Ciao, tutti! I've been getting quite a few messages lately from some of my Marist friends who are planning on studying abroad here in Florence, Italy next semester through the same program. I'm going to take some time now (partially to avoid finals studying/packing), to pass along some knowledge to the general population of students studying in Italy. I will be touching upon things specific to Florence, some to Italy in general, and many things that apply to study abroad students in general. Hopefully everyone reading this will hear some tips from a realistic perspective that you don't typically hear!
1) The dreaded language barrier: To those studying in a foreign country where the locals do not speak English (for the most part), it can be a daunting endeavor. However, I want to tell everyone that this, especially in Italy, is not as detrimental as one may think. English has become a widespread language, and most people in the cities, such as Florence, do speak it if you are having trouble communicating in their language. I came to Florence knowing minimal Italian. I had seven years of Spanish under my belt, which certainly helped me in picking up certain aspects of the language more easily, but I'm almost 4 months in and still can barely utter an Italian phrase confidently to a shopkeeper. But fear not. When you can't think of the correct word in Italian, most Italians will help you or just respond in English. It makes the locals respect you more if you can speak the language, but I promise, it won't hinder your experience.
2) The grocery stores: One of the most trivial yet biggest adjustments my friends and I had to make here was the way Italians grocery shop. Italians typically go once a day and purchase just one or two things they need for the particular meal they plan on creating that evening for supper. However, us Americans are used to full on shopping trips where we purchase a week or two worth of goods. It's quite difficult to do this because a) most grocery stores near our apartment (and most in Florence) are tiny and b) the locals behind you in line get really impatient and make you feel really rushed as you check out. I've improved immensely and go a few times a week now, purchasing only a few items. If you still shop like you do at home, it's not the end of the world. I got over those judgments pretty quickly and still make those trips every now and again, despite the locals' staring burning holes in the back of my head.
3) The food: Carbs, carbs, and more carbs. If you're on the Atkins diet, god bless your soul, because you're going to be struggling. When you go out to dinner, you are fed bread and oil to start. Then, typically, the reasonably priced menu items are variations of pasta and pizza. So you'll find yourself always ordering the two. And when you're at home, since you have to cook for yourself for every single meal in a small kitchen you share with a bunch of other people in your apartment (there's no such things as Lean Cuisine frozen dinners here), you'll find yourself drawn to the easy fixes...like pizza and pasta. It's really easy to get used to, but I honestly can't wait to get home to have some more variety in my life. Don't get me wrong, the food is phenomenal. And don't even get me started on the cannolis, gelato, and baked goods overall. You can't go wrong with food in Italy. Just be prepared for a lot of it. Often.
4) Walking on the streets: I'm not really a city girl by any means. New York City is so psychotic that it makes me want to jump in front of a taxi, but Florence is definitely a happy medium for those of us who do not enjoy big cities but get bored easily in our small farm towns in Connecticut (ha). Florence is definitely a walking city. My apartment is somewhat on the outskirts near the train station, but even then, I'm only 15 minutes from many of the major landmarks like the Duomo, Piazza della Repubblica, the Arno River, and more. You can get across the city in about a half hour or so if you walk at a steady pace. That's something I adore about this place. However, just know that many of the streets are quite narrow. Italians most likely will not make way for you if they are walking in a line across the sidewalk, so you may have to step on the street to get around them. If someone bumps into you, they won't say they're sorry or even acknowledge your presence. No one smiles at each other on the streets (even when someone has a cute baby or puppy. I'm serious.). It's not that anyone is trying to be rude. That's just how it is, so don't take offense. I've learned to walk fast, not look at others, and basically just walk like I'm a massive bitch to get around effectively, but hey. It's working. I do miss smiling at people in America, though. If you do that here, they think you're a freak.
5) The men: Oh, girls. Be prepared for the most male attention you have ever received in your entire life. You think being out at night in a bar in America is bad? Walking down the street to class during the day in Italy is 100 times worse than that. The guys here are not afraid to make kissy noises at you, call to you, blatantly gawk at you, and try to get your attention in any way possible. At all times. In all areas of the city. I've almost drop kicked a few of them. And I got mad enough to give one the finger once. I just have no tolerance for that kind of disrespect. Whether it's your culture or not, get out of my face before I slam my heeled boot into yours. All I can say is to keep your head held high, don't make eye contact, and roll your eyes in a frustrated manner to get them to shut up without any violence. But hey, if you really like attention, you picked the right place to study abroad.
6) Balancing classes & traveling A lot of people say that when you are abroad, classes are much easier because they want you to travel. I can testify to that...for about half of the semester. September and October here at Lorenzo de' Medici in Florence were doable. I had a few short papers, weekly assignments, and a few quizzes, but even though I was traveling every single weekend, I was able to manage it and keep my grades quite high. However, after your mid-semester, week-long break, the joke is over. I was lucky enough to get my traveling done for the most part by mid-November, so when the work got tough, I had the weekends free to catch up. I recommend getting your big trips out of the way in the first half of the semester (your biggest being during break). I'm not saying you should stop traveling towards the end, but definitely save your day trips and short weekend trips to places a little closer for those times that you're struggling to handle your four required 8-page research papers and finals all due within two weeks of one another. Also, be careful with your absences. Our school allows 2. If you miss a 3rd, you go down a letter grade. If you miss a 4th, you fail. Try not to miss classes for traveling too often, or you'll find yourself down a letter grade much faster than you anticipated. You can do it, but just be wise about it. You may need some of those if you get sick!
7) Keeping in touch: I know it's scary to think you'll be away from your friends, family, and maybe even a significant other for almost four months in a foreign land. However, it really isn't that difficult to keep in touch. With Skype, email, and Facebook, it's actually pretty cheap. I have a shitty cell phone that charges way more than it should, so I actually bought Skype credit for 6 bucks a month to supplement that. I get unlimited calls to international cells/landlines with this credit for that much money. If I were to use my cell that freely, I'd be paying hundreds of dollars per month. I keep in touch with everyone mostly via Facebook messages and email. If you really miss someone, Skype them. Just don't let contacting people at home consume you, or you won't enjoy your experiences to the fullest. Put down the phone, drop them a quick message when you miss them and they can't talk, and go frolic around the streets of Florence.
