Rome Study Abroad

The Final Steps

After months of waiting, I have finally completed the paper work for studying abroad this Fall. I can't believe everything is done! Boy was it a long process to complete.

When I decided I wanted to study abroad in Rome for the Fall semester of my junior year, it was only the beginning of the Spring semester of my sophomore year. Not only was I making sure I had all of the required books and school supplies for my six class schedule, but I was frantically filing paperwork to study abroad.

Of course, the first thing I had to do was fill out an application. Next came a one-on-one interview with Marylou and an Italian professor at Sacred Heart. Finally, after what felt like forever, but was really only a few weeks, I received a letter of acceptance to the program. Behind that letter of acceptance was a packet of papers to fill out. After getting through most of those, I received another packet of forms to process. My parents had to fill out forms, get some of them notarized, and mail them back to me before the several deadlines I had to keep track of. Remembering all of these tedious assignments while concentrating on all of my classes seemed overwhelming at times, but with proper time management wasn't so bad.

Thankfully, Marylou took care of a lot of things that needed to be done, like going to the Consulate in New York to finish a lot of our passport and visa paperwork. Today, as I was putting on my black athletic shoes for work, a UPS man came to the door and handed me a package. This was it- my visa was complete! In the midst of getting ready to leave for work, I stopped and opened the package. Opening up my passport made my day. The visa takes up a whole page in my passport, which seems like one of the coolest souvenirs I will obtain throughout this experience. I went online, filled out the application for my Permesso di Soggiorno (Permit to Stay), and took a long sigh of relief.

Now, I am sitting at the kitchen table, looking at the visa in my passport and the acceptance letter (in Italian) from the Consulate that was expeditiously delivered to me overnight. The final steps have been completed.

How many days until September 1st?

Until next time, Ciao!

Looking Ahead

Hi everyone! My name is Mari, and I am studying abroad this Fall in Rome, Italy! I can't wait for September 1st to come, when I leave from JFK airport in New York with my classmates to head for Rome. 

So far, I almost have my suitcases packed, with room to spare for anything I buy while abroad. Everyone keeps telling me not to look too "American", so I am trying my best to follow their advice. I'm bringing very few items of clothing with words or labels on them, and I am trying to steer away from too many sweatpants, sweatshirts, and other clothes that are frowned upon in Europe. However, this has been done since mid-May.

Since the start of summer vacation, nothing has happened lately to excite me for my trip more than I already am. I have been thinking about how I should be reviewing the Italian language and brushing up on my conversational skills that I learned my freshman year at Sacred Heart. I am even reading a book about a football player who moves to Italy, suggested by my dad. As a waitress at a local diner, the regular customers have all heard of my travel plans for the Fall, and they give me tidbits of advice when qualified. Everything has been at a lull of patient waiting.

Until today.

I opened my inbox and noticed an email from Marylou, the study abroad coordinator at SHU. This is always either good news or useful information about the program. In the past, an email from Marylou meant deadlines are approaching, we have a meeting this week, or even just confirmations of forms she had received. I ignored the spam emails and jumped right to Marylou's name and clicked on it, barely reading the subject line before the page refreshed. My Fall schedule was finalized! 

Monday classes from mid-morning to lunchtime, Tuesday classes all day, Wednesday classes from mid-morning to just after lunchtime, and Thursday classes from after lunch to dinner time.

While the Monday morning and Thursday late afternoon classes may conflict with a long weekend trip with my 4 classmates from SHU, I am thrilled with my schedule. I am in every class I signed up for; Advanced Writing, Mass Media, and Art of Rome being the three most exciting classes of the five that I'm taking. Art of Rome is supposedly a class that students fight tooth and nail for, and I got in! It is a class where I will be walking around the city studying art, architecture, and sculptures. What great news!

Now I have ten and a half more weeks of waiting.

Until next time, Ciao!

NEW FALL 2009 BLOGGER!

Please check back soon to read the blogs of our Fall 2009 Rome Study Abroad student, Mari!

Barcelona, Spain & Paris, France

BARCELONA!!! 3.26.09 – 3.29.09

So After I at last caught up with my last travels, I’m behind again and want to share stories of my travels to Barcelona, Spain March 26- March 29 and then this past weekend, Paris, France!!

Last week my travel to Barcelona began with one of my roommates Amy, we were both very excited to sit in the sun with palm trees surrounding us, our toes in the sand, and of course, a sangria in hand…but this weekend turned a bit around when the Sangria got the best of me. Thursday and Friday were very exciting and filled with beautiful weather. We explored Barcelona by seeing the Sagrada Familia, a famous cathedral designed by Spanish architect Antonio Gaudi.  Amy and I kept commenting on how “out there” Gaudi must have been because this cathedral, and all his other works as well, are nothing out of the ordinary, nothing traditional, and none of his works are simple. In fact, the cathedral is still under construction which is amazing considering Gaudi first began the structure in the late 19^th century…that gives you an idea exactly HOW elaborate this church is! The peaks alone are intricately detailed with Christian symbolism, including sculptures, and elaborately designed windows. The dimensionality and changing surfaces of the church alone is mind-boggling.  Inside the cathedral there were long lines with a 30+ minute wait just to squeeze a few people into a tiny elevator that would take you the top of the cathedral and which would have been enjoyable to part take in, but Amy and I were satisfied enough to explore the inside of the cathedral which is equally as breathtaking as the outside of the church…and plus, we didn’t want to miss any more precious beach time!

Stopping at a grocery store before heading to the beach, we packed a picnic of cheese and crackers along with Coronas and spent the remainder of the afternoon on a beautiful Barcelona beach! 

At night we went to a great Mexican restaurant to meet my cousin Christie who is studying in Paris but happened to be visiting her friend in Barcelona the same weekend. We ate nachos and guacamole, which was a treat considering you rarely ever find nachos in Italy and then of course we enjoyed Sangria. Afterwards we headed to a bar called Pipperments, which is famous for their extremely colossal drinks. I truly was not prepared for this! The smallest drink starts at 14 Euro for one liter and then they continue to rise in price and size to the largest, 13 liters for 75 euro. Thinking that the five of us could finish this was ludicrous!

…The rest of Barcelona was amazing but Friday’s fun seemed to spiral the rest of the weekend into a blur…Amy and I saw more of Gaudi’s works on Saturday such as his “Casa Batllo” which looks like a legit fun house and then we simply enjoy the beauty of Spain before departing Sunday morning.

I truly enjoyed Spain and all its beauty, even though a bit of it was blurry…I valued the simplicity of Barcelona and the wide, spacious streets that seemed so different from the Rome I have grown accustomed to living in.

PARIS, FRANCE 4.2.09 – 4.5.09

Travelling to Paris was definitely one of my favorite trips! I left early Thursday afternoon by myself to visit my cousin Christie! I was extremely excited to travel alone since I enjoy my independence and was thoroughly looking forward to a laid back weekend with Christie!

When I arrived Thursday, Christie met me at a metro stop and we wasted no time in dropping our things at our hotel. We would have liked to of stayed at her place, but Christie lives with a French lady and had been having trouble with mice in her room the previous week (which I felt terrible about) and so we found a great hotel at a very cheap price in the heart of the Latin district.  This area is packed with young people, great stores, there is always something to do, and there’s always a bustle of people packing the streets, even until 6 in the morning…the French know how to party! With no time to waste, the two of us went out to dinner along with Christie’s roommate from college, Erin, who was also visiting along with her 4 friends from home…we all enjoyed our first Parisian meal! Christie, Erin and I shared a salad, French onion soup, and “croque-monsieur” which were all fabulous! The Croque-monsieur is a typical sandwich in Paris that is basically a grilled ham and cheese sandwich and then if you choose, a fried egg comes on top of the sandwich….simply delicious! After dinner we rounded the corner to a bar called “The Mazet” which instantly became our hot spot for the weekend as we had met one of the bartenders, Tom, just hours before when Erin’s friend had spotted him brushing his teeth on the balcony next to ours. Tom was very friendly telling us about The Mazet and offering us free drinks and a fun atmosphere where live music was playing, it was just what we wanted. We ended up staying at The Mazet until about 5 in the morning since one of my friends from home who is now living in Paris, stopped by The Mazet to hang out with us! All of Erin’s friends gradually left to head back to our hotel but Christie, Erin, Shannon and myself all enjoyed meeting people at the bar and hanging out with our new friend Tom…but French men can be very pushy and even rude so we had our fun in sticking together as the night wound on.

