One last rub of the lucky hog before we depart Florence.
Alex, Tania and I
Molly, Taylor and Alex
The 6 of us from 37 Via San Zanobi
Saturday, May 16, 2009
The Last Dinner Together :)
One last rub of the lucky hog before we depart Florence.
Alex, Tania and I
Molly, Taylor and Alex
The 6 of us from 37 Via San Zanobi
The Last Night
It is Saturday morning, May 16th 2009. This is the last full day in Florence, and what emotions I am feeling. Yesterday morning, Alex went to the airport to get her parents, who have come to spend the week with her traveling before she returns to the states. Taylor went around 2pm yesterday to pick her mom up from the airport as well, who was there with the surprise of her best friend! It was an emotional day for us, the parents being the true sign that the end of this semester and the abroad experience is here.
I am all packed, hard to believe that I have fit my life from the past four months into two large black bags, and my backpack. If we can take a moment to say a prayer that my bags are under the weight limit and I don't have to pay millions to get my luggage home, that would be appreciated! I have taken the time to go through my clothes from the semester and got rid of a full trash bag. These clothes were sent to Abruzzo, where the earthquake took place a few months back. The people down there lost everything, so the chance to give back a little to this country.
Tania has spent the last week here with me, she left this morning back t Virginia, where I will actually see her tomorrow when I return to the states. We had a wonderful time together, spent a day in Venice with Alex and the two of us also went to Pisa for the day to see the tower. I think Tania was overwhelmed by the city, and she became aware of the Italian way of life. She actually managed to roam the streets a few times while I was taking finals and such, so that was great. And of course, she enjoyed some Italian Pizza, which made her very happy!
Speaking of finals, all went well! I am hoping to get my grades in the next few weeks, but the papers I received had big A's on the top, and my written finals felt strong. Practicals were fun, the students in my classes and I worked together to finish the assignment recipes on time. It was a successful semester, and I am looking forward to some more cooking when i get home!
Riverview Farms Catering is busy for the summer, and of course, always looking for more work. I am planning to get as may hours in, with catering, childcare, and anything else that comes my way, to pay off my loan from the semester and start to save for my next adventure in this world.
Off to roam the streets one last time, and of course, one last gelato before I board my 6:30am flight back to Dulles. I will be in Virginia until Wednesday afternoon, when I get on the last leg of my travels to San Fransico, landing around midnight.
Until my final destination is reached, I send you love!
Ciao Bella, Ti Amo :)
I am all packed, hard to believe that I have fit my life from the past four months into two large black bags, and my backpack. If we can take a moment to say a prayer that my bags are under the weight limit and I don't have to pay millions to get my luggage home, that would be appreciated! I have taken the time to go through my clothes from the semester and got rid of a full trash bag. These clothes were sent to Abruzzo, where the earthquake took place a few months back. The people down there lost everything, so the chance to give back a little to this country.
Tania has spent the last week here with me, she left this morning back t Virginia, where I will actually see her tomorrow when I return to the states. We had a wonderful time together, spent a day in Venice with Alex and the two of us also went to Pisa for the day to see the tower. I think Tania was overwhelmed by the city, and she became aware of the Italian way of life. She actually managed to roam the streets a few times while I was taking finals and such, so that was great. And of course, she enjoyed some Italian Pizza, which made her very happy!
Speaking of finals, all went well! I am hoping to get my grades in the next few weeks, but the papers I received had big A's on the top, and my written finals felt strong. Practicals were fun, the students in my classes and I worked together to finish the assignment recipes on time. It was a successful semester, and I am looking forward to some more cooking when i get home!
Riverview Farms Catering is busy for the summer, and of course, always looking for more work. I am planning to get as may hours in, with catering, childcare, and anything else that comes my way, to pay off my loan from the semester and start to save for my next adventure in this world.
Off to roam the streets one last time, and of course, one last gelato before I board my 6:30am flight back to Dulles. I will be in Virginia until Wednesday afternoon, when I get on the last leg of my travels to San Fransico, landing around midnight.
Until my final destination is reached, I send you love!
Ciao Bella, Ti Amo :)
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
12 days and counting!! :)
Its been so long since I have blogged!
Its crunch time here in Florence, only 12 more days until I leave this place which has become my home, and I am having bittersweet emotions around the thought. I am so excited to come home, ready to get back into the swing of things and start making some money! I miss everyone so much, I am so happy the weather is getting nice and school is ending for everyone. I am looking forward to the beach this summer, camping and lots more fun activities. I am going to Alaska in July for 8 days because Tessa Dahlen and Danny Amos are getting married up there. I have never been to Alaska, and really looking forward to it!
But alas, leaving Italy will bring tears to my eyes. I have loved this country for the past four months, its strengths and weaknesses alike. I have learned some valuable information in school, met some of the most dearest people, and truly fell in love with traveling and seeing the world. There are so many places I want to travel, people I want to meet, things to do and see, and I really feel like being here for the past four months has really given me inspiration to do so. I would love to spend the next five years of my life working for a period of time, traveling some, and then working some more. This would be so great!
So here is my speech to those of you feeling like some change is needed in your future:
Get out there and see the world! Go somewhere you have ALWAYS wanted, and take the time to explore the wonders of this planet. Experience something new, eat food you thought you would never try, stick your head out of the Eurostar train window and let the breeze take your breath away. Swim in the many different waters, let the smooth stones on the beaches of Capri massage the bottoms of your feet. Meet new people, try and speak their language without embarrassment. Share stories about your home with others, and help someone to make their day a little brighter. Enjoy the sun setting on different cities, dance to music you have never heard before, and most of all, enjoy the differences in people, because this world is everything but black and white.
I love you all with great passion, and can't wait to be home in the redwoods. Westcliff, you are in need of my new running shoes:)
Ciao Bella
Its crunch time here in Florence, only 12 more days until I leave this place which has become my home, and I am having bittersweet emotions around the thought. I am so excited to come home, ready to get back into the swing of things and start making some money! I miss everyone so much, I am so happy the weather is getting nice and school is ending for everyone. I am looking forward to the beach this summer, camping and lots more fun activities. I am going to Alaska in July for 8 days because Tessa Dahlen and Danny Amos are getting married up there. I have never been to Alaska, and really looking forward to it!
But alas, leaving Italy will bring tears to my eyes. I have loved this country for the past four months, its strengths and weaknesses alike. I have learned some valuable information in school, met some of the most dearest people, and truly fell in love with traveling and seeing the world. There are so many places I want to travel, people I want to meet, things to do and see, and I really feel like being here for the past four months has really given me inspiration to do so. I would love to spend the next five years of my life working for a period of time, traveling some, and then working some more. This would be so great!
So here is my speech to those of you feeling like some change is needed in your future:
Get out there and see the world! Go somewhere you have ALWAYS wanted, and take the time to explore the wonders of this planet. Experience something new, eat food you thought you would never try, stick your head out of the Eurostar train window and let the breeze take your breath away. Swim in the many different waters, let the smooth stones on the beaches of Capri massage the bottoms of your feet. Meet new people, try and speak their language without embarrassment. Share stories about your home with others, and help someone to make their day a little brighter. Enjoy the sun setting on different cities, dance to music you have never heard before, and most of all, enjoy the differences in people, because this world is everything but black and white.
I love you all with great passion, and can't wait to be home in the redwoods. Westcliff, you are in need of my new running shoes:)
Ciao Bella
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Amalfi- Naples, Capri and Pompei
What an amazing part of Italy. The Amalfi Coast is truly a gem, and is certainly one of my favorite places I have visited in this country. We started the trip on a bus that left at 6:30 am Friday morning. Early, yes, but we were excited, so time was not an issue for me. There were 75 of us students on the trip, so two full buses on the road, and we were off.
We arrived in Napoli in the early afternoon and had a few hours to wander the city. Here is some history on this city. Its really old, HAHA. OK, so most of the towns are really old. Anyways, its a very large city, the third largest in Italy behind Milan and Rome. It is the pick-pocketing capitol of Italy, and therefor is pretty dangerous to be in at night, and especially alone, or being a woman. There are parts of town that even a group of full grown adult men should not be in at night. But, none the less, an important city, famous for their Pizza. It was very tasty, I must say, but not the best I have had in Italy.
After jumping back on the bus, we headed to our hotel to unload and rest before dinner. Everyone was pretty wiped from being up early and crammed on the bus for so long. Dinner was served at a local restaurant, and wasn't very good. But, it was food none the less, so I was not going to complain.
The next day, Saturday, we spent on the island of Capri. What a stunning island, very beautiful and rich in seafood and lemons. All day we slept on the beach, basking in the sun watching the crystal clear water wash up on the rocks! So amazing! The island is small, but full of many amazing things, including beautiful caves, fresh lemons, and expensive shopping and stunning beaches. I really enjoyed swimming, and the smile from ear to ear is still beaming across my face as I reflect on the time at the beach.
Pompei was also amazing, which is where the group spend Sunday morning. The ruins are incredible, and the view of Mt. Vesuvius is so neat! What a story this place has, its rich history is something worth learning.
The bus left Sunday around 2pm and we arrived back home in Florence around 8pm. We all passed out from the sun and travel filled weekend, but really enjoyed out time! Can't wait to come back and visit again, it was wonderful <3
Ciao Bella
We arrived in Napoli in the early afternoon and had a few hours to wander the city. Here is some history on this city. Its really old, HAHA. OK, so most of the towns are really old. Anyways, its a very large city, the third largest in Italy behind Milan and Rome. It is the pick-pocketing capitol of Italy, and therefor is pretty dangerous to be in at night, and especially alone, or being a woman. There are parts of town that even a group of full grown adult men should not be in at night. But, none the less, an important city, famous for their Pizza. It was very tasty, I must say, but not the best I have had in Italy.
After jumping back on the bus, we headed to our hotel to unload and rest before dinner. Everyone was pretty wiped from being up early and crammed on the bus for so long. Dinner was served at a local restaurant, and wasn't very good. But, it was food none the less, so I was not going to complain.
The next day, Saturday, we spent on the island of Capri. What a stunning island, very beautiful and rich in seafood and lemons. All day we slept on the beach, basking in the sun watching the crystal clear water wash up on the rocks! So amazing! The island is small, but full of many amazing things, including beautiful caves, fresh lemons, and expensive shopping and stunning beaches. I really enjoyed swimming, and the smile from ear to ear is still beaming across my face as I reflect on the time at the beach.
Pompei was also amazing, which is where the group spend Sunday morning. The ruins are incredible, and the view of Mt. Vesuvius is so neat! What a story this place has, its rich history is something worth learning.
The bus left Sunday around 2pm and we arrived back home in Florence around 8pm. We all passed out from the sun and travel filled weekend, but really enjoyed out time! Can't wait to come back and visit again, it was wonderful <3
Ciao Bella
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
They're Here!!
Americans, Americans, everywhere, Americans!!
It is true. Travel season is upon us, and I never thought I would feel like we were being invaded, here in Italy, since I AM American and only living in Italy temporarily. The lines are longer, the streets are fuller, and there is more and more english speakers filling the city to the brim. Its exciting in a way, hearing the familiar sounds of children yelling in English, and hearing people speak to one another in a language I know so well. I remember back to the first week we were here, all of us roaming the streets with maps in hand. I can't remember the last time I looked at a map of Florence, it seems like I have been here so long that I just know my way around.
On my way home from class today, I was walking in the piazza near the Duomo, and there were two American women standing outside the cafe reading a map and looking very confused. I stopped next to them and politely asked if they needed some help. "She speaks english!" They squealed, and I chuckled. Yes, I do. :)
The asked me for some directions to a famous church in the town, and I gave them a nice route by the river to walk, and also pointed out the same way of the map so they would be able to follow the names of the streets. I asked them where they were from, and how long they would be guests in Italy. They were very impressed with me living here and attending Culinary School. I always get such warm reactions when I tell people what I am doing here, it makes me smile. I told them of a few places they should visit here in Florence, and explained the wonderful tradition of Aperitivo, which everyone MUST attend atleast once while they are here. Its such a fun thing to participate in, and a wonderful way to eat and drink for an cheaper one time price!
