Marbella, Barcelona, Amsterdam: Three Cities, Nine Days

I am back from Spring Break....it actually happened, and now there is so little time left it scares me!

My Spring Break line up was a daunting task, but my fellow travelers and I accomplished everything we wanted to see, do, eat and more!

First stop-MARBELLA:

Arriving in the afternoon to Marbella the sky was covered with a humongous gray cloud, you could not even try and find where the sun was in the sky. Our mission in Marbella was to get tan (because if you haven't seen my pictures I have never been so pale in my life). The forecast had said cloudy and rainy before heading off to the beach city, but I just chose to ignore that, however it was sadly true. The first three days were cloudy and rainy, but we still made the most of it and explored the city. Marbella is such a cute town, right on the water, there is a huge beach filled with restaurants and beach bars, and a boardwalk. There are bikers and rollerbladers, tons of children and cute dogs of all kinds. We walked around the "old town", which is lined with older spanish buildings and shops, all white with bright brilliant colors and a plaza in the middle filled with amazing fresh smelling orange trees. The shops were adorable and the restaurants were small and there was all kinds of food to eat. We tried tapas, paella, sushi and kebab. And sangria! I loved the sangria, it is perfect to share with friends and eat the fruit after you finish the pitcher. Although the weather was not so hot, we made the most of our time and got to see the small town of Marbella and get the feel for the beachy relaxing life there. We also learned how to successfully play hearts, Jori taught us as an activity, and now I am pretty good. And I love cards. We played several rounds.

The last day in Marbella the sun finally came out and was shining all day! We woke up early and laid out all day on the beach. It was a successful day of sunbathing because we all left Marbella looking like lobsters. Mission accomplished. The beach was extremely relaxing and it really felt like Spring Break vacation lounging on the beach looking out at the blue endless water.

One story from Marbella: One night Rachael, Jori and I went out to dinner to experience some authentic tapas. We ordered several dishes and sangria of course, and enjoyed each small plate. I particularly enjoyed the crispy shrimp tortillas and patatas bravas. So here is the good part, mid meal a large group of men sat down right next to us. The one man closest to us stuck of conversation with the three of us, he was 31 and had studied in Rome years ago...ironic? He continued to talk to us for a little more. But at the end our meal as we were about to pay the bill, he smacked down a large bill and said "he had it covered and to enjoy our spring break" WOW, WHAT, WHY, WHEN, WHO, HOW? We had no idea what to say and became extremely flustered. We couldn't thank him enough and practically ran out of the restaurant, forgetting to even ask his name. But it seriously made our night and we were treated to a fabulous meal. Thanks mysterious man! We proceeded to go to a beach bar to have large fruity colorful drinks. Great way to end first stop of SB 2010.

We left Marbella late in the afternoon...off to Barcelona!


