Pisa and pizza

Yesterday we took our first trip outside of Florence. All 15 CCI students piled onto a train to Pisa. The couple of people who had been there before told us there was nothing to see but the leaning tower, so I was expecting to step off the train to see a field, a tower and a few scattered souvenir stands.

Suffice to say, it wasn't what I pictured. When we pulled up into the train station, we weren't sure if we had the right stop. Where was the tower? After we got off and found a map, the answer was clear: on the other side of town 1.7 km away. And so we started our walk. It's a very calm town. Everything was quiet. It didn't feel like I was on my way to a major tourist destination, which was nice. 

Here is a quick snapshot of our walk and of Lauren, decked out in her chic cat poncho (or really the picnic blanket she wrapped around her shoulders when we discovered weather.com's forecast was a little off.)

Although I don't think it was in the 60s, the weather was absolutely perfect. Sunny, clear blue sky, barely a breeze. I was even a little bit too warm walking... in January. I can deal with that. 

We crossed over a river that I now know is the Arno — the same river that runs through Firenze. 

Other than a quick jog to the left to cross the bridge, it was pretty much a straight shot to the tower. A hot dog stand sits in front of a centuries old church. It welcomed us around the corner and into a field of history and shoddy souvenir stands.

We just caught a glimpse of the tower when hunger took over and we went to find food. Most people were surprised by how short it was. They were expecting something much larger. I'm not sure why but I was prepared for its size. It was exactly how I pictured it: leany and surrounded with people with feet and arms up in the air as their friends crouched down and directed them to shift by "juuuust a little bit." It would be our turn next, but first food.
Amy and I split a margherita pizza, which I was apparently too excited for to take a picture of it, and bruschetta. It was really good, but the bruschetta could have been cooked a few minutes less. Still, it's authentic Italian food.

After taking several pictures of tourists looking like idiots in the field as they "held up the Leaning Tower of Pisa," I caved and did one of my own. It's just one of those things that has to happen.

Then Amy and I went out in search of the three Pisa pictures my mom took. I got all three pretty accurately.

The Cathedral in Piazza dei Miracoli:

                               The Baptistry:

Half of the group left within a couple of hours, but eight of us stayed back and wandered around. I followed Yelena and Erika around for a while. They had spent a couple of hours searching for Camposanto Monumentale. I wasn't paying attention to the map or what we were even trying to find. After going in a giant circle, I asked to look at the map. Turns out they were looking for something I had seen and passed a couple of times already. We ran over there, but it was closing in five minutes. We were disappointed, especially Erika and Yelena who had spent so much time finding it.
So we just sat on the steps of the Cathedral as the sky shifted from blue to pink to purple. I lay down and just stared at the sky, pleased with our first adventure. Eventually, we gathered ourselves and headed back to the train station. Once we got home, we made dinner, and I talked people into playing cards with me! It was a great day. (I feel like I say that a lot on this blog.)
I even tried my hand at video! It's shaky and disjointed, but I'm used to doing news videos — not documenting my own adventures. I didn't bother with transitions or anything. I just kind of threw my videos together. Next time I'll try to be more snazzy, but no promises.











Today (Sunday) I slept in and took my time getting ready. I had my usual breakfast: strawberry yogurt and granola with a fruit (a green apple today).
I met up with Amy, Bethany and Yelena and Nicolo and Franco (Amy/Bethany/Erika's neighbor and his friend) to walk up to Piazza Michelangelo. I went up there in the dark one of the first nights we were here. It's even more breathtaking in the light.






Now to bed. Back to class tomorrow — that thing that keeps interrupting my vacation.

One week of classes down

I was worried classes would get in the way of sightseeing and exploring the city, but my schedule is more open than I thought. Wednesday and Thursday I got to go on scavenger hunts for my mom's slide locations. I even sat down and made a map of several of them. I have to take some of them into Petra to ask her where they are since my mom labeled several with a very detailed and helpful "Florence." Love you, mom.

Wednesday I found Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale. It was a short walk from the apartment. At first, I thought my mom had mislabeled her slide, because the front looked nothing like her picture. Still impressive though.

So I began wandering home a different way than I came and found it on the side.

Satisfied with a close enough angle, I walked back toward Santa Croce, found a bench and camped out with my Kindle until class as the sun lowered across the piazza.

