If there is any one thing I love about being in Italy and among the Italians, it is our mutual love for espresso…it is quite cheap to get just a plain caffe (about 1 euro usually) at the places around town but to save some money–and prevent myself from having to leave the apartment–I make it at the apartment sometimes. However, I still make it the old fashioned way!!=)
Mmmmm….espresso….
Oggi era giorno buono, ma vorrei una buona dormita!
Buongiorno mi amici!! I am going to keep this pretty short and sweet as I am quite tired and looking forward to enjoying my new book some more (The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, already about halfway through) and relaxing, then maybe grabbing some gelato before I hit the sack. Below are some pictures from the other night…on one of the bridges looking out across the Arno and inside St. Mark’s English Church (NOT the same as San Marco, which we found out the hard way and therefore missed the first act). It was a great, intimate performance of Rigoletto (if you Google this play you will likely recognize one or two very famous songs from it), with the performers just a few feet away. I enjoyed it thoroughly, despite being exhausted from racing across Florence (twice), and noticed how many words I was able to pick up on that a week ago I never would have been able to! I do feel like I am learning quite a lot in school (Centro Firenza) and I am looking forward to the next two weeks as well as practicing in Rome! Hopefully by my return I will be almost fluent! Anyway, the other pictures are of two bars we went to last night (“we” being a bunch of students from school) with interesting décor/looks and finally the delicious dinner I just made…pasta with a sauce that included white wine, lemon, tomatoes, capers, olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette. Oh—and prosciutto! Although next time I will be more careful not to add the prosciutto too early so that it only warms but does not cook. Anyway, I hope you enjoy and have a great day!!
**I almost forgot…today, I am grateful and thankful for the quote by Shakespeare that goes something like this “Nothing is good or bad, but thinking makes it so”.
Florence: Cinque Giorno…abbreviated because I am exhausted!!
I will write more tomorrow…but here are a few picture sneak peaks including some of the Duomo (I will be checking it out tomorrow or Saturday) an finally got a photo or two of me on the Arno at night with all the pretty lights! I had a great time but it was also a bit of a debacle and it made me realize I am actually quite content doing things here alone…in a good way! See you tomorrow!!
View from window at school
View from window at school2
I look like that because I am struggling to stay awake!
Me and my ghost..
Sans ghost!!
The Arno (looking at Ponte Vecchio) at night
Florence: Day Four, Part 2/Firenze: Quattro Giorno, Parte Due
Here are a few more interesting photos I snapped after walking around after dinner (had to burn off some cals so I could partake in some more gelato)! =)
Some random church (as far as I know)
More of the church
I think this is one of the buildings the Medici had built?
Facade of the building
Close up
Um, sports car??
Florence: Day Four
Today was another lovely day, school was great as usual and I met a nice young man from Germany named Lars who was also interested in seeing Pisa and who is a bit older and more low-key/calm than many of the other students (I like them all but was not necessarily interested in spending an entire day with any of them). I am debating going to Pisa this Saturday or just hanging out Saturday and doing a trip to Cinque de Terre that is pseudo-hosted through the school and doing Pisa next weekend…Lars said it is worth the trip (he has already been) so we will see…tomorrow night I am going to the opera!! I will be seeing Rigoletto at St. Mark’s English Church and I will be sitting in the front row! I am excited about that as I have never been to that kind of performance. I bought two tickets and asked my roommate if she wanted to go, if she does not I may ask Lars or another student…mostly because I don’t want to be traversing Florence by myself late at night when it ends…although it is very safe here, it is still a city I don’t know.
This afternoon I went and saw the Picasso, Miro and Dali exhibit at Palazzo Strozzi and certainly learned a lot; although I am somewhat familiar with Picasso and Dali, this was mostly all new to me as it is their earlier work. What most of us know/recognize as Dali is not what he started out doing, in fact there was only one painting that I immediately recognized as Dali. It was a fairly small exhibit but interesting nonetheless with a lot of background info, so I made sure to read every sign. No photography allowed, of course, so no photos of it but I did take one or two of the outside as well as one in the lower lobby that had very interesting decor made of–no kidding–plastic wrap.