Class was amazing today, tuna and anchovies. I am learning so much here, and really enjoying the new techniques that I can bring home to Riverview Farms Catering and to my family and friends!
Ciao Bella
It is true. Travel season is upon us, and I never thought I would feel like we were being invaded, here in Italy, since I AM American and only living in Italy temporarily. The lines are longer, the streets are fuller, and there is more and more english speakers filling the city to the brim. Its exciting in a way, hearing the familiar sounds of children yelling in English, and hearing people speak to one another in a language I know so well. I remember back to the first week we were here, all of us roaming the streets with maps in hand. I can't remember the last time I looked at a map of Florence, it seems like I have been here so long that I just know my way around.
On my way home from class today, I was walking in the piazza near the Duomo, and there were two American women standing outside the cafe reading a map and looking very confused. I stopped next to them and politely asked if they needed some help. "She speaks english!" They squealed, and I chuckled. Yes, I do. :)
The asked me for some directions to a famous church in the town, and I gave them a nice route by the river to walk, and also pointed out the same way of the map so they would be able to follow the names of the streets. I asked them where they were from, and how long they would be guests in Italy. They were very impressed with me living here and attending Culinary School. I always get such warm reactions when I tell people what I am doing here, it makes me smile. I told them of a few places they should visit here in Florence, and explained the wonderful tradition of Aperitivo, which everyone MUST attend atleast once while they are here. Its such a fun thing to participate in, and a wonderful way to eat and drink for an cheaper one time price!
Class was amazing today, tuna and anchovies. I am learning so much here, and really enjoying the new techniques that I can bring home to Riverview Farms Catering and to my family and friends!
Ciao Bella
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Una Canzone D'Amore
Io lavoro e penso a te
Torno a casa e penso a te
Le telefono e intanto penso a te
Come stai? E penso a te
Dove Abbiamo? E penso a te
Le sorrido abbasso gli occhi e penso a te
Non so con chi adesso sei
Non so con cha cosa fai
Ma so di certo a cosa stai pensando
E troppo grande la citta
Per due che come noi
Non sperano pero sis tan cercando cercando
Scusa e tarde e penso a te
Ti accompagno e penso a te
Non son stato divertente e penso a te
Sono al buio e penso a te
Chiudo gli occhi e penso a te
Io non dormo e penso a tes
Just wanted to share some Italian love with all my readers! Ciao Bella
Torno a casa e penso a te
Le telefono e intanto penso a te
Come stai? E penso a te
Dove Abbiamo? E penso a te
Le sorrido abbasso gli occhi e penso a te
Non so con chi adesso sei
Non so con cha cosa fai
Ma so di certo a cosa stai pensando
E troppo grande la citta
Per due che come noi
Non sperano pero sis tan cercando cercando
Scusa e tarde e penso a te
Ti accompagno e penso a te
Non son stato divertente e penso a te
Sono al buio e penso a te
Chiudo gli occhi e penso a te
Io non dormo e penso a tes
Just wanted to share some Italian love with all my readers! Ciao Bella
Ganzo
Saturday, April 18th, was the first day all semester I worked at Ganzo. This is a pretty big surprise, considering this is the restaurant affiliated with Apicius, and its run with several students volunteering their time in the kitchen, the bar, and the front of the house. Ganzo, which means, “cool” in Italian, is a pretty hip restaurant, with fun Italian food. The school puts many students in the restaurant to work, some having a full semester internship. On Saturdays, there is a brunch, which is served from 11-2pm, and this is the shift I was asked to work this week. It was pretty fun, a little slow business wise, but interesting to talk to some new people. I met this kid, Christian, who is from Hawaii and in his 4th semester at Apicius. We spent some time talking about how we both miss home, but absolutely love this opportunity, and really enjoy the culture in Italy. We had a good time, it was only the two of us in the kitchen, the chef was in and out, mostly in the dining room and talking with the restaurant manager, so the two of us were left to get the food out. We also talked about the differences between restaurant work and catering, what I like more about catering, and the pros and cons of opening up our own restaurants in the future. I am hoping to work a few more shifts in the next month, so I am excited to learn a little more and get that much more experience in a restaurant.
The Buffet prep included Panini’s with chicken and arugula, fruit, slices of fresh carrot cake, (which my roommate Bonnie prepared on Friday, and was delicious I may add ☺) Seafood salad, olives, sliced cheese and meats, and also eggs, potatoes, bacon and sausage to order. Everything was quite tasty, and free for me to eat, which made it that much better. The kitchen at this restaurant is a good size, larger then the Hilton kitchen, which is surprising considering Café Max at the Hilton, can seat 6 times the amount of people. It is also very well organized, with several reaching refrigerators with specific items in each. The flow is very easy; nobody is stepping over each other, plenty of space to prep several different foods without the worry of cross contamination, and yes, the possibility of “Harboring Pathogens”. (That’s for you Susie Q, with love from Cupcake). The paid staff at Ganzo is for the most part, very considerate and caring to the students, which is nice considering the students are volunteering their time.
Hopefully there will be more about this place in my future blogging, because it’s fun to get a feel for different types of restaurants and how each kitchen is unique. One Block West, you are still number one in my heart!
Ciao Bella. I send you love from the sweet streets of Florence <3
The Buffet prep included Panini’s with chicken and arugula, fruit, slices of fresh carrot cake, (which my roommate Bonnie prepared on Friday, and was delicious I may add ☺) Seafood salad, olives, sliced cheese and meats, and also eggs, potatoes, bacon and sausage to order. Everything was quite tasty, and free for me to eat, which made it that much better. The kitchen at this restaurant is a good size, larger then the Hilton kitchen, which is surprising considering Café Max at the Hilton, can seat 6 times the amount of people. It is also very well organized, with several reaching refrigerators with specific items in each. The flow is very easy; nobody is stepping over each other, plenty of space to prep several different foods without the worry of cross contamination, and yes, the possibility of “Harboring Pathogens”. (That’s for you Susie Q, with love from Cupcake). The paid staff at Ganzo is for the most part, very considerate and caring to the students, which is nice considering the students are volunteering their time.
Hopefully there will be more about this place in my future blogging, because it’s fun to get a feel for different types of restaurants and how each kitchen is unique. One Block West, you are still number one in my heart!
Ciao Bella. I send you love from the sweet streets of Florence <3
Monday, April 13, 2009
Buona Pasqua di 5 Terre!
Happy Easter from the Cinque Terre! Easter Sunday, what a wonderful holiday as a child. I remember loving to wake up on this morning and have chocolate for breakfast! Who could ask for more?
Alex and I woke up, ate some hard-boiled eggs and fruit, and went in search of coffee. We found some to-go coffee, which is a rare find in Italy, and took it back down to the waters edge. I decided this was the perfect time for a swim, so I changed into my suit and jumped right in. Little chilly, but it felt so wonderful to be swimming, its been so long and I remembered how much I missed it! Alex snapped some photos, boy was it chilly!
After the morning swim, I took a quick shower and we boarded another boat to the town of Portovenere. This was a town recommended to us by Alex’s family, who spends some time in Italy every year. We were pleasantly surprised by this town, right on the water with lots of little places to eat. We both enjoyed salads for lunch, and wandered through the streets, looking at all the places where olive oil, foccacia and pesto were made. It all smelled so delicious! We took lots of pictures of the water, and the town, it was all so wonderful!
After a long day, we were ready to head back. We bussed to La Spetzia, where we caught a train to Pisa, and then got on the train back home to Florence. It was such a nice weekend, and certainly one of my most favorite, if not THE favorite, places in Italy. It truly was magical!
Ready for another week at school, its all going by so fast now that the end is near. Few more weeks of class, then Finals, and then HOME to the US! Ciao Bella
Alex and I woke up, ate some hard-boiled eggs and fruit, and went in search of coffee. We found some to-go coffee, which is a rare find in Italy, and took it back down to the waters edge. I decided this was the perfect time for a swim, so I changed into my suit and jumped right in. Little chilly, but it felt so wonderful to be swimming, its been so long and I remembered how much I missed it! Alex snapped some photos, boy was it chilly!
After the morning swim, I took a quick shower and we boarded another boat to the town of Portovenere. This was a town recommended to us by Alex’s family, who spends some time in Italy every year. We were pleasantly surprised by this town, right on the water with lots of little places to eat. We both enjoyed salads for lunch, and wandered through the streets, looking at all the places where olive oil, foccacia and pesto were made. It all smelled so delicious! We took lots of pictures of the water, and the town, it was all so wonderful!
After a long day, we were ready to head back. We bussed to La Spetzia, where we caught a train to Pisa, and then got on the train back home to Florence. It was such a nice weekend, and certainly one of my most favorite, if not THE favorite, places in Italy. It truly was magical!
Ready for another week at school, its all going by so fast now that the end is near. Few more weeks of class, then Finals, and then HOME to the US! Ciao Bella
Cinque Terre
Saturday, March 11th, the school planed a day trip to the Cinque Terre. This little group of towns along the northwest coast of Italy is known for the pesto and olive oil. Another favorite from this region is their house made foccacia, which is to die for! What an amazing part of Italy is, truly a treasure of this country. Taylor, Alex and I all went on this day trip, and met the rest of the group at the train station at 7:30am. The train ride to La Spetzia, which is the main town outside of the Cinque Terre, was about 2 hours, where we switched trains and took another train into the town of Monterosso. We stopped at the café, enjoyed a cappuccino and some famous Foccacia, and started our day’s hike through the towns. The weather was beautiful; the perfect temperature for hiking.
After the café and bathroom break, we began the hike. It was about two hours to the next town over, Vernazza, which is quite a sweet and quaint little town. Here, the group split up to wander the main street, filled with shops and gelaterias. I had a nice lunch, some tasty pesto pasta. I topped the meal off with a gelato cone, mint and chocolate, my favorite! After a few hours in the town, we got on a boat that took us to the town of Manarolo, which is smaller and also very cute! Each of these towns has many different colored buildings, all built into the cliffs over looking the Ligurian Sea. Very beautiful! In Manorolo, we walked through via dell Amore, which is a bridge/tunnel that is filled with graffiti from lovers! The concept goes as follows: Before the towns had trains between them, the people would walk these hiking trails to get from town to town. This made it very rare that people would marry outside of the town they lived in, and until people started making there way from town to town, it was hard to meet people. This bridge is said to have been a meeting place for lovers, and for many years, visitors and locals have been writing their names on the walls with hearts and love poems. Very sweet <3
The last town we ended in, was the town of Riomaggiore. This is where Alex and I had booked a hostel to stay the night. We had decided earlier in the month that we wanted to stay the night instead of come back with the school, so we found a place to stay for Easter weekend. As the rest of the school group left, we checked into our hostel and dropped our bags. What a cute little place we stayed in, out own private bathroom and full kitchen along with a large bed and a smaller twin size. Very clean also, which is a plus when it comes to booking hostels. You just never know!!
We found a little café to enjoy some dinner, and both of us wanted seafood because we have been missing it in Florence, and wanted to take advantage of being so close to the ocean. I ordered some shrimp risotto, and Alex enjoyed some penne pasta with salmon. We also shared a salad, it was all so yummy! After dinner we walked down to the water, and sat on some rocks, sharing more stories about our lives before Italy. We have really become close, and I am so grateful to have her as a part of my life. Its like we have been friends for much longer then a few months! I collected some sea glass, and we hiked back up from the water to our rooms. After some quick showers, it was bedtime. Both of us were exhausted!