8) Packing: Oh, packing. It has been the bane of my existence since two weeks before I left for Florence. My recommendation: BUY A PORTABLE LUGGAGE SCALE. I bought one for 7 bucks in the travel section at Wal-Mart, and it has been a lifesaver. The weight limits for international flights, whether it be from home to your study abroad location, places within Europe, or your flight home, are very strict. Don't overpack. Bring lots of basics you can mix and match. I have an extensive wardrobe that I had to leave much of behind. However, with the purchasing of a few cool Italian scarves and jewelry, any plain outfit can be made stylish. Don't stress when you have to leave some of your favorite clothing items behind. Even high maintenance people like myself can live out of 2 suitcases for 4 months. I promise.
9) Water, electricity, & internet: I heard an Italian actually call Italy a third world country at one point because of the unreliable plumbing and electricity, which I found hilarious. It's definitely not that bad, but it's definitely not what we're used to in the states either. The showers do not hold water pressure (or temperature for that matter) consistently. It will be strong at one point...then trickle...then be really strong again and scolding hot...then trickling and freezing...and the cycle continues. It's like a game of Russian Roulette every time you get in there. But it's all part of the adventure...I guess. As for the electricity, you can't have multiple big appliances running at once, or OOPS, you're wandering around your apartment in the dark looking for the circuit breaker. For instance, if we have the washing machine on in the apartment while someone is cooking dinner, the power shuts off. It's easily fixable...but a tad inconvenient. Also, sorry, everyone, but the internet sucks. I'm sure study abroad staff at your school have warned you, but it really is that bad. Our apartment is surprisingly better off than most, I think, but it cuts out randomly for 20 minutes some days, and at other times, it just turns on and off for an hour or two. Sometimes we just give up and connect to free wifi from local cafes. It's not a big deal in the grand scheme of things, but when you're doing research or skyping, don't expect it to stay connected the whole time because chances are, it won't.
10) Make the most of it: A lot of this may have seemed negative, but I'm just trying to warn you about the things no one warned me about. I wanted to make everything as realistic as possible so you know what you're stepping into. Florence, Italy, and Europe in general are amazing places to be, and you should never regret the decision you made to go there for a second. You'll see some incredible things, experience culture shock that you can laugh about later, and end up with a second home overseas. Make the most of your time here, and if something bothers you about the place you're staying, think of the positives that make you want to stay forever (there definitely will be some). Meet new people, go out and explore, and take the semester to gain new experiences and come home with some stories that everyone will be jealous of.
Hope this helped. :) Feel free to contact me if you have any questions!
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Friday, December 9, 2011
It's Christmas Time in the City
Ciao, amici e buon natale di Firenze. :) The streets of Florence have never looked more beautiful, and I have never been so happy that I decided to study abroad in the fall so I could experience Christmas time in another culture. Starting in late November, the streets began to be strewn with lights. Typically, the lights are connected to the tops of buildings on either side of the street and have some type of lantern, fleur di lis design, or chandelier-like light fixture hanging in the center. This continues down each street to create an enchanting, Christmasy feeling as you stroll through the city. Even though it's still 60 degrees here on a daily basis, Christmas is in the air in Italia!
Tuesday was my friend and housemate, Kate's, 21st birthday and so we celebrated on Wednesday by having a little party at our house then going to Club 21 (ha. 21 at 21.) for a little bit of dancing and hanging out. I had a great time with everyone just relaxing in our apartment and bonding with people I may not see again after we depart from Florence next week. The birthday girl seemed to have a fantastic time, which I am so happy about. She got a few bottles of wine, some olives, and cheese and crackers for everyone (precious), so it was super classy. I debated going to the club, though, because even after the few times I've gone, I've just never come to love clubbing. But I went anyway, and my friend Kalani kept me company while many of my tipsy friends made me laugh hysterically. It was pretty crowded, sweaty, and gross in the club, but I still had a good time just spending time with everyone during our last full weekend in Firenze.
Yesterday, we had some more housemate bonding time. Almost all of us, plus our friends Amy and Jenny, decided we would spend the day out and about in Firenze getting lunch and going to the local Christmas markets. Let me tell you, EVERYONE else known to man had the same idea. Because it was a national holiday (Immaculate Conception), no one was at work or school, so being out in the city was like being at a psychotic Italian carnival. It was a blast, though. We went to Gusta Pizza, a study abroad student favorite, and then we trekked on over to Santa Croce for the international Christmas markets that were set up. We were jam packed in the aisles between the little stands and could barely look at anything they were selling because of the crowds, but it was still festive, fun, and interesting to experience. I may go back one day this week in hopes that it will be less crowded and really get a good look at the stands. There was chocolate covered fruit, apple strudel, candy stands, German pretzel stands, and more, in addition to all the unique multicultural gifts available. I definitely have to go back for that at least! After a long day of browsing and dodging Italian children and parents all over the city, we headed home to relax for the evening.
I'm down to my final 8 days in Florence, and I started packing a little bit today. It's a little heartbreaking, a little stressful, and a little exciting. It's heartbreaking because clearly, Florence has become my home in the past three and a half months, I love my housemates, and seeing places all over Europe has been unforgettable. It's stressful because of finals, but embarrassingly enough, I may be even more stressed about the weight limits of my suitcases going home! It's exciting, however, because I can't wait to be back in a familiar place, see everyone, enjoy the holidays, and return to my beloved Marist College (especially because of dance!). I know the next week is going to bring a lot of frustration because of finals, but I'll just try and remember the good times I've had this semester. Thanks for reading, everyone! Expect my few final blog posts chronicling my experiences abroad to be posted in the next week.
Tuesday was my friend and housemate, Kate's, 21st birthday and so we celebrated on Wednesday by having a little party at our house then going to Club 21 (ha. 21 at 21.) for a little bit of dancing and hanging out. I had a great time with everyone just relaxing in our apartment and bonding with people I may not see again after we depart from Florence next week. The birthday girl seemed to have a fantastic time, which I am so happy about. She got a few bottles of wine, some olives, and cheese and crackers for everyone (precious), so it was super classy. I debated going to the club, though, because even after the few times I've gone, I've just never come to love clubbing. But I went anyway, and my friend Kalani kept me company while many of my tipsy friends made me laugh hysterically. It was pretty crowded, sweaty, and gross in the club, but I still had a good time just spending time with everyone during our last full weekend in Firenze.