Second Stop-BARCELONA

Rachael, Jori and I landed in Barcelona around 11:00 pm, normally this is late and any where else in the world it is bed time on a monday night. Not in Barcelona, there the night is just beginning. I stayed with my friend Steve who lives with Rachael's boyfriend by coincidence. Jori stayed just down the street with another friendly badger. We literally arrived in Barcelona and went to straight into taking on the night life. Mondays are known as "locos lunes" and yes things got a bit loco. Our friends showed us a great time and definitely lived up to the crazy Barcelona night life, getting home around 5 am.
The next day it was gorgeous outside and really made the city look that much more beautiful. I had been to Barcelona 7 years ago (freshman year spring break, I cannot believe that was 7 years ago!) to visit my mom's uncle Don, my great uncle who is an artist. I remember really enjoying the city, and having my great uncle and his wife tour us around, but this second time the city seemed much different to me. I really think the weather made the city brighter and more energetic. We woke up around noon, which is on the early side in Barcelona and got lunch at a creperia around the corner. Steve and Jori's friend live on Las Ramblas, an amazing location! We strolled down Las Ramblas and saw all of the street performers and flower carts and pet carts (roosters, birds, bunnies, turtles and fish). We also headed into the Bocarilla, a large market filled with fresh fruit, dried fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, chocolate, and 1 euro smoothies (I had mango coconut mmm). Name it and its in the Bocarilla. Definitely one of my favorite places in Barcelona, if I lived there I would go everyday to grab a piece of fruit. Later in the day we went to the beach, which goes on forever and is gorgeous, and just vast amounts of sand lining the water. We checked out the clubs that line the beach during the day. They are incredible, lavish and huge, like no clubs I have ever had the chance to go to. Seeing them during the day was a fun experience, and we took a break for some sangria at one club. It was indian inspired decor and had big lounging couches outside where we sipped our glasses of sangria. Not bad at all. Afterwards we walked to the Gaudi church and saw it at night, which was beautiful because it was all lit up. Seven years ago I had the chance to see his work during the day, and now I got to experience it in a different light.
After a full day of sight seeing and walking and walking and walking, I think I sat down for about a minute and then it was time for dinner at a mexican restaurant, this was at 10 pm. The food was a delicious change up from italian and so were the margaritas. Afterwards we headed out to a few different bars, one being a shot bar where I'd say they have a variety of hundreds of different shots. One being a "boy scout" shot where they light the shot on fire and you roast a marshmallow over it....yea. The night ended going back to the beach and not getting back home until 7 in the morning. The boys we were with decided to sit down for an early breakfast around 5 am...I fell asleep at the table. I was done.
Waking up at noon, Jori and I continued to power through Barcelona and we were to determine to seet Park Guel before leaving the city. We made our way there, and I am so glad we did because it wad definitely my favorite part about our visit. Park Guel is unbelievable. The small buildings in the park are covered in tiles and gorgeous colorful mosaics. The architecture is flowing and curvy and the shapes are incredible. The park goes on forever and climbing up to the higher level of the park you get a view of the beach and the Gaudi church, it overlooks all of Barcelona. The garden alone is beautiful too with so many trees and flowers and trellises and caves. We had to cut the trip to the park a bit short to catch our flight, but had enough time to see as much as we could and take it all in. We had enough time to grab lunch to take on the bus to the airport from a very talked up shwarma place, and yes it was worthy of its praise. But I could only eat half of it, it was a humongous sandwich dripping with sauce and meat and veggies. We said goodbye to our friends and we were off already to the third and last destination of spring break, Amsterdam.
Overall, the trip to Barcelona was very quick and I would have loved to stay one more day to be in the city longer, but I'd say for the amount of time being in the colorful and alive city, we saw and did a lot. I really enjoyed walking around in the spanish city, which had an entirely different feel than Rome, but in a very good way. The spanish lifestyle is one that I personally could not adjust easily to, but for the short moment I was living it I enjoyed it very much and could definitely see myself returning to eat more tapas and stay out till sunrise. Leaving very tired, we knew there was so much more to come in Amsterdam and I was so excited to be in dutch land.