The next morning was tough waking up! The beer was certainly speaking to all of us, Christie and I especially who were too giggly/tired to get our of bed and start the day early so we let Erin and her friends head off to Versailles since a train ride was not something we could have endured so early! Instead, Christie and I enjoyed the day leisurely, heading to the Louvre first where we saw famous works of art such as the Mona Lisa and the Winged Victory of Samothrace. The Mona Lisa was exceptionally interesting based on the fact that her eyes truly do appear to follow you as you walk the half circle around the massive wall that holds and protects this miniscule painting.  The wall on which it hangs has protective glass, actually appearing bullet proof, it was very interesting to stand before…and of course, her remarkable smirk was too hard to peel our eyes away from but we got some great photos with the miniature framed painting and then enjoyed my favorite, the Winged Victory of Samothrace.  Walking down one of the long corridors of the Louvre, you can see this winged statue from afar as it is placed in the entryway of the corridor at the top of the stairs - surely not to be missed. I really enjoyed viewing this work of art because the size of it was enveloping and yet it seemed so elegant and graceful while it is truly a testament to time in how it has been shattered, losing pieces such as a hand which is encased off to the side of the statue….but here it stood before me and was simply breathtaking. I loved this work of art!  After the Louvre, we walked around gardens where we came across a man feeding birds. It seemed as thought hundreds of tiny birds and pigeons were flocking to this man and it instantly reminded me of “the bird lady” from the movie “Home Alone!” Intrigued, Christie and I watched close by until the man approached us and offered to show us how to feed the birds. Interested but a bit nervous, I grabbed a piece of the tiny corn cake he was feeding the birds with and held my arm out. Instantly several birds flocked to my hand, some even perched on my fingertips long enough to nibble some bread and fly away…only to come back!  This was extremely entertaining and I got my fair share of laughs when Christie attempted feeding the birds but probably only fed about 2 because she was too nervous…regardless, this was an experience I will never forget! Afterwards we explored some shops and dined at a café on the streets of Paris in the midday’s sun. I had my first Parisian crepe and I have to admit it was exceptionally better than Rome’s crepes, although I should not have been surprised considering there is a creperie just about every ten feet in Paris, they make only the best!

  At night we climbed to the top of the Arc De Triomphe to see all of Paris. The climb was not enjoyable though as it was a couple hundred miniature stone steps spiraling all the way to the top…I was definitely panting when we reached the top but just like everything in Europe that takes energy out of you, the end result is always worth it. From the top of the Arc we could see the Eiffel Tower looming in the distance and the Sien River swinging throughout Paris, it was all very beautiful! Since the Eiffel Tower was so close, we decided to grab some dinner at this delicious restaurant Christie had found when her family visited and then walk around the corner to the Tower where the light show would play for five minutes at the end of the hour. Walking towards the tower at night when it’s all lit up is an extremely different experience from viewing the tower in the daytime. The pale yellow lights of the tower were glowing before us and just like everyone says, I couldn’t help but think of how romantic this vision was. I instantly wished Tom was with me to share the moment but taking pictures with Christie and Erin was exciting as we anticipated the light show. When it finally turned 11:55, the tower began sparkling like a crystal refracting a thousand different light shards…everything was dancing under the moonlight and the beauty of it was spectacular, even breathtaking!

After seeing the Eiffel Tower, we quickly changed and headed out to one of Paris’ famous clubs, Showcase. This club is literally built into one of the bridges that crosses over the Sien River and is a must-see if you are ever visiting Paris! We headed to showcase around 2am but that didn’t stop us from dancing the night away under the fluorescent strobe lights and swanky atmosphere of the Showcase club. The DJ was amazing, mixing American beats with European and blasting techno, which everyone seemed to enjoy.  Showcase was invigorating but we couldn’t seem to get enough partying in our systems so we headed to The Mazet to see our friend Tom and have some more drinks…this concluded the night perfectly.

The next morning was easier to wake up since I had surveyed my drinks much better the night before but we were still exhausted and so it took a while to mosey out of bed and start the day. Christie and I walked to Notre Dame Cathedral to start the day, which was perfectly relaxing. This gothic cathedral is just as spectacular as everyone has always claimed it to be! Its architecture is so intricate yet appears to be so simple when you stand at a distance viewing it. It is simply a masterpiece with its various stained glass windows refracting colorful light inside the dark interior of the cathedral. I found this interesting actually because Christie and I had see at least three other random churches before entering this famed one and both of us commented on how much gloomier and dark the interior of Notre Dame is compared to other holy places. Yet, regardless, walking the inside ring of the church where thousands upon thousands of candles are lit in prayer, is something I will always remember…and of course, the peaceful feeling that resonated through my bones while taking in the beauty and serenity of the cathedral was simply purifying and beyond memorable.

The rest of the day we walked around Paris viewing major monuments from the streets and stopping in vintage stores that housed great Parisian treasures! Shopping was always at the top of our list as Paris has some of the most beautiful clothing and accessories I have ever seen, yet they are ridiculously expensive and so we didn’t make any purchases except for a very beautiful floral scarf we each fell in love with! Next, we grabbed lunch at a market and took it to a park where we could leisurely enjoy eating, chatting, laughing, and of course, the beautiful surroundings of Paris. With some energy in us, we headed to Sacre Coeur, a colossal white basilica located on a hill in Paris, overlooking the entire city. Walking here was not the most fun as the area was very different from the rest of the city in that everything here was built on a steep incline. In fact, there is even a funicular that takes people to the top of Sacre Coeur but Christie and I realized this when we were already half way up the hill panting…typical. Regardless, seeing Sacre Coeur was definitely one of the highlights of my weekend in Paris. The basilica is extremely beautiful like the rest the churches in Paris but I felt a sense of peace and relaxation at this particular spot. I think this is because it reminded me a lot of the Spanish Steps in Rome which is a famous place for tourists and Italians to gather and relax with lunch, wine, and lounging on the steps while street music is all around you…Sacre Coeur had this same setting and feel but additionally steep grassy hills surround Sacre Coeur where people were sprawled out playing with their kids, picnicking, and the inevitable lovers tangling in public. Right in the center of the steps leading to the Sacre Coeur Basilica was a Parisian band with the lead singing blaring popular American tunes for everyone to enjoy, this was enlivening and all the more pleasing to the beautiful landscapebefore our eyes!

The remainder of the day was relaxing but Christie and could feel the exhaustion in our bodies while I felt the sadness ebbing closer as I knew I would have to leave very early the next morning. L

Without a doubt Paris was one of my favorite places I visited and being with Christie made the experience all the more memorable. In fact, I loved Paris so much that besides Rome, Paris is the one place I would move to in a heartbeat…although first I would have to learn French I suppose…

Promising to post again soon... Ciao!

