Day 35: FREE TRAVEL

welp today we have a sort of back to schedule day. we have classes like normal in the villa after the 4 day break in Rome. Then after lunch my group is leaving for Geneva Switzerland on trains. so its going to be a long day (got up early to get some stuff done like burn dvds of pictures as back ups and pack). SO hope everythign goes well I don't know how much I'll be able to update but when I get back I'll try to finish up the Rome ones and also add free travel stuff... SO hope everyone has a great week and a half!

Geneve Switzerland
Hostel

Day 34 Time Crunch!

Villa Borghese (caravaggio and Berini)

this wonderful villa was located in a small park that felt very out of place in the hustle and bustle of Rome. It was a beautiful building designed specifically for the display of artworks. It houses some of the most amazing sculptures that have ever been created. Included some beautiful masterpieces by Berini. This sculptures would make you jaw drop by the shear ability of Berini to sculpt stone with such softness and tenderness to give the essence of soft skin, folds of the skin, or even exerted pressure from one figure on another. It was an amazing sight to behold.

Walk through the Park

After the Villa Borghese we walked in the park that surrounded the villa and enjoyed the essence of natural beauty. We sat around enjoyed the sunshine and the coolness of the breeze against our faces. We saw the smiles of little children and the begging of dogs to play with there masters. It was a wonderful place to relax, take in true Roman culture, and take a break from the canvases, and stones we have been running all over Europe in search of...

Via Veneto

after the walk though the park we took a stroll down this extravagant street filled with little restaurants and fancy shopping.

eat at small little bar and had good cheap 4 Euro sandwiches

at the end of the street near the taxi stand we found a small sandwich place. We all purchased sandwhiches by the weight and it was excellent and cheap.

St. Peter's Basilica and climb to the cupola

after lunch we jumped in a taxi and ran to st. Peter's Bascillica to see the church and also ty to climb the Dome. We got there and the lines were very short so we decided to climb the dome. We took the elevator up part way and then climbed the last 300 or so steps in very small passages and some that even slanted. at the top we had a beautiful view of Rome and the piazza out in front of St. Peters. After that we went back downstairs and walked through St. Peters and saw Michelangelo's Pieta. afte that we rushed back to the hotel grabbed our stuff and jumped on the train back to Florence

train back to Florence
Sloppy Joes for dinner
Church at the Villa

and now free travel prep,
homework,
class tomorrow
and an overwhelming number of things to do in not nearly enough time!

but tomorrow after lunch were leaving for Switzerland...

we spent a large portion of the night trying to book hostels, plan free travel adn pack before we had to get up and go to classes in the morning.

Day 33: Art... Thanks the Church

Vatican Museum
Pizza downstairs... not bad but not terrible and not too badly priced...


had a hot chocolate at a small bar near the hotel that was really good!
Colosseum (inside)
French dinner:
Leg of Lamb with Creme Brule!!!! amazing!

served by french nuns that didn't really speak much English or even much Italian. They also sang Ave Maria and one danced a Ballad for us


had a Coffee (espresso) from what some people think is the best in Rome... It was alright... and I did actually finish it all... but it does have sugar in it...

Day 32: We Saw What?

St John in Lateran
Signs and Symbols of Apostles (in St. John)
St. Mary of the Holy Steps
St. Clement
St. Peter in Chains and Tomb of Pope
Julius 2 (moses)
Colosseum (just the outside today..)
Arch of Constantine
Sack lunch with a really good sandwich on Focassia Bread right outside the Colosseum and by the Arch of Constantine

Arch of Titus
Palatine Hill
Bascillica of Maxentius
Temple of Antoninos and Faustina
Legend of Romulus and Remus
Legend of the Rape of the Sabine
Dioscuri-Castor and Pollux
Temple of the Vestal Virgin
Curia
Arch of Septimus Serverus
Mamertine Prison (not inside closed)
Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius
Capitoline Hill, Piazza Campidoglio
Piazza Venezia, Venetien Palace and Monument to Victor Emanuel
Trajans Column

ate at a small Caffe near the Hotel and had wonderful spicy, tomato sauce, pasta and got to try the cheesecake and coffee


(will explain later...)

Day 31: Before the Rooster Crows

Well I'm up bright an early to catch a train to go to Rome. I got up at 6am after staying up till around 1:30. But in a few hours I'll be standing in Rome and beginning our grand and quick tour of the city. I don't know if I will have internet but I'll be back in 4 days or so... and hopefully I can uploaded some stuff when we get back and before we leave again! I hope everyone has a great week!