Ciao Bella
After the café and bathroom break, we began the hike. It was about two hours to the next town over, Vernazza, which is quite a sweet and quaint little town. Here, the group split up to wander the main street, filled with shops and gelaterias. I had a nice lunch, some tasty pesto pasta. I topped the meal off with a gelato cone, mint and chocolate, my favorite! After a few hours in the town, we got on a boat that took us to the town of Manarolo, which is smaller and also very cute! Each of these towns has many different colored buildings, all built into the cliffs over looking the Ligurian Sea. Very beautiful! In Manorolo, we walked through via dell Amore, which is a bridge/tunnel that is filled with graffiti from lovers! The concept goes as follows: Before the towns had trains between them, the people would walk these hiking trails to get from town to town. This made it very rare that people would marry outside of the town they lived in, and until people started making there way from town to town, it was hard to meet people. This bridge is said to have been a meeting place for lovers, and for many years, visitors and locals have been writing their names on the walls with hearts and love poems. Very sweet <3
The last town we ended in, was the town of Riomaggiore. This is where Alex and I had booked a hostel to stay the night. We had decided earlier in the month that we wanted to stay the night instead of come back with the school, so we found a place to stay for Easter weekend. As the rest of the school group left, we checked into our hostel and dropped our bags. What a cute little place we stayed in, out own private bathroom and full kitchen along with a large bed and a smaller twin size. Very clean also, which is a plus when it comes to booking hostels. You just never know!!
We found a little café to enjoy some dinner, and both of us wanted seafood because we have been missing it in Florence, and wanted to take advantage of being so close to the ocean. I ordered some shrimp risotto, and Alex enjoyed some penne pasta with salmon. We also shared a salad, it was all so yummy! After dinner we walked down to the water, and sat on some rocks, sharing more stories about our lives before Italy. We have really become close, and I am so grateful to have her as a part of my life. Its like we have been friends for much longer then a few months! I collected some sea glass, and we hiked back up from the water to our rooms. After some quick showers, it was bedtime. Both of us were exhausted!
Ciao Bella
Monday, April 6, 2009
Earthquake
Hi there everyone, just a quick post to let everyone know that I am alright here in Italy. The earthquake that occurred at about 3:30am this morning happened about two hours south of me, and it was very devastating to the country. The death count is over 100, and there are still several people missing. Please join us all in a prayer for the families and friends effected by this event, and keep them in your thoughts as you go through this week. I want to take a minute to tell all of you how much I love and miss you, and think about you all, and am very grateful to have so many friends and family members who care about me. Glad to be safe here in Italy, and will keep you updated on the next 6 weeks of my Italian life. Ciao Bella!
Friday, April 3, 2009
Toga Night!
These pictures take place at the Pink Palace, where we stayed in Corfu. They throw a huge toga party with Greek food, dancing, plate breaking, ouzo shots, and so much more! And the best part, everyone makes their own Pink Toga!!! It was a blast!
IT WORKED!!
Ok, so the pic post was successful!! YES!! So, below are pics from Spring break in Greece. I will try and load a bunch of shots on here to catch everyone up on the last few months, but only a few from each event, cause there are hundreds and hundreds of photos!! Ciao :)
Photo Test
If this works, I will be so happy! Here is an attempt to post pics on my blog, since it hasn't been working right.
Bring out cha' dead!!
Day two in Paris, what a city! The weather was less pleasant today, overcast and hazy, but it wasn’t cold and wasn’t raining, so I am not complaining! The city was still full of people, lots of school groups, I think because its around the time students have spring break, so there are lots of travelers.
We started the morning with some eggs and toast, and for me, a few cups of tea. It was nice. After a little discussion on what to do for the day, we decided to see the catacombs below the streets of Paris. It was pretty incredible! 6 million bodies are stacked in neat little rows of bones and skulls, pretty creepy, but very interesting. Trips me out to think about what their lives were like before they were dead, and stacked upon millions of other people. What a cool thing to see, very worth it. And, it was only 4 Euros. Another plus!
After, we got back on the metro and went to Notre Dame, which was also amazing to see! Some history on this site, it is the main catholic cathedral in Paris, and is absolutely breathtaking! The outside is carved with several gargoyles, and other such creatures, and is a true tower to see in the city. Notre Dame de Paris was among the first buildings in the world to use the flying buttress [arched exterior supports]. Its gothic style is a site to see! We decided to climb to the top, another fee that was included in my museum pass, so that was lucky! It was very cool from the top, and because it was a bit hazy and overcast, only the silhouette of the Eiffel Tower was visible, but still an awesome view!
After climbing back down all the stairs, and trying to give my legs a minute to stop shaking, we walked across the street to the prison where Marie-Antoinette was held hostage. It was a neat place, but not really what any of us were expecting. This was also included in my pass, so I didn’t pay to get it, which was nice!!
Now it’s back at the apartment, taking a breather before we go out for the night! I am really hoping to see the tower all lit up! Ciao Bella!
We started the morning with some eggs and toast, and for me, a few cups of tea. It was nice. After a little discussion on what to do for the day, we decided to see the catacombs below the streets of Paris. It was pretty incredible! 6 million bodies are stacked in neat little rows of bones and skulls, pretty creepy, but very interesting. Trips me out to think about what their lives were like before they were dead, and stacked upon millions of other people. What a cool thing to see, very worth it. And, it was only 4 Euros. Another plus!
After, we got back on the metro and went to Notre Dame, which was also amazing to see! Some history on this site, it is the main catholic cathedral in Paris, and is absolutely breathtaking! The outside is carved with several gargoyles, and other such creatures, and is a true tower to see in the city. Notre Dame de Paris was among the first buildings in the world to use the flying buttress [arched exterior supports]. Its gothic style is a site to see! We decided to climb to the top, another fee that was included in my museum pass, so that was lucky! It was very cool from the top, and because it was a bit hazy and overcast, only the silhouette of the Eiffel Tower was visible, but still an awesome view!
After climbing back down all the stairs, and trying to give my legs a minute to stop shaking, we walked across the street to the prison where Marie-Antoinette was held hostage. It was a neat place, but not really what any of us were expecting. This was also included in my pass, so I didn’t pay to get it, which was nice!!
Now it’s back at the apartment, taking a breather before we go out for the night! I am really hoping to see the tower all lit up! Ciao Bella!
Versailles- Tre Belle
Today we went to Versailles, and it was so incredible! Here is a bit of history for those of you that are unfamiliar with this historical monument in Paris. It is every kings dream palace, and truly is a beautiful mansion for the royal. Louis XIV and his court lived in this palace, along with his wife, Marie-Antoinette. The rooms, which there are several, are decorated to a tee, with rich colors and decadent fabrics. I was jaw dropped and stunned through the whole place, and although I was there for 6+ hours, I didn’t see everything.
When I woke up this morning, there was a cute dark haired girl at the dinning room table, and I introduced myself. Her name is Danielle, and her boyfriend Tommy went to school with Greg at UCI. They are also in Paris this week, visiting Greg and sight seeing. She asked if I wanted to go to Versailles with them, and I was very excited! I didn’t have a plan for the day, and anything with company sounded perfect, so I got dressed and we headed out.
After a few minutes of walking, we stopped for breakfast. Crepes! I decided on egg and cheese, which also had lettuce and tomato, and it was the perfect breakfast; inexpensive and filling!
After we sat and ate for a bit, we headed to the metro station to catch a ride to Versailles. It is about a 25-minute ride, so we shared a little and read the important info from the Europe Travel God, otherwise known as Rick Steve’s. He sure is helpful, and for those of you wanting to travel someday, I highly suggest his books! They are a lifesaver, and a money saver, and a time saver………
Anyways, we got off the metro at the last stop and wandered up the hill to the gates of Versailles. It is absolutely stunning, with shinny gold fixtures and large, extravagant entrances. I was amazed! I went in to buy my tickets, and decided to buy the museum pass for two days, which means that I can enter almost every museum for the next two days for free. This was a great deal, just around 30 Euros.
So, we started in the Main Palace, ooing and awing at every room, with the lavish draperies, and extravagant furniture and décor. It truly makes you feel as though you’re in the presence of royalty, and I couldn’t stop clicking pictures! It was truly spectacular.
After walking through the palace, we exited to the gardens, which are even more of a sight to see. Everything is trimmed so proper, with exact hedges and trees; it seemed as though no leaf was out of place. We ate a Panini, made with a baguette, which makes it more French rather then Italian, and sat on a bench, watching the people pass. After lunch, we went down to rent bikes so we could ride through the gardens, and even though this is a faster mode of transportation then by foot, we still didn’t cover everything!
We rode up to the top, where the house built especially for the queen still sits, and toured through it. Very beautiful as well.
Out behind the house, there are a set of four or five little French houses, which make up a sweet little villa around the pond. These were the most adorable I have seen, and truly made me feel as though I was part of ancient history in France, and they were so quaint and sweet. In the middle of all the cottages, there was a pond, filled with large catfish and goldfish, ducks and a few swans. Absolutely beautiful, the most perfect place for a picnic with the one you love. I will come back again.
Danielle and Tommy made dinner, chicken Parmesan and pasta, and it was tasty! I complimented her, and although she knows I cook, I told her it was better, because I didn’t have to cook, it was a nice treat!
More adventures to come soon, tomorrow we visit The Eiffel Tower, and the Louvre, and more. Ciao Bella, I miss you all
When I woke up this morning, there was a cute dark haired girl at the dinning room table, and I introduced myself. Her name is Danielle, and her boyfriend Tommy went to school with Greg at UCI. They are also in Paris this week, visiting Greg and sight seeing. She asked if I wanted to go to Versailles with them, and I was very excited! I didn’t have a plan for the day, and anything with company sounded perfect, so I got dressed and we headed out.
After a few minutes of walking, we stopped for breakfast. Crepes! I decided on egg and cheese, which also had lettuce and tomato, and it was the perfect breakfast; inexpensive and filling!
After we sat and ate for a bit, we headed to the metro station to catch a ride to Versailles. It is about a 25-minute ride, so we shared a little and read the important info from the Europe Travel God, otherwise known as Rick Steve’s. He sure is helpful, and for those of you wanting to travel someday, I highly suggest his books! They are a lifesaver, and a money saver, and a time saver………
Anyways, we got off the metro at the last stop and wandered up the hill to the gates of Versailles. It is absolutely stunning, with shinny gold fixtures and large, extravagant entrances. I was amazed! I went in to buy my tickets, and decided to buy the museum pass for two days, which means that I can enter almost every museum for the next two days for free. This was a great deal, just around 30 Euros.
So, we started in the Main Palace, ooing and awing at every room, with the lavish draperies, and extravagant furniture and décor. It truly makes you feel as though you’re in the presence of royalty, and I couldn’t stop clicking pictures! It was truly spectacular.
After walking through the palace, we exited to the gardens, which are even more of a sight to see. Everything is trimmed so proper, with exact hedges and trees; it seemed as though no leaf was out of place. We ate a Panini, made with a baguette, which makes it more French rather then Italian, and sat on a bench, watching the people pass. After lunch, we went down to rent bikes so we could ride through the gardens, and even though this is a faster mode of transportation then by foot, we still didn’t cover everything!
We rode up to the top, where the house built especially for the queen still sits, and toured through it. Very beautiful as well.
Out behind the house, there are a set of four or five little French houses, which make up a sweet little villa around the pond. These were the most adorable I have seen, and truly made me feel as though I was part of ancient history in France, and they were so quaint and sweet. In the middle of all the cottages, there was a pond, filled with large catfish and goldfish, ducks and a few swans. Absolutely beautiful, the most perfect place for a picnic with the one you love. I will come back again.
Danielle and Tommy made dinner, chicken Parmesan and pasta, and it was tasty! I complimented her, and although she knows I cook, I told her it was better, because I didn’t have to cook, it was a nice treat!
More adventures to come soon, tomorrow we visit The Eiffel Tower, and the Louvre, and more. Ciao Bella, I miss you all
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Pisa to Paris
OK, so this was quite an adventure!! My day started off, this being Wednesday, April 1st, to my alarm clock at 5am. This was set so I could get up, make a cup of coffee, and get online to skype with Nick. We were to exchange spring break adventures and catch up. It was very nice, glad that I was able to see him this time and not just talk.