Last but not least, I started reading a free book I had downloaded to my Kindle since I finished my other one (The Traitor’s Wife, a great read) called Today We Are Rich. It is like a self-help/positive-thinking book, not something I would normally grab right away, but it is really quite interesting. Plus, being that I am very, very agnostic, I appreciate that every other sentence in the book isn’t talking about God. I have decided to do a variation of one of the suggested exercises in the book and each day I will record/post at least one specific thing that I appreciate. Today, I appreciate the moral and financial support my husband gives me to do these things that, a few years ago, I likely would not have though I could do or would have the option of doing. I am very lucky to have ended up with someone who sees great value and potential in me and never questions my ability to do anything. Although I miss him dearly, I would not be as successful in this trip if a) I did not have him in my life, and b) if he had not been my companion for my first overseas/Italy trip last year!
Finally, the moment you have waited for….PICTURES!!=)
Heading back across the Arno after school
Same bridge over Arno
Palazzo Spini-Ferroni
Outside Palazza Strozzi (one side)
Outside the exhibit
Plastic wrap decor...
Another glimpse of peace in the intersection near my apartment
Florence: Day Three
So, obviously I will not be able to post every single day, but for now when I have the time I figure…hey, why not? School is still going great, I have it 2 hours longer on Tues/Thurs but I am happy to be there! Tomorrow is Picasso, Miro and Dali exhibit in the afternoon!! After having some mosquito issues, which would be minimal for most but I happen to be a little extra allergic and have to take an antihistamine if I get bit (especially multiple times), I stopped at a farmacia and got a plug-in thing that should last me until I leave here as well as some spray just in case. My feet are already blistered from yesterday’s jaunts around town so it is back to sandals for me for a few days before I can wear my normal flats again, so I got some gel-thingies to put on them to make them a bit more conducive to walking for long periods of time. I am already learning a ton in school and it is only day two, which brings me to the constant reminders I have to give myself not to put so much pressure on and just let it come as they teach it. Anyway, here are a couple more pictures from my stay!
Random building
Views from bridge I cross for school
They are getting ready to plant some more trees on this side
Crazy intersection caught in a moment of peace...
The street right in front of mine, right on the river
Last but not least, my street Borgo Ognissanti!
Florence: Day Two
Here are a few photos from my journey and my first couple days in Florence…my first day was pretty rough–jet lag, emotional (missing my husband and pups), somewhat disoriented–but I am glad that I started classes right away because I am already VERY happy with them!! I have already made acquaintances, likely soon-to-be friends, with some people from Sweden, Australia, Austria, England, London and Mexico (one of my roommates is from there) and that’s just in the first two days! The staff at Centro Fiorenza are very nice and our teacher is very friendly and has quite the sense of humor. There are only 7 people in my class right now so we are getting to know each other pretty fast. Strangely, I have been leading the class a bit just from my few community education Italian classes that Erik and I attended at the community college in Las Cruces. Anyway, on to the photos!! =)
If you look closely you will see the coastline…flying over Ireland as the sun came up:
Some views from the Ponte Vecchio:
Bruschette Caprese, my favorite!!
And, last but not least, a video from my window (and no I did not add in that accordion music; also, sorry it is weird and shaky, but leaning out with my Blackberry was a little perilous!):
First flight on the journey to Italy!
Staying positive and happy…
Very excited but also weary from leaving my love and our pups!
Oh, how the time does fly…
Well, here I am…a little more than a week away from departing for Italy. This weekend we will be having a combination birthday party for my husband/bon voyage party for myself and I am looking forward to seeing some of our amazing friends and family. As with many things, it will be somewhat bittersweet as I will be bidding them adieu for the entire summer, but I am definitely looking forward to the incredible experiences that await me in Italy. I will definitely miss my husband and my two pups the most, but between Skype, Blackberry phones and all the other technology at our fingertips, it will not be difficult to stay in touch. Every once in a while, when my mind starts to jump into overdrive and I start feeling anxious about being gone that long, I remind myself how quickly the three months will fly by, and how long I will keep the experience close at heart. The latter is significantly longer than the former. =) What’s that famous saying, something about regretting what you didn’t do more than you will ever regret what you didn’t? I keep reminding myself of this, and I agree completely. Ciao!