In Rome:
Walk to Circus of Maxentius
Catacombs of St. Sebastian
St. Paul outside the Wall
Sack Lunch right outside the church... good times!

Coat of Arms of Popes
Cicus Maximus
Republican Period Temples
drove by the Mouth of Truth St. Mary in Cosmedin
Check into our amazing Hotel: Hotel Tiziano on Emanuale in downtown Florence within Walking distance of the Pantheon

Piazza Navona/Fountains
Pantheon
Coumn of Marcus Aurelius
Trevi Fountain
Spanish Steps

that night wonderful pizza joint (some of the best pizza I've ever had)
and a walk around the Island of Tiberina

Day 30: Prepare...

Today will be a long, yet amazing day! It is our last night in the villa before ROME! We had our Italian Midterm and we watch a movie about the apostle Paul in bible. after lunch I need to go into Florence and activate my Eurail pass so I can get to Rome, and I might end up doing somethign in town... like finally climb the DOME! After that I need to come back here and pack for the trip and finish up free travel stuff and look at Hostels and all of that! one person in our group does have a computer so I may be able to upload photos over the next week... or I might not be able too... but I am going to try and write stuff out and keep it organized so I can do each day when I get back, and hopefully will have lots of wonderful pictures! so the next few weeks will be very exciting and I can't wait to start exploring some more European cities and countries, and I'm also hoping this evening while I'm out will be Photography class so to speak. I need to really start taking more pictures, but it's hard when we are walking all the time, or certain places I can't, or it's just not a good idea to bring it there... but hopefully Rome and Free Travel will be great places to really take some pictures!

Well today didn't go as planned... But I had class, and did ok on my test. Then after lunch we didn't leave as fast as we wanted but we did get to town and activate our Eurail passes and then come right back. After we got back we focused on free travel and got all our Hostels picked out and booked accept the last few. I stayed up kinda late but now I hopefully am ready for Rome!

Day 29:Mask Bandits

Today I got up a little early to study for Italian. While I did that I also uploaded pictures, and for some reason they uploaded much faster today, so if you look back at the last few days they now have there pictures! I'm almost caught up! Anyway today is a day filled with classes, and free travel planning hope it all goes well!

So the rest of the day involved free travel and homework... and it looks like we've started to get it all planned. We've decided to go much less distance nad spend more time in each place. we likely are going to Geneve, Switzerland; Annecy, France; Bern, Switzerland; Munich, Germany; Salzburg, Austria; Vienna, Austria, Venice, Italy... and then from there a few of us are going elsewhere but not sure just yet...

After that we Had a large Carnavale Party at the villa which consisted of costumes, confetti, and food! It was a lot of fun! But now I have to study for a Itlian midterm and also finish up free travel plans before we leave for ROME!

Day 28: Let's get Dirty

Today we got up and headed to Pistoia. It's a small town not far from Florence, but often overlooked because of the lack of draw of important items, though it does have it's fair share. We, however, split up into groups and all got grouped with an artist in that area that specialized in different things. I got assigned with a group that did prehistoric ceramics. It was a lot of fun to make the clay and then make a small bowl and then actually fire it in an open fire on the ground. It was an enjoyable but kind of long but different day. Afte3r that we went into town saw a few things and then went to dinner. The dinner wasn't my favorite (too much fish and really salty), but then we came back and worked on homework... because it's midterms after all! but we leave for Rome in a few days, and then Free Travel! which by the way has changed again. WE decided to do a different loop most likely. We are going to go to Venice and then Milan and then to southern France. We then will work up to somewhere around Lyon and then over through Switzerland and to Munich. Then after that we are not exactly sure yet, but it'll get ironed out in a day or so hopefully!

Day 27: Day of Red

(Image 1: Mayor and previous mayors of Scandicci (I think), Image 2: Robbie and the Current Mayor of Scandicci, Image 3: People waiting for a look at the new Tram, Image 4: a small stand set up near the tracks to sell food for the celebration!)


This morning we had the opportunity of going to see the opening of the tram and get on the first tram ride. I had my alarm set and was ready to wake up at the early 5:30am to get there. However, my alarm didn't wake me, or didn't go off, so I missed that... so next was classes and then I went into town to see the tram and the Mayor. We got pictures taken with the Mayor and after shopping a bit int eh market and picking up a jacket! me and Sara went into Florence for lunch on the new tram! we went to a small pizzaria that was a little to touristy for our liking... but o well, it wasn't too bad. We then came back did Italian homework and then the guys got ready for the Valentines dinner. We sang a little song and got dressed up and handed out roses and hugs to the girls. It was fun and an excellent meal!