After the conversation, I jumped in the shower to try and wake up for the day. I had class at 9am, Italian, which I really am enjoying, so it was a nice thing to get ready for. After class was over, I ran home, changed clothes, and headed for the gym. I was on a very tight time schedule, so it was a short workout, but something none the less. After the gym, I ran home, showered and went to my second class of the day, Tradition of Italian Food, which is an awesome class! Very tasty, too! :)
I decided to sit in on another class that I am not enrolled in, called food and wine paring, which is a subject I am interested in. The teacher who instructs this class is also my wine appreciation teacher, so it was no problem for him that I sit in on the class. Lucky for me, it was a class paring fortified wines, such as port and sherry, to chocolate! No complaints!!
I left this class early so that I would be able to run home, get my last minute things together and head for the train station. I boarded a bus, called Terra vision, that was to take me to Pisa airport. This is about an hour and fifteen minute ride, so not to bad. I am really into this new book I started, so it went by fast.
When exiting the bus, it was pouring down rain, and I dropped my itinerary in the puddle. No fun, but I have cat like reflexes, OK that's a lie, so it ended up being soaking wet. The man behind the counter laughed at me when I checked in.
I sat down to keep reading, and it was getting close to boarding time, so i gathered my belongings to stand in line. Then the flight was delayed a 1/2 hour, so I sat back down and impatiently waited, really wanting to just get there. I was starving, and there was nothing in the airport to eat, so my patience was running a bit low. I found a vending machine, and ate some corn chips. This was dinner.
It was finally time to board the plane, so I got back up to wait in line, this time for like 20 minutes before we actually started moving outside, across the tar mat, and onto the plane. I was ready to pass out at this time, my energy from 5am was pretty much gone.
On the flight, I sat next to a woman whose name was Natasha, and we spend the tail end of the flight talking. She is a bathing suit designer, so we had something in common right away, since i swim, and she travels to Florence often to work. We got on the subject of work, I talked about catering, and my love for food, she shared that she lives in Paris and has a daughter who is one. Before she had mentioned children, I told her that I had looked into being a nanny abroad sometime in my life, and she offered me a job, like right there on the plane. haha. She wants someone to live with them in Paris, she has a seperate living space in her apartment for a nanny to live, and they also take vacations and travel so also someone to go when the family leaves. It is so unbelievably tempting to tell her I will do it, but I have to many other obligations at the moment, so I need to get some things in order. But it was pretty neat to talk to her!
After the flight landed, I scrambled to find my pack that was under the plane because it was too big to carry on, and went on the search for the bus. Greg gave me great directions to his apartment, but I was so tired, STARVING, and don't speak a lick of french, so it was a bit of a nightmare. If my flight had not been late, it would have been better, cause there was one last bus leaving the airport, which i ran too, then got on the metro, in the wrong direction, got off, had to buy another ticket, etc etc. Then, I roamed Greg's street for way way to long trying to find his apartment, and when I finally got here, I was so tired I could hardly stand!
What an adventure! Glad to be here in Paris, and am looking forward to the weekend!
Au Revoir!
(Ciao Bella)
After the conversation, I jumped in the shower to try and wake up for the day. I had class at 9am, Italian, which I really am enjoying, so it was a nice thing to get ready for. After class was over, I ran home, changed clothes, and headed for the gym. I was on a very tight time schedule, so it was a short workout, but something none the less. After the gym, I ran home, showered and went to my second class of the day, Tradition of Italian Food, which is an awesome class! Very tasty, too! :)
I decided to sit in on another class that I am not enrolled in, called food and wine paring, which is a subject I am interested in. The teacher who instructs this class is also my wine appreciation teacher, so it was no problem for him that I sit in on the class. Lucky for me, it was a class paring fortified wines, such as port and sherry, to chocolate! No complaints!!
I left this class early so that I would be able to run home, get my last minute things together and head for the train station. I boarded a bus, called Terra vision, that was to take me to Pisa airport. This is about an hour and fifteen minute ride, so not to bad. I am really into this new book I started, so it went by fast.
When exiting the bus, it was pouring down rain, and I dropped my itinerary in the puddle. No fun, but I have cat like reflexes, OK that's a lie, so it ended up being soaking wet. The man behind the counter laughed at me when I checked in.
I sat down to keep reading, and it was getting close to boarding time, so i gathered my belongings to stand in line. Then the flight was delayed a 1/2 hour, so I sat back down and impatiently waited, really wanting to just get there. I was starving, and there was nothing in the airport to eat, so my patience was running a bit low. I found a vending machine, and ate some corn chips. This was dinner.
It was finally time to board the plane, so I got back up to wait in line, this time for like 20 minutes before we actually started moving outside, across the tar mat, and onto the plane. I was ready to pass out at this time, my energy from 5am was pretty much gone.
On the flight, I sat next to a woman whose name was Natasha, and we spend the tail end of the flight talking. She is a bathing suit designer, so we had something in common right away, since i swim, and she travels to Florence often to work. We got on the subject of work, I talked about catering, and my love for food, she shared that she lives in Paris and has a daughter who is one. Before she had mentioned children, I told her that I had looked into being a nanny abroad sometime in my life, and she offered me a job, like right there on the plane. haha. She wants someone to live with them in Paris, she has a seperate living space in her apartment for a nanny to live, and they also take vacations and travel so also someone to go when the family leaves. It is so unbelievably tempting to tell her I will do it, but I have to many other obligations at the moment, so I need to get some things in order. But it was pretty neat to talk to her!
After the flight landed, I scrambled to find my pack that was under the plane because it was too big to carry on, and went on the search for the bus. Greg gave me great directions to his apartment, but I was so tired, STARVING, and don't speak a lick of french, so it was a bit of a nightmare. If my flight had not been late, it would have been better, cause there was one last bus leaving the airport, which i ran too, then got on the metro, in the wrong direction, got off, had to buy another ticket, etc etc. Then, I roamed Greg's street for way way to long trying to find his apartment, and when I finally got here, I was so tired I could hardly stand!
What an adventure! Glad to be here in Paris, and am looking forward to the weekend!
Au Revoir!
(Ciao Bella)
Monday, March 30, 2009
Greece- Athens
Athens is a very different part of Greece then Corfu. It is a large city, and fairly dirty compared to some other cities I have been to in Europe. When the bus arrived at 3:30am, I was so delirious, and still groggy from the Tylenol PM I had taken joust 6 hours before. We unloaded the bus and shuffled down the block to the hostel. The city was still very much awake and alive at this hour of the night, which most of us were pretty surprised to discover. When we reached the hostel, Mel and Jess and Alex and I got the key to our room and made out way to the beds. It was a very clean hostel, with two sets of bunk beds, (MY FAVORITE!) and threw our stuff to the corners of the room. I decided to take a shower because I was so yucky feeling from all the travel and knew that there would be no hot water in the morning when everyone else decided to shower before the walking tour of the city. After the shower, which was interesting because there is no curtain or glass, just a little lip in between the sink and toilet where the drain is, so its hard not to get water all over the bathroom. But there was good water pressure, and it was hot, so I was happy. ☺
After the shower, I passed out in the top bunk above Melissa and slept like a baby until 9am. We woke up, ate breakfast in the hostel, which was toast and hard-boiled eggs. After some much needed food in out bellies, we all got dressed and met Mike, the tour guide from Bus 2 Alps, downstairs for the walking tour of Athens.
It truly is ancient Greece, this part of the country. It is filled with an intense amount history, much of which has been destroyed in their several wars following the years after Christ. The Acropolis, which is the most religious site in Athens, is very neat to see, and quite a bit still stands after all the invasions of Ancient Athens over the last several hundred years. This was also the day of Independence, so there were celebrations going on in the city, which was neat to be apart of. We hiked to the top of this lookout point and watched the navy planes fly over the city in celebration. It reminded me of fleet week, which is held in San Francisco every year where the US Navy planes fly over the bay and do tricks. I have been a few times, and really enjoy watching the planes in the sky, so I was excited to watch it in Greece as well. I also took some pretty cool pictures of this; hope to someday get the pictures on here working again. ☺
After the walking tour was over, we went through the outdoor market in the city, where I bought some pretty neat things for some of you back home! I am very excited about them! We also had lunch at this little Greek place; Melissa and I shared a gyro and a salad, very tasty!
Nap time!! We all passed out back at the hostel for a little siesta, all the traveling and walking sure takes a toll and creates the need for lots of sleep and rest. I read my book for a little while, and then woke up to the pages pressed against my cheek, so apparently I feel asleep without putting my book down. Typical Carlyn. That night we all went to this restaurant for dinner, the entire group of 87 sat on the street outside in the spot where there were tables and chairs and enough space to accommodate us all. 13 Euros for a huge meal and unlimited wine. It was great! After dinner, some groups split off and went back to the hostel, the girls and I went to a club nearby and the music was loud! The drinks were a little expensive and the majority of us were ready to head back to the rooms since it was almost 2am by this point, so all of us except Molly and Jessica went back to the rooms. The two of them were into staying out and dancing. We took a taxi back to the hostel because the city is very, very unsafe at night and none of us were willing to chance anything. It was only about 7 Euros for all of us to get back, so it was worth it.
After the shower, I passed out in the top bunk above Melissa and slept like a baby until 9am. We woke up, ate breakfast in the hostel, which was toast and hard-boiled eggs. After some much needed food in out bellies, we all got dressed and met Mike, the tour guide from Bus 2 Alps, downstairs for the walking tour of Athens.
It truly is ancient Greece, this part of the country. It is filled with an intense amount history, much of which has been destroyed in their several wars following the years after Christ. The Acropolis, which is the most religious site in Athens, is very neat to see, and quite a bit still stands after all the invasions of Ancient Athens over the last several hundred years. This was also the day of Independence, so there were celebrations going on in the city, which was neat to be apart of. We hiked to the top of this lookout point and watched the navy planes fly over the city in celebration. It reminded me of fleet week, which is held in San Francisco every year where the US Navy planes fly over the bay and do tricks. I have been a few times, and really enjoy watching the planes in the sky, so I was excited to watch it in Greece as well. I also took some pretty cool pictures of this; hope to someday get the pictures on here working again. ☺
After the walking tour was over, we went through the outdoor market in the city, where I bought some pretty neat things for some of you back home! I am very excited about them! We also had lunch at this little Greek place; Melissa and I shared a gyro and a salad, very tasty!
Nap time!! We all passed out back at the hostel for a little siesta, all the traveling and walking sure takes a toll and creates the need for lots of sleep and rest. I read my book for a little while, and then woke up to the pages pressed against my cheek, so apparently I feel asleep without putting my book down. Typical Carlyn. That night we all went to this restaurant for dinner, the entire group of 87 sat on the street outside in the spot where there were tables and chairs and enough space to accommodate us all. 13 Euros for a huge meal and unlimited wine. It was great! After dinner, some groups split off and went back to the hostel, the girls and I went to a club nearby and the music was loud! The drinks were a little expensive and the majority of us were ready to head back to the rooms since it was almost 2am by this point, so all of us except Molly and Jessica went back to the rooms. The two of them were into staying out and dancing. We took a taxi back to the hostel because the city is very, very unsafe at night and none of us were willing to chance anything. It was only about 7 Euros for all of us to get back, so it was worth it.
Greece- Day 3 and 4
Monday was a great day in Corfu! We woke up in the morning, ate breakfast in the lounge, which consisted of toast, eggs and some sliced meats and cheeses. I asked for yogurt, and was unpleasantly surprised to find its consistency to that of sour cream, and the taste similar too. After breakfast, we decided to rent quads for the day and ride the island. We were told the quads were all cooked for the day and would have to try again on Tuesday, so we put bathing suits on instead and went down to the beach to lay in the sun. It was by no means HOT outside, which is what everyone was hoping for during spring break, but nice enough to lay out without clothes on and soak up some vitamin D. After a few hours of this laying out, Alex and I walked up the path to have lunch, and get changed for the beach hike that the boys asked us to join in on. We hiked along the beach, which was a little unnerving because it’s not sand, but rocks, which are all about the size of a squished plum, and a little bit hard to walk on. I fell pretty hard at one point, scratching my knees and elbows, and also putting a few marks on my brand new camera, which was enough to turn my smile to a frown. The hike was about an hour each way, and when we reached out destination, there were some pretty amazing views!! Lots of pictures.