Yesterday, we had some more housemate bonding time. Almost all of us, plus our friends Amy and Jenny, decided we would spend the day out and about in Firenze getting lunch and going to the local Christmas markets. Let me tell you, EVERYONE else known to man had the same idea. Because it was a national holiday (Immaculate Conception), no one was at work or school, so being out in the city was like being at a psychotic Italian carnival. It was a blast, though. We went to Gusta Pizza, a study abroad student favorite, and then we trekked on over to Santa Croce for the international Christmas markets that were set up. We were jam packed in the aisles between the little stands and could barely look at anything they were selling because of the crowds, but it was still festive, fun, and interesting to experience. I may go back one day this week in hopes that it will be less crowded and really get a good look at the stands. There was chocolate covered fruit, apple strudel, candy stands, German pretzel stands, and more, in addition to all the unique multicultural gifts available. I definitely have to go back for that at least! After a long day of browsing and dodging Italian children and parents all over the city, we headed home to relax for the evening.
I'm down to my final 8 days in Florence, and I started packing a little bit today. It's a little heartbreaking, a little stressful, and a little exciting. It's heartbreaking because clearly, Florence has become my home in the past three and a half months, I love my housemates, and seeing places all over Europe has been unforgettable. It's stressful because of finals, but embarrassingly enough, I may be even more stressed about the weight limits of my suitcases going home! It's exciting, however, because I can't wait to be back in a familiar place, see everyone, enjoy the holidays, and return to my beloved Marist College (especially because of dance!). I know the next week is going to bring a lot of frustration because of finals, but I'll just try and remember the good times I've had this semester. Thanks for reading, everyone! Expect my few final blog posts chronicling my experiences abroad to be posted in the next week.
Friday, December 2, 2011
Good News and Good Food.
Ciao! I officially have two remaining weeks of my study abroad experience here in Firenze. It's a really bittersweet time for me, and I think a lot of my friends are sharing the same sentiments. We all are sad that this is coming to a close, but certain things about Italian living are starting to get under our skin. When we were first adjusting in the beginning, things like the horrible internet connection, the lack of a shower with good water pressure at any point in time, and the fact that you can't have more than one thing turned on without the power going off made us long for home. However, in the middle, we adjusted, and all of these things just became a part of every day life. You can tell that we are now reverting back to our frustrations in the beginning. When the internet goes out, annoyed grunts are heard throughout the apartment. When someone comes out of the shower, they have a look of disgust and anger on their face because it took them twenty minutes to wash their hair since the shower head decided it would be hilarious to send the water out in a single, trickling stream for half the time. It's actually really funny how our attitudes are changing the closer we get to being home (and the bigger workload for school and finals approaching aren't helping either). I'm still loving Italy, though, and even though I haven't seen as much of Europe as I'd like, I've seen many of Italy's major beautiful cities and really made it around to a lot of cool places.
As for the title, my good news is actually something related to my return to Marist in January. I was elected to be the Public Relations Manager for Marist College Dance Ensemble last night for my senior year! I am beyond thrilled. Dance ensemble has become an integral part of my college experience, and I honestly couldn't think of a better group to have joined my very first semester of freshman year. I've choreographed three different times, and the fact that I now have the opportunity to contribute and lead even further makes me beyond happy. I'll be practicing for my future career field and doing what I love. You really can't ask for much more than that. I found out this morning and have been in the best mood all day. I'll be starting my shadow period next semester before taking over next year. This just gives me another reason to look forward to getting back to the states. :) Thanks to everyone who voted for me!
And as for the good food, I'm talking about a little field trip I just returned from for my cooking class here in Florence (yes, I get credit for it). We got to go to San Gimignano, a beautiful area in the Tuscan countryside. Unfortunately, it was in the evening, so I didn't get any pictures of the stunning landscape, but I definitely enjoyed the farm we visited. It was so rustic and quaint and was exactly what I pictured the countryside to look like. The buildings were all stone with vines and flowers climbing the walls. A little dog was running around was we walked through the area. We first went down into the wine cellar to just take a look around and see the giant barrels that the wine is made in. We then went upstairs in one of the buildings to a giant dining area that was just as adorable as the outside and were treated to a meal of local specialties made right at the farm itself. We tasted two kinds of wine, a red and a white (well, I only had 2 sips of the white. You know me.), and the olive oil that was pressed fresh the day before. Words cannot even describe the deliciousness that was that olive oil. It was poured over perfectly toasted bread, and I seriously wish I had way more room in my suitcase. That would have been a great gift to bring home! There was also some bread with gorgonzola cheese that was divine as well. You know those Italians and their carbs...but I can't say I hate it even a little bit. After our meal, we walked around the farm, checked out the shop, then got on the bus back to Florence.
I'm currently sitting at home and relaxing. Tomorrow will most likely be spent studying for my first written final on Monday and being lame, but there is a distinct possibility that I will also be visiting the Christmas markets that are taking place at Santa Croce across the city. I've heard nothing but good things. The whole city is decked out in lights and Christmas decor, and even though I'm not a city girl, it's kind of making me one. Look for my next post about my final few weeks. :)
As for the title, my good news is actually something related to my return to Marist in January. I was elected to be the Public Relations Manager for Marist College Dance Ensemble last night for my senior year! I am beyond thrilled. Dance ensemble has become an integral part of my college experience, and I honestly couldn't think of a better group to have joined my very first semester of freshman year. I've choreographed three different times, and the fact that I now have the opportunity to contribute and lead even further makes me beyond happy. I'll be practicing for my future career field and doing what I love. You really can't ask for much more than that. I found out this morning and have been in the best mood all day. I'll be starting my shadow period next semester before taking over next year. This just gives me another reason to look forward to getting back to the states. :) Thanks to everyone who voted for me!
And as for the good food, I'm talking about a little field trip I just returned from for my cooking class here in Florence (yes, I get credit for it). We got to go to San Gimignano, a beautiful area in the Tuscan countryside. Unfortunately, it was in the evening, so I didn't get any pictures of the stunning landscape, but I definitely enjoyed the farm we visited. It was so rustic and quaint and was exactly what I pictured the countryside to look like. The buildings were all stone with vines and flowers climbing the walls. A little dog was running around was we walked through the area. We first went down into the wine cellar to just take a look around and see the giant barrels that the wine is made in. We then went upstairs in one of the buildings to a giant dining area that was just as adorable as the outside and were treated to a meal of local specialties made right at the farm itself. We tasted two kinds of wine, a red and a white (well, I only had 2 sips of the white. You know me.), and the olive oil that was pressed fresh the day before. Words cannot even describe the deliciousness that was that olive oil. It was poured over perfectly toasted bread, and I seriously wish I had way more room in my suitcase. That would have been a great gift to bring home! There was also some bread with gorgonzola cheese that was divine as well. You know those Italians and their carbs...but I can't say I hate it even a little bit. After our meal, we walked around the farm, checked out the shop, then got on the bus back to Florence.
Drool.
The dining room!