Day 26: Stroll Through the Woods

This morning we got up and headed to the bus station. We got to your stop and walked down to the street until we reached the Brancacci chapel. I didn't know we could take pictures until a little too late, but after that we went to Pitti Palace. I wasn't allowed to take pictures of the elaborate interior, but I do have soem of the exterior. It was huge and some of the rooms were amazing. After that we ate lunch out in front of the palace. When we were ready to go we went back up to the Pitti Palace only through it to the Bobili Gardens. It was amazing and I took lots of pictures. After a long walk through the grounds we headed towards the Duomo. stopped a few little shops, until we reached a small little resturante. We ate there a wonderful meal there and then headed back to the Villa.

Day 25: Just a Taste

Yesterday was an interesting and long day. First off my class didn't start until 11 so I got a little extra sleep and got to do stuff in the morning. after my bible test it was 12ish to 12:30 and we started another class that is IES and HUM combined called Taste of Italy. In this class they prepared for us numerous tuscan and italian dishes for us to try. We had bread with olive oil, garlic and salt to things I don't even know what they really are. One of my easiest and most interesting things I had never heard of was: Cheese and slices of pears. You should try it sometime! but get good cheese! so after we tried many different kinds of foods we had the rest of the day free. So my Free travel group decided to get started on really planning. RIght now we have a tentative schedule of Venice, Vienna, Berlin, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Munich -- some of these palces we will be much longer than others but in general besides the last few we will spend likely around a day in each town and sleep mostly on trains. After we drop Sara off for skiing our group will prolly stay in Munich a bit longer then head either to Prague and then Salzburg or Salzburg to Zurich or maybe just Zurich to Milan. Other changes include the beginning may get changed some and possibly before venice going to Rimini and san Marino for the first night. So we are very excited and hopefully it all works out! and if we do end up going to Sweden we may even see northern lights if were lucky. So if anyone has suggestions or places or any thoughts either leave them on here or email them to me it would help a lot, thanks! So after planning I wen out played a b it of basketball then came back looked at a few pictures of the towns we are going to before the internet cut off and then off to bed. So today is a day of museums, churches, and maybe a Duomo climb? completel with a Florence dinner! so I'll catch you all up later!

PS sorry about the pictures I'm trying to get them uploaded but for whatever reason it takes forever to upload them from these computers....

Day 24 Unexpected!

Today started as any normal day. We had classes and then before chapel and lunch. a small group of us went with Erimeta to the University of Florence. We ate in there Cafeteria which they only have one choice, but you get a decent amount for the 7.50 Euro, I got a pasta (tortellini) a small salad, a piece of chicken with some sort of lettuce or cabbage slices on top and then you squeeze a lemon over it, a drink, and a desert if you want one... after we ate in the cafeteria we went around the campus in the rain. we went in a few buildings saw some people taking there oral exams... (side note) all Italian Exams are Oral and one on one with the Teacher unless graduating then you and a panel of teachers. they can ask you pretty much anything and then they decide what your grade is. If you do not like it you don't sign and you come back and take it again. She said you get 3 chance in like a 2-3 month period which starts in January, but you don't have classes during that period. Also learned that it only costs them 2.000 euros a year for school. It is not by class or credit, just by the year. Student also don't take more than about 4 classes a semester and many take few and take longer to finish. Also to graduate with an undergraduate degree you must complete a 140 page thesis on a topic decided on by the professor along with an oral examination with a panel of teachers. Also instead of a large graduation with everyone, it's just you that graduates. another interesting thing about the universities in Italy is the culture of individuals. Unless you know people before you got there it is very difficult to meet people. Partially because everyone that lives in Florence that goes to College, stays at that university and few outside students come. Also the Italian Culture makes it very out of character to just walk up and start talking to someone or try to start a conversation. Generally you must be introduced, generally through a connection of friends that you must develop. Also teachers and students don't communicate, they read pretty much straight from teh book and expect you to know it by doing your own reading and work and then test you on it. Very little if any relationships are formed teacher to student and we got to witness an oral examination from a hallway, and it makes the students very scared and nervous when it comes to the examinations.

but after that She took us to a library downtown near the Duomo, which is free, and has a beautiful view, and shelter from the rain and cold. So we took some pictures and sat inside and chatted for a bit before it started to snow. IT SNOWED! it didn't stick but it was kinda cool to see it coming down, and it doesn't happen very often here. so we took some more pictures and then headed down the long walk to the bus to come home (which by the way I can't remember if I said this, but they changed the bus routes the other day so it's a farther walk than it use to be!! but on Sun they open the Tram! and we have the opportunity to see the mayors do some sort of ceremony and get on some of the first trains (which are free for the first week!). but that will m ake it only about a 10 min ride into Florence maybe instead of the 30- 60 min bus ride!)