After the hike, it was time to shower and get ready for dinner number two. Also, this night was the toga party, so everyone at the palace was rented a toga, pink, mind you, for the night. It was quite a show to see, and so much fun! The girls and I danced and drank the night away, which was a blast! There is nothing better then ending the day with several guys wearing satin pink togas, ha-ha!!
Tuesday morning, Alex, Melissa, Jessica and I got up very early to make sure we would be able to rent quads for the day. I wanted to make sure that there would be some left so we got in the like at 8am to insure spots. We enjoyed breakfast after signing up for the safari quad ride and went to our rooms to get changed. At 11:00am, we met down in the garage area to get lessons on the quads and helmets fitted to out heads. There were about 40 students all renting quads, so it took quite a while to get everything situated and organized. After that, we were off. It was so much fun, riding along the streets of Corfu with the cute little kids playing in the street and waving frantically as we rode by. The town is so quaint and simple, and all the people are very friendly. We also rode the quads off-road, which was also so much fun! At the top of this giant lookout was an amazing view of the island and the beaches, all with beautiful crystal clear water from the Adriatic Sea.
That night, we loaded up our belongings and boarded the night bus to Greece. It was a long ride, but most of us passed out the sound of the movie Old School on the TV’s throughout the bus. It wasn’t until 3:30am on Wednesday morning that the bus pulled into the very awake city of Athens.
I really enjoyed Corfu, and will go back there again at some point in my life.
Ciao Bella
After the hike, it was time to shower and get ready for dinner number two. Also, this night was the toga party, so everyone at the palace was rented a toga, pink, mind you, for the night. It was quite a show to see, and so much fun! The girls and I danced and drank the night away, which was a blast! There is nothing better then ending the day with several guys wearing satin pink togas, ha-ha!!
Tuesday morning, Alex, Melissa, Jessica and I got up very early to make sure we would be able to rent quads for the day. I wanted to make sure that there would be some left so we got in the like at 8am to insure spots. We enjoyed breakfast after signing up for the safari quad ride and went to our rooms to get changed. At 11:00am, we met down in the garage area to get lessons on the quads and helmets fitted to out heads. There were about 40 students all renting quads, so it took quite a while to get everything situated and organized. After that, we were off. It was so much fun, riding along the streets of Corfu with the cute little kids playing in the street and waving frantically as we rode by. The town is so quaint and simple, and all the people are very friendly. We also rode the quads off-road, which was also so much fun! At the top of this giant lookout was an amazing view of the island and the beaches, all with beautiful crystal clear water from the Adriatic Sea.
That night, we loaded up our belongings and boarded the night bus to Greece. It was a long ride, but most of us passed out the sound of the movie Old School on the TV’s throughout the bus. It wasn’t until 3:30am on Wednesday morning that the bus pulled into the very awake city of Athens.
I really enjoyed Corfu, and will go back there again at some point in my life.
Ciao Bella
Greece- Day One and Two
Off for the week in Greece. Seven days of spring break and the girls and I decided to take a trip with a group called Bus 2 Alps. It was quite a week, and the girls and I has such a great time. Melissa and Jessica are still here, so they also went on the trip to Greece.
We started by meeting at the train station in Florence at 9:30 Saturday morning, the 21st of March. We were all so excited, with way too much luggage, and our own individual expectations on how the week would pan out. We loaded the two-story bus for the 4-hour ride to the town of Ancona where the ferry was meeting us. Most slept on the bus, earphones and backpacks spread like thick jam on toast. We all stood outside the ferry, wearing jackets and hoods, which was not the normal attire for a spring break vacation. But our hopes were high. We walked about 20 minutes to load the ferry, which was described as a cruise ship to us in the itinerary for the week. Not kidding, we watched around 20 full sized semi-trucks load the bottom of the ferry, so needless to say, this ship was HUGE! After shuffling up the stairs with our luggage and pillows, Alex and I got keys to the cabin we pre-booked. This cost was 25 Euros round trip, which was very worth the money because otherwise we were sleeping on the floor in the bottom floor of the boat with all the other students on this trip. The cabins were tight, with little room to spare. There were two other girls in out room, both studying in Rome for the semester. They were very nice, and we exchanged stories from our adventures so far this semester.
This boat ride was a total of 14 hours, but a good chunk was overnight, so it wasn’t too bad. After a few beers and an expensive boat meal, Jessica, Melissa and I found ourselves in the boat discotecca, dancing away. It was a bit creepy, seeing as how the majority of our school group was females, and the rest of the people on board the ship were old, hairy, smelly Greek truck drivers. Ha-ha. I didn’t stay on the dance floor for too long.
After a not so good night sleep, but sleep nonetheless, we woke to getting our bags back together and off the boat. When we reached the shore, we boarded another bus, ½ hour ride to the Pink Palace! And what a palace it was! Not to mention, everything truly was pink!! Even the color of the ouzo, which is a popular Greek hard alcohol that was being passed out in shots all around. After checking out the rooms, which were very nice, and had ocean views!! we decided to wonder around and check stuff out. I was starving at this point, so we went down to the little lounge and I had a tuna sandwich that was so tasty!! I have been missing tuna; it is a little expensive at home in Florence, so I have not been buying it. After sandwiches, we unpacked in our rooms and Alex and I took a nap. It was much needed and was helpful for the rest of the evening.
That night at the palace, we played cards for a few hours, and enjoyed happy hour, which lasts for 5 hours at the palace. The drinks are cheap, with beer and shots only being a euro each, so everyone is having a good time. Dinner was served at 8:30, lots of great food and lots of hungry college kids to clean the plates. Dinner ended with a night of dancing with a DJ; there is a huge dance floor in the Rec. hall at the palace. Bed time was late that night, and sure felt good to sleep in a bed that wasn’t rocking due to the ocean beneath it.
We started by meeting at the train station in Florence at 9:30 Saturday morning, the 21st of March. We were all so excited, with way too much luggage, and our own individual expectations on how the week would pan out. We loaded the two-story bus for the 4-hour ride to the town of Ancona where the ferry was meeting us. Most slept on the bus, earphones and backpacks spread like thick jam on toast. We all stood outside the ferry, wearing jackets and hoods, which was not the normal attire for a spring break vacation. But our hopes were high. We walked about 20 minutes to load the ferry, which was described as a cruise ship to us in the itinerary for the week. Not kidding, we watched around 20 full sized semi-trucks load the bottom of the ferry, so needless to say, this ship was HUGE! After shuffling up the stairs with our luggage and pillows, Alex and I got keys to the cabin we pre-booked. This cost was 25 Euros round trip, which was very worth the money because otherwise we were sleeping on the floor in the bottom floor of the boat with all the other students on this trip. The cabins were tight, with little room to spare. There were two other girls in out room, both studying in Rome for the semester. They were very nice, and we exchanged stories from our adventures so far this semester.
This boat ride was a total of 14 hours, but a good chunk was overnight, so it wasn’t too bad. After a few beers and an expensive boat meal, Jessica, Melissa and I found ourselves in the boat discotecca, dancing away. It was a bit creepy, seeing as how the majority of our school group was females, and the rest of the people on board the ship were old, hairy, smelly Greek truck drivers. Ha-ha. I didn’t stay on the dance floor for too long.
After a not so good night sleep, but sleep nonetheless, we woke to getting our bags back together and off the boat. When we reached the shore, we boarded another bus, ½ hour ride to the Pink Palace! And what a palace it was! Not to mention, everything truly was pink!! Even the color of the ouzo, which is a popular Greek hard alcohol that was being passed out in shots all around. After checking out the rooms, which were very nice, and had ocean views!! we decided to wonder around and check stuff out. I was starving at this point, so we went down to the little lounge and I had a tuna sandwich that was so tasty!! I have been missing tuna; it is a little expensive at home in Florence, so I have not been buying it. After sandwiches, we unpacked in our rooms and Alex and I took a nap. It was much needed and was helpful for the rest of the evening.
That night at the palace, we played cards for a few hours, and enjoyed happy hour, which lasts for 5 hours at the palace. The drinks are cheap, with beer and shots only being a euro each, so everyone is having a good time. Dinner was served at 8:30, lots of great food and lots of hungry college kids to clean the plates. Dinner ended with a night of dancing with a DJ; there is a huge dance floor in the Rec. hall at the palace. Bed time was late that night, and sure felt good to sleep in a bed that wasn’t rocking due to the ocean beneath it.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Food For Thought
This is what I do for living, think of food. How totally awesome is that!? This week has been so hectic, with midterms and some friends fro California coming to visit. I am so glad they are here, and can't wait to go to Greece on Saturday and get a little vacation in. Relaxing on the white sand will be quite a treat!
My midterms have gone pretty well, I think. I HOPE! Wine was so hard, I think that I am just not cut out for the scientific way of tasting wines. I enjoy them, and love to try new wines, but when it comes to telling you what the aromatics are, or where the grape originates from. I just don't have that palate. Maybe I will get better if I practice, but the blind tasting as part of my midterm was very hard!!
Italian was possibly the second hardest, although wasn't really too bad. I went over the verbs in my head for hours, and practiced saying them outloud, which always helps to get down the spelling of the words, so I am hoping I did well on that exam. All the others went well, its amazing how much fun it is to study and take notes on information and ideas that I really care about. I LOVE to read my text, to learn about different creative pasta uses and where certain mushrooms are grown. Its interesting to read about other chefs creative use in the culinary world, cheese parings and new sauces. I often just sit at night in bed and read, till all hours of the night!! I can't wait to put all this new knowledge to work with Riverview Farms Catering and really dive into this passion of mine! Who knows where the food will take me!!
Melissa and Jessica got here yesterday, they pulled up to the front of our apartment building and I heard the taxi door close. I stood up and screamed out the window, I was so excited to see faces from home! We got their bags upstairs and we decided to walk around the city. The girls wanted gelato so we stopped at this little place on the street just down the street from the Duomo. After choosing our flavors, licking our cones and happy campers, we went inside to pay. The cashier, ever so politely, said " Nine Euros Each, please." I was SHOCKED!! Thats what we get for not paying attention to how much the scoops were, and even though it was soo soo good, but not worth the nine euros. I am not eating the rest of the week, as I am on strike for paying so much for gelato.
We leave for Greece on Saturday morning, the bus leaves from the train station at 9am and we are on it for close to 5 hours. We then reach the port where we board the cruise that takes us to the islands. This is a 14 hour cruise, so it should be fun. There is a movie theatre and restaurants aboard the ship!!
I will wrote more when I return back to Florence. Miss you all, ciao bella
My midterms have gone pretty well, I think. I HOPE! Wine was so hard, I think that I am just not cut out for the scientific way of tasting wines. I enjoy them, and love to try new wines, but when it comes to telling you what the aromatics are, or where the grape originates from. I just don't have that palate. Maybe I will get better if I practice, but the blind tasting as part of my midterm was very hard!!
Italian was possibly the second hardest, although wasn't really too bad. I went over the verbs in my head for hours, and practiced saying them outloud, which always helps to get down the spelling of the words, so I am hoping I did well on that exam. All the others went well, its amazing how much fun it is to study and take notes on information and ideas that I really care about. I LOVE to read my text, to learn about different creative pasta uses and where certain mushrooms are grown. Its interesting to read about other chefs creative use in the culinary world, cheese parings and new sauces. I often just sit at night in bed and read, till all hours of the night!! I can't wait to put all this new knowledge to work with Riverview Farms Catering and really dive into this passion of mine! Who knows where the food will take me!!