I reluctantly headed back to Palazzo dei Cerchi to meet up with Jess for European Issues. It's not exactly my favorite class, but I know it's important to learn about the EU. I just wish it didn't have to be a choice between that or Art History. Everyone else in the CCI group is in that class. They get to tour museums and see the real thing in front of them while they're learning.
Fortunately, I at least have the Genius of Florence class, where our professor teaches us about the history of Florence and then takes us to historic sites around the city. I'm sure he has plenty of narrowing down to do for sites for our weekly class. This city is a history book. It's so weird learning about what happened in the 1100s here. I'm not used to going back so far considering most history classes I grew up taking focused on the US completely. But I think that's what makes this city so much more magical.

Thursday I'm lucky with just one class, Italian, and I'm done by noon.
I came home, made food, then went out armed with my camera again. It was a pretty gloomy day. It wasn't raining, but it was cloudy and just generally damp.

A guy approached me while I was taking pictures and tried to sell me a painting of some sort. Despite my "no grazie" and "non ho soldi," he stuck around. I didn't even notice him still standing there until he started talking about a minute later. He asked me the usual: Are you a student? How long will you be here? Do you like Florence? Where are you from?
I answered them all politely, but when I said America, he said "Oh, Michigan?" I was baffled. I was wearing pink and grey tennis shoes, nondescript jeans, a purple jacket and a camera bag slung across my body. Nothing about me screamed "I'm from the mitten state that no one here has heard of." I stammered back "Uuhm no. Ohio," then booked it out of there. I looked back about a block later to see him standing at the end of the road with his paintings. I shuddered and checked my purse and pockets to make sure all of my belongings were there. Everything was in place. Odd to say the least. But I did get a 30 Years Later picture out of it.
I wandered briefly but went home soon after that encounter to hang out with Caitlin, Kate and Bethany for a bit. We talked, then went to get groceries. I made open-faced mozzarella and tomato sandwiches with pesto. Delicious, but I suffered for that food. I burnt my finger. With my track record, I should be happy it didn't happen sooner.
Today I slept in (no Friday classes). I rolled out of bed around noon but was still the first one up.
I went shopping with Caitlin for a while and am proud to say I successfully resisted a leather purse... although I'll probably be back to get it in a week or so. 40 percent off!
We walked around for a bit, and I of course took some pictures along the way:

I returned home with gifts for six people and nothing for myself. Hold on while I pat myself on the back for that one. I hung around the house for a while until the roomies and I went to dinner at Il Gatto e La Volpe around 9 p.m. I had pasta with alfredo sauce. I don't usually eat it at home except when Allison makes it for me, but I tried it after Jess raved about it. It was amazing. There are leftovers sitting in my fridge for a meal tomorrow. It'll be the first time I have to reheat something here. We don't have a microwave, so I guess I'll just stick it in the oven for a while. I'll make Caitlin remove it though. I don't need to burn myself twice this week.

I'm going to go get some rest. Tomorrow I'm leaving Firenze for the first time. The entire CCI group is headed to Pisa. We're going to figure out the train station and just go for a couple of hours. Apparently there's nothing there but the tower, so it will be a brief visit but a good, cheap first "adventure."

Buona notte, amici!

"Catch-Up" part 2.

As mentioned in my previous post, the past few days have been a whirlwind, but I still want to get all caught up on my blog. So I broke up my week recap into two blogs. This is part two.
Click here for part one.


Saturday
Although knowledge of the quickly approaching first day of school loomed above us, it was a wonderful weekend. Saturday morning was our final session of orientation tours. We walked to the train and bus stations. They were pretty simple. Knot Italian vocabs. Buy ticket. Punch ticket into yellow machine. Board train. But nonetheless, it's nice to know the fastest way to get there and where we will meet for class trips.

After, I continued my eternal hunt for boots. I have two pairs at home: one with the soles falling off and the other very impractical snow boots. I figured I'd just buy some here. Well to my dismay, I've discovered that Italy doesn't seem to cater to the large feet I was blessed with. I wear a US size 11, which means a 42 here. I'm hard-pressed to even find a 41. The three pairs of 42 I have found were not what I was looking for.
So until I travel outside of Italy, I am stuck with very comfortable — but equally unfashionable — tennis shoes. My feet scream "American!" to all of the fashionable Italians around me, but at least they don't have blisters.

I headed home and relaxed for a little bit. Tea, cookies and crocheting. A perfect way to relax.

I went back out to go shopping with Caitlin and Bethany. It wasn't a complete bust this time. I got a simple black purse for €5 to replace my favorite army green one whose strap broke the first day here. Bethany ended up leaving with a new leather messenger bag at a decent price. It just took some haggling and dealing with him hugging and kissing her on the check the entire time they discussed the sale.
We came home for dinner. Bethany made vinaigrette dressing for a salad, I made pasta with pesto, and we completed it with fresh bakery bread dipped in olive oil. Simple. Easy. Fantastic.