Third stop-AMSTERDAM

Jori and I were plopped in the middle of Amsterdam, after we parted ways with Todd, Lucas and Oliver to find our separate hostels. We were all staying at the Flying Pig Hostel, but Jori and I were at the Uptown, while the boys were at the Downtown. It was late at night and Jori and I managed to find our way to our hostel, which was a sight. Two girls in an unfamiliar city, we really have become very good at finding our way in new places. The Flying Pig Uptown has a bar in the basement and a lounging area and when you enter has a very relaxed and chilled out vibe. The two of us hiked up to the third floor where our 12 mixed bedroom was awaiting us. We settled mildly into our bunk beds and headed straight out to get some food and see the city at night. Having no idea where we were we found our way to Dam Square and had our first of many delicious and unordinary meals at Wok to Walk (stir fried noodles and veggies and meat in a to go container). We met up with the boys and stayed out a bit longer seeking out a bar to take a seat in, but we called it an early night eager to see the city in day light.
We woke up the next morning to a lucky gorgeous sunny day and headed straight to the Anne Frank house. Walking there, I saw the city differently than at night. Everyone in Amsterdam rides bikes and the city is so cute and happy and cheerful and bright. The buildings are all different, mostly made of brick with large window shutters and the streets are open and welcoming. Everyone is out and about walking with their dogs and children, riding their bikes, or driving. The canal that runs through the city is not barricaded off by any fences or poles, so basically you could just fall right in, but I liked it. There are so many small streets lined with unique stores, coffee shops, cafes, and restaurants. The city is so colorful and I said many times to Jori, I would absolutely would live here and could see myself buying my own bright colored bike with a basket and bell to ride through the streets to whatever job I may have one day. The city simply made me smile.
So the day began with the Anne Frank house. I am very happy I went to see it, it was not what I expected, but it is was such a strange feeling seeing where her house was located, right in the middle of Amsterdam. All of the books I have read and movies I have seen about her life happened right on the street I was on a few days ago. Entering the house, seeing the bookcase that hid her family, walking up the extremely steep stairs and standing in the rooms the Frank family lived in for two years was very surreal and definitely brought me back to reality for a few minutes. It was very worthwhile to see and I am glad I made it to Amsterdam to enter her home and live a bit of history.
Afterwards we walked back out into the sunny weather and grabbed some coffee, and decided to take a canal tour. But first we got bagels to go to keep us occupied on our canal tour (I got wheat with chive creams cheese, cucumbers and tomatoes). The canal tour was great and definitely a worthwhile activity, while not so informative we enjoyed gliding along the canal seeing several of the museums, buildings and boat houses from thew water. We hopped off the boat to go to the infamous Pancake Bakery. So this place had been talked about a great amount and my mouth was watering before ordering. Our group did an award winning job of ordering "lunch". We split a banana nutella pancake, a mushroom, bacon and cheese pancake, an apple, cinnamon, whip cream and ice cream pancake, and a tai pancake. YA. Traveling with boys who have big appetites is a task let me tell you. Being not such a big eater, usually ordering a salad and eating lots of fruits and vegetables, I give myself a pat on the back for keeping up. It was rough....really, very difficult to enjoy so much amazing food. So these pancakes....WOW. Really describing them in words does not do them justice, guess you will just have to buy a ticket to amsterdam and go experience the scrumptiousness yourself.
After the pancakes, which was an event in itself the day was filled with more touring around and enjoying the city, walking into coffee shops here and there and getting a grasp of the dutch lifestyle. That night we got a taste of tai food, which was spicy and tasty near Dam square and ventured over to the Red light district after. Seeing it at night is very interesting and that is all I have to say. The red light district definitely is what you would imagine it to be, and lots of people flock over there at night to yes, see the women standing in their windows. Definitely nothing we would have in good ol' Minnesota. The nightlife in Amsterdam is very different from any other country I have been to, most bars are very busy and there are lots of people walking through the streets and it is just very vibrant and bustling.
Jori and I set out the next day and walked into Vondell Park, which was conveniently located right in front of the doorsteps of our hostel. The park is humongous and so open and green. There were tons of runners and bikers, and kids who looked like they should have been in school, but were questionably not. After relaxing on a park bench for a bit, we walked to the Heineken museum, but ended up deciding to save a little cash and not go inside. Instead we went to find the popular I Amsterdam sign, which was cool, and of course we took pictures. We got lunch at a small cute cozy place called Bagels and Beans and had a very tasty tuna bagel sandwich, one of the best tuna salads I have ever had actually. The rest of the day we wandered around Amsterdam, went back to Dam square and the Red light district during the day and moseyed into few shops here and there. We shared an amazing, and just unfair, warm chocolate covered waffle with a pile of whip cream on top. It was perfect. We met up with the boys and just enjoyed what Amsterdam had to offer and took in more of the city and the life there. WE literally walked Amsterdam end to end. After not going back to our hostel at all that day (we left around 10 am), it was time for dinner and we went to a place called Burger Bar. This was my first burger in a very long time, I usually eat veggie burgers, but this one was well worth it. That night we had bought tickets for a Comedy Show at a comedy club call Boom Chicago in Leidseplein square near our hostel. The main act was Reggie Watts, who was hilarious and a very different comedian than what anyone is used to, but I highly recommend looking him up. The MC was embarrassingly bad, but the opener was a short skinny hairy greek guy who was so funny, I thoroughly enjoyed his jokes, he was very impressive for an opening act. The five of us were sitting front row and dead center in the audience, which was great but a bit nerve-racking. The show was perfect for our last night in Amsterdam and afterwards we headed across the way to a bar to view some March Madness.
The next morning Jori and I woke up and said farewell to the 10 strangers we had shared a room with, and the worry free cozy hippied out hostel. We took the tram to the airport, realizing Spring Break was truly coming to an end and we had just traveled to three very different cities in 9 quick days. Sitting in the airport I was excited to finally get back to my comfortable and familiar home in Rome, but still astonished by how much I had seen and experienced over a week.
The flight home was a breeze, after taking so many different types of transportation, any train, tram, cab, airplane is a piece of cake. Rolling my carryon suitcase back to my apartment and unpacking the clothes I had been re-wearing for the past few days made me think how unbelievable the trip I just experience was. Spring Break 2010 lived up to everything I thought it would be and more. Now it was time for a good sleep and warm shower, back to italian food, and calming my anxiousness for Nicole to come the next day!

How is it already Spring Break?

I would first like to apologize and say I am so sorry that I have not written in such a long time! I know the withdrawal from reading my entertaining and enthralling posts must be very difficult, and I can only imagine the disappointment I have caused you all whenever you go to check my blog, and there is never a new post! Well, today I will brighten your day with a fresh new and long overdue blogpost!

Today is Thursday March 18, meaning tomorrow is March 19, the day I leave for Spring Break. Can I just say, the day it turned March 1, I could not believe it as I wrote the date on the top of my notebook paper in class. When did this happen? How has the time flown so (too) quickly? These are questions I cannot understand. It seems like yesterday I was attempting to find the book store on Via del Corso and getting extremely frustrated and lost and more confused by where I was in relation to my apartment, and proceeded to hop into a cab, realizing I was not far at all. Now I know exactly how to WALK there and know this city I have been living in for two months pretty well, I must say. It has become almost too comfortable, after being here for one month straight without taking any major trips away from Rome. I love it.