Melissa and Jessica got here yesterday, they pulled up to the front of our apartment building and I heard the taxi door close. I stood up and screamed out the window, I was so excited to see faces from home! We got their bags upstairs and we decided to walk around the city. The girls wanted gelato so we stopped at this little place on the street just down the street from the Duomo. After choosing our flavors, licking our cones and happy campers, we went inside to pay. The cashier, ever so politely, said " Nine Euros Each, please." I was SHOCKED!! Thats what we get for not paying attention to how much the scoops were, and even though it was soo soo good, but not worth the nine euros. I am not eating the rest of the week, as I am on strike for paying so much for gelato.
We leave for Greece on Saturday morning, the bus leaves from the train station at 9am and we are on it for close to 5 hours. We then reach the port where we board the cruise that takes us to the islands. This is a 14 hour cruise, so it should be fun. There is a movie theatre and restaurants aboard the ship!!
I will wrote more when I return back to Florence. Miss you all, ciao bella
Monday, March 16, 2009
Bologna and Ferrari
Ciao a tutti!
Saturday, Alex and I spent the day in Bologna. The Ferrari museum was awesome! There were several different models of Ferraris, including the first model ever built, cars that were raced in Formula One, and the owner of Ferraris customized car that is only in the museum for the month of March. We had a guided tour and an explanation of all the different cars that are kept on display. Only one car in the whole museum was not red, and it was a specific model witch is built as a four sweater and the paint is customized to each owner.
After the museum we got back on the bus and went into the town of Bologna to have lunch and walk around the town square. We decided to climb the tower just outside the main square, and there was a fabulous view from the top. For lunch, there was a little restaurant that we stopped in which was very tasty. I enjoyed some Bolognese sauce with pasta, which is something that the town is famous for, and then had gelato afterwards.
Back on the bus, we went to this church on the top of a hill just outside the town. It is a famous monastery, which was beautiful, and overlooked all of Bologna. Mass was being held while we were there, so I stayed inside for a very short time because I have a hard time being quite for long amounts of time. ☺
The bus ride back to Florence was a blur, I was listening to Dane Cook on my iPod with Hunter, a friend from Alabama, and both of us passed out. I was so tired from walking everywhere, and my belly was pleasantly full with pasta and wine!
Sunday, I slept until like 1pm, which felt amazing because it had been so long since I had slept for more then 4 hours at a time. When I got up, I decided to go for a run, which was a perfect choice because the weather was beautiful outside. I ran into this park that is a few blocks from the house, and there was an outside “junk sale” going on, which was interesting. Tables upon tables with people selling stuff they don’t want anymore. I love places like this, it’s so fun to see what people are trying to get rid of, and better yet, the stuff people will buy!
I got home, did some abs and legs work out and then jumped in the shower. Molly, my roommate from New Hampshire, has a cousin that just got here for the week to visit, so all of us went to a Food and Wine festival in a large convention center nearby. We tasted wines, cheeses, olive oil and balsamic vinegars, German beers, chocolates, breads and cured meats. It was very fun, and filling!
Now its down to the nitty gritty. I have midterms this week, not so much fun, but I am working hard to just get through the next few days until spring break, and then we go to Greece for a week!! And Melissa is coming on Tuesday to visit for two weeks witch will be great!
Miss you all. Ciao Bella
Saturday, Alex and I spent the day in Bologna. The Ferrari museum was awesome! There were several different models of Ferraris, including the first model ever built, cars that were raced in Formula One, and the owner of Ferraris customized car that is only in the museum for the month of March. We had a guided tour and an explanation of all the different cars that are kept on display. Only one car in the whole museum was not red, and it was a specific model witch is built as a four sweater and the paint is customized to each owner.
After the museum we got back on the bus and went into the town of Bologna to have lunch and walk around the town square. We decided to climb the tower just outside the main square, and there was a fabulous view from the top. For lunch, there was a little restaurant that we stopped in which was very tasty. I enjoyed some Bolognese sauce with pasta, which is something that the town is famous for, and then had gelato afterwards.
Back on the bus, we went to this church on the top of a hill just outside the town. It is a famous monastery, which was beautiful, and overlooked all of Bologna. Mass was being held while we were there, so I stayed inside for a very short time because I have a hard time being quite for long amounts of time. ☺
The bus ride back to Florence was a blur, I was listening to Dane Cook on my iPod with Hunter, a friend from Alabama, and both of us passed out. I was so tired from walking everywhere, and my belly was pleasantly full with pasta and wine!
Sunday, I slept until like 1pm, which felt amazing because it had been so long since I had slept for more then 4 hours at a time. When I got up, I decided to go for a run, which was a perfect choice because the weather was beautiful outside. I ran into this park that is a few blocks from the house, and there was an outside “junk sale” going on, which was interesting. Tables upon tables with people selling stuff they don’t want anymore. I love places like this, it’s so fun to see what people are trying to get rid of, and better yet, the stuff people will buy!
I got home, did some abs and legs work out and then jumped in the shower. Molly, my roommate from New Hampshire, has a cousin that just got here for the week to visit, so all of us went to a Food and Wine festival in a large convention center nearby. We tasted wines, cheeses, olive oil and balsamic vinegars, German beers, chocolates, breads and cured meats. It was very fun, and filling!
Now its down to the nitty gritty. I have midterms this week, not so much fun, but I am working hard to just get through the next few days until spring break, and then we go to Greece for a week!! And Melissa is coming on Tuesday to visit for two weeks witch will be great!
Miss you all. Ciao Bella
Monday, March 9, 2009
Camera
AAHH!! My camera broke today, just quit working and won't focus at all. I am pretty bummed because it is the same amount of money to fix it in Europe as it is to buy another one in the U.S. I really liked the little bugger too, so there will be a proper burial service when I get home. You can send contributions for a new camera to 430 Riverside Ave Ben Lomond California 95005. HAHA
Oh well, there are lessons in life, sometimes it takes a while to figure them out. But for now, it is still just another day in paradise.
Ciao Bella ti amo.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Welcome Home Sun
The sun shines on this Saturday afternoon in Florence, and it is 12:45. A nice time of day to get out and explore. This means I must peel myself away from the computer and these papers to enjoy the city without the rain.
I have been sitting in front of this computer for too many hours in the last week, but for a few reasons. One, its been raining outside, and this makes it hard to get motivated out the door and on my feet. Instead, I make hot cocoa and hibernate. Two, I have three 6 page papers due in the next six weeks so I have been trying to get a jump start on them before Melissa comes to visit, spring break comes, and we go to Greece.
Paper #1- BORING!! 6 pages on Gluten. Now, don't get me wrong, I love that I am writing on something other then gay marriage, gun control, abortion or the summary of a college read novel, but it is hard to talk about protein structure for pages. I am trying though, and it will be successful!
Paper #2- much more interesting, if I do say so myself. Flavor combinations, the five flavors themselves- Salty, Sour, Sweet, Bitter and Umami. This is more up my alley, and really is a large part about what separates one chef from another in the world of creativity. I am also assigned to discuss the importance of planning the flavors on a plate, and what are the rules to be followed when combining one flavor with another. :)
Paper #3- This paper is for my Tradition of Italian Foods course, which is very interesting, and tasty!! This papers is to include discussion on as many or as few of the traditional ingredients to Italian cuisine. Such ingredients may include Prosciutto, Truffles, Traditional Balsamic Vinegar, Parmigiano Reggiano, and many others. But wait, for the best part..................I am to write a recipe, Italian style, and take pictures of the product!! Pretty exciting!
So, now that I have dipped my toes into all three of these assignments and have notes of research spread from one end of the kitchen table to the other, I part this Florence apartment to soak up the Vitamin D. I think a nice run will do the trick!
All my love, hope the weather is sweet where you are as well.
Ciao Bella
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Idea for One Block West
Ok chef Ed, this one is for you!
Today in class, we made the most interesting combination that was very good. I wasn't able to take pictures because I think my camera is out of service for the time being, so imagination is needed.
First, take olives, kalamata would be great, the ones we used today were random. Make sure the seeds are out, and finely chop them up. Spread them evenly on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and dust the top op the olives with powdered sugar. Roast in a 200-225 degree over for about 45 minutes, until the olives are dried out.
Next, temper white chocolate. Once the chocolate is tempered, spread with an offset spatula onto parchment paper and sprinkle the olives on top. Flash freeze, or refrigerate until the chocolate is hard.
Gorgonzola cheese is next. Cut into small cubes and place on individual tea spoons. Take a piece of the chocolate and place on top of the gorgonzola. Serve!
This was such an interesting combination of flavors, and I was very nervous about how the flavors would work, but I was pleasantly surprised. Ed, I am not sure which wine would be pared well with this, but I know that your knowledge will lead you in the right direction. It would be great for a tasting menu or as an amuse. Let me know what you think!
As for the rest of you readers, school is amazing, to say the least. I am enjoying this so much and really interested in the next day when today is over. I look forward to class, read my text with enthusiasm and can't wait to share all this food with the ones I love.
Ciao Bella
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Dislikes in Italia
OK, so besides the fact that the three main smells in Italy are cigarette smoke, dog poo and exhaust, I have discovered my second dislike in Italy
One word. Thunder. It is sooooo loud in Italy!!!! For those of you who know me well, know that I am not a fan of thunder and lightning. I know that it can't hurt me, that it will not come out of the sky like a scary rhinoceros as in the children's movie James In The Giant Peach, but nonetheless, I still find it scary. It keeps me up at night, and makes me run home from class.
As a child, I remember waking up to the sound in the middle of the night and running from my room to my brothers room and sleeping the rest of the night with him because it was the only way I was able to sleep.
Maybe I will someday grow out of this, but for now, it remains on the top 5 things I am most fearful of.
It is raining here now, I am finished with class for the day and am home to make some hot cocoa and read my book. Ciao Bella a tutti
Monday, March 2, 2009
Roma
Hi there! Hope all is well with you all and I am thinking of you daily. My Italian life is evolving and changing so much everyday, it really feels natural to be here now and I am enjoying the culture and different lifestyles more and more. When my roommates and I leave for the weekends, I feel as though I am coming back to something normal, almost like a home, when we return back to Florence. Its a nice feeling.
This past weekend, we went to Rome. Alex, my roommate from Florida, has a brother who is visiting this weeks, so Taylor and I went with the two of them to see the ancient city of Rome. And what a city it is!
Its HUGE!! first of all. Much bigger then Florence, which felt big to me just 6 weeks ago. The is so much to do and see in this city, we were very busy in each day. We got into the Termini train station in the early afternoon on Saturday and headed straight to locate the hostel and to book some seats on a bus tour. We were suggested to do so because the city is so large, and its helpful to have the transportation already in place in order to manage time in between sites.
We booked it to the bus stop in hopes of making it to Vatican City before the chapel and museum closed, but we were out of luck. The Basilica of St. Peter was still open, however, so we spent quite a while in this church. For those of you not familiar, it is indeed the largest church in the world, and is where St. Peter and around 140 other popes are buried. This in itself makes it such a magical place to be, and there is so much history behind the construction and Dome in this church. I can't remember exactly, but somewhere around 40 different architects helped to design the church because nobody was alive the entire time it took to build it. Amazing! We also visited the Pantheon which is another large church in Rome, but what's special is the height of the Dome is the same as the length from the front of the church to the back. Its very special to the city people.
We decided to head back to the hostel at this point, it was getting dark and we were getting hungry! Alex and her brother had to make a trip to the airport because his bags were lost on the flight to Europe, so Taylor and I had pizza at the hostel and then took the metro to the collosuem to see its glory in the night. We had heard from Molly that it was incredible to see it lit at night. SHE WAS SOO RIGHT!! What an amazing piece of history that we have been able to enjoy more then 10 centuries later!
On our walk back to the hostel, Taylor and I talked a lot about ourselves, or relationship history, and some other girlie stuff. Its nice to get connected with the people I am living with while in Italy, I really feel as if these girls will be in my life for a long time
Day two in Rome was packed with things to do. We went to the Vatican again in the morning, and were very excited to see the Pope and listen to his prayer to the people in the square. I took lots of photos, so check them out on facebook.