I'm currently sitting at home and relaxing. Tomorrow will most likely be spent studying for my first written final on Monday and being lame, but there is a distinct possibility that I will also be visiting the Christmas markets that are taking place at Santa Croce across the city. I've heard nothing but good things. The whole city is decked out in lights and Christmas decor, and even though I'm not a city girl, it's kind of making me one. Look for my next post about my final few weeks. :)
Favorite. <3 This was on Thanksgiving when the building was just being lit in Piazza Della Repubblica!
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
When in Rome...I fell.
Okay, I'll be honest. I'm under no illusions that you are all sitting and eagerly awaiting my next post and going into withdrawals with each passing day...but I figured I'd apologize for not posting for the last two and a half weeks anyway because I am a really nice person and all. Well, I'm sorry I have been MIA, but I have not a had a weekend or second free. Whoever said school abroad was a joke, was seriously mistaken because all of a sudden, every single teacher found it completely necessary to assign us 8 page research papers and destroy our last few weeks in this amazing city by forcing unnecessary assignments on top of those papers upon us as well. Needless to say, many of us studying here in Florence are getting to that point where home is looking pretty tempting right about now (especially since we're missing out on the fattest, most delicious American holiday tomorrow. </3). However, I have had a wonderful time the past few weeks. The following weekend after Marc left, my friend Nicole from back home in Ellington who is studying abroad in London came to Florence! I got to have another fun-filled few days of rediscovering the beauty of Firenze and making sure she got to enjoy the culture to its fullest...which obviously included lots of gelato, pasta, and pizza.
Then, last weekend, I had the privilege to see another friend from London (but this one is from Marist), Kailee. :) We made spur of the moment plans to meet in Rome. And yeah, it was super romantic.We met at the Trevi Fountain at midnight, made a wish that we'd be together forever, then went to the top of the Eiffel Tower under the moonlight...oh. WRONG CITY. Italy. France. Creepy men. It's all the same, right? But that didn't really happen. Because we like men...among other reasons.
Well, we spent our first day battling the least convenient public transportation system known to man after meeting at the train station (a lot less romantic than my imaginary story). It took us about an hour and a half to take a metro then trek to our hotel, which was really fancy, but sadly, not close at all to the city center (we got a deal for 38 Euro per night...when it's usually like 200. Score.). After dropping off our backpacks, we decided to continue our ongoing fight with public transportation and try to get to Vatican City. A bus ride, a wrong way metro ride, and the correct metro ride later, we made it. It was worth it, though. We were able to see St. Peter's Basilica, the balcony where the Pope addresses his people, and the humorously dressed guards in the early evening light. We went into the church, which was legitimately comparable to the Florence Cathedral on steroids and even witnessed some beautiful singing during a small mass in the very front of the apse (thank you, art history). After that, we headed off to the Trevi Fountain (for real this time) to make our wishes. It was stunning at night. The light was shining perfectly on the water, and it was just like you see in the movies (When in Rome & Lizzie McGuire, anyone?). Kailee and I made wishes with some 2 cent Euro coins (big spenders, obviously), took some cute pictures, then wandered off to get gelato. We then conquered public transportation once again. It took about 2 hours to find our way back to the hotel, but we did it. We then tried to use the jacuzzi and sauna (which were supposed to close at 11), but the sign failed to say that, of course, the hot tub turned off at 10:30 while everything else stayed open. Oh, Rome. You got us again.
In the morning, we enjoyed an included buffet breakfast before checking out then headed off with our backpacks strapped properly onto our backs, tourist-style, and then checked off the final items on our sight-seeing list. First, we went to the Spanish Steps. The many steps leading up to the simple, white, Spanish-style basilica surrounded by palm trees were much more beautiful than I'd anticipated. Once we climbed them, we got some amazing pictures of the city from above then sat in on a mass for about 15 minutes in the basilica, which I will always remember. After this, we hopped back on the metro and visited the Piazza da Repubblica where there was an incredible fountain, ate sundaes at a fancy McDonald's just for the hell of it, went inside a really cool Early Christian basilica randomly located in the square, and then we headed to everyone's number 1 sight to check off their Rome bucket-list...the Colosseum! It was pretty amazing to see in person, but since we didn't go inside, it was a tad bit anticlimactic. We spent the time enjoying the sights around the area, walking through some ruins, and taking lots of cheesy tourist photos with my friend, Kalani, who just happened to be in Rome for the weekend as well. He was kind enough to stick around later to take the train back with me, so before we all parted ways, we went to a cute little restaurant for dinner outside.
Looking like a tourist in front of the Spanish Steps...and a palm tree shadow!
And this is where the title comes from. I had quite the spill. Apparently, on the sidewalk where our table was located, there was a slight slant that no one decided to tell me about. I bent over to grab something out of my backpack on the sidewalk next to my chair, and all of a sudden, things were in slow motion. It was one of those moments where you know it's happening, and you just can't stop it. Suddenly, my chair started leaning...I started leaning with it...and then we both clattered to the busy sidewalk in front of pedestrians and fellow dinner-eaters. I looked around to see how many people had seen it (everybody), picked up my chair, and sat down awkwardly. Then about 10 seconds later, I couldn't help but burst into laughter. Apparently, Kalani and Kailee saw it happening, could have stopped it, but wanted to see the magic that was 'The Fall.' Such good friends. It was hilarious, though. I'll give them that. I almost peed my pants after replaying the scene for the fifth time. So after my pride was thoroughly bruised, we said goodbye to Kailee before she headed back to London, and we caught our train back to Firenze.
I can't say I loved Rome, but I have to say, I loved that weekend. I'm so grateful to have been able to see Kailee and to have seen so many familiar faces in general over the last few weeks. It's making me miss home but truly appreciate my time here as well. I can't believe I only have 3 and a half weeks left of this amazing experience. I cannot wait to go home and reunite with my loved ones and enjoy the holidays, but it's difficult to fathom that this is all almost over. I'll be focusing on school the next few weeks, but I won't go one minute without being so thankful to have had this time in Europe. Keep an eye out for my next post chronicling the home stretch of my study abroad experience. Ciao!
Nicole & I at dinner in Florence during her visit. :)
Then, last weekend, I had the privilege to see another friend from London (but this one is from Marist), Kailee. :) We made spur of the moment plans to meet in Rome. And yeah, it was super romantic.We met at the Trevi Fountain at midnight, made a wish that we'd be together forever, then went to the top of the Eiffel Tower under the moonlight...oh. WRONG CITY. Italy. France. Creepy men. It's all the same, right? But that didn't really happen. Because we like men...among other reasons.
