463 Steps

Our group trip to Florence was amazing.  The city is very unique, lots of high class shopping, history, amazing food and just a generally cool atmosphere.  The worst part about the trip is that we were only there for two days.

Climbing the Duomo was definitely the highlight of the trip.  The climb took about 20 minutes, 463 steps.  It was hot, humid and exhausting.  And totally worth it.  See for yourself.

At the Medici Palace, some of the group wanted to act out Shakespeare with our Professor Marino.  He said if we could find something to read he would do it.  I remembered downloading a free app with all of Shakespeare’s plays when I first got my ipod, figuring that even though I don’t care for Shakespeare that it might come in handy sometime.  So, in the middle of the palace gardens, Colin, Arvin and Professor Marino acted out a scene from Henry VIII.  Now that is awesome.

The food in Florence was pretty awesome, too.  We had the specialty, Florentine steak.  It is basically a T-bone, lightly seasoned—cooked to perfection.  That night we had gelato for the third time that day..  Gelato alone is fantastic, something about it in Florence was even better.  The strawberry sorbet (fragola) was in a league of its own.

Our final day there was spent in museums with a little free time for shopping.  Seeing Michelangelo’s David took my breath away.  Seeing pictures does not do it justice.  I sat down with Kelsey, Susie and Mike behind the statue and after taking quite some time to simply admire the sheer awesomeness we began to take pictures.  Pictures are prohibited in this museum.  So that made it more fun. 

"Can we climb this mountain/ I don't know/ Higher now than ever before/ I know we can make it if we take it slow/ Let's take it easy/ Easy now, watch it go" --The Killers, When You Were Young

Beginnings and Endings

(Written awhile ago.. sorry for the delay in posts...)

For better or for worse, I am a creature of habit.  Always have been and always will be.

This program is already halfway done.  Two and a half more weeks and we’re all free to go home and enjoy summer.  Not going to lie, that’s bittersweet.

Every morning I wake up around 8, take a shower, get dressed, do my hair and makeup, pack my bag and run out the door.  No, I’m not late.  I am running because six stories below my building is the best coffee I have ever tasted.  Usually, I wait on the steps for Mike and we walk in, say hi to the barista and order “due cappuccino freddo, uno with cioccolato.. like inside”.  That’s two cold cappuccinos, mine with chocolate.  Then we sit and they bring our drinks with a side of sparkling water.  The drinks always have this heavenly, creamy, sugary foam and a coco powder design, sometimes sprinkles.  This morning has repeated enough times that they know our order.  After the coffee, we pay our bill.  With a “ciao bella” and a wink from the cashier, I know my day has begun perfectly.

The days have a fair amount of variety.  Some days we have scheduled tours of the city, sometimes we have papers to write and sometimes we’re all on our own.  Everyone usually gets lunch by school; we catch the bus and enjoy some Italian street pizza.  This stuff is different than pizza back home.  It is made in long, rectangular sheets that they cut specifically for you, reheat it in the oven, weigh it for price and fold it on itself—like a pizza sandwich.  It’s freaking good.

We have class from 3-7 Monday-Thursday then everyone makes some sort of dinner plans.

Around 11:00 I usually get gelato with Chase.  We take the bus down Trastevere and take a short walk past the Tiber and into the store.  It is the same young man, Eugene, works there every night.  He lets us sample some flavors, get our frequent buyer cards stamped and enjoy our gelato while talking to Eugene about his life.  He is a Ukrainian immigrant who speaks Russian, Ukrainian, Italian, Spanish, German and English.  He’s awesome.  Before we leave we determine if we have time to come back tomorrow.  Usually that conversation ends with, “Yeah, we’ll be back tomorrow.  Ciao!!”  We usually walk back because buses are slow past 11 or 12.  The walk is around 25 minutes but that’s really nothing.  If this city has taught me anything, it’s that I can walk.  Far.

Then everyone chills around the apartment, reading or getting ready for tomorrow.  We all try to get to bed before 3 and then we start the day over again.

I’m not entirely sure why I love routines like this.  But I really feel like I am living in this city.  I walk the streets, use a little Italian, and am a regular at some little places—this is what it’s like in the movies.  I know I am so grateful for this opportunity, partially for the once in a lifetime chance to live in Rome.  I won’t be able to say that forever but, for now, it’s pretty darn perfect.
"Do you believe in hallucinations, silly dreams or imaginations/ Don't go away cause I feel you this time/  Don't go away cause I need you there this time" --Angels and Airwaves, Hallucinations