As I promised...CINQUE TERRE & AMSTERDAM in detail

CINQUE TERRE 3.16.09-3.17.09

Ok so, back to my spring break adventures! CINQUE TERRE, ITALY. The cluster of fishing villages that I know was all of our favorites! Arriving there was a bit exhausting as we were crammed on a “Harry Potter- like train cabin” for several hours to Pisa where we had to hop a regional train just to arrive in the first of the five fishing villages, Riomaggiore. When we at last arrived in early afternoon, the sun was out and beaming brightly in blue skies where there was not a trace of clouds…could our weekend get any more perfect?? With our luggage in hand we began our trek to the top of the town, scouting for our medieval hotel. When I say trek, I literally mean trek. The town is built into the hillside  and the streets are narrow so very few cars pass on the cobblestone “roads.” Thus, pulling our week’s worth of luggage up a vertical incline was not the easiest thing to do, especially with the strong heat from the sun that was making me sweat profusely as I ached to find our hotel. At last, number 36 on the hillside incline of Riomaggiore…I can’t even remember the name of the hotel because it was the least importance to me, all that mattered were my beautiful surroundings…and well, of course it was very nice to get an “apartment style” room that would fit the four of us comfortably with large queen beds and a beautiful balcony to sit out on…how lucky were we!!

Quickly dropping our bags and changing into comfortable hiking clothes, we headed out to explore the beauty of Cinque Terre and all its towns which take a total of around 5 hours to hike through. At the beginning of the hike in Riomaggiore, we were already in love. It reminded me so much of Capri, (which is a small island off the south western coast of Italy near Napoli (Naples)) because of the way the houses were built into the hillside and colored in shades of pastels with green shudders. While Capri is more developed, Cinque Terre is not with a population of around a few hundred people per fishing village…but there couldn’t have been a more perfect time to visit Cinque Terre as it was not flooded with tourists and because of that, we were able to make friends during our stay there!

We made our first friend, Mateo at a Bar set between Riomaggiore and the second village, Manarola. Mateo was overly friendly and kind in continuing to serve us Coronas as we decided to lounge at the outdoor bar/café as a break from hiking. But it was no question that after a few drinks we weren’t ready to move from our table seating where we had a perfect panorama view of the Mediterranean Sea and behind us, the colorful hilltop village. This seating was so perfect and surreal that it was simple in deciding to stay and sit basking in the sun as long as possible. In fact, the seating was too perfect…set along the walking trail and practically hanging over the Cliffside, our chair and tables were seated on the balcony floor where you could see through to the rocky cliff below us and all that was separating us from the water was a balcony…simply PERFECT!  The day was fantastic as we soaked up the sun, got some color on our faces, explored some of the first two towns, hiked, took our first bite of pesto which originated in Cinque Terre, made friends with Mateo, and later even more friends with 5 other gentlemen and their adorable dog Spud who followed us everywhere... it all just seemed too perfect but it was only our first day and we couldn’t get enough of Cinque Terre! 

At night we met our friend Mateo at a small bar in Manarola where his friend Gabrielle was playing the guitar. What a great atmosphere this was! There were instruments everywhere in the bar that us, along with our friends we had made from the day, our American friends we had made at the bar, and other tourists inside the bar had took down from the walls to play along with Gabrielle. I think the best part of the night however was the walk back to our apartment from Manarola to Riomaggiore where we huddled close to one another in the chill of the night air and walked along the dark trails, which traced the outlines of the Cinque Terre cliff sides. Above us the sky was silent and littered with millions of sparkling stars that dazzled among the expansive dark sky; I simply could not peel my eyes away from the beauty that loomed above me and even more spectacular was that I got to share this encounter with nature at its finest with my sisters and Matty.

As if our first day wasn’t impressive enough, the second day just kept getting better. It was St. Patty’s day, the sun was shining yet again, and we were ready to take on the beauty of Cinque Terre. The night before we had arranged to meet two of our friends, Leonardo and Daniele offered to take us out on their boat to see all of Cinque Terre from the water.  Daniele is actually an officer on a cruise ship 8 months out of the year and so we couldn’t wait to have him steer us around the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean Sea to see what the villages looked like from a different perspective!!  And of course, we weren’t in the least bit disappointed! Although we had to squeeze into Daniele’s tiny wooden motorboat, there wasn’t a complaint from any of us because we all felt so fortunate to be cruising in the water with the sun reflecting off our faces while we passed local men of Cinque Terre fishing in the clear teal waters in their likewise tiny boats right next to us!

After our boat ride, we hiked around some more exploring the villages and then even stopped at our favorite spot from the first day, the bar set on the hiking trail between Riomaggiore and Manorola. At night we met Leonardo and Daniele for pizza on the cliff sides under the stars but when we arrived at our meeting point in Manarola, the boys had a different idea in mind. They took us hiking to the top of Manarola where we ate at a tiny restaurant where their friend is the chef. Just like everything else in Cinque Terre, getting to the restaurant was a hike! We wound around part of Manarola climbing steep steps just to find another set of steps around the corner until at last we reached the restaurant and were seated inside where only 4 other tables were. The smell of fish resonated from the tiny eatery and waiting for us was a table for six with complimentary drinks.  The boys immediately started ordering dishes that were swiftly brought out from the kitchen, we had no say in what was on the menu for the night! We must have had about 12 appetizers, almost all consisting of anchovies…I had no idea you could serve one little fish in so many ways! We tried stuffed anchovies, lemon anchovies, fried anchovies, raw anchovies, lemon anchovies, anchovies with skin still on them…I can’t even remember the other ways. Most of it was hard to stomach for me, especially since anchovies is something I despise after serving it on pizza for months as a waitress…but my sisters and Matt were thoroughly enjoying the experience…especially Matt! We then tried several other types of fish and then at last, the main course! The boys said it was going to be pasta so I couldn’t wait for the shift from fish to something more familiar but boy was I wrong to assume too quickly! Out from the kitchen came a huge dish with BLACK spaghetti and covering it was surprise!.. Shellfish!  I could feel the look of shock that washed over my face because my sisters were silently laughing, as I was the first guinea pig to get dished the mysterious dinner. I 20-questioned Leonardo before taking my first bite because I couldn’t help but think the long stringy black strands were snakes, my worst fear- but luckily he informed me that it was just spaghetti covered in Squid ink…relief? You can decide…here is a picture of our meal which surprisingly was very delicious and the experience was surely an unforgettable one and most enjoyable at that! I will never forget my true Cinque Terre cuisine experience!

The rest of the night was followed by more memorable St. Patty’s moments shared with our new friends and lots of beer to top off our great time spent in Cinque Terre, as in the morning we had to wake bright and early for our travels to Amsterdam!

 

AMSTERDAM! 3.18.09-3.20.09

I won’t cover too much on Amsterdam because I had so much to share about Cinque Terre but I will tell you of my favorite parts to our wonderful weekend in what I consider the best city, Amsterdam!

First off, traveling to Amsterdam is very tiresome as it is not the easiest city to reach, but I can assure you, it is well worth the travels. The city is built around canals that weave in and out of the colorful city with some of the most beautifully fashionable people you will see. Everyone in Amsterdam is extremely tall, a place I think my boyfriend Tom would fit in well. Their main form of transportation is by bikes which adds so much character to the city because everywhere you go, the streets are littered with an assortment of colorful new and old-fashioned bicycles. For this reason, and since it was Ashley, Amber, and my second time to Amsterdam, we vowed to rent bikes and tour the city that was somewhat familiar to us since the last time we were there.

So, on our second day in the bustling city, we stopped at MAC BIKES, one of the most popular places to rent a heavy duty, bright red bicycle. This was Amber’s idea and one of the best ideas she has ever had because although the city is extremely beautiful to see by foot, it is much more spectacular to see driving around with the cool wind on your face, and of course, much more can be covered in a day’s time. With Matt at the head of our pack, he did an exceptionally well job helping to navigate through the winding streets and we successfully made our way to the famous “ I AMSTERDAM” sign, Van Gogh Museum, and beautiful parks and gardens. This was definitely one of the highlights of my time in Amsterdam and even more so, because we were successful in avoiding any collisions with other bikes…after all, it is a fact in Amsterdam that you have a better chance of getting hit by a bike than you do by a car, so I’m glad luck was on our side.