Well, we spent our first day battling the least convenient public transportation system known to man after meeting at the train station (a lot less romantic than my imaginary story). It took us about an hour and a half to take a metro then trek to our hotel, which was really fancy, but sadly, not close at all to the city center (we got a deal for 38 Euro per night...when it's usually like 200. Score.). After dropping off our backpacks, we decided to continue our ongoing fight with public transportation and try to get to Vatican City. A bus ride, a wrong way metro ride, and the correct metro ride later, we made it. It was worth it, though. We were able to see St. Peter's Basilica, the balcony where the Pope addresses his people, and the humorously dressed guards in the early evening light. We went into the church, which was legitimately comparable to the Florence Cathedral on steroids and even witnessed some beautiful singing during a small mass in the very front of the apse (thank you, art history). After that, we headed off to the Trevi Fountain (for real this time) to make our wishes. It was stunning at night. The light was shining perfectly on the water, and it was just like you see in the movies (When in Rome & Lizzie McGuire, anyone?). Kailee and I made wishes with some 2 cent Euro coins (big spenders, obviously), took some cute pictures, then wandered off to get gelato. We then conquered public transportation once again. It took about 2 hours to find our way back to the hotel, but we did it. We then tried to use the jacuzzi and sauna (which were supposed to close at 11), but the sign failed to say that, of course, the hot tub turned off at 10:30 while everything else stayed open. Oh, Rome. You got us again.
In the morning, we enjoyed an included buffet breakfast before checking out then headed off with our backpacks strapped properly onto our backs, tourist-style, and then checked off the final items on our sight-seeing list. First, we went to the Spanish Steps. The many steps leading up to the simple, white, Spanish-style basilica surrounded by palm trees were much more beautiful than I'd anticipated. Once we climbed them, we got some amazing pictures of the city from above then sat in on a mass for about 15 minutes in the basilica, which I will always remember. After this, we hopped back on the metro and visited the Piazza da Repubblica where there was an incredible fountain, ate sundaes at a fancy McDonald's just for the hell of it, went inside a really cool Early Christian basilica randomly located in the square, and then we headed to everyone's number 1 sight to check off their Rome bucket-list...the Colosseum! It was pretty amazing to see in person, but since we didn't go inside, it was a tad bit anticlimactic. We spent the time enjoying the sights around the area, walking through some ruins, and taking lots of cheesy tourist photos with my friend, Kalani, who just happened to be in Rome for the weekend as well. He was kind enough to stick around later to take the train back with me, so before we all parted ways, we went to a cute little restaurant for dinner outside.
Fountain in the Piazza
Cheesey tourist Colosseum photos. :)
And this is where the title comes from. I had quite the spill. Apparently, on the sidewalk where our table was located, there was a slight slant that no one decided to tell me about. I bent over to grab something out of my backpack on the sidewalk next to my chair, and all of a sudden, things were in slow motion. It was one of those moments where you know it's happening, and you just can't stop it. Suddenly, my chair started leaning...I started leaning with it...and then we both clattered to the busy sidewalk in front of pedestrians and fellow dinner-eaters. I looked around to see how many people had seen it (everybody), picked up my chair, and sat down awkwardly. Then about 10 seconds later, I couldn't help but burst into laughter. Apparently, Kalani and Kailee saw it happening, could have stopped it, but wanted to see the magic that was 'The Fall.' Such good friends. It was hilarious, though. I'll give them that. I almost peed my pants after replaying the scene for the fifth time. So after my pride was thoroughly bruised, we said goodbye to Kailee before she headed back to London, and we caught our train back to Firenze.
I can't say I loved Rome, but I have to say, I loved that weekend. I'm so grateful to have been able to see Kailee and to have seen so many familiar faces in general over the last few weeks. It's making me miss home but truly appreciate my time here as well. I can't believe I only have 3 and a half weeks left of this amazing experience. I cannot wait to go home and reunite with my loved ones and enjoy the holidays, but it's difficult to fathom that this is all almost over. I'll be focusing on school the next few weeks, but I won't go one minute without being so thankful to have had this time in Europe. Keep an eye out for my next post chronicling the home stretch of my study abroad experience. Ciao!
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
That's Amore
Ciao! I know it's been a little over a week since my last post, but after Northern Loop, I barely caught a break between exciting adventures. This is because a day and a half after I returned from my jaunt around Northern Europe, I was visited by some lovely people-- my amazing boyfriend, Marc, and our friends, Kristy, Joel, and Brandon. Actually, they were supposed to arrive just hours after my return last Sunday, but of course, knowing our luck, a random snowstorm just decided to waltz on into the Northeast (I mean, really? Random Hurricane Irene right before I left AND this?) and cancel and delay their flight/cause them to miss their connection/send them to Rome instead of Florence/get on the slow train instead of the fast one by accident/not get here until Monday night while I was in the middle of cooking class. I hadn't found out they were delayed until I got back from a 15 hour bus ride overnight from Paris. I was naive and thought they'd be in Florence in just a couple hours until I signed onto Facebook and got the bad news about their first delay/cancellation. For about half a day, we were actually all unsure if they'd even make it at all. I have to say, I would have been absolutely heartbroken and devastated. I was yearning so badly to see a familiar face, and I couldn't imagine handling that big of a letdown after so much excited anticipation. However, despite all the craziness I mentioned before, they made it here a day and a half late. I was beyond thrilled that they made it, even though we had to jam their vacation into an even shorter amount of time.
They were scheduled to arrive at around 6:45pm on Monday, which of course, was right in the middle of my first cooking class after fall break so I had to go to receive my grades and avoid unnecessary absences (since LDM's attendance policy is borderline Nazi-status). The entire time, all I could think of was seeing Marc for the first time in two months and breathing a sigh of relief when we finally embraced after the torture of not knowing what was going to happen. I ended up getting out a few minutes early, so in my eagerness, I rushed to their hotel, which just happened to be near my class, even though Marc was supposed to be waiting outside my class. Apparently, we'd left at the same time, missed each other somewhere in the middle, and called each other from opposite places. So we rushed to finally find each other and had to awkwardly reunite in the middle of a busy street, but that sigh of relief was certainly there. There's nothing like seeing someone you love after 2 months of barely being in contact or seeing each other's faces, even on the computer screen.
We then proceeded to see Kristy, Joel, and Brandon at the hotel, who were all crashing after their stressful transportation woes. It was amazing to see some friends, and I was honored that they all went through that to get to Florence and me. :) We then went out to dinner at a local trattoria near my apartment, and they went back to go to bed. Marc and I went back to the apartment and spent some quality time with my housemates until we joined the group back at the hotel for the evening to relax and unwind.