Next we walked to see the Spanish Steps, Fontana di Trevi ( Trevi Fountain), and went back to the Colosseo (Colosseum) to go inside and take a tour of the ruins. This was very cool, because this is something that Romans are famous for..... GLADIATORS!! Pretty intense to hear the stories of how many people were killed during this popular but very violent part of sports in Roman times. Thousands of people died in a very short period of time, and now serves as a place of prayer for the christians who were burned at the stake during the time the Colosseum was in use.
I came home on the train alone last night as I was the only person with class Monday morning early. It was nice to have a little alone time, I am forgetting that I still need some of that during this exciting semester abroad. I was able to do some journaling and writing a few postcards to some loved ones during the 3.5 hour trip. And or course, to let the hamburger I was able to indulge on while waiting for the train. Red meat has never tasted so good!
Back to school for the week, classes are fabulous and I really am enjoying learning new things everyday. My classmates are great, and friendly, and I will continue to blog as my adventures seem to multiply. Melissa Boynton and Jessica Gollbach are coming in two weeks to visit, and we are going to Greece for my spring break with three other roommates. Very exciting!
Love to you all, your in my thoughts and prayers. Ciao Bella a tutti (a beautiful goodbye to you all)
xoxo
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Parma and Modena
Today we took a bus to two different cities in Italy, Parma and Modena. There were about 25 of us that went, and we had to meet this morning at 6:15am, so it was an early one!
The first stop was to the Parmigiano Reggiano factory, which was incredible. We took a tour through the factory, watched the master cheese maker take the whey from the previous fays cheese, and start a new batch for today. A little history, this cheese has been made for over 8-- years, and the process has changed very little. It is truly an exact science, and the techniques were like watching hands of magic. The important part that sets this cheese apart from other varieties, such as parmesean cheese, is the cows are raised in Parma, the feed that is fed to the cows is grown in Parma, and the only way this cheese can be called Reggiano is because of this local process. We stood in the warehouse room where the cheese is aged, shelves stacked floor to ceiling with rounds of cheese weighing up to 90 pounds each. They are checked very regularly with specific tools to check the aging process and make sure nothing is going wrong with the cheese.
The second stop was in the town of Parma, we walked around for an hour or so, had some lunch and wandered though a chocolate festival that was going on this weekend. I tasted some yummy treats!
Back on the bus, we were on our way to Modena. Here, Traditional Balsamic Vinegar is made. It is a rather simple process, but the aging time is very long! The vinegar sits for a minimum of 6 years, and there really is no maximum. We tasted 6 year old white balsamic, made from white grapes, 12 year old Traditional and 25 year old Traditional. All I needed was some fresh strawberries and vanilla gelato to go with the balsamic and it would have been heaven.
Next weekend we are off to Rome, for a hopefully sight-filled and INEXPENSIVE trip around the city!
Love you you- Ciao Bella
Friday, February 20, 2009
Italian Update :)
Hey there all my fans!! Haha, just kidding :)
I haven't blogged in a little while, I have been really sick and in bed for most of this week. I went to the doctors on tuesday, a British man who was very sweet and fixed me right up. I spent all day wednesday in bed, didn't get out once, and then slowly moved around thursday, went to class because I was getting cabin fever. Thursday night we went to soccer, Fiorentina vs. Amsterdam, boy those fans are insane!! Flags and chanting, and they are all dressed in purple and red, which is our teams colors, and the opposing team has to enter at a different part of the stadium and sit totally separate from the Florence fans because there is so much fighting between the them. It was below 20 degrees outside, so us girls we so cold!
Today we went to Chianti Classico Vineyards, and had a wine tasting. It was fun, but I didn't feel it was worth the 30 Euro I paid to go, and since money is so tight, I can't be spending it on things not worth while. Tomorrow we are taking a trip to Parma with school to learn about cheeses and prosciutto and balsamic vinegar, so that will be interesting, and more up my alley!
Miss you all! I will write more this weekend!
Love you- Ciao Bella
Monday, February 16, 2009
Carnevale!
Yesterday we went to Carnevale in Northern Tuscany, it was so awesome! This is the traditional celebration before Lent begins. It is similar to Halloween in that people wear costumes and hats and masks, but also similar to a fair, with music, food, booze and lots of fun! The highlight of the festival is the parade, which is several floats that are HUGE!! and made of paper mache. They move and make noise, and people wear costumes on the floats. Many of them are models of political figures in Italy, and there was one of Obama, which was exciting to us American girls :)
The bus ride was pretty fantastic too, it was on a nice country like freeway, similar to HWY 1, and a view of the Ligurian Sea. This sea borders the west coast of the country. The Carnivale took place right along the waters edge, so at the end of the day, after much fun, we enjoyed huge delicious gelato cones and the sunset on the seashore.
Hope you all spent your Valentines with the ones you love, I was thinking of you all and wish you a wonderful week.
Ciao Bella Mio Amichi
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Squolla de Italia!
I just remembered that I have yet to blog about how classes are going, which is the main reason I am here, so its about time I share the good stuff.
I start my week with Italian on Monday mornings at 9am. Its a great class, and although learning a language is difficult, my teacher is very attentive and helps to explain all of our questions. I can't wait to be fluent!
Monday afternoons, its to the kitchen! I have my baking techniques class, which gives me one more reason to visit the school gym a few times a week. This class is really fun, and its very educational. The different types of flours they have in Italy are not available in stores in the U.S., so I am learning about new textures and glutens and proteins for different types of breads. I think I can order these flours online, which will be a goal of mine when I come home.
I go to Yoga on Monday nights with a roommate, its pretty fun! We even got the guys to go this week, so that was humorous. Hopefully they will come back.
Tuesday mornings I have my management class at 9am. This class is a bit repetitive to the class I took back home, but I know its important information to help with Catering, so I will sponge up all the information I can. After that, I go to my wine class, which is great, as I am sure you expected. I am a rookie when it comes to wine, so I am learning a great deal in this class. We are taking a field trip next Friday to a winery outside of town, and it is famous for its Chianti, so I am excited!
Tuesday nights I go to pilates with a different roommate, this is a new thing for me because I had never been before I came to Italy, so its fun and a good workout at the same time!
Wednesdays is back to Italian in the morning, and then the class titled Tradition of Italian Food and Culture, otherwise known as LUNCH!! Its a great class, and very tasty as well. Today we made Risotto with white truffles, yum!
Tomorrow, or Thursdays, I have one class, Italian Creative Cuisine, at 3pm, which is great because we focus a lot on presentation and the combination of different flavors. Its very fun!
Needless to say, I truly have found my niche, and I am completly in love with school! Off to the gym, I need to work off all this eating! Ciao Bella!
I start my week with Italian on Monday mornings at 9am. Its a great class, and although learning a language is difficult, my teacher is very attentive and helps to explain all of our questions. I can't wait to be fluent!
Monday afternoons, its to the kitchen! I have my baking techniques class, which gives me one more reason to visit the school gym a few times a week. This class is really fun, and its very educational. The different types of flours they have in Italy are not available in stores in the U.S., so I am learning about new textures and glutens and proteins for different types of breads. I think I can order these flours online, which will be a goal of mine when I come home.
I go to Yoga on Monday nights with a roommate, its pretty fun! We even got the guys to go this week, so that was humorous. Hopefully they will come back.
Tuesday mornings I have my management class at 9am. This class is a bit repetitive to the class I took back home, but I know its important information to help with Catering, so I will sponge up all the information I can. After that, I go to my wine class, which is great, as I am sure you expected. I am a rookie when it comes to wine, so I am learning a great deal in this class. We are taking a field trip next Friday to a winery outside of town, and it is famous for its Chianti, so I am excited!
Tuesday nights I go to pilates with a different roommate, this is a new thing for me because I had never been before I came to Italy, so its fun and a good workout at the same time!
Wednesdays is back to Italian in the morning, and then the class titled Tradition of Italian Food and Culture, otherwise known as LUNCH!! Its a great class, and very tasty as well. Today we made Risotto with white truffles, yum!
Tomorrow, or Thursdays, I have one class, Italian Creative Cuisine, at 3pm, which is great because we focus a lot on presentation and the combination of different flavors. Its very fun!
Needless to say, I truly have found my niche, and I am completly in love with school! Off to the gym, I need to work off all this eating! Ciao Bella!
Monday, February 9, 2009
Sienna and Venice! Bellisimo!
This was a wonderful weekend!
Friday I spent the day in Sienna with my roommate Bonnie and her father. They had a rental car and we drove about an hour and a half out of the city into the country. The scenery was beautiful, I can only imagine what its like in the spring and summer months. The city itself is smaller then I expected, but they have a huge soccer stadium, so that was fun! We enjoyed an authentic Italian lunch and I also had a gelato cone. It was nice and peaceful!
Saturday and Sunday, Alex, Molly Taylor and I spent the weekend in Venice. What an incredible time we had! When the train first arrived at the St Lucia Train Station, we were surprised to see we truly were surrounded by water. Upon exiting the train station, we bought tickets for the water taxi to take us to our hostel. We were so enchanted by the city “streets” or canals as they are really called, and took tons of pictures of the surroundings. When we exited the boat, we found out hostel and went to check in.
When we got there, we were unpleasantly surprised to see that there was nobody there. We called, and knocked on doors, nothing. Finally, someone came up the stairs and checked us in, but he wasn’t very polite and we were a bit frustrated by then. After settling in and dropping off our bags, we set out in search of a gondola.
Before we left Florence, we checked the weather for the weekend in Venice and were told it would be raining, so we packed for cooler weather. Even though it only rained a little in the evening on Saturday, we were glad for the warmer clothes. We got down to the canal and found a gondola and driver, named Marco. He offered us 60 Euro, which is a total bargain, to ride on the gondola, so the four of us split the cost and smiled in delight. The boat ride was so peaceful; we snapped tons of photos and asked lots of questions. He took us by some buildings that were 500 or more years old! It was quite historical.
That night for dinner, we met up with three other girls who are here at school from the United States. One girl goes to school with two of my roommates back in Boston. Dinner was very tasty, but we were not expecting so much water! We decided to eat right on the edge of the Grand Canal, and where this was a great idea, we had no idea about high tide! When the sirens for the city went off, we asked the waiter what it was for. He told us it meant the tide was coming in, and in the next hour or so the water would raise into the streets all over the city. The hour passes quickly, and while I am enjoying dinner, I start to feel the puddles below my feet. By now, my shoes have soaked up water and my feet are wet! What an experience!
The next morning we decided we wanted to go to the island of Murano, and because of the high tide that was still unusually high, the taxis were having a hard time getting under the bridges in the canals. I decided to walk around the corner and check things out, and I found a guy who was in his boat, engine running, music blaring, and I asked him where we could catch a taxi. He tried to show me on the map, and after telling me how beautiful and sexy I was, I asked him if he wanted to have seven beautiful American women in his boat. He said, kindly, for 50 Euro, so I hollered for the girls, told them the situation, and with huge smiles and squeals, we loaded the boat the Murano!
It was amazing, the glass blowing factory, which we were given a private tour, was incredible, and the art that comes from this island is fantastic! We all bought little trinkets to come home with and were so happy to have had such a wonderful experience!
Miss you all terribly, hope all is well! Xoxo- Ciao Bella
Friday I spent the day in Sienna with my roommate Bonnie and her father. They had a rental car and we drove about an hour and a half out of the city into the country. The scenery was beautiful, I can only imagine what its like in the spring and summer months. The city itself is smaller then I expected, but they have a huge soccer stadium, so that was fun! We enjoyed an authentic Italian lunch and I also had a gelato cone. It was nice and peaceful!