So all in all it was a good day, and while it did rain, and sorta snow, it was fun. And tonight we are going to watch the Sound of Music and work on free travel. upcoing this week is some trips. We are going into Florence and we are going to go to a few museums and churches and I'm hoping to get a Duomo trip in the next few days, and I have a few other places I'm gonna try to go to! and we are also going to go to Rome next week, and then free travel!

Looking like we are po0ssibly going to go to venice; vienna, austria; germany; maybe coopenhagen, Denmark; maybe Stockholm, Sweden, maybe Switzerland, and then some of us may try to go to Greece, or Spain and Andorra... so very busy and cray 10 day trip, but it will be awesome and I'll get to see a lot! and I'll hopefully have more of an itinerary soon!

So I hope everyone at home is doing well with all the Snow and crazy weather and hopefully the computer can get soem of these pictures uploaded!

Day 23: Uffizi! Orsanmichele! GELATO!

Today was a free day that we went to a old time weavers production site. We got to see old like 18th century looms and people working on silk clothe with intricate designs. We may get the chance to go attend a workshop with this place and possibly produce a small little something to take home...

After that we got a free day and a bunch of us went to the Uffizi to work on a project that we have. So I spent a good 3 hours walking around the Uffizi and view all the art and just enjoy everything. It was a real up-boast by looking at all of these things, because I feel like many of them are things I could create and I look forward to coming home and doing just that !

after that me and Sara separated from everyone and went through the piggy market, into Orsanmichele which was cool because its a building with really strange hours! Then we went and got Gelato from an amazing Gelatoria. then we came back tot he villa and started planning free travel! and I think we may have a really good Idea of where we are going so I'll keep you posted!

Day 22: Day of Projects

I spent a majority of this day working on a Rome project in which I will talk about one place/structure/object in Rome when we are there next week. I also attended classes, and started some work on free travel plans.

day 21: Homework :(

Day of Class, and we had 2 test and a project due the next day. So I spent most of my time studying and working on Homework, though I did take a hour or so break to play some basketball with some people!

Day 20: Oh Florentina!

Today was a most exciting day. First off we traveled to Florence and went back to the church and attended Italian Church once again. Still n o t understanding a whole lot but I can pick things out here and there and at least we have a song book in Italian I can follow along in (also at the bottom of the song book it was what the song is in English if it has an equivalent, which it normally does). after that a few of us went to the Piazza in front of Santa Croce for a very exciting event. We went to the Chocolate fair, which was amazing. It was some giant tents with different chocolate vendors all set up in rows and people filed through and taste tested the chocolate and bought some. We ended u buying a bunch, though most of it was for that night at the villa that we had been sent out to pick out. after that we started back to the bible school. but got lost due to a bunch of bus changes and things of that nature. but finally after 2 hours of wandering, waiting, riding the bus, and of course lots of walking we reached the bible school. We had some chill, and chips and salsa, and ice cream and had some fun though we were a little rushed due to being so late. Then we changed in to out FLORENCE jerseys and hoped back on a bus to get to a FLORENCE soccer game! That was an experience. complete with burning of a flag in the stands, loud chants, and mad fans. It very interesting because Rome was caged off so the crowd couldn't get to them and the same went for there players. but we had good seats. Florence had so many chances I can't even tell you how many shots on goal or little break aways they had but they just couldn't finish one, even though they should have on a few! then Rome score with like 5 min left plus stoppage time and they tried and got a few good shots of but still couldn't finished and they ended up losing 1-0. so we got back on the most ridiculously crowded buses (like metro link after cardinal games) and went back to the villa for another party! at the villa we had large amounts of snacks and hot chocolate and all kinda of things for the supper Bowl party! So a bunch of us stayed up to watch the Saint win the super bowl 31-17... which was until like 4 am in the morning our time. So all in All it was a long day, but a fun and amazing experience that I'll never forget!

Day 19: Dance the Night away

Saturday we had classes like normal. I stayed back and finished some homework and just laid around until about 5. at five we all went out to the church in Florence that we attend on sundays and then to a restaurant down the street... we ate an amazing meal of pasta that was a amazing and I wish I had the recipe! and we had this meat platter thing and french fries and some desert. It was excellent. Then after that we went back to the church with some of the people we were eating with and the whole reason we were out and they turned on some music and was showing us some of their Albanian folk dancing. it was mostly like line dancing with lots of like skipping and hopping. So that was fun and a much different kind of day.