The next day, I luckily had no classes because of All Saint's Day, so I spent the day showing them around the main points of the beautiful city of Firenze. Them being here actually made me realize how well I know the city. I really should be more confident in giving directions and finding new ways to get to places because I naturally just led the way without even thinking. We hit up the big attractions, such as the stunning Duomo, Piazza della Repubblica, the fake David and Palazzo Vecchio, the Arno River, Gustapanino (obviously), one of my favorite gelaterias, and we even made it up to Piazzale Michelangelo and San Miniato Al Monte for the sunset. I finally found my last name in the cemetery, actually! I wonder if I have any roots here? I actually realized that I started taking all of these places for granted since I have been to them time and time again. However, seeing them through their fresh eyes made me appreciate Florence that much more.
Unfortunately, I had five hours of classes on Wednesday, but in between, I found time to show them around a little more and, of course, hit up Gusta Pizza (you Florence-dwellers know what I'm talking about). We also found time to enter the Duomo so they could observe the towering Gothic architecture inside and truly understand the vastness of the structure. Before my night class, Marc and I enjoyed some gelato together in the Piazza della Santa Maria Novella near my house and just enjoyed one another's company. After night class, we met up for dinner at a delicious restaurant I'd never tried before that week called La Lampara on Via Nazionale. I had some tasty spinach ravioli. It's actually funny how few times I'd been out to eat in Florence prior to their visit since I have a kitchen. I was able to enjoy some legitimate Italian cuisine when I was out with them, which was a nice treat. As a student, it's hard to splurge on a big meal when you can make one for cheap!
On Thursday, we took a little morning trip to Pisa to see the Leaning Tower, Duomo, and Baptistery there. It was a little rushed because I had to be back for class that afternoon, but it's something I needed to cross off my Italian Bucket List. Marc and I almost missed the train back, but we got on with seconds to spare, went back, ate lunch, and met up after my class to relax together and have a date night at a local restaurant later that evening. After our cute little meal together, we met up with the gang for a bar night. I don't drink, but they wanted to, so I brought them to the college-age bar, Astor, which was actually way classier than I'd anticipated. We all relaxed and listened to music while they sipped on their drinks before calling it a night.
On Friday, we had originally intended on going to Venice for the day, but I ended up getting sick after being so rundown from the previous weeks of traveling, and I couldn't make it to the train in time. Marc was a sweetheart and stayed with me to make sure I was okay, even though it kept him from the trip, which I will forever appreciate. So while our friends were touring Venice, we kept it low-key and browsed the local markets to find Marc's family some gifts and just enjoy Florence together. We met up with the gang later on for dinner, but unfortunately, I didn't get anything because I still felt kinda blah. To make up for him missing the Venice trip, though, we spent our last day on Saturday together in the jaw-droppingly beautiful city, just the two of us. Even though it was cloudy, we had an incredible time together seeing the canals winding around the islands, watching the gondolas go by, shopping in the Murano glass shops, eating a quick lunch, and viewing the beautiful cathedral and views from Piazza San Marco. Upon our return, we bolted to the Accademia in the center of Florence so he could catch a glimpse of Michelangelo's David before he departed. It was the first time I'd seen it too, and I'm so glad we made the time to experience its astonishing presence together. It's way more impressive than the Mona Lisa in person, I can tell you that much.
La citta bella di Venezia <3
On our last night in Florence, all five of us had one more dinner together at one of the restaurants in Piazza della Repubblica, got gelato, then relaxed while the boys smoked cigars like fancy pantses by the Duomo. From there, we relaxed together until it was time for me to go to bed and for them to get their taxi to the airport at 4am. Saying goodbye to everyone was heartbreaking, and I cannot wait to be home to have a reunion with the group and reminisce over the memories. Saying goodbye to Marc was obviously the most difficult, however. Even though we're used to long distance from seeing each other only twice a month at home, this has been a challenge. It was hard to let him go, but in just over a month, I'll be back in the states for good. I have to fully embrace my last 5-6 weeks here, but there is no denying that I miss being in America with my friends and loved ones. It's time to get down to the nitty gritty with school, though, and ace these classes like a boss. Stay tuned for a new post soon! Arrivederci! :)
Marc (photo credit to Kristy)
Apparently, this was taken when he didn't know if they'd make it or not. <3
Brandon, Marc, and Kristy during the storm before leaving a day late (photo credit to Kristy)
They were scheduled to arrive at around 6:45pm on Monday, which of course, was right in the middle of my first cooking class after fall break so I had to go to receive my grades and avoid unnecessary absences (since LDM's attendance policy is borderline Nazi-status). The entire time, all I could think of was seeing Marc for the first time in two months and breathing a sigh of relief when we finally embraced after the torture of not knowing what was going to happen. I ended up getting out a few minutes early, so in my eagerness, I rushed to their hotel, which just happened to be near my class, even though Marc was supposed to be waiting outside my class. Apparently, we'd left at the same time, missed each other somewhere in the middle, and called each other from opposite places. So we rushed to finally find each other and had to awkwardly reunite in the middle of a busy street, but that sigh of relief was certainly there. There's nothing like seeing someone you love after 2 months of barely being in contact or seeing each other's faces, even on the computer screen.
We then proceeded to see Kristy, Joel, and Brandon at the hotel, who were all crashing after their stressful transportation woes. It was amazing to see some friends, and I was honored that they all went through that to get to Florence and me. :) We then went out to dinner at a local trattoria near my apartment, and they went back to go to bed. Marc and I went back to the apartment and spent some quality time with my housemates until we joined the group back at the hotel for the evening to relax and unwind.
The next day, I luckily had no classes because of All Saint's Day, so I spent the day showing them around the main points of the beautiful city of Firenze. Them being here actually made me realize how well I know the city. I really should be more confident in giving directions and finding new ways to get to places because I naturally just led the way without even thinking. We hit up the big attractions, such as the stunning Duomo, Piazza della Repubblica, the fake David and Palazzo Vecchio, the Arno River, Gustapanino (obviously), one of my favorite gelaterias, and we even made it up to Piazzale Michelangelo and San Miniato Al Monte for the sunset. I finally found my last name in the cemetery, actually! I wonder if I have any roots here? I actually realized that I started taking all of these places for granted since I have been to them time and time again. However, seeing them through their fresh eyes made me appreciate Florence that much more. 
Kristy & Brandon Kristy & Joel at San Miniato al Monte (photo credit to Kristy)
My last name at the cemetery!