Before I talk about my Spring Break plans, here is a small recap of the past few weeks:

Two weekends ago a few friends studying in Barcelona came to visit! It was a great time, and I loved showing them around Rome! And felt pretty confident explaining to them the historical sites of the city, with all I have learned in my history classes and onsite classes :) Mom and Dad, get ready, you will be happy to know that I am actually learning. It was as if I was vacationing in Rome for a weekend, doing all of the touristy things a tourist may do in one weekend, cramming it all in, into two short days. Oliver and I did our best to show them the ropes and must see attractions in Rome. Pantheon, Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Spanish steps, the works. Plus we had a few delicious meals! I think over anything the Barcelonians were impressed the most by the food. So much so, they made us take them back to the same restaurant twice. Guess we have it pretty good! It was a jam packed weekend, and I was exhausted from entertaining, but I think Oliver and I are gold star tour guides. We may start a business. Our visitors left Rome, tired, "romemania-ed" out with their bellies full.

In between weekends, the days are filled with going to class, walking around, enjoying the weather when it is nice out, and relaxing, trying to get sleep. I have been attempting to run outside along the Tiber River when I have time and when the weather is suitable for running. Also, the past few weeks, many of my friends parents have come to visit, meaning we get to go out to dinner! It is so great to have parents come and just a crazy thought in my mind, that our parents are coming to visit us in a foreign country that we have been living in. Needless to say, I love when my friends' parents come, and it makes me so happy to see them together, but I am counting down the days till I get to have mine her with me!

Last weekend, Jori and I had a field trip to Pompeii with our on-site class. First, when was the last time I went on a field trip? Middle school? And second, the trip left at 7 AM...grand. It was a friday, so thursday night we went to bed at 9 pm (just kidding) to wake up to darkness and watch the sun rise as we walked to meet our teacher at our bus. It took about two and half hours to get there, so I had plenty of time to sleep. The weather ended up being beautiful, which really made a difference! I had no idea what to expect going to Pompeii, I had been to Ostia Antica, an ancient port city, so I assumed it would be somewhat similar...but it wasn't. Pompeii is huge. It is an entire city, and yes, we walked from one edge to the other, covering everything. We were there for 6 hours. And yes, we used the entire time. Led by my on-site class teacher, Jens, who is German and pronounces all of his Vs as Ws and is the most friendly, kind, smiley man I have met, was the best tour guide we could've asked for. We saw Mount Vesuvius, the brothel, the huts, villas and the remains of the people's bodies that were found from the eruption. The story of Pompeii is incredible and hard to imagine what the Pompeians went through, but it is also extremely fascinating, and amazing that Pompeii was able to be excavated and we can still walk through it today. All and all it was an enjoyable field trip, and I am glad I went with my class and had a built in tour guide to show me around.

The rest of the weekend, we explored a new area called Prati, which is past the Vatican. I took the metro for the first time, which was a new experience and also way overdue. But the transportation system in Rome is not the best...I literally walk everywhere and find that and the tram that goes down Viale di Trastevere (my street) is the most practical form of transportation. The metro stops are very far away from my apartment, so it does not make sense to walk to the metro stop, but instead just walk to the location. However, I have recently discovered the bus system here, although very slow, there is no time schedule, is pretty convenient and easy to use. So, we walked around Prati and another area across Rome called San Giovani. And later that day we go a pretty amazing and satisfying sandwich (after not eating all day) from a place called "Frontonis". Mmmm. That weekend we also decided to go to a 60's themed party at a bar near the Roman Forum to try something new. It was fun, very Mod. I felt like I traveled back in time. We danced and grooved, it was a good time. And yes, I wrote "grooved".

So now after another week of classes, it is time for Spring Break! The itinerary is this: Marbella (south of Spain), Barcelona, then Amsterdam. I am really looking forward to all of these cities, it will be busy, but I have not traveled for awhile, so I am more then ready to get jet-setting! Do not worry, I will be blogging about my trip when I return.

And when I get back I will have a certain special visitor's arrival waiting for me....NICOCLE! She is coming the day after I get home and I am not sure what will happen when we are reunited, but let's just say I cannot stop thinking about her coming and being here with me for almost two full weeks! I know I have so much to look forward to in the next 10 days traveling, but I am incredibly antsy for her to be here!!!! And then after she leaves guess who else is coming to visit...yep, Mom and Dad!!!

So much to look forward to! And it is all going to fly by in no time. Promise I will blog again soon. I won't keep you waiting any more. I promise.

Mini vacation abroad

Soooooo, Tuesday afternoon I rolled over to the buzzing sound of my phone in the middle of a nap to see that I had received an email. In my hazy half asleep state, I read an email from one of the program coordinators saying my apartment, B-2, needed to temporarily move out THE NEXT DAY AT 5pm to the apartment down the hall. TERRIFIC. Apparently there was some sort of water leakage happening below us and they thought the origin was coming from our humble homey apartment. Therefore, move out!