Then the whole College of Communication and Information group went out to the Red Garter, a karaoke  bar right around the corner, which also apparently had whatever sports game the guys were looking to watch. The crowd was a good mix of Italians and Americans, as were the songs for karaoke. I want to find more places like it.
Here's Caitlin and I at the Red Garter:

I don't drink. It's a simple lifestyle choice I made years ago. Most people accept it but don't really understand it. Personally, I'd just rather have friends than a substance to help me relax, let loose and have fun. I have absolutely no qualms with people who do drink. I just get to be the sober buddy to fetch water for someone looking a little too far gone and find another when she gets separated from the group. I don't mind at all, and I still hold that I have just as much fun as anyone else there.
Although I will be trying wine. How can I not in Italy? A contradiction? Perhaps. But it is likely to just be a glass with a couple of dinners.
But I digress. Everyone got home or to a couch, and I got to sleep without setting an alarm for the first time since I've been here.



Sunday
I woke up around noon, spent some time writing, made breakfast/lunch, read my book and took my time getting showered and ready for the day. It was so nice to just relax — a rare luxury for me. Once Caitlin and Jess rolled out of bed after 3 p.m., we went shopping for a little bit. We needed a rug for the bathroom, school supplies and some other basic things. I lost interest pretty quickly and met up with some people to hike the hill I did one of the first days here to Piazzale Michelangelo. It ended up getting dark sooner than we got everyone together to go, so it didn't happen. I definitely want to this week though.
Instead, Amy and I finally found a 99 cent store, then came home, cooked dinner and played cards. She lives on the other side of Florence, so Jess and I walked her back.
I gathered my things for school and lounged around until going to bed. I hope I have many like this in Italy.



Monday/Tuesday
Monday was a bit of a kick to the gut. School just had to creep in there at some point I suppose, but I was still unhappy with it. I like my classes for the most part. They're small and seem to have a manageable workload. I just wish they weren't eating away at all of my daylight. I spend most of the time gazing out the window listening, which will probably soon be misinterpreted as not listening.
At least I got to eat at the sandwich place for lunch both days!
Once I get into a routine, I want to start my days off right, meaning:

• workout
• shower
• eat breakfast - strawberry yogurt and the granola I finally found
• take vitamins and dietary supplements
• sit and just breathe
• read
• stroll, not rush, to school.

Tuesdays will be excluded from this routine as classes start at 9:15 a.m. instead of 10:45 a.m.
Monday was a success on most bullet points. This semester I really want to major in relaxing and finding my center. I need it for my overall well-being.
I will start my habits here. And if I want to continue tomorrow, I need to sleep now.

Buona Notte!

Greetings! From where getting lost is a welcomed way to spend an afternoon

It's been just over a week, but it feels like ages. I'm so happy it's going slowly, but as school started this week I could feel time accelerating.

The past few days were a combination of boring orientation and happily being lost. Once I get into a routine I plan to blog much more regularly.
For now, we will play a little bit of catch-up.



Wednesday
We started the day with cappuccino at Caffé Mario before orientation. Hearing some fellow students' mishap in a caffé, we stood at the bar instead of sitting at a table — a mistake that evidently earned them some dirty looks. The other rule they learned was cappuccino ordered after 11 a.m. is a surefire way to get some more strange glances. We thought we were set. However, we learned the third rule: if you get a pastry, you sit down at a table to eat. Standing at the bar will get you scolded.
We're getting there though. Slowly but surely.
Orientation was long and dull, as most tend to be, although Marcello Fantoni, director of Kent State in Florence, held my attention at the beginning. He talked a lot about how much much these four months can completely reshape us. I've heard it from everyone who went, but somehow sitting in that freezing cold hall looking outside at the sun on Tuscan rooftops made me realize how much I know I'll evolve. I can't wait.

The rest of the day was filled with I suppose useful, but mostly obvious, safety tips. I know it had to be done, but I was sad to watch the day slip by outside. After snacking at the reception, we took our first trip to the grocery store, Metá. We went home and snacked on our cheese and crackers before gearing up with cameras to walk the city at night.
I'm still in disbelief that I live here.



Exhausted from the walk, I fell asleep reading my Kindle. Perfect.



Thursday
Today started the first day of a three-part orientation. Nicoletta Peluffo, my italian teacher, taught us basic Italian phrases before showing us the post office and English movie theater. Afterwards, Caitlin and I decided to go shopping and walked aimlessly through the city until we found ourselves at the train station. I haggled for the first time. I found a laptop bag listed for €20. Failing to remember the Italian words for 15 and 16, I offered €17. He took it immediately, leaving me a little disappointed I didn't go lower. But again, I'm learning.
We walked even further away from the Duomo before meandering back to the river. We were beyond the boarders of our study abroad map, but followed the river home and hauled ourselves up our eternal flights of stairs.