No explanation needed. <3
Unfortunately, I had five hours of classes on Wednesday, but in between, I found time to show them around a little more and, of course, hit up Gusta Pizza (you Florence-dwellers know what I'm talking about). We also found time to enter the Duomo so they could observe the towering Gothic architecture inside and truly understand the vastness of the structure. Before my night class, Marc and I enjoyed some gelato together in the Piazza della Santa Maria Novella near my house and just enjoyed one another's company. After night class, we met up for dinner at a delicious restaurant I'd never tried before that week called La Lampara on Via Nazionale. I had some tasty spinach ravioli. It's actually funny how few times I'd been out to eat in Florence prior to their visit since I have a kitchen. I was able to enjoy some legitimate Italian cuisine when I was out with them, which was a nice treat. As a student, it's hard to splurge on a big meal when you can make one for cheap!
On Thursday, we took a little morning trip to Pisa to see the Leaning Tower, Duomo, and Baptistery there. It was a little rushed because I had to be back for class that afternoon, but it's something I needed to cross off my Italian Bucket List. Marc and I almost missed the train back, but we got on with seconds to spare, went back, ate lunch, and met up after my class to relax together and have a date night at a local restaurant later that evening. After our cute little meal together, we met up with the gang for a bar night. I don't drink, but they wanted to, so I brought them to the college-age bar, Astor, which was actually way classier than I'd anticipated. We all relaxed and listened to music while they sipped on their drinks before calling it a night.
Pisa!
On Friday, we had originally intended on going to Venice for the day, but I ended up getting sick after being so rundown from the previous weeks of traveling, and I couldn't make it to the train in time. Marc was a sweetheart and stayed with me to make sure I was okay, even though it kept him from the trip, which I will forever appreciate. So while our friends were touring Venice, we kept it low-key and browsed the local markets to find Marc's family some gifts and just enjoy Florence together. We met up with the gang later on for dinner, but unfortunately, I didn't get anything because I still felt kinda blah. To make up for him missing the Venice trip, though, we spent our last day on Saturday together in the jaw-droppingly beautiful city, just the two of us. Even though it was cloudy, we had an incredible time together seeing the canals winding around the islands, watching the gondolas go by, shopping in the Murano glass shops, eating a quick lunch, and viewing the beautiful cathedral and views from Piazza San Marco. Upon our return, we bolted to the Accademia in the center of Florence so he could catch a glimpse of Michelangelo's David before he departed. It was the first time I'd seen it too, and I'm so glad we made the time to experience its astonishing presence together. It's way more impressive than the Mona Lisa in person, I can tell you that much.
La citta bella di Venezia <3On our last night in Florence, all five of us had one more dinner together at one of the restaurants in Piazza della Repubblica, got gelato, then relaxed while the boys smoked cigars like fancy pantses by the Duomo. From there, we relaxed together until it was time for me to go to bed and for them to get their taxi to the airport at 4am. Saying goodbye to everyone was heartbreaking, and I cannot wait to be home to have a reunion with the group and reminisce over the memories. Saying goodbye to Marc was obviously the most difficult, however. Even though we're used to long distance from seeing each other only twice a month at home, this has been a challenge. It was hard to let him go, but in just over a month, I'll be back in the states for good. I have to fully embrace my last 5-6 weeks here, but there is no denying that I miss being in America with my friends and loved ones. It's time to get down to the nitty gritty with school, though, and ace these classes like a boss. Stay tuned for a new post soon! Arrivederci! :)
Monday, October 31, 2011
Oui Louvre Paris
Yeah, that's right. You better enjoy that title full of delightful puns. Anyway, Paris was amazing. It was the fourth stop on my 10 day trip around Northern Europe for fall break with Bus2Alps. Though I was exhausted from my many days of traveling and overnight bus rides, I was able to muster up enough energy to fully submerge myself into the beauty that is Paris, France.
The first night, I sucked it up and went to another pub crawl. Again, I didn't drink anything, but I was able to hang out with all of my friends and see a bit of the seedier part of Paris before being amazed by the beauty of the main area of the city the next day. At one point, we stole my friend's camera in one of the bars and got some pretty hilarious shots to remember that night.
The next morning, we took our final 3 hour walking tour of the city. We were able to see the beauty of the bridges, canals, buildings, and atmosphere of the city. We ended just past the Louvre at a park filled with fountains and sun (finally...since the majority of our trip was cloudy). From there, Aimee, Josh, and I decided to wait in line to get to the top of the Eiffel Tower. Seeing the towering structure above you in person is incredible, and it truly completes the Paris skyline. We only ended up getting to the second floor of the tower due to how crowded it was, but we were still able to take in some breathtaking views of the city of love, and hey...we can still say we climbed the Eiffel Tower! From there, we took a stroll to the Louvre, where we were able to see the Mona Lisa live and in person (it's a little anticlimactic, to be honest, but I can still say I did it) and observe some of the magnificent works that are located in the intimidatingly large museum. From there, we continued being super classy and had dinner at McDonald's. Yup. We had McDonald's for dinner in France. I mean, what else do you do when you've spent way more money than you should have?
The next day, we took a train out to Versailles. Our subway actually broke down on the way, and we ended up being quite late for our tour, and so we had to cram it into about an hour and a half instead of 4 hours. We got there and got an up close and personal view of the stunning and elaborate gardens and fountains with a tour guide to tell us stories along the way. Eventually, though, we wandered from the tour to see inside the actual palace itself. Nothing compares to the rich, excessive decor of this place. There was gold everywhere, paintings and sculptures lining each and every room, and even a hall of mirrors where, back in the 1400s, people would see their reflections for the first time. The entire place left my friends and I in awe. We even had time to catch a fountain show, where all of the fountains in the gardens were turned on as classical music played.
We then hopped on a train back into Paris and spent some time souvenir shopping and visiting Notre Dame. We happened to go inside Notre Dame during a French mass, and it was a really spiritual experience. Mind you, I'm not very religious, but walking through this beautiful, famous church (no, I did not see the hunchback) and hearing voices singing while seeing candles lit everywhere definitely hit that soft, emotional spot I have hidden deep down inside. I smiled to myself the entire time as I walked through the church and felt an odd calm.
After this, we hustled back to the hostel, got on the bus, and spent 15 hours overnight driving back to Florence! I am now back at home and preparing to go back to class at 6pm. WOOHOO. Marc and three of our friends were supposed to be here yesterday afternoon, but the random snowstorm thwarted our plans. The poor things have been going nonstop for three days trying to get here, and they will be arriving...right in the middle of my class. I'm going to meet them as soon as I'm out, and I can't wait. My next blog post will be filling you in on our week together in Firenze. :) Ciao!