The rest of Amsterdam was absolutely amazing as it has some of the best restaurants, Coffee Shops, nicest people, and other crazy attractions such as the Red Light District but for more information on all that, I will leave it up to you to investigate why all these things make Amsterdam so great…

So… for now, CIAO! I will write soon as I continue all my travels but I hope you enjoyed reading about some of my spring break experiences with my sisters and Matt- as it was certainly one of the best times I have had in Europe so far!

 

 

 

Spring Break 2009: Rome, Cinque Terre & Amsterdam

3.14.09 – 3.22.09

So I’m trying to get better at blogging more often…I will try to create smaller posts and just add on whenever possible… I want to share stories from my Spring Break, definitely one of the best weekends I have ever had!

The week began in the best possible way ever…my two older sisters, Ashley and Amber, along with Ashley’s boyfriend, Matt, arrived in Rome Saturday afternoon! I had been anticipating their arrival for months and at least the time came! Just like when my mom and Auntie had visited, I anticipated that the three of them would be jetlagged and quite hungry from all the traveling so I put together a smorgasbord of fresh cheese and crackers along with mimosas! The perfect start to the day (as I also had intentions to take them out into the city center immediately!) The three of them could not be more excited to eat fresh food and get the day started so we downed our siesta champagne and headed to Piazza Venezia, what I think is the easiest starting point in Rome to see everything you need to see. Arriving at Victor Emmanuel building, my two sisters and Matt were already amazed!  I loved watching the expressions on their faces because I remember the first time I saw the colossal Victor Emmanuel building, I too was floored! Ashley was particularly happy because she had been to Rome for a weekend visit once before and so seeing much of the historical buildings in Rome was a treat for her to explore once more.

From Piazza Venezia we walked towards the Coliseum where I could tell they too were in shock at seeing it because standing in the distance, the Coliseum seems so fake when seeing it for the first time…or rather, it’s funny to see because it is such a large landmark representative of Rome, that it seems the setting should be different than what it truly is…but regardless, the Coliseum is just perfect and we were all thrilled with getting to visit it on such a beautiful day! The sun was out, the sky was blue, and hundreds of people were gathered in and around the coliseum for tours or even just lounging on the grass in front, it truly such a beautiful scene to take in. We took some pictures here and I tried to relay the best information to the three of them that I had learned about the Coliseum before we took off to the right side of the city on streets I had never walked before. This was daunting at first as I felt uncomfortable not knowing exactly what street I was on and only familiar with which direction we were headed, but that’s the beauty of Rome…you have to take chances and you have to walk as many streets as possible because each street offers a new perspective of Rome…if you aren’t to take chances then you would miss much of the beauty of Rome such as the beautiful art that adorns the sides of buildings, hotels, and apartments- this is one of my favorite parts of Italy because no matter where you are in the city, the art and architectural character of ever building is always uniquely different, I know Amber in particular loves this aspect of Rome as well! Continuing to walk, we approached Piazza de Spagna just in time for sunset, this is something I have wanted to do since my arrival in Rome and since the days are getting longer with sunlight, there couldn’t have been a more perfect time. The air was still warm but with a cool breeze that caught our faces as we rounded the corner at the top of the Spanish steps. We had walked all the way around the right side of the city to see the sun beginning to set in rainbow colors…simply spectacular!  As usual, street artists were out everywhere attempting to sell their beautiful colored paintings and character sketches while the usual men were pushing roses on groups like us…three women and one man, I told Matt to forcibly say no to these individuals as they can be incessantly annoying on trying to sell you roses, but nevertheless, it is their way of life.

After seeing the sunset at the Spanish steps, we headed back to my apartment to shower and dress for one of my favorite dinner spots, Retro!  I am friends with one of the waiters at Retro who treated us wonderfully the whole night before we all headed off to one of the best night clubs in Rome, Art Café! I had gone to Art Café my first night out in Rome and knew there would be no better true Italian disco to show the girls and Matt than Art Café. It is difficult to get to but with the help of my friend, we were able to reach the club easily and get permitted into the club without a fuss…after of course, we were scanned up and down for dressing appropriately first…. at Art Café you have to dress very fancy just to get inside. Dancing to some of our favorite songs like Love generation…we managed to remain at the club until 430 in the morning until our ears began to ring and we all knew it was time to get back to bed if we ever wanted to enjoy the day and so we left Art Café returning to our beds exhausted but struggling to sleep because our ears were ringing profusely…that’s what true Roman clubs will do to you.

The Next day…surprisingly, we awoke! With a cappuccino to start the day, we began taking on more parts of the city such as cat sanctuary, the pantheon, Trevi fountain, some of my favorite shops, and of course, the famous gelato place that has 133 flavors! Most of these monuments I pass on a daily basis or visit often, but everything was even more spectacular to see at this time in particular because I was able to share the beauty of it all with three very special people. We relished the day drinking wine in front of the pantheon and later tossing euro coins into Trevi Fountain, praying that at least one of our wishes would come true; but I refrained from this act, having done it so many times and already getting my wish to come true, that three of them were here visiting with me in Rome!

At night we went to another one of my favorite restaurants, Le Fate, where I am friends with the Chef Andrea. This is probably my favorite restaurant because it is Italian cuisine at its finest. Owned by Andrea, his brother, and parents, the restaurant has phenomenal dishes, my favorite of which is small green gnocchi in a cream sauce with speck…it simply melts in your mouth! Andrea also only serves wine from the Lazio region, which is very special because you are able to taste some of the finest wine produced in this region and by purchasing it, the money stays in the economy here. The wine is simply delicious! With our bellies full and brains tired from the second long day of walking, we headed back to my apartment for a good night’s rest since we had to wake early the next day for Cinque Terre, Italy…a cluster of 5 fishing villages in Northern Italy overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. This was my favorite place I have traveled to so far but since it is late at night and I must wake early for an on sight class, I will have to continue my blog tomorrow, updating you all on one of the most beautiful places on earth, Cinque Terre!

So for now, CIAO!

LA VITA DOLCE! My first visitors...Rome, Dublin, & Interlaken

I’m sorry I haven’t posted a blog sooner but I have been so busy enjoying the beauty of Rome, traveling…and my first visitors, my Mom and Auntie! So, I apologize for the lag time but I will try to catch anyone who has been interested in my blogs…up to speed!

So where did I leave off…Sicily and Favignana! One of the best times of my life (although I am sure I will continue to say that again and again so sorry if I start to sound like a broken record) After Sicily I decided to stay in Rome for the weekend of Feb. 12-15 because I want to continue to enjoy my home in Rome as much as possible! Another reason however, was because my mom and Aunt were to arrive on Saturday, Feb. 14^th Valentines Day morning! Their arrival was a great way to fill the void of all the people I was missing at home on this day, especially Tom. I woke bright and early, eager for their arrival, and anticipating the taxi that would drop them off at my doorstep! After waiting for an hour longer than expected because I didn’t know their first plane had been delayed, I at last saw mom and Auntie standing outside my gate on a beautiful day in Rome! I was ecstatic! I can’t even explain how happy I felt to embrace them both! After living in Rome for a month, you think nothing could possibly get better, but when I saw them for the first time since leaving the states, things did get better…I thought how lucky I was to be living in Rome AND to have two of my favorite people come visit me and explore all that I have. SO, although they looked exhausted from their long travel and I could tell they wanted nothing more than to sleep, I hurried them to a café for a cappuccino and then off to a guided tour of the Roman Coliseum!

