Roma, Firenze, and the Prospect of GREECE

View from the top of the Duomo in Firenze

The Colosseum

Hello, friends! I apologize for the lack of posts lately, but life has been a little crazy these past few weeks. Two weekends ago, I went to Rome, and it was amazing! It was my second time to the city, but I had a lot of things to redeem from the first time I went. They were:

~To enjoy the Vatican (last time it was so crowded and hot, I felt like I was just trying to survive the walk-through)

SUCCESS: We got there super early (we made an appointment) and were some of the first people inside. Plus, it's not summer, so the crowd was about 1/4 of the size it was last time!

~To be one of the first people of the day in the Sistine Chapel (for the peace and quiet)

SUCCESS: We booked it through the entire Vatican (running is okay in the Vatican, right?) to make it to the chapel. We then had to walk back through the chapel a few times to get back to the beginning of the tour...so I saw it four times that day.

~To see the Trevi Fountain in the daylight (last time I only saw it at nightime, which was magical, but still)

SUCCESS: I saw it! So now I finally have decent pictures of my favorite fountain.

~To not be homesick while I was there (last time was my first trip abroad, and I was having a little bit of trouble...)

SUCCESS: I'm a big girl now!

This past weekend, I traveled to my favorite city in Italy---FLORENCE (or Firenze). I went there almost four years ago and fell in love, and I was nervous that it wouldn't live up to the hype I'd created in my mind. But I love it even more now! Something about that city is so purely beautiful, and I just love to spend time there. And this time I had so many goals to do several things that I didn't get to do last time, like:

~Go to the Uffizi Gallery (Birth of Venus, anyone?)

~Go inside the Duomo

~Climb to the top of the Duomo and walk around the tippy-top of the dome

~Walk across the Ponte Vecchio

~Go inside the baptistry (there's an incredible mosaic on the ceiling dating from the 1225)

And--I'm so blessed--I got to do all of those things! We also took a little side trip to Pisa, and I have to say that it is the absolute goofiest place I have ever been. I mean, seriously, that thing is tipping over...it looks ridiculous! It gave me a good laugh.

Finally, I cannot contain my excitement for the Easter break because I am going to GREECE! I can't believe it's actually going to happen. My life doesn't feel real right now. It feels like a really long dream (embedded with a lot of language barriers and gelatos). But at least I'll have the pictures (and the life experience) to prove this semester was real!

Snow!

Based on the facebook updates, the weather is beautiful at home! Here, on the other hand, it is snowing like crazy. While I was walking (or should I say "trekking") to school today, I couldn't help but feel like I had somehow been transported back to Boston! The only difference was that I was facing the brutal weather without my greatest asset: the L.L. Bean. It's absence was painfully obvious this morning...

While the 35 minute trek to school was cold, wet, slippery, and unstable (marble is NOT a good material for sidewalks, Europe...) it was actually rather beautiful. The ancient buildings that are already so magnificent are even more incredible when covered with snow! My complaining and griping was constantly interrupted by a breathtaking scene---the domes of the churches peeking out from the wind-blown snow, the shutters on each house lightly sprinkled with pure white, and the statues of the Prato della Valle standing regally, completely unaware of the treacherous weather. The snow gave me a fresh perspective on my wonderful surroundings, and I have even more appreciation for their splendor. Even as I sit typing this, the snow is falling on a steeple next to my school building, and it's absolutely lovely!

I hope that I can transfer this pleasant attitude to the states when I return home! It's easy to see the beauty in Europe, but there is so much to enjoy everywhere, including Amish Country and the great city of Boston. I think I just stopped paying attention to it...hopefully this semester will cement a new mentally in me!

In other news, tomorrow I'm meeting with an italian student who attends the University of Padova. We are both in the "Tandem Learning" program, which means that we'll get together so that I can practice my italian and she can practice her english. I cannot wait! More on that to follow...

Milano, Part 2- The Soccer Game

10 Things I learned about italians (and life) from attending the AC Milan game:

1-The presence of David Beckham can turn the most sensible of girls into a giddy, giggly mess of schoolgirl adoration.

2-Soccer is not for the faint of heart.

3-Goals are cause for INTENSE celebration. I'm not talking high fives and woo-hoos; I'm talking weeping, group hugs, and prayers of thanks. And these are the tough guys.

4-Girls are scarce at soccer games. Ladies, if you attend a game, be prepared to be a foreigner in Boy Town.