The four of us picked up the next day and moved all of our stuff down the hall to a new apartment that was less familiar, closer quarters, and just different. But things could be worse! Jori and I moved into our new room...with beds close enough together that we could hold hands. Not a big deal for me, as this is how Nicole and my beds at home are situated. Soo, I am used to this, however Jori has never lived this close to me, so we got to know each other a little bit better, and has now accepted me for all of my weirdness and flaws. We are now officially bonded as roomies. The best parts about this new apartment situation were 2 things. First, the shower. We had our OWN shower in our OWN bathroom, this is new as we only have one shower in our real apartment. I kinda liked this shower better, don't tell the other apartment! The other new fabulous attribute to this temporary vacation apartment was...the balcony. Side note: apparently February is the rainy season, today is the first of March, so rumor has it the rainy season is over...cross your fingers please! Lately the weather has been scrumptiously sublime, sunny, super, and filled with sunshine! So back to this balcony, the sun shined directly upon it, meaning we were able to sit outside and attempt to "tan." If you do not know, my skin has not seen much sunlight since I have been here, therefore I am extremely pale and very unappealing. So this balcony was my only source of hope to attempt to achieve a slight bit of color. I have a few freckles, but that is it. Our temporary vacation in this apartment/hotel room was quite the adventure and definitely an added memory to my abroad experience. We moved into the apartment Wednesday evening and moved out Saturday night, so it was a quick trip, but I am more than ecstatic to be resettled and back in my own bed. Great vacation...might be rivaling Venice, Milan, Florence and Paris. Seriously...

During my stay in the temporary apartment, my weekend was filled with more of enjoying Roma and just wandering my new city.

Friday, a few friends and I went to the Edward Hopper museum that was traveling here and discovered the streets near Piazza Navona, with great vintage stores. I didn't buy anything, but I will be going back to hopefully discover a unique find.
Saturday Jori, Rachael and I set out to take the train to the Tivoli Gardens. We left on the sunny day around noon, not really knowing how to get there or where in Tivoli the gardens were located, but we managed to figure it out, and boy was it worth it! The Tivoli Gardens are gorgeous, filled with 100 fountains and words just cannot describe this place. I will be taking my parents there, done. Mom and dad get ready, although Dad you said you've been before. It was just like Lizzie McGuire, but better, yea, better! Sorry Paolo.

Sunday, a few of us decided to finally try "apertivo." Between 7-10 pm ish, bars in Italy have this deal where you buy a drink and then get an all you can eat buffet! Great deal Italians. We purchased a very delicious drink and proceeded to fully enjoy the several dishes arranged on the buffet and then took our small plates filled with food outside to eat in the Piazza Trilussa. Afterwards, Dad you will be proud, we went to the pub Scholars to watch the gold medal hockey game. GREAT GAME, but yes sad loss for USA. Congrats Canada, I am still happy for you. That was the first Olympic event I had yet to watch in Rome...no television access, so it was a very eventful evening. Quite the experience having USA and Canadian fans screaming and chanting in an Italian Irish Pub.
That is all for now, back to school, and looking forward to friends visiting this weekend, and being able to put my knowledge of the city of Rome to use as a tour guide.

Sergio's Vineyard

In Rome, if you don't know, the wine culture is very prevalent. No meal is complete without wine. When friends and I go out for a meal, we always order the house wine, always biancci, one, because we like white wine over red and two, because the house wine is the cheapest, and it is usually tasty. I often purchase a bottle of wine when I make a trip to the grocery store, but I never know what type of wine to look for and usually just end up grabbing the second cheapest white bottle off the shelf. After a month of drinking wine here in Rome it is about time I learned more about what makes white wine white and red wine red. And how does a grape from the vine turn into a corked bottle sitting in the store.

Today SAI arranged a vineyard tour and wine tasting in Civitella d'agliano, a town in the hills of Lazio (one and half hours away from Rome by bus). A group of about 30 of us took a bus to learn more about wine today. After the last event we signed up for through SAI, remember Ostia and the amazing meal at the farm, we knew we were about to have nothing less than an enthralling experience. We arrived to the vineyard at 11:30 and were immediately greeted by Sergio, the owner of the vineyard. He was a kind and warm italian man with grey hair and piercing blue eyes and with a great passion for wine. He toured us through the warehouse where the wine is made, fermented, bottled and corked and explained all we need to know about producing wine. We were taken to the vineyards, where there are hundreds of rows of vines, sadly without grapes at this time of year, but the fields went on and on. The scenery was truly grasping. The day was very nice, overcast, but the temperature was perfect, and the hills that surrounded us were foggy and the sun peaked out every once in a while. We were then taken to his other cellar for some wine taste testing and food!