Seeing the inside of the Roman Coliseum (as it is rightly called) for the first time is such a thrill! I had walked around this famous symbolic structure, for more times than I could count and had seen it day and night before even going inside but to share the experience of exploring the inside of the Coliseum for the first time with my family, made the adventure very special! We were all in awe of the structure that surrounded us, built ages ago and yet still standing, being inside just seems so surreal. Although much of the stone inside has crumbled and the overhang of the coliseum no longer exists, there have been many restorations yet there still remains a lot that has to be left to the imagination. So, while listening to our tour guide who unfortunately wasn’t that great, we explored the ins and outs of the structure while I continually imagined Russell Crow in “The Gladiator” with thousands of spectators filling the seats… this was fun I thought. Observing the hypogeum, which is the underground tunnels and cages where the gladiators and wild beasts were kept, I again referred to “The Gladiator” when the beasts emerge from the trap doors in the hypogeum.  I found this very interesting because while it’s nice to picture Russell Crow fighting off tigers, the gladiatorial shows involved much more animals. Our tour guide explained that in addition to tigers, panthers, bears, giraffes, hippos, rhinos, alligators, crocodiles and more were also kept in the hypogeum and released during the show…can you imagine?!

Making through the awful tour of the Coliseum was quite an adventure as I could see Mom and Auntie getting sleepy just listening to our guide, but regardless, seeing this main attraction which is so representative of Rome, is an amazing experience! Another site I had waited to see until they arrived in Rome was the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, and since it’s cheaper to see these two places together after the coliseum, we had to take advantage of the offer and so I dragged them on to one more tour before calling it a day. This adventure was enjoyable because it’s a beautiful scenic walk along the edges of the Roman Forum and then on to Palatine Hill, which is absolutely spectacular!

The Forum Romanum is an amazing place to see because although there physically isn’t much left from all that used to make up the Forum, it is an area of Rome rich with cultural history. Standing at the Forum is a remarkable feeling first and foremost because before it became a marketplace and business district, it was all marshland that the Romans decided to drain and put to good use, which indeed it was. The forum, like most structures back then, was constructed out of marble but when you go there today, you can’t expect to see much marble because almost all of it was picked over and recycled for the creation of other buildings in Rome such as the flooring in the Pantheon, which has mass amounts of purple Egyptian marble. Our tour guide for the Forum and Palatine hill was actually very entertaining and knowledgeable aside from the first guide; this woman actually taught us about the different types of marble and their value which I found very interesting because as part of the tour, small pieces of orange, yellow, purple, and white marble have been preserved for tourists to see the difference. Also, another really appealing part of the forum is to see the small remains of marble that is actually still in the ground and was part of the original flooring in the Forum!  One major part of the Forum, however, that has been preserved very well, is the Arch Titus and Arch of Septimius Severus. Both Arches are beautifully exquisite because of the intricate carvings and sculptures that are incorporated into the arches.

Passing through the Forum, we made our way on to the Palatine Hill, which is one of the Seven Hills of Rome. Touring through the beautifully landscaped gardens where massive birdcages remain surrounded by flowers and orange trees, is a spectacular site.  From atop the Hill one can get a beautiful view of the city and gain a better sense of how important the Palatine Hill is to the city of Rome because according to Roman Mythology, “Rome” got its name after Romulus, twin brother to Remus, both of which were raised by a she-wolf. “Rome” comes from Romulus because after slaying his brother, Romulus became the first King of Rome. Aside from the beautiful landscaping, there likewise isn’t much left atop Palatine Hill except for some of the foundation to the palace which was immense. Although the entire palace is no longer standing, you can see some of the outlines from where the structure stood as one of the largest palaces I can ever imagine. In fact, appropriately termed “Collis Palatium”, which we translate into English as “Palatine Hill”, the word “palace” is derived from “Palatium” because it is on this hill that Romulus and Remus began their empire and built an extensive palace of their own…this part of Rome is a must-see!

After the tours of the day, Mom and Auntie were exhausted so I let them to bed early so that they could get adjust to the time change and be charged for the week ahead! In the days that followed, the three of us accomplished a lot! Walking through the piazzas, we stopped into shops, ate, and enjoyed the open-air market that runs every Sunday and has some of the best finds in all of Rome! On Monday one of my best friends from home, Haley, who is studying in Florence, came to visit and the four of us had such a great time together! We once again did a lot of shopping and site seeing to the point that I could sense how tiring it was for Mom and Auntie to switch busses, ride trams, and zigzag throughout the city of Rome that we began resorting to taxis! My feet have never hurt so much in one week as I attempted to show them every part of Rome that I love and all that is important to see in a short time’s visit. Although the commute in Rome is usually tiring, I know they enjoyed all that Rome has to offer, especially the food, which is spectacular in this region! We had several very delicious dinners and met some friendly Italians along the way, and of course, we never stopped laughing, there is nothing better than family!

The next day we had work cut out for us as we set off to a tour of the Vatican!! I was particularly excited for this visit first because it is the most prestigious, ancient and talked about cathedrals in the whole world and seconldy becuase I had been waiting to enter the Vatican specifically to enjoy my time exploring it with Mom and Auntie and then later when My sisters would visit, I would visit it again with them. So...I will leave much of the details of the vatican for a later blog since this is already lengthy but to put it simply, the experience is breathtaking, and a vision of relgion I never thought I could see and be changed from it. 

At the end of our week in Rome together, Auntie and Mom accompanied me to my favorite class, Arts of Modernity that was onsite at the Museo de Nazionale. This was an exciting part of the week for me because although I love seeing the Trevi Fountain, Coliseum, pantheon and such on a regular basis, visiting museums for a class that I thoroughly enjoy and with family, is an experience you can’t stumble upon. My teacher was more than nice as he chatted with Mom and Auntie and even got them free entrance into the museum as well. We walked through the rooms of the museum studying impressionist and post impressionist painters which is one of my favorite painting periods so this morning was a particularly enjoyable one for me! And that’s one of the beauties about studying in Rome-you have classes that aren’t just held in a classroom where you’re bound to a desk for 3 hours…instead, you have to wake up early and figure out what busses will get you to the place you need to go to for onsite classes, and then of course, walking is always involved! You get a fresh breath of air to wake your soul in the morning, followed by my favorite, un cappuccino e un cornetto, and then you explore masterful works of art preserved for centuries…what could be better than this? Rome is spectacular and really is “la Vita Dolce!”

When the our time together in Rome sadly came to a close Wednesday night, I was disappointed to think that Mom and Auntie would have to return home for work the upcoming week, while I am lucky enough to remain in this wonderful city that I call “home!” A weekend away in Dublin however, was the perfect dose of relaxation for my last three days with family because it removed us from the bustling of Rome and achiness that comes with walking the expansive streets of this city. Arriving in Dublin was an easy trip while the city welcomed us with its infamous rain; in fact, our taxi driver from the airport advised us of three things- one, there are three types of weather in rain: Raining, Just rained, and About to rain. Second, he told us to never drink another Irishman’s beer, and thirdly, never call an Irish man English. Taking heed to the latter two “rules”, we must have gained instant Irish luck when arriving because the entire weekend in Dublin was nothing but blue skies and warm air! No rain!

We spent our time in Dublin walking around the quaint streets where beautiful people are out and about with friends, family, and lovers. Music echoed through the streets where young and old artists stood playing guitar, violins, the didgeridoo, and singing…Everything about Dublin is enjoyable. My favorite however was the shopping!! There are the best stores in Dublin… at every corner something is bund to catch your eye and you can’t help but to go in and explore. I spent a lot of time in Dublin searching for gifts for my sisters and was relieved by the end of the trip when I was able to find everything I was looking for. But the BEST part about Dublin, as you’re all probably wondering, is the PUBS! Everyone goes out to typically enjoy a Guinness or Bulmers cider and laughter with friends…Mom, Auntie, and I sure got our share of this!