5-You need legitimate documentation to purchase a ticket. Passport, driver's license, visa...SOCCER IS SERIOUS BUSINESS.

6-Soccer games are not family-friendly affairs. (I'm pretty sure that most of what the fans were shouting and singing was not even age-appropriate for me...)

7-Missing a penalty kick earns you the death penalty in the eyes of the people (that means you, Ronaldinho!).

8-Smoking is strongly encouraged. Athletes thrive on nicotene in the air...

9-BYOB (Bring Your Own Bread)

10-Seats are not for sitting, they're for standing.

Milano, Part 1

I didn't expect to enjoy industrialized, fast-paced Milan because I assumed that it would lack the charm and historical merit that most of the italian cities I've visited possess. But I actually LOVED Milano! The people were kind, the city was relatively clean, and the juxtaposition of the incredibly old with the incredibly new was fascinating. For example, the duomo (which is breathtaking) stands among Armani stores and modern restaurants. Unlike other italian cities where there is a historical center to which all tourists flock, Milano has history sprinkled all over the place, the contemporary city built up around the treasures.

The most incredible experience I've had in Italy so far happened this past weekend. We climbed to the top of the duomo, and the view left me speechless. You can see the whole city, and beyond the city the valleys, and beyond the valleys the snow covered Alps. That was the first time I've ever seen mountains (excluding air travel)! Not only was the view incredible, but getting to observe the details of the spires was equally wonderful. When the duomo was built, the architects had no idea that millions of travelers would climb to the top to admire the craftmanship, yet they put so much effort into making the details on the roof just as gorgeous and flawless as the intricacies of the ground level. I could live on the roof of that duomo. Bellissima...

The Old with the New

I am sitting in an internet cafe staring at one of the most beautiful buildings in the entire world, the duomo in downtown Milan! Life is wonderful...

The Day that almost Wasn't

On Sunday, I took a day trip to the ancient city of Ferrara, which is a little south of Padova. Though the day did not go at all as I had planned, it was wonderful and full of surprises!

The day started off a little rocky when I waited for the bus for 40 minutes and it never came, causing me to miss the train that my friends were on. I should've known; the bus schedule means nothing on Sundays (and pretty much every day, but ESPECIALLY Sundays). It Italy, everything shuts down on Sundays, which is actually pretty spectacular (until you need to buy tissues or facewash or something). I decided that missing the first train was not going to stop me from seeing Ferrara, so I forgot the bus and started walking to the nearest tram stop. As I approached the Prato della Valle (google it, it's gorgeous!), I remembered that on the third Sunday of every month, there's a huge antique market in the Prato. Providence! The sun was shining, and I had time to kill, so I perused for a while. I could've easily spent too much money on some fantastic books I stumbled upon, but fortunately (and unfortunately) I did not have cash. But it was so lovely to just walk through the market alone and admire all of the trinkets and treasures. I love when misfortunes become blessings!

When I finally made it to the train station, I was a little uneasy about being alone because 1-Guys are pretty forward here and 2-I can't adequately tell them off (but the italian IS improving daily). I sat at a little cafe and wondered how I was going to kill time until the next train. An older couple sat at my table, and the woman started complaining about her husband to me in rapid italiano. I understood a lot but was a bit taken aback! She just kept going on and on about her husband, and then traveling, and then trains, and then she leaned in a whispered "It's amazing how many foreigners there are in this train station!" I almost died. I was flattered that she thought I was NOT a foreigner but really confused at to why she didn't wonder why I was barely saying anything. Then she asked me to write the address on a postcard for her because she said she had terrible handwriting. What a random and hilarious way to kill time!

After an awkward don't-make-eye-contact-with-the-person-across-from-you train ride, I was in Ferrara! As soon as I got off the train, I loved the city. It just had a good feel. Everyone was very friendly, and the city itself was gorgeous! I finally joined up with my friends in the historical center, which was beautiful. The duomo (pictured above) is magnificent, and the Castle d'Este sits right across the street. We wined and dined italian style (three courses, two and half hours, 6 different types of wine) and then headed to the castle. It was so incredible and SO OLD. By far, the eeriest and best part was the dungeon (yes, I said DUNGEON).

When I entered the duomo, the sight literally took my breath away. It is such a gorgeous church! And there were so many candles lit...it brought tears to my eyes and a prayer of thanks to my heart.

Lesson learned: if you're willing to let it be a good day despite unwanted circumstance, God will reveal Himself to you in really special ways!