We walked inside and Sergio instantly said, "ok who wants to taste some wine?" He poured us all glasses, beginning with a white lighter sparkling wine, which was one of my personal favorites. Throughout the wine taste testing we were served a delicious meal made up of crusty bread with chopped liver (not the traditional kind, more of a paste) and rosemary olive oil bread, penne pasta and a spicy red tomato sauce, stuffed chicken and potatoes and for dessert an apricot marmalade pie. Each wine he poured us matched the course to enhance the dish, and each wine pairing really did bring out the flavors of each dish. We sipped ten different types of wines and marked down which ones we liked the best and described the flavors of each. We were taken down into the dark cellar to see all of the bottles fermenting and lining the walls, similar to the bat cave, just with more wine.

My favorite was Civitella Rosato, a rose colored wine, which is truly a red grape, but with less of the red flavor of the grape. It is in between white and red and had a very floral and rosy sweet taste to it, very fruity. My other preferred wine was the first one he poured for us, Vino spumante Mottura Brut, a white fizzy wine that was very light. He also had us try a dessert wine called Magone, which was heavier and honey flavored, a bit too strong for me taste wise, but for dessert I could have a glass. He said it is mainly to be served with cheese and liver, hence why we had liver. It was a popular one for the others. Sergio was so inviting and hospitable to us and as we drank more of his wine he did too, and his explanations became louder and the smile on his face became bigger. You could just tell he loves his life, living for wine and greeting guests into his vineyard and passing on his passion for food, wine and company. His label is called "Sergio Mottura" and surprisingly, I was very excited when I saw this, there is a store in Minnesota that sells his wine! It is called "New France Wine Co." and it is in St. Paul....mom, dad, go check it out! Buy my favorite wine for when I come home ;( The label has a porcupine on it, very cute.

In our wine haze we sadly left the very quaint, rustic, vine covered town where the vineyard was located, and I could absolutely see myself living in a small town like this one, getting to know the few members living in the town and settling down there living off of wine and cheese, for maybe a year. It probably won't happen, but a girl can dream.

That is all for now! So far my first weekend spent in Rome has been wonderful and I am so happy with the choice I made to study in this city.

The Best Day

This weekend is the first weekend since I have been in Rome that I am not traveling, meaning...endless possibilities and finally getting to explore!

I woke up today thinking I would go to my on-site class with my favorite German teacher and then have some lunch and walk around and then return to my apartment...this is FAR from what happened.

I woke up to SUNSHINE! Ok, this is a huge deal! This week has been very rainy and cold and on the verge of monsooning some days, ok maybe a bit of an exaggeration, but the weather has not been so hot lately. And when I see sun, my face instantly lights up! You can do so much more when the weather is nice, and that is what set the tone for this marvelous and thrilling day.

Jori and I got dressed and struggled to pep ourselves up to go to our on site class conveniently meeting at a very close location (normally we meet at a destination we are far from familiar with and play a guessing game of how to get there and how long it will take us, and will we even make it?) Today's class included Largo de' Argentina and a visit to the Pantheon, as well as the Italian Embassy and a few other monuments. Along the way Jori and I noticed the very cute and undiscovered area we were walking through, and we decided to meander back and look at the shops we had passed.

Well we walked into a few stores then realized the hunger pains in our stomachs, so we needed lunch. W did not just get lunch, but we had THE BEST GELATO yet! How did we find this magical haven for gelato? I desperately needed coffee after class and walked into this mecca of gelato . Millions of flavors, any kind of gelato under the rainbow. And candy. And lollipops with the Pope on them. So we had lunch then gelato. Whoever comes to visit me in Rome will be going to this gelateria, lucky you! With gelato in hand we walked to the Trevi Fountain for Jori's first visit, not bad.

Hmmm, what event could be part of "the best day"...finding a new hat! While wandering through this new discovered area Jori and I found a hat store. The hats were authentic italian one of kind, and so cool. The man working could not have been nicer, he was actually a hat guru and helped me try on loads of hats. Needless to say I was extremely happy. Each hat I tried on was more unique than the one before it and this decision was not so easy. I struck up conversation with my new friend in the hat shop, he was an older man, so friendly and knew of Minneapolis! Soooo, he gave me a deal and said I was his favorite Minnesotan. I picked a wonderful new hat that I will be sure to not take off for awhile...well maybe when I go to sleep, and when I start feeling bad for my other hats.

Afterwards, we walked around the market in Campo de Fiori and then met up with Oliver and Todd and headed to the gardens near Piazza del Popolo. Just a walk down Via della Corso and up the Spanish steps leads to this green paradise. These gardens are an oasis like you have never seen, filled with lush green trees, statues, fountains and grass for miles. It really is gorgeous and so relaxing. It is the perfect place to sit and have a picnic and think to yourself, wow I am in Rome. After basking in the sun, lying on the grass and taking a breath from hectic traveling experiences and classes, a brilliant idea came up. Golf Carts. Yes, we rented a golf cart for a half an hour to drive around these wondrous gardens. Best half hour spent ever. The four of us each took our turns driving and and scooted all over the parks and gardens, waving, saying "ciao" and "bueno noche" to all of the italians strolling by, and a necessary honk of the horn when we were feeling extra excited. We parked the golf cart, wishing that half an hour didn't go by so quickly. The walk out of the gardens happened to be just as the sun was starting to set and the light was truly perfect. Exiting the tranquil bliss of a garden, I knew I would be coming back often. The walk to get there is far, but very worth it and I will be finding time to get back quickly.

