Okay so life lately has been pretty uneventful in terms of traveling to different countries. Instead, for the past couple of weeks I have been exploring a new place...Milano. Now I know this might sound strange considering I have been living here for three months, but I had never really taken the chance to sit and explore this enchanting city that I have been so fortunate to live in. I have been eating at different places around the city, including this amazing crepe place in the Brera region. I have become a regular at a local cafe called Bar Spuntino. I have ran a different path, three times a week, outside my apartment area which has led me to a couple different parks, and random quiet streets that provide interesting buildings and little shops. The employees at the grocery store recognize me and always start up a small conversation while I am at the check-out counter.
My Italian has improved tremendously from when I first got here. I really feel like I know this city. I even recieved work teaching English to kind young boys who live near my school.
I am a regular at Monday Disney dinners hosted by my dear friends Ruthie and Rachel. Every Monday a group of us go to their apartment and eat a homecooked meal and then watch the Disney movie of the week. Last week was Cinderella, and this week is Anastasia.
I am also a regular at Wednesday night dinners hosted by the greatest, Rina. Tonight was one of her roommate's birthdays so we celebrated with a gluten free meal upon the request of the special birthday girl.
It seems that just as I feel I am starting to fit in around here, my trip is coming to a close. I am thrilled to be able to see my family and my love. I really understand how much they mean to me, and how important it is for me to have them in my life (even if it's just via the internet). I have really grown up in more ways than one since being here. I truly value everyone in my life, and I will never forget how much they all have sacrificed for me to be here. They are the greatest, and I am incredibly lucky to be able to call them my friends and family.
Basically what I am saying is that this trip has been the most life changing experience so far and I still have Rome, Lyon, and Paris to conquer before I leave in four weeks. So keep the good thoughts headed my way, and wish me buon fortuna as I head into finals in a few weeks.
Ciao Ciao
Elle
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
The Amalfi Coast
First off when I say the Amalfi Coast, I mean Sorrento, Capri, Positano, and Pompeii. These are all cities in Italy that run along the Amalfi Coast.
So I had an eye opening experience to just how beautiful the world can actually be. The first photo is taken in the historical city of Pompeii. What you see is a perfectly preserved body that was covered in ash during the fateful Mt. Vesuvius eruption of 79 A.D. Pompeii was a very interesting city with hand painted murals on many walls, theatres, and of course the famous brothel. It was truly incredible to be able to spend my Easter in a city with so much history and wonder. Although I missed my family, and of course my loved one, I realize just how lucky I am to be able to have had this experience. We took a tour around Pompeii for about two hours, but our tour guide informed us that being able to see all of Pompeii would take days. The city of Pompeii is completely enclosed and is a labeled as one big archaeological dig. Millions visit every year, and walk along the lava rock filled streets. The buildings were interesting to see but the people is what really struck me. I saw the body of a pregnant woman, the remains of a young slave boy with all of his teeth still intact, a dog curled up in the fetal position, and the most interesting was my first picture. After seeing this person with their hands over their face as if they were crying, really showed me how quick the eruption must have happened. There were actually two eruptions that day. The first was an eruption of hot ash that shot 20 miles up out of the volcano and rained down on the city. Whoever survived the first eruption was killed by the second which consisted of hot lava overtaking what was left of the city. Pompeii was a truly tragic, yet beautiful city that was lost to nature.
My second picture is of a little cove my friends and I discovered in Positano. A truly vacation city, Positano consisted of a beautiful beach and many rich people. We were only there for four hours, but in the time I was able to sit on the rock beach and enjoy the weather and also have a pair of leather sandals made for me by the sweetest old man. We talked in broken Italian as I watched him measure and then create my new beautiful sandals. Even though it was a short visit, Positano was definitely beautiful.
My third and fourth pictures are from my new favorite city in the whole world, Capri. If there were ever a city I would want to retire, and then die in, it would be Capri. We arrived in the morning and took a boat tour around the whole island. Our first stop was to the famous Groto Azzuro, blue grotto, which is where my last picture was taken. Although it is one of the 7 wonders of the world, I was a little disappointed with how small it was. We were also only in the grotto for about three minutes, and for 11.50 euro, I think that next time I will pass. We got to walk around the island after the tour and saw some amazing views. We also saw all of the fancy shops, and even ate lunch next to Dolce and Gabbana. We walked to the famous gardens which is where my third picture was taken. I sat on a bench, in the sun for a long time and all I could think about was how I wished he was with me to share in the experience.
Being without the most important people in your life really starts to take its tole after a while. I know how incredibly lucky and fortunate I am to have family, friends, and my special someone who completely support me and my dream of coming to Italy. I also know how I could never live without them and how much they have helped me grow along this journey. So this last note is a thank you to everyone for making my dreams come true. I draw my strength from you and go on everyday knowing that I will see you soon. So here's to you all. Salute!
Baci Baci,
Elle
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Sicilia-Palermo and Catania
So just got back from the beginning of the best Spring Break I have ever had. I have just spent the past six days in Sicily. We started off the trip getting a little bit delayed at the train station and had to wait for a bus for three hours at night time. This might have been a little bit nerving if it hadn't been for the patrolling police officers stopping and making friends with us. We all found this to be hilarious and we attempted our best Italian every time they would stop to chat.
We finally made it onto the bus for the airport at 4:30 in the morning and needless to say we were all very tired at this point. We took off for Palermo around six, and when we landed I thought I was in a whole new world. While landing we flew straight past a gigantic rock and over the water onto a tiny little landing strip. This of course terrified us to death, but once the plane stopped we all knew it was going to be an amazing place to be.