After a few more orientation meetings, we walked again. Even with Kate and Jess to add to our navigation team, we were lost. But I don't think I'll ever mind being lost here. As long as I'm with someone or it's daylight.
Unable to maneuver markets comfortably yet, I had more crackers and cheese before going out to Finnegan's Irish Pub for trivia in English. It was a blast! And our team even won a prize... for last place. Most of the group moved onto another bar, but not being a drinker, I opted to join Amy, Bethany and Caitlin in their hunt for food. We found an Indian restaurant somehow open at 1 a.m. Another day well spent.



Friday
Caitlin and I woke up five minutes after orientation started, but rushed around and made into our seats only 15 minutes late. We took another walk around the city led by Nicoletta and found out where a market is. There were a lot of interesting meats — intestines and brains galore. But I'm sure I can find some good veggies to make some meals when I get a chance.
After our tour, I grabbed lunch with a few people. It turns out the pizza shop behind our school is where the Jersey Shore cast worked when they filmed their forth season in Florence. I asked Nicoletta about what locals thought of the gang. I laughed as she said they were loud and rude. Of course.  But then she said unfortunately, that's what a lot of Italians think Americans are like. She even thought we all watch and love that show. It made me a little sick. I hate that they are the image some place on me and other Americans in this city. It's despicable.
So when someone suggested going there for lunch, I considered it (the pizza is supposed to be phenomenal), but ended up walking down the block to a small sandwich stand. I haven't walked by there without seeing a line of people waiting for their €2.50 sandwich. There's a reason. The Vegetarian Mix was amazing; it had artichokes, peppers, eggplant, olive oil and I don't know what else. I'll have to take a picture one of these times — I've already had it twice and tried another panino.
After another few hours of orientation, I relaxed at home and headed over to the big apartment for snacks and cards. Besides the sandwich, finding people to play cards with was probably my highlight of the day. I love cards and can usually find few people to play with other than my dear friend Aprille back in Michigan. Turns out the several packs of games I brought might be put to use!




I've decided to break this "catch-up" post into two. More later tonight!
For now, I'm off to class. Last week I almost forgot I was here for school. Let's be honest though, I'm here for Firenze.

Flashback to 2002.

I need to post soon, and I promise I will.

BUT until then, please enjoy this excerpt from my Destination Imagination skit in fifth grade. It was the research we did in preparation for this very skit that first inspired me to travel to Italy. It was my dream ever since.

My mom says our poorly drawn backdrop is the Ponte Vecchio. I am mentally worshiping my parents for rediscovering this.

I am all the way on the right.

We wrote these lyrics ourselves.

"Oh my gosh! Even the pigeons are pretty here."

One of my fellow students summed up the city as we stood outside Gelateria Dei Neri eating gelato of every color.
I've been building up my image of this country for a decade and this city for at least two years. It has surpassed all of my expectations. My imagination couldn't capture it before I got here, and words certainly can't now, but I will do my best.
After hours of travel, we finally got to Florence. The six-hour time difference leaves me a little hazy on just how long I was in airports and on planes, but I don't care enough to figure it out. We got to our apartment around 11 a.m. local time after a brief taxi ride. I sat in the back giddy, sitting on my hands to stop myself from pressing them against the glass as I watched pages of an art history book fly by me outside. Caitlin and I tipped the driver €5, which I forgot isn't custom here. But oh well. We had the taxi money from KSU Florence anyway. We just made someone's day.
We climbed to our "third floor" apartment, which is in reality on the fifth. We stumbled inside as two kind men followed us with our suitcases. When we thanked them, they had to ask the woman from the housing program how to say "you're welcome." It was cute.
Alesandra, from the Florence and Abroad Real Estate Agency, reviewed apartment rules and city laws. We can't have two big appliances on at the same time; the heat is scheduled to be on at certain times totaling 10 hours a day; wasting water (or anything, really) is not allowed; and noise after 10:30 p.m. will result in a €1000 fine.
After she left, I washed the day of travel off myself and emerged from the bathroom clean and ready to take on the city. My roommates weren't so chipper. They were all asleep. I conceded and took a nap that, in the absence of any alarms, ended up lasting five hours.
But we eventually got ourselves together and went to dinner around the corner at Ristorante Pizzeria Il Teatro. I had bruschetta and spaghetti al pomodoro. Basic, but incredible.
We wandered down to the river, a mere three minute walk from our apartment. I stood on the bridge in awe, staring at the city I can call mine for four months, despite everyone's ability to peg us as Americans before we open our mouths.
We went back to our apartment, which is just a few doors into a street that looks out onto the Basilica of Santa Croce:

Really though. All we have to do is walk out and look to our right to see this work of art.