Starting the day out at 8 am and heading home at 6:30 pm, the day was full and absolutely one of the best days yet! A truly amazing start to my free weekend in Rome. Saturday, SAI has a wine tasting and vineyard tour planned and I will be attending in hopes of learning more about the wine culture here and Rome. Ciao Bella!

Friends in Firenze

A weekend in Florence...

It so happens my friend Lindsay from high school is studying in Florence, giving me a perfect excuse to hop on a train and spend a weekend in another city!

My freshman year in high school for spring break my family and I traveled to Florence (Rome, and Barcelona) and toured all of the sights, the David, Duomo, Uffizi, ponte vecchio, the leather, etc. So this trip was more devoted to roaming the streets with Lindsay and other friends who came along, eating gelato, shopping the open street markets and getting more of a feel for the city.

Jori and I decided to try the "fast train" to Florence Friday afternoon after class...in class looking out the window to the SNOW, yes SNOW, I was nervous the train may not be able to get us to Florence. Fun fact: Rome has not seen snow since the 1980s, so I guess all of us wisconsin badger brought the snow. You're welcome Rome. It was not the normal snow us Minnesotans or Sconnies are used to, I needed my umbrella to walk around because it was more of a sleet snow, but indeed it was snow.
So, I said goodbye to a snow covered Rome and an hour later on the very nice, much fancier and enjoyable fast train we pulled into Florence's Santa Maria Novella station.

Lindsay and I met on the steps of the Duomo, I know how romantic right? It was a perfect location for our reunion after seeing each other briefly during winter break before each going our separate ways abroad to Italy. Who would have thought we would be meeting up in Florence? We certainly did not, and our entire time together we could not get over how we were hanging out in Florence.
Right away she took me to her apartment, and introduced me to her friends and got an idea of what her program was like, and had a chance to catch up. Immediately we grabbed gelato at a place called, Grom. Very tasty way to start the trip.
Later that evening a bunch of her friends on her program and the two of us sat down to eat dinner at a restaurant called "Zaza", our romantic vacation continued as we decided to share pizza and pasta and sip house white wine...over candle light. The restaurant was very cozy, stone walls and arches, wooden tables, and they serve you immediately with a huge tin of doughy bread. Afterwards we began to take on the night in Florence by starting at bar called "the red garter", really not what it sounds like. It was a kareoke bar, and no I did not decide to do kareoke this time, instead I sat back and enjoyed the others who courageously stepped up to the microphone. Next was to a club called "21", I know very catchy, and appropriate for the many americans, but still many italians flooding the dance floor. The night was eventful, and I think I got a good idea of what night life in Florence is like, there are many many clubs and bars for such a small city. Very fun.

The next day Lindsay and I woke up on a mission to get a sandwich. Her favorite sandwich place, "oil shop" was so sadly closed on the weekends, so we took advice from a friend and set out to find the famous "antico noe". After probably asking every person in Florence, well just every street vendor, we finally stumbled upon this tiny little sandwich place and happily sat down on a bench to enjoy the hot chicken, mozzarella and mushroom on a skinny crunchy baguette. The rest of the day we walked all over Florence, stepping in and out of shops, gelaterias and enjoying the weather. We walked around the open air markets, where they have gorgeous scarves, hats, bags, belts, and leather galore. I purchased a scarf to remember Florence by always, and I thought it was very comfy and pretty, I have yet to wear another scarf besides my new one.

That evening I was graciously welcomed into my family friends Tom and Maria's home for a delicious home cooked meal and wonderful company. Tom picked me up from Lindsay's apartment on his moped (!), this was my first moped experience. Dad, don't worry Tom made sure I wore a helmet and he was a very safe driver, and he said he was heavily insured. He took a longer route to his home than usual, so I could see more of Florence, and as he drove up the hill their house sits on, the view was incredible. It was dark outside and the entire city of Florence was lit, and the view was perfect. My trip to Florence was absolutely made more memorable from this one night shared in a warm house surrounded by friends of family. The meal was too enjoyable for words, and it was so nice and comforting to be sitting around a dinner table. I missed my family at home and our nightly dinners, but I could not be more thankful for this one meal shared with Tom, Maria, Emily, her friend and friend's mother for that one evening. I rode home in a cab feeling very lucky to have connections around the globe, and felt safer and more comfortable knowing they are near.