Saturday and Sunday, Alex, Molly Taylor and I spent the weekend in Venice. What an incredible time we had! When the train first arrived at the St Lucia Train Station, we were surprised to see we truly were surrounded by water. Upon exiting the train station, we bought tickets for the water taxi to take us to our hostel. We were so enchanted by the city “streets” or canals as they are really called, and took tons of pictures of the surroundings. When we exited the boat, we found out hostel and went to check in.
When we got there, we were unpleasantly surprised to see that there was nobody there. We called, and knocked on doors, nothing. Finally, someone came up the stairs and checked us in, but he wasn’t very polite and we were a bit frustrated by then. After settling in and dropping off our bags, we set out in search of a gondola.
Before we left Florence, we checked the weather for the weekend in Venice and were told it would be raining, so we packed for cooler weather. Even though it only rained a little in the evening on Saturday, we were glad for the warmer clothes. We got down to the canal and found a gondola and driver, named Marco. He offered us 60 Euro, which is a total bargain, to ride on the gondola, so the four of us split the cost and smiled in delight. The boat ride was so peaceful; we snapped tons of photos and asked lots of questions. He took us by some buildings that were 500 or more years old! It was quite historical.
That night for dinner, we met up with three other girls who are here at school from the United States. One girl goes to school with two of my roommates back in Boston. Dinner was very tasty, but we were not expecting so much water! We decided to eat right on the edge of the Grand Canal, and where this was a great idea, we had no idea about high tide! When the sirens for the city went off, we asked the waiter what it was for. He told us it meant the tide was coming in, and in the next hour or so the water would raise into the streets all over the city. The hour passes quickly, and while I am enjoying dinner, I start to feel the puddles below my feet. By now, my shoes have soaked up water and my feet are wet! What an experience!
The next morning we decided we wanted to go to the island of Murano, and because of the high tide that was still unusually high, the taxis were having a hard time getting under the bridges in the canals. I decided to walk around the corner and check things out, and I found a guy who was in his boat, engine running, music blaring, and I asked him where we could catch a taxi. He tried to show me on the map, and after telling me how beautiful and sexy I was, I asked him if he wanted to have seven beautiful American women in his boat. He said, kindly, for 50 Euro, so I hollered for the girls, told them the situation, and with huge smiles and squeals, we loaded the boat the Murano!
It was amazing, the glass blowing factory, which we were given a private tour, was incredible, and the art that comes from this island is fantastic! We all bought little trinkets to come home with and were so happy to have had such a wonderful experience!
Miss you all terribly, hope all is well! Xoxo- Ciao Bella
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Duomo, The David, and Pisa
We climbed the Duomo yesterday, saturday, and it was incredible. 493 steps to the top, and when we reached the last few stairs, the sun was setting on the city, it was so amazing! We took several pictures, but for some reason blogger is giving me trouble when I try and upload, so hopefully I will get that taken care of before too long, I know you are all anxious for photos. The inside of the Duomo is also a sight to see. The round roof is all painted, with the most beautiful work I have ever seen, it was breathtaking! There are Mass services held in the church, and I am hoping to attend a few services while I am here, as they sound amazing, and are in Italian, which could be fun. We also went to the Academia Museum and saw The David. That was really neat, the detail on his hands and feet are amazing! We were not allowed to take photos in this museum but there was incredible art on all the walls, most of which are more then 500 years old so it was neat to see some ancient history.
Friday night there was a welcome party for all the SAI (Study Abroad Italy) students, and that was also very fun! There were two free drinks for everyone, and loud music with a dance floor. My roommates and I danced until late, and then slept yesterday until 1:30 in the afternoon, so that was a new one for me. I have never slept that late. We are going to the same club tonight to watch the superbowl!
Orientation is all through now, and classes start tomorrow. I am excited to get into a routine and attend classes. They all sound so interesting!
Here is my school schedule for the semester, for those who are interested.
Monday- I have Italian Language class from 9-10:15am
Tuesday- Restaurant Management from 9-10:30am
Wine Appreciation from 12-12:30pm
Wednesday-Italian Language again, from 9-10:15
Tradition on Italian Foods at 12:00
Thursday- Creative Italian Food and Decoration from 3-5:30pm
And I have friday off, which is nice, and so do all my roommates so we can get an early start to our travels for the weekend!
Today we spend the better part of the day in the town of Pisa. It is an hour train ride from Florence, and the tickets were only 5 Euros each way, so that was a nice little trip without too much of a cost. In this town is where the leaning tower is, which was pretty incredible to see. I also took lots of pictures here, so hopefully I will get those up soon. We met some guys earlier in the week, both of which go to Alabama State University and both of them are named Hunter, which is ironic, so we have been going out with them at night, and they joined us in Pisa today. Its nice to have some guys around, we don't attract so much "attention" from the Italians and other travelers.
I miss you all so much, and hope that the weather is treating you well. It has been in the late 50's here, so not too bad. It rained a little today, nothing to heavy, but its nice for some cozy weather as there had been hardly any rain in California before I left.
I will write again soon. Love you!! Ciao Bella!
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
I am here in Firenze!
Hello to all! I am here in Florence, day number two! I arrived yesterday around 3 in the afternoon, after a 5 hour layover in Switzerland and a short flight into Florence. I met two roommates of mine in the airport in Switzerland so we were able to get really excited together before boarding our flight. When the plane landed we all shreaked in excitement, it was a beautiful warm day with big puffy white clouds and the sun shinning!
When we got into the airport, we collected the millions of pounds of luggage that all of us girls traveled with and went outside to board the bus. There wasn't enough room for all the students, so four of us got into a little VW van taxi and drove to the SAI (Study Abroad Italy) office to get keys and check in. We also recieved our cell phones, so feel free to call and say hi every once in a while, i would love it!
After check in, we loaded our luggage into another taxi and went to the apartment. It is sooo cute! And really big, actually. (Pictures to follow in another blog, i havn't taken any yet) There are two bathrooms, instead of the one we thought we had, and there are three showers total, so that was a relief! My roommate is really nice, and we were able to set up the room pretty easily with no issues on space for clothes and shoes, so that was nice.
After we got setled, we had to fill out paperwork for out residency permits, which was challenging because they were written in Italian! But we managed!
Dinner was a bit of an excursion because by this time it was dark, and we really didn't pay much attention while in the taxi. We found a little pizzeria around the corner from our house and ate there. It was very yummy!
Today was the first day of orientation. I woke up this morning feeling pretty refreshed as I had slept almost 12 hours! :) We all got dressed and ventured out to find the supermarcado. (Store) We only had one roll of toilet paper, so we needed to get the basics. I bought some produce and risotto so that I would have some things to eat at the house. The market was amazing, tons of fresh food everywhere, and massive amounts of meats and cheeses. (Pictures to follow as well!)
Now I am just relaxing a little, I am going to Venice this weekend with my roommate and her father to check out the city. I am pretty excited! Tomorrow we have another orientation where we pay our school fees and get supplies. I heard word that we are getting new chef coats, and new knives! I am very excited for that!!
Keep me in your prayers as I continue to find my way around the city!! I don't have Internet in the house yet, so I will try and get on the computer again soon. Love you all! Ciao Bella
When we got into the airport, we collected the millions of pounds of luggage that all of us girls traveled with and went outside to board the bus. There wasn't enough room for all the students, so four of us got into a little VW van taxi and drove to the SAI (Study Abroad Italy) office to get keys and check in. We also recieved our cell phones, so feel free to call and say hi every once in a while, i would love it!
After check in, we loaded our luggage into another taxi and went to the apartment. It is sooo cute! And really big, actually. (Pictures to follow in another blog, i havn't taken any yet) There are two bathrooms, instead of the one we thought we had, and there are three showers total, so that was a relief! My roommate is really nice, and we were able to set up the room pretty easily with no issues on space for clothes and shoes, so that was nice.
After we got setled, we had to fill out paperwork for out residency permits, which was challenging because they were written in Italian! But we managed!
Dinner was a bit of an excursion because by this time it was dark, and we really didn't pay much attention while in the taxi. We found a little pizzeria around the corner from our house and ate there. It was very yummy!
Today was the first day of orientation. I woke up this morning feeling pretty refreshed as I had slept almost 12 hours! :) We all got dressed and ventured out to find the supermarcado. (Store) We only had one roll of toilet paper, so we needed to get the basics. I bought some produce and risotto so that I would have some things to eat at the house. The market was amazing, tons of fresh food everywhere, and massive amounts of meats and cheeses. (Pictures to follow as well!)
Now I am just relaxing a little, I am going to Venice this weekend with my roommate and her father to check out the city. I am pretty excited! Tomorrow we have another orientation where we pay our school fees and get supplies. I heard word that we are getting new chef coats, and new knives! I am very excited for that!!
Keep me in your prayers as I continue to find my way around the city!! I don't have Internet in the house yet, so I will try and get on the computer again soon. Love you all! Ciao Bella
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Italy update- two days and counting!
Hey there to all my wonderful friends and family! The time has come, I am leaving in two days to begin my travels in Europe until June. I will be in touch in a few different ways, facebook, this blog of course, and I will also have a phone that I can be reached on, its free for me for you to call, but it will cost you, so check with your phone company before you call so that you don't freak when the bill comes. I also can get mail the old fashion way, which will be really fun for me! It is not recommended that you send packages because they can be held in customs and also cost me a fortune to pick up. My email address is sprout1213@gmail.com, so feel free to write and I will respond for sure!! love you all so much!!!
Ciao Bella, Carlyn
phone number- 011 39 335 714 6783
you have to dial all these numbers in order for it to work!
address-
Carlyn Whitaker
Apicius International School of Hospitality
Via Guelfa 85
50129 Firenze, Italia
Ciao Bella, Carlyn
phone number- 011 39 335 714 6783
you have to dial all these numbers in order for it to work!
address-
Carlyn Whitaker
Apicius International School of Hospitality
Via Guelfa 85
50129 Firenze, Italia
More at the Block
Pictured above- The menu item titles Land Sea and Air Mixed Grill. Wild boar sausage, quail and shrimp served with asparagus. Pictured below, a terrine, which was made with beef tongue, among other ingredients, but I peeled the skin off that tongue! So Fun!
Wow, what an experience I was able to have this week here in Winchester, VA. I spent a total of three shifts at the restaurant and I really enjoyed myself. I was able to cook entrees, prep for lunch and dinner menu items, talk with both front of the house staff and kitchen staff, learn from the sous chefs and the executive chef/owner, and watch with wide eyes at the magic that comes from this kitchen. Thank you to all of the staff for your help, and thanks to Chef Ed of One Block West, I am truly grateful for your patience with me and the opportunity you allowed me to have. I will send postcards from Europe and certainly be back through in May before I return home to California. Maybe I will work another shift with you!
Saturday, January 17, 2009
ONE BLOCK WEST
We just had a delicious meal at a restaurant called One Block West. This place changes their menu daily according to what the freshest ingredients are available in the area. It was so good, I had a roasted duck breast with a cranberry risotto and for dessert, pictured above, was a take on bananas foster with pineapples. It was very yummy!
Bye Bye Baby
I made in to the first stop in my four month adventure. I just landed in Virginia from a 5 hour red eye flight. My aunt and uncle, Bryan, Trevor, Nick and Ms. Ruth came with me to the airport and we had a yummy mexican meal. I only cried for two seconds when Ruth asked if she could go on the airplane with me! She was so sweet. I will miss all of you sooooo much, but I will keep everyone updated as much as possible!
Friday, January 2, 2009
New Years!!!!
Molly and I through a New Years party to celebrate the end of 2008 and the New Year of 2009. It was lots of fun, lots of crazy, and lots and lots of mess the next day!! But all worth the work! Hope everyone enjoyed the holiday season and may all your 2009 wishes come true! Two more weeks till I leave for school!!
Ariel, Caitlin and Jamie
Molly and I- The Hosts
Thanks to Jon Saad! I cleaned champagne off the ceiling an walls!
Ariel, Caitlin and Jamie
Molly and I- The Hosts
Thanks to Jon Saad! I cleaned champagne off the ceiling an walls!
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