Fighting through our hangovers at the end of the trip, the three of us enjoyed a pastoral tour through Wicklow and Bray, Ireland by Auntie’s Irish friend Fergil. Driving through the rich green countryside was breathtaking. We drove winding up the hillsides and into the woods where beaten paths led us to a spectacular waterfall! Fergil was kind in touring us through the lands as it certainly made a memorable experience for us all because his native roots allowed us to see the beauty of Ireland in a way we wouldn’t have been able to experience on our own.

As we drove towards the waterfall which was tucked deep in the woods Wicklow’s  Powerscourt Estate, Fergil pointed out the snowcapped mountains in the distance which was interesting because two weeks before we flew to Ireland, it had snowed for the first time in years, sticking to the land…so to see this view was recording a part of history before our eyes!..Very cool!

The Powerscourt Estate was spectacular! The waterfall was cascading rapidly off the side of the mountain since all the snow that had stuck was finally melting. The breeze of fresh water spraying off the mountain was invigorating; I couldn’t help but stare at the waterfall long enough! After witnessing such natural beauty, we took a 40 minute walk to see more… botanical gardens, Japanese gardens, Italian gardens, triton lake, dolphin pond, pet cemetery, and the house pavilion of Powerscourt Estate all made up a spectacular afternoon of fresh air, great company, and some of the most beautiful aspects of nature one can see in just a few hours time!  Powerscourt Estate was a special experience for me because it revealed nature in all its facets, from the waterfall to the budding flowers and untouched pastoral lands to the perfectly groomed estate grounds, Ireland doesn’t just encompass the beauty of nature, it simply is natural beauty at its core.

Rome and Ireland with two of my favorite people in the world…what could be better!? Traveling with my Mom and Aunt was an unforgettable experience! I feel so lucky to have had such special women in my life visit me in Rome and then travel to Ireland with me…the week was unforgettable and having them here felt like home away from home, a week of comfort I needed!

 

Thursday February 26^th - Sunday March 1^st: INTERLAKEN, SWITZERLAND!!

At last! A trip I had been anticipating even before I knew I would study abroad. I knew about this Bus2Alps trip from my oldest sister Ashley who had studied abroad in Florence three years ago and after traveling the same trip, has never stopped talking about it. For the past three years Ashley has marveled over snowboarding in the Alps and night sledding by glow sticks down the Alps…need I say more? Why wouldn’t someone want to do this trip?? I was not about to pass this up so I called one of my best friends from home, Haley, who is currently studying in Florence and together we booked what would be one of the most memorable trips of my life!

On Thursday I packed my warmest clothes and headed to the train station to meet Haley in Florence where we would then begin the 7.5 hour bus ride to Switzerland…seems daunting but in actuality, the bus ride wasn’t that bad, especially because Haley and I were able to chat about all our experiences. When we arrived in Switzerland I was very sleepy and so with Haley’s help, I climbed into one of the grossest bunk beds I will ever lay in! The hostel we stayed at was Balmer’s, a famous long standing hostel of Interlaken that I can assure you…if it weren’t already included in the Bus2Alps package, I would have never stayed at such a grimy hostel BUT…who am I kidding? I’m in EUROPE and I’m a college kid so Balmers was just fine and I continued to sleep the first night away before I was to rise bright and early to rent a snowboard and ride the Alps.

With my beautiful orange and red snowboard graphically designed with art on the top and bottom, I took off on a train with Haley, Haley’s friend Katie, and two of my roommates, Alexa and Alyssa to the “Top of Europe.” I say this because snowboarding/Skiing in the Alps is nothing like in America…you would think that at every trail there would be a surplus of chair lifts or a gondola of some sort to transport you to the top of the mountain only to ride down…but there were barely any! We had to take a 20-minute train ride to what the Train conductor voiced over the loud speaker as, “Top of Europe”…something I wasn’t quite ready to hear since I was already skeptical about how well I would be able to pick up snowboarding again since I hadn’t gone in several years. But… once my legs were strapped in and I was actually standing at the “Top of Europe” with nothing around me but powdered, snow capped mountain peaks, I trusted in myself that everything would be just okay and to enjoy every moment of the ride…even if it meant I had to ride down the mountain on my butt.

As I started out down the Alps, looking for easy trails of course, I couldn’t help but breath in the clear, cool air. The altitude was invigorating. I could feel the cool rush of air against my cheeks and filtering through my body as I glided down the side of the mountains. I felt amazing and the rush through my bones is a feeling I cannot even put into words…It was the combination of everything…the board strapped to my feet, the bundle of clothes around my body combating the cool sweat I was building up on my skin, the cool air combing through my hair, and the taste of crisp Swiss air was revitalizing to every inch of my body. As I carved snakelike shapes into the side of the mountains, I even surprised myself in that I only fell twice the whole time! Actually, picking up snowboarding was just like riding a bike again, I don’t do it everyday but picking it up again for the first time in years was sensationally one of the best active sports I have done in a while!

Saturday in Switzerland was also an exciting day of outdoor sports. I began the day with Paragliding off the side of the Alps! Alexa, Alyssa, and one of Haley’s roommates, Natalie, joined me in this adventure as we rode a bus to a location 1700 feet above the city of Interlaken, also our starting point for paragliding. I was paired with a young guide, Robert who was very nice and put me at ease with how the whole adventure would play out because I have to admit, it’s easy to sign up for such an adventure but not as easy to go through with the whole experience unless you know exactlyyy what you’re about to do. Also, it was a relief to see two girls in a group before us run and glide off the side of the Alps because then when I was set to go first from our group of four, the experience wasn’t scary but rather, it was thrilling and a rush of euphoria I can hardly explain.  I think it was at this moment of running and literally being air lifted above the city by my parachute that I felt the most independence since coming to Europe. Although my harness was attached to Robert’s and to the parachute turning the winds above us, I felt such freedom and solidarity. From the moment my foot left the mountainside, it was like I no longer had legs for the twenty minutes I was airborne as I was able to get a true bird’s eye view. Floating above the city of Interlaken was enlivening and although a bit scary when a strong wind caught the parachute, this is probably the only time that I will ever enjoy how extraordinary the feeling of fear was combined with excitement. Paragliding was simply amazing and even more convenient, was that we touched down in the main square of Interlaken where people were bustling around us.

After Paragliding we moved right to ATV-ing through Interlaken. This was an enjoyable experience although not as exciting as paragliding because riding ATVs was like riding cars and I was quite enjoying the absence of driving in Europe. Nevertheless, Alexa and I paired up on an ATV and hit 65 km through the main roads of Interlaken.  This was a nice way to come down from the natural high that paragliding gave me because after snowboarding down the mountains the day before and then floating in the air just an hour before, I quite enjoyed the feeling of being grounded. ATV-ing was a great way to see the ins and outs of Interlaken, its surrounding towns and the snowy landscapes with animal crossings. But the prettiest site was the waterfalls that just spouted over the sides of the rock walls around us. Another treat to this excursion was the Swiss hot chocolate break that warmed our bones before we set off on the windy ride back to the rental place.

To complete one of the most actively filled days of my life, I capped the night off by night sledding down the Alps, one of the experiences I had been anticipated ever since Ashley first told me of her adventures with night sledding. Bundling up all my layers, I felt like Randy, Ralphy’s younger brother from a Christmas story when he’s bundled up with so many layers, he can barely move! Laughing to myself, I was overjoyed with excitement and while standing atop the Alps with a tiny green glow stick in my hand as the only light to guide my down the mountain-side, I looked up into the expansive navy blue sky and thanked all my angels for bringing me to this moment in my life. The view was more spectacular than any picture, postcard, or words could savor…it was simply unreal. The surrounding Alps were a shade of pale blue and glowing against the night sky littered with the brightest stars I have seen. It was almost as if the stars seemed brighter because of the altitude I was at or that all my angels were out in the sky that night because I felt no fear in riding my sled down the mountain with only a small glow stick since I knew they would protect me. Before I took off on my small plastic blue sled with no breaks to slow down other than my feet, I found Orion’s belt brighter than ever in the sky above and at that moment a shooting star streaked across the constellation before my eyes. I tried to yell “shooting star!!” to Haley so that she could make a wish with me but it seemed like the star was only for my eyes, as I realized no one else had seen this beautiful light. I now understand that it is not just that I feel so blessed all the time here in Europe, but I am blessed and for that fact and that one shooting star, I will forever be grateful!