We made our way to the hostel in Palermo, and checked in. What we did not expect was the amazingly large room with a beautiful balcony overlooking the city center. It was like the ideal vacation was finally starting after a long night of traveling. We spent the next two days just walking around the city and discovering cute little parks or street markets. Everything seemed so different. I finally felt like I was in the real Italy that you read about in books. Everyone spoke Italian, and there were hardly any other tourists, so we really felt the true feeling of Italian life.
Next came Catania. After a two hour long bus ride we pulled up to a beautiful and warm city. This was exactly the type of weather I had been dreaming about for two months already. It was around 75 degrees and clear blue skies with the setting of a volcano, Mt. Etna, in the background of every sky scene. The first day in Catania we got familiar with the city and landed at the cutest little restaurant I have ever been to in my life. The interior design was that of an old 30's style house with candles and music from the 30's playing softly in the background. The chef personally came out to our table to introduce himself and let us know about his specials for the evening. We spent the next two hours just sitting and eating and soaking up the strangely wonderful new experience.
The next adventure was us four girls renting scooters and driving up the Catania coast line. After getting adjusted to driving a scooter we all drove down right by the water and ran our hands along the Mediterranean Sea. It was absolutely amazing to drive by the ocean and see the little picturesque red houses along the shore. And laughing as we all tried to not kill ourselves by balancing and driving a scooter for the first time.
After feeling really confident about our navigational skills and driving skills, because Catania traffic is insane, we decided to rent a car and go to the only active volcano in all of Europe, Mt. Etna. Just driving there was incredibly fun as all four of us girls sang at the top of our lungs and enjoyed the warm day that was given to us. Once we were at a stopping point on the mountain, we got out and for some reason thought it would be a good idea to climb to the top of a huge crater. It was truly incredible to be able to look out over the city and see a snowy mountain to one side, and the ocean on the other. My breath was absolutely taken away, and at the moment all I could think about was how this was the feeling that I have been searching for during my whole trip. The feeling of accomplishing something difficult, like trying to find our way to the top of a mountain without a map, and then climbing the rocky hill to get to the top, and then just completely having your breath taken away by the beauty of the world.
We eventually headed to the beach in the afternoon and stuck our feet into the icy cold waters. By then it did not matter that we were on a beach with fake sand and trash everywhere. I felt incredibly close to the people in our group, and we were all very proud of ourselves for having the drive and desire to try new things and enjoy the experience from it.
Our last day was spent taking one last stroll around the city we had all fallen in love with. Even though I feel like I say this about every trip I go on, I will most certainly be making another trip to Sicily someday.
Ciao Ciao
Elle
We finally made it onto the bus for the airport at 4:30 in the morning and needless to say we were all very tired at this point. We took off for Palermo around six, and when we landed I thought I was in a whole new world. While landing we flew straight past a gigantic rock and over the water onto a tiny little landing strip. This of course terrified us to death, but once the plane stopped we all knew it was going to be an amazing place to be.
We made our way to the hostel in Palermo, and checked in. What we did not expect was the amazingly large room with a beautiful balcony overlooking the city center. It was like the ideal vacation was finally starting after a long night of traveling. We spent the next two days just walking around the city and discovering cute little parks or street markets. Everything seemed so different. I finally felt like I was in the real Italy that you read about in books. Everyone spoke Italian, and there were hardly any other tourists, so we really felt the true feeling of Italian life.
Next came Catania. After a two hour long bus ride we pulled up to a beautiful and warm city. This was exactly the type of weather I had been dreaming about for two months already. It was around 75 degrees and clear blue skies with the setting of a volcano, Mt. Etna, in the background of every sky scene. The first day in Catania we got familiar with the city and landed at the cutest little restaurant I have ever been to in my life. The interior design was that of an old 30's style house with candles and music from the 30's playing softly in the background. The chef personally came out to our table to introduce himself and let us know about his specials for the evening. We spent the next two hours just sitting and eating and soaking up the strangely wonderful new experience.
The next adventure was us four girls renting scooters and driving up the Catania coast line. After getting adjusted to driving a scooter we all drove down right by the water and ran our hands along the Mediterranean Sea. It was absolutely amazing to drive by the ocean and see the little picturesque red houses along the shore. And laughing as we all tried to not kill ourselves by balancing and driving a scooter for the first time.
After feeling really confident about our navigational skills and driving skills, because Catania traffic is insane, we decided to rent a car and go to the only active volcano in all of Europe, Mt. Etna. Just driving there was incredibly fun as all four of us girls sang at the top of our lungs and enjoyed the warm day that was given to us. Once we were at a stopping point on the mountain, we got out and for some reason thought it would be a good idea to climb to the top of a huge crater. It was truly incredible to be able to look out over the city and see a snowy mountain to one side, and the ocean on the other. My breath was absolutely taken away, and at the moment all I could think about was how this was the feeling that I have been searching for during my whole trip. The feeling of accomplishing something difficult, like trying to find our way to the top of a mountain without a map, and then climbing the rocky hill to get to the top, and then just completely having your breath taken away by the beauty of the world.
We eventually headed to the beach in the afternoon and stuck our feet into the icy cold waters. By then it did not matter that we were on a beach with fake sand and trash everywhere. I felt incredibly close to the people in our group, and we were all very proud of ourselves for having the drive and desire to try new things and enjoy the experience from it.
Our last day was spent taking one last stroll around the city we had all fallen in love with. Even though I feel like I say this about every trip I go on, I will most certainly be making another trip to Sicily someday.
Ciao Ciao
Elle
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