The next day on the slow train home, riding solo, Florence gave me a great farewell and it was a perfect weekend shared with friends. I spent valentines day with a few girlfriends, and of course we got gelato after dinner, I think we found a new favorite gelateria.

Thank you to everyone who made my weekend in Florence memorable and extra enjoyable!

An American (semi Italian) in Paris

21st Birthday in Paris, what more could a girl ask for?

It was off to Paris last Thursday afternoon, we have all become quite the jetsetters. I have never known what I would think of Paris, but I never imagined me loving it...well I thought very wrong. Paris is a wonderful city and I would love the chance to go back and experience more of what it has to offer. It was the perfect way to celebrate my birthday and just could not stop smiling.

Arriving late Thursday night to the small apartment we found online, great deal and perfect amount of space for four girls and three nights. One bed and one pull out couch. Kitchen and bathroom (all in one tiny room). Finding it was like a treasure hunt, but we got to it eventually. Conveniently located between subway (Jared subway) and a cool bar, it really was in the perfect location for first time visitors! We set our bags down and immediately went to a club, le regine. This club was far better than any other club i've ever been to, very hip, lots of dancing, and everyone was dressed impeccably and so stylish. French men are also not so bad. I wish I could be parisian, so lets just pretend. It was a great start to our memorable vacation in Paree.

The next morning, we prepared ourselves for a busy day. We grabbed our first of three crepes while in Paris. Crepe #1: Tomato, mozzarella, basil crepe....umm heaven? Have I arrived? Then off to the Centre Pomidou, for a gorgeous view of the city, and modern and contemporary art exhibits. Next we walked down Champs des Elysees to meet up with a few wisconsin friends. This street is huge and could either make you very happy or depressed with all of the top designer stores and fun shops and delicious restaurants. We walked down this incredible street to the Arc de Triomphe. And after treated ourselves to macaroons to die for at the most precious and adorable bakery, it looked like a doll house. I got one pistachio and one chocolate macaroon. So sweet and yummy. Afterwards it was time to see the Eiffel Tower. Stunning. I walked off the metro stop and turned the corner and there it was. Quite the view. If I lived in Paris I would go to the Eiffel Tower and sit in the park, eating a crepe everyday. Not bad. Really the tower was stunning and I wanted to stay longer just admiring and enjoying the Parisian air. Two friends and I bought a bottle of wine and sipped it in the park staring at the Eiffel Tower, yes. To end the day of sight seeing we made our way to the Louvre, and yes we saw the Mona Lisa. In the Louvre we ran into some fellow badgers who were studying in Seville, hmmm o hey, way to just run into you in the Louvre...
That night a whole group of us, study abroaders of Rome, Seville and Paris all came together to eat fondue and drink wine out of baby bottles. Baby Bottles.

The next day we headed straight to the Jewish quarter to indulge and try the falafel of Paris. MOUTH. WATERING. I am telling you, yes I am going to Israel at the end of my stay in Rome, but seriously this falafel...wow. Israel watch out for Paris. We walked around, in and out of shops, which were too cute and just a tease for a student who would love to buy everything, but yes I am responsible and held back, really held back. Later we saw the Notre Dame and then walked through the Musee D'Orsay to see the works of Monet, Renoir, Cross, Van Gogh and other impressionist artists. What better way to treat yourself after an afternoon of art then hot chocolate? Well, this was no ordinary hot chocolate of course because we are in Paris. Scrumptious.
That night we celebrated my birthday by getting dinner nearby and sharing three entrees and for dessert...Crepe #2: nutella banana. Then we met up with a bunch of friends at the hideout bar. Great way to turn 21 and have my first legal drink...in Paris. It was very surreal turning 21, I still am still not sure how to feel about this, I guess I am old now. Knowing my sister was having an equally fabulous celebration in Israel I felt happy, but missed cheersing to our first drink together being legal. I miss you bunny. There will be another celebration when she comes in April to visit me! In Paris, birthday is said "Anniversarie", and Parisians still know that 21 is a pretty big deal. Great celebration! Thank you to everyone who helped! I will never forget it.

Sunday sadly came too fast and it was time to say farewell to Paris. We grabbed Crepe #3: Egg, Jambon, and formage and took the metro to the airport. And in a blink of an eye (I slept the entire way back) we were back in Rome. Again, so great to come back to my new home, but Paris, you made quite the impression. The vacation was nothing less than incredible and I think I got to see almost everything I could in 2 days, but there is just so much more waiting when I visit again! Great food, great fashion, great sights, great art, great night life. GREAT.

Arriving back in Rome, yes the Super Bowl was on my birthday, we went to the bar at 8 to get a table for the game to start at 12. Watching the Super Bowl in Rome...a bit weird, but probably the best super bowl viewing experience I will ever have. There was still beer and fried food, just in Rome. Go Saints!

Amazing weekend. Bonjour and Merci!