Night Sledding was spectacular and an event I never wanted to end. I felt like a true Mario Kart character weaving in and out of bad sled drivers while still trying to remain on my own sled and racing beside Haley. I wish I had pictures that would have captivated the excitement of rushing down a cool mountainside but it was an impossible feat and so I hope my words can justify the beauty of the scenery and animation of the activity.

All in all, SWITZERLAND IS AMAZING! Definitely one of the best places I have ever gone in my life and probably will ever go. The beauty and simplicity of Switzerland is unlike any other place in the world. The quiet solitude of the mountains and intense rush of outdoor adventures in Interlaken is an experience unlike any other and one I recommend to all ages and all individuals!

WELL…I hope whoever is reading has thoroughly enjoyed this extensively and probably excessively long blog but I have felt terrible about not having kept up with my blog and simply couldn’t bear to leave out any details. I also hope the length or probably wordiness to my blog hasn’t turned anyone away from wanting to read about my experiences because all that I write is all that I feel as this experience in Europe is and has truly been a reviving of my soul.

“Smile. Love. Be you. Today is a giant canvas, and you are equipped like no one else to paint your own living masterpiece. Fill it with passion, color, and depth.” – Ralph Marston

 

Trapani, Sicily & Favignana

February 6, 2009 - February 8, 2009 

My first weekend traveling experience from Rome!

Departing at 4am for a weekend get-away is not the easiest task, but when you know in just a few hours time that you'll be setting foot in Sicily, an island off the coast of southern Italy, the morning no longer seems bad and you really can't help but continue to count your blessings! 

For this trip, my five roommates and I booked a hostel in Trapani, Sicily from Friday morning to Sunday night along with four of our guy friends, also studying at AUR, that we met in Roma. Upon arriving in Trapani, Sicily all 9 of my friends and I could not have been happier to step off our small plane into bright blue skies with a warm breeze surrounding us. The sun was out, the air was warm, and the smell of fresh sea salt lingered in the air. I took several deep breaths, closed my eyes, and prayed that the weather would remain like this the entire weekend. Unfortunately, not all wishes come true- in fact perfect weather all week would have truly made the trip seem “too good to be true” so I reminded myself of a favorite quote I know and welcomed the rain that would shower us the remainder of the weekend.

“Life is uncharted territory. It reveals its story one moment at a time.”

Sure enough Sicily was an uncharted territory, one to be meticulously explored and appreciated for all its natural and expansive beauty, shifting terrain, incredible shopping, cozy pizza eateries, and vast array of seafood.

On our first beautiful day, everyone was exhausted and starving. We searched the island for a place to eat and after being spoiled in Rome with an eatery at every corner, we resorted to dividing into groups and eating whatever we saw fit because Sicily doesn’t have much options other than seafood. You can get seafood on just about anything and it’s all very fishy tasting but nonetheless, it is a part of their culture. Two of my roommates, Alexa, Alyssa and I resorted to spaghetti with pomodoro sauce and afterwards we took a Corona to the harbor where we sat and enjoyed the warm air and beautiful sight. I couldn’t have been happier at this moment. I shed my shoes and let me feet hang over the edge of the dock humming Otis Reddings’ “Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay” song in my head. Now I can truly understand the saying “LIFE IS GOOD!” Before leaving the dock, we made friends with the captain of the ferry that takes people to and from the three small islands off of Sicily: Favignana, Levanzo, and Merrettimo. The Captain, Sebastian advised us of activities to do on the island such as renting vespas! We couldn’t wait to return to our hostel to tell our roommates of what Saturday’s plans should be.

So…Saturday morning the ten of us awoke to walk five minutes to the harbor where we downed un cappuccino e un cornetto (croissant) and made our way to the ferry. Not too surprisingly Captain Sebastian and his friends were waiting for our arrival and were nice enough to allow us on the ferry with no entry fee, plus they let us sit with them in the captains room where they steer the boat! The day couldn’t be off to a better start, especially when you can save a few Euros here and there, you appreciate the kindness of people like those in Sicily that are enamored by American girls. They were all gentlemen and extremely helpful in guiding us to locations that we could rent vespas (scooters) for the day in the bigger of the three islands, Favignana.

Our arrival at Favignana was interesting as you walk through the harbor observing an old man selling fresh fish (straight from the ocean) off a wooden crate. The island is quaint and colorful and inhabited by few people. The air is fresh and still salty, the mountainous terrain of Favignana seems to swallow the small village and looks truly untouched with its rolling hills and random castle-like buildings emerging from the distant hills. It is 9 am and the sky above reveals its first sign that rain will surely swallow the latter half of the day as it inevitably did so-but I put that thought to the back of my head and focused on how exciting it would be to ride a vespa through the lolling hills and tiny seaside villages of Favignana.

Pairing up on Vespas so to save money and remain safer, I rode with Amy, Alyssa with Alexa, and Jill with Caroline. We were all nervous at first and learning how to use the vespas wasn’t exactly the easiest thing as the man spoke no English at all…Basically he kept pressing the breaks and muttering “per l’emergenza” (for emergency)…that was comforting. Yet regardless, Amy and I took off with me as the guinea pig driving first and feeling the control of the vespa in my arms, or rather noodles of arms, I felt nervous at first but was cruelly relieved when I felt Alexa and Alyssa’s vespa glide into ours. With this, I thought about how it had only been the first five minutes and I couldn’t help but wonder if we would be able to manage the vespas… especially since we all just signed our lives away.

Getting comfortable with the vespa actually only took a few minutes and Amy and I were laughing away quoting “Dumb and Dumber” lines from when Lloyd returns to Harry in the dessert with a scooter that can get “70 miles to a gallon”. Things were looking up and we seemed prepared for the rain that would inevitably follow as the 6 of us rode vespas cloaked in pastel colored 2 Euro ponchos!

We began our journey traveling slowly through the countryside, taking heed to the natural beauty that surrounded us and trying our best to hold our breath as we drove through patches of putrid smelling cow dung, but there was no escape from the latter…it is part of the Favignana lifestyle. Animals such as sheep, ox, cows, and chickens roamed in expansive fields that we passed. Cacti and ancient looking stone walls along with various shrubbery seemed to pen the animals in while tiny, colorful stucco houses randomly spotted the surrounding land. I was in amazement with every sight the island had to offer. The roads beneath us were funny too- every five minutes or so it seemed to change from pavement to dirt roads to bumpy and very rocky paths. I had to be careful riding the vespa through the shifting terrain but Amy trusted me at the front of the scooter and I enjoyed leading the group of us girls.

We stopped a few places off the road to take pictures and breath in the fresh air. My favorite place we stopped at was just off a dirt road where a vast rocky piece of land led us straight to the ocean. 

The waves were crashing up against what looked like lava rock and the sight was just absolutely breathtaking. I took off my helmet to feel the strong winds colliding against me, pulling my poncho from my body in the wind while the heavy clouds above loomed closer.

Continuing away from this part of the sea, we journeyed more along beaten dirt paths to a point of the island where the military lighthouse is located. This was likewise an amazing site and a thrill to the day until the rain started down upon us and as we turned our vespas around to head back towards town, it was just our luck that Amy’s and my vespa would get a flat tire!