Today was a much busier day. Still without functional alarms, we woke up late but with enough time to meet the rest of the group at the Duomo at 12:30 p.m.
Deborah and her husband, Stan Wearden (also dean of the College of Communication and Information) treated us to lunch at Il Gatto e la Volpe, where I had pesto gnocchi, followed by a true macchiato.
We continued to tour the city and found each of our apartments. Stan and Deb took us to Gelateria dei Neri, where I got two scoops of gelato — Nutella and Fior de Latte. It was hands down the best gelato I've ever tasted. To be fair, it was also my first, but I have a feeling it will be hard to beat. Just a short walk of a couple blocks and €2,50 will get me more. Give it a day or two. Next flavor combo: lemon and strawberry.

Deborah and Stan continued to guide us through the narrow streets as we trailed behind mouths agape, pointing, taking pictures and trying not to get flattened by traffic. With our eyes high on every building, there were several close calls.
We crossed over the Ponte Vecchio Bridge over the Arno River. It was breathtaking.

We walked through piazza after piazza. I couldn't tell any apart by the end. They all blurred into one beautiful mass of architecture and culture. I'll have to explore on my own to learn my way around. I've been doing well so far. My roommate Caitlin called me a walking GPS and her personal Google Maps. I'm honored
I did remember a couple of key spots. They showed us where to exchange our money with the best rate and no fees. We got to see the Palazzo dei Cerchi, the Kent State campus, which is located conveniently on our street. And of course Gelateria dei Neri.
Before we knew it, it was past 5 p.m. We went our separate ways for a while. Caitlin and I started walking aimlessly, but then I remembered talk of a hill with a view, so we set out in search of that. And boy did we find it.

After reluctantly walking back down, we met up with several other girls to get pizza. We wandered some streets in search of one place but ended up somewhere entirely different not worried about the quality lacking in any pizzeria. I'm not sure where it was, but I need to find it again because my margherita pizza was delicious. The cook laughed at us as we watched him bake through the glass in a fashion remnant of the beginning of "A Christmas Story."

I could have eaten a whole pizza. Fortunately for my stomach, I split one. I don't know how I'll eat American pizza.
After visiting for a while, Caitlin and I walked back to our apartment and relaxed.

I've noticed I've taken considerably less pictures than I expected to at this point. I think I just want to take everything in before I put a camera between myself and the view. I'm not worried though. I have months in this city, and I will document every inch of it.

This may be my first time in Italy, but I promise it won't be my last.
Buonanotta, bella città.

T-minus 11 hours

I'm pretty sure I will be awake for a while. I am a 5-year-old on Christmas Eve. 

My sister is asleep next to me in the hotel bed we're sharing for the night. My mom is out cold. My dad is turning off lights. And here I sit, wide-eyed and alert, running through list after mental list trying to remember what isn't crammed into one of my two suitcases — both of which weigh in at a nice 49 pounds for the 50 pound limit.

It's futile of course. I spent the entire car ride back to Ohio filtering through the same lists and came up with nothing other than an extra sweater I was going to throw into my carry-on. That's probably for the best as it's already stuffed to it's maximum capacity, and it's not like I could run home to grab it. 

I think I'm surprisingly prepared. I took care of all the big items on my "don't forget this or else" list.

☑ Tell bank about my trip and request new debit card (mine expires in April)

☑ Store car for winter

☑ Deactivate phone (for Verizon users, dial *611. I'll do it in the morning.)

☑ Get prescriptions filled for the four months.

☑ Get $5,000 in bank account. Yes, thanks to a heap of hours from Subway I made this goal by 66 cents. Plus I already have some cash to start me off for the first week.

The one thing I didn't get to finish was my mom's slides. I had another carousel I needed to get through but simply ran out of time. She's going to do it within the next couple of weeks to get the rest to me.
Until then, I have her journal to tide me over. I talked her into letting me take the documentation of her trips to Europe. Hello, airplane reading material. Thanks, mom! It should prove to be interesting.

It's officially Sunday. Today is it. I'm too excited to even think clearly — a good sign to stop blogging.
I apologize for how disjointed this post is. It might be a few days before I write again, but I promise you won't want to miss it.

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Until next time, Ciao!