it was a lot of fun.  I'm running on not that much sleep though.  The next day we packed our bags for florence and pretty much spent the entire day on buses and getting settled into our apartment.  It was incredibly inefficient but i guess i just have to get used to the italian lifestyle (slow and relaxed).  Our apartment is so nice.  It's huge! It's like a maze trying to navigate the rooms and i lucked out with the largest room.  I have so much space that i do not know what i'm going to do with but it's nice to finally have some room and to unpack.  Today we had to wake up early to sit at an orientation near the school which is really close.  I was literally the only one in the program who is taking any sort of advanced italian class so i had to take a placement test and then i just walked back to the apartment by myself.  On the way i stopped in a pharmacy to get some facewash and face lotion and it was such an adventure.  They don't have normal products here so i got some random italian face wash that the women said she used and was good.  When i was walking back some guy thought i was an actual italian and i guess i must have looked like i knew where i was going because he asked me for directions.  yay! Anyways, that's all i'm going to write for now, but i'm sure i'll have lots to write about on sunday when the weekend is over.  Classes start monday.  It will be nice to get some structure.  Ciao.

Wine for 2 Euro!

It's my official second day in italy and it's great so far.  We woke up pretty early, ate breakfast, and walked around rome.  We saw the forum, the colliseum, and the spanish steps.  I think i'm adjusting pretty well. I've already been using my italian a lot which is good.  I ate lunch with the roomies at this cute little caffe place and we had pizza.  It was delicious, except we ordered soda and it cost 4.50 euro!  Ridiculous.  I got wine for cheeper than that.  Oh well, I guess it's better to know that now then later on.  Anyways this is going to be a short post because I still am paying for internet so i dont want to use it all up.  This is a boring post.  Just thought i'd share my delight at purchasing wine for as little as 1.64 euro.  Glorious.  

Arrival in Rome!

So i'm finally in Rome and write now i'm blogging downstairs in the lobby hotel.  I'm so jetlagged, but i can't sleep anymore or i'll be completely off.  The flight was pretty good, I mostly slept most of the time, but I knew i was going to Italy when they were offering complimentary wine with our meal.  Che fantastico! ha..We actually arrived here pretty early, but literally waited forever in the airport at the baggage claim.  Of course, I was freaking out because my bags were not coming and i was one of the last people to get them but they came so remained calm for the most part lol.  We drove to the hotel on a double decker coach bus and it was amazing just looking outside and seeing everything that was going on.  Our hotel is really nice.  We have a bidet in our room! I"m really tempted to take a picture but of course i have no battery charger so so be it.  Anyways, I'm paying for internet so i'm typing this as fast as i can.  I'll write again soon.  Ciao!

First Post

Ciao, to anyone who is reading this!  This is my first post, and I'm not much of a blogger so i'm going to attempt to keep you all entertained (even though I feel like this blog is going to be mostly for me and ariel).  Even though you should all definitely  become "followers" of my blog and any posts are much appreciated.

So, i'm going to be in Italy for the next four months of my life.  Studying in Florence, finally!  I have been wanting to do this as long as I can remember and now i am FINALLY doing it.  Ahhh i'm so freaking excited.  So i figured I'd start the first post by putting down some goals for when i'm living abroad-whether they are realistic or totally irrational i figured i'd put some down and see how much i can get done throughout the semester:

1. Have the best time I possibly can.

2. Go skydiving in Switzerland.

3. See Prague and Greece

4. Have an Italian Romance (or at least get taken on a few dates)

5. Develop some European style or at least become somewhat fashionable (those who know me think i need to develop some more "style" so to speak)

6. Become a wine conosieur (spelling?)- or at least very knowledgeable in fine wines

7. Eat the best food

8. Be open to everything

9. Do something completely crazy and spontaneous and out of character

10. Become friends with lots of Italians

11. Learn to cook a classic Italian meal

12. Keep up with this blog

That's all i can think of at the moment but more to come throughout the semester. 

Arrivederci,

Aly