After much waiting around and dividing of our roommates to get help in town, four of us sought help from the very friendly military men inside the lighthouse. Communicating with them was difficult at first since we have no vocabulary for “Flat tire” or “air pump” but some crude sign language seemed to get our point across and the men were very helpful in assisting us with phone calls to the scooter rental man who I had stated before spoke no English. Luckily after much waiting around, espressos, and foosball games later (team America- us girls- vs. team Italy – the military men) …HELP ARRIVED! Amy and I had a new scooter to ride back to town and some cold, stormy weather to trek through. THIS was quite and experience. I continually thought of “Dumb and Dumber” when Harry and Lloyd ride to ASPEN on the tiny scooter and are nearly stuck together by the time they arrive in town because at that point in the day and after all that we had seen, done and experience, I really think Amy and I had morphed into Harry and Lloyd…driving 40mph on a vespa through cold rain that felt like pins and needles on my face. (Amy was lucky to have me blocking much of the rain for her because at this point the ponchos weren’t as glorious as they seemed when we first bought them…I was soaked from cold rain by the time we arrived back in town.)

The day dwindled with a very expensive, but delicious lunch in Favignana and then we all took the ferry home, exhausted from the day. A long nap followed and when we awoke late at night we were all ready to eat and drink more. Walking the streets of Sicily we found a fantastic pizza place called “AmiciMiei Pizzeria.” The quaint Sicilian restaurant was packed with locals and had a very long wait but as soon as we entered we were treated like Goddesses. The waiters sat us immediately and we all ordered some of the best pizza I have ever eaten!

Regardless of the few glitches in the day, the night only got better! The waiters were very kind checking on us continually and just as we were about ready to pay, some waiters came over along with the owner and told us they had a surprise! They offered us Nutella Pizza for free along with a bottle of Sicilian Champagne- both MOLTO BENE! (Very Good!) Nutella Pizza basically looks like a calzone – bread stuffed with nutella, heated up with powdered sugar and crushed nuts on top. Absolutely amazing! While the Sicilian champagne had a beautifully ornate label and tasted delicious!!

After dinner we went to a swanky bar where many locals also went and toasted more glasses of champagne and wine to one of the greatest adventures of our lives!

 

 

Amor Roma!

Ciao! 

I am here in Rome and having the time of my life! Arriving on Wednesday was exhausting as we were all jetlagged and yet likewise ready to take on this city. Upon arrival in Rome, directors from our school, The American University of Rome (AUR) were waiting to sign us in and bring us to our apartments. I couldn't wait to see the area I would be living in for the next four months and to meet my the rest of my roommates, since I already knew I would be living with Alyssa and Amy, two girls from Sacred Heart. We waited in the airport for transportation to our aparments for what seemed like eternity. We were all jetlagged, starving, and simply exhausted from an entire day of travel and so I couldn't wait to ditch my luggage ( of which I only had one bag to lug around since the airport lost the other for a day) and breathe the fresh Italian air! I could see the cobblestone streets from where I was sitting in the airport and couldn't wait to walk the streets and discover my surroundings but first things first, our apartment.

Finally arriving at our apartment building, we each received a large antique key to our front door; even the key, like everything in Rome, holds such beauty in its own unique way. I couldn't wait to see more. Our apartment is fantastic! A family room, kitchen, 2 bathrooms, and three bedrooms along with a balcony makes up my new home! Everything is charming and homey, and certainly makes up for the distance from home, I felt comfort here immediately...except for when the AUR directors waved "Arrivederci" and left us to ourselves, everything felt overwhelming. We barely knew our address, had no idea what our neighbordhood was like or how to get around it, and to make matters worse, although we sat for hours attempting to be savvy and study maps to navigate our own way around the city, we couldn't find where we lived on any maps! This was extremely frustrating. Yet, regardless, we all kept open minds and decided to wander the neighbordhood ourselves to get a feel of Roma at last! 

Despite the graffiti that marks the city almost everywhere you go, I love where our apartment is nestled in an area called Monteverde. Many families live in our neighborhood which is comforting and makes us feel safe but it is also difficult to communicate with people because most Italians in our area only speak Italian. Yet regardless, it was our first day and what little Italian we knew, mixed with hand gestures, got us by and bought us our first Italian pizza...delicious! Also, the people here are very friendly and regardless of their ability to speak English or not, they are all accepting of our crude attempts to speak their beautiful language and you can sense that they really want to understand us and communicate. It's truly an exciting experience to learn a new language, and each day I am getting better at communicating in the Italian language, I can't wait to learn more and attempt to be as fluent as possible! 

Rome is simply AMAZING! After my first day here, although I was jetlagged (and still am) I couldn't wait to get out and explore everything. The city is just filled with such beauty and detail that continues to take my breath away. I love walking the cobblestone streets and enjoying a cappuccino in the morning (only before 11am as the Romans do) and discovering new streets or art and architecture that bares its time on its surface. Everything is BELLO! 

The night life here in Italy is the best! My roommates (which I Love!) and I went to one of the best clubs in Rome the other night. It is called ART CAFE, an underground club that stays open until 5 in the morning and is only open 4 times a month, all the Italians go here. ...It is certainly a site and unlike any club you will ever go to in America! There are several rooms you can dance in and they all play different music, it was actually funny because one of the rooms claimed to be playing all American 80's music...and it certainly was not 80's...but we still danced the night away. Everything is expensive when you go out to nice clubs like Art Cafe, for instance we tried to check our coats and it was 10 Euro!!! That's 13.00 American dollars! (We decided to hold our coats after that) BUT, regardless, this club was amazing as are other spots in Rome! 

Walking home from the club in our heels on cobblestone streets was NOT the smartest thing and I don't recommend heels to anyone in Italy until you get a feel for the streets and cobblestones that have divets your heels just sink right into. I could have kicked myself that night as my feet were exhausted from all the walking and dancing, in fact, I will never wear these particular high-heels of mine ever again, they are in the corner of my room and are waiting to be shipped home to my sisters. Yet, as much as my feet ached from an amazing night out in Rome, the city is able to amazing you at every turn as we passed the beautifully lit Colosseum on our walk home from the club and to the nearest bus stop. I learned quickly that no matter how bad something might seem, there is always something to brighten your spirits in this city. It stands true to what every book refers to the city as, "La Citta Eterna," (The Eternal City). 

Spending the night out late into the morning is probably not the wisest thing when you're still jetlagged from traveling but when you're in an amazing city like Rome with everything at your fingertips, you can't help but experience all that it has to offer. Our night out to Art Cafe was one of the many exciting nights I have had here since I have arrived and so I will have to return later in the week to talk about more of my wonderful experiences in Rome, but for now, CIAO!

The beginning of the greatest adventure of my life...

So! This is it! I'm on my way to Rome and beginning the greatest adventure of my life! As I leave home, nestled in blankets of white snow, I look up at the sky and see the grey clouds peeling back to a layer of bright blue skies...Ah, home! A coop I have never truly flown since I grew up in Connecticut and then decided to attend college in Conneticut as well. 

 

Saying goodbye to my sisters on my last night, I tried explaining this to them (through bittersweet tears of course) and felt reassurance that my decision to study abroad was the right decision. I know my oldest sister Ashley is my biggest fan on going abroad because not too long ago she had the opportunity to study abroad in Florence, Italy, a trip she says she will never forget and was cetainly the time of her life! Hearing her encouragement and feeling the excitement she has for me is a blessing in itself. I really do have the two most amazing sisters anyone could ask for! I am lucky to have their support, along with my Mom's on this adventure of a lifetime!

 

Leaving for Rome on this day is memorable for me as I listen to President Obama deliver his first speech to the nation as our 44th President! Being a remarkable time in history, it's a funny feeling to know that I'm leaving my home on teh day that "Change with come to America" because I too am on a quest for change in my life...and here I am traveling half way around the world to seek new changes.

Ciao!