The first night, I sucked it up and went to another pub crawl. Again, I didn't drink anything, but I was able to hang out with all of my friends and see a bit of the seedier part of Paris before being amazed by the beauty of the main area of the city the next day. At one point, we stole my friend's camera in one of the bars and got some pretty hilarious shots to remember that night.
The next morning, we took our final 3 hour walking tour of the city. We were able to see the beauty of the bridges, canals, buildings, and atmosphere of the city. We ended just past the Louvre at a park filled with fountains and sun (finally...since the majority of our trip was cloudy). From there, Aimee, Josh, and I decided to wait in line to get to the top of the Eiffel Tower. Seeing the towering structure above you in person is incredible, and it truly completes the Paris skyline. We only ended up getting to the second floor of the tower due to how crowded it was, but we were still able to take in some breathtaking views of the city of love, and hey...we can still say we climbed the Eiffel Tower! From there, we took a stroll to the Louvre, where we were able to see the Mona Lisa live and in person (it's a little anticlimactic, to be honest, but I can still say I did it) and observe some of the magnificent works that are located in the intimidatingly large museum. From there, we continued being super classy and had dinner at McDonald's. Yup. We had McDonald's for dinner in France. I mean, what else do you do when you've spent way more money than you should have?
The next day, we took a train out to Versailles. Our subway actually broke down on the way, and we ended up being quite late for our tour, and so we had to cram it into about an hour and a half instead of 4 hours. We got there and got an up close and personal view of the stunning and elaborate gardens and fountains with a tour guide to tell us stories along the way. Eventually, though, we wandered from the tour to see inside the actual palace itself. Nothing compares to the rich, excessive decor of this place. There was gold everywhere, paintings and sculptures lining each and every room, and even a hall of mirrors where, back in the 1400s, people would see their reflections for the first time. The entire place left my friends and I in awe. We even had time to catch a fountain show, where all of the fountains in the gardens were turned on as classical music played.
We then hopped on a train back into Paris and spent some time souvenir shopping and visiting Notre Dame. We happened to go inside Notre Dame during a French mass, and it was a really spiritual experience. Mind you, I'm not very religious, but walking through this beautiful, famous church (no, I did not see the hunchback) and hearing voices singing while seeing candles lit everywhere definitely hit that soft, emotional spot I have hidden deep down inside. I smiled to myself the entire time as I walked through the church and felt an odd calm.
After this, we hustled back to the hostel, got on the bus, and spent 15 hours overnight driving back to Florence! I am now back at home and preparing to go back to class at 6pm. WOOHOO. Marc and three of our friends were supposed to be here yesterday afternoon, but the random snowstorm thwarted our plans. The poor things have been going nonstop for three days trying to get here, and they will be arriving...right in the middle of my class. I'm going to meet them as soon as I'm out, and I can't wait. My next blog post will be filling you in on our week together in Firenze. :) Ciao!
We're All Sterdam!
Hi, everyone! I'm now safely back in Florence after my 10 day journey around Northern Europe with Bus2Alps. You've already seen my Prague & Berlin posts, but the last two cities, Amsterdam and Paris, gave me little time to add any blogs until now. So here you will now be seeing two upcoming posts to fill you in on the second half of my unforgettable trip.
Amsterdam, as you know, is a big tourist attraction--mainly because of the legalized marijuana and mushrooms, as well as legalized prostitution. Being the straight-edge that I am in many ways, one would think that this would not be an enjoyable place for me to visit. However, in the end, I loved it! Amsterdam is actually a really quaint city. The houses and buildings are tall and thin and resemble doll houses all lined up in a row. The Red Light District, however, is a tad bit different. That's actually where our hostel was located. We began a three hour tour first thing our first morning there that took us through all the main landmarks, including seeing our first few prostitutes in the Red Light District. In this district, the prostitutes are protected by the law (and each other) from anyone trying to expose them publicly (they will smash your camera and pee on it if you try and take a picture),. They display themselves in rented out windows with red lighting and pose trying to get passers by to come in and pay for their services. It's unreal. Also, look out for the blue lights. Those mean that they may have lady and man parts! Uh oh. hahaha So many fun facts come out during those tours.
In the few days we were there, besides seeing the prostitutes and watching half the people on the trip get high from the legal marijuana from the "coffee shops" around town, we went into the Anne Frank House, explored the city, and had amazing pancakes. The Anne Frank house cost 8.5 Euro to get into and explained Anne's story along with artifacts from her family's stay in the secret apartment. We also got to walk through the actual apartment where they had been housed in Amsterdam before being betrayed and discovered, see actual journal pages from her diary, and really try to understand what it was like being cramped in that small apartment for two years, hoping she wouldn't be taken away by the Nazis. It was really emotional to see. Walking through made Anne less of a character (or Apples to Apples trump card) in my mind and more of a real person. Between that and seeing everything in Berlin, I was educated on the Holocaust and Nazism during this trip in such a real way. It was amazing to experience.
My friends and I also found our way to the "I Amsterdam" sign in the middle of the nicer part of the city. We spent a good amount of time posing on the letters and relaxing in the park nearby. We then made our way over to this fantastic pancake house, which was built around an old carousel. I splurged a tad and got the Carousel Pancakes...the most elaborate creation on the menu. It was a giant pancake covered in powdered sugar, mixed fruit, two scoops of ice cream, and whipped cream. After not having pancakes, or any American breakfast food for that matter, for the past two months, it was like heaven. After that, my friends and I did some shopping, returned to the hostel, fell asleep at an embarrassingly early time ("It's 9:30...and we're in Amsterdam..."), and then got up to head to Paris the next morning.
Even though Amsterdam is a pretty scandalous place, I fell in love with the city and really enjoyed the easygoing culture, as well as the quaint appearance of the area. Even if you're not a partier, I'd highly recommend a visit. :)
Amsterdam, as you know, is a big tourist attraction--mainly because of the legalized marijuana and mushrooms, as well as legalized prostitution. Being the straight-edge that I am in many ways, one would think that this would not be an enjoyable place for me to visit. However, in the end, I loved it! Amsterdam is actually a really quaint city. The houses and buildings are tall and thin and resemble doll houses all lined up in a row. The Red Light District, however, is a tad bit different. That's actually where our hostel was located. We began a three hour tour first thing our first morning there that took us through all the main landmarks, including seeing our first few prostitutes in the Red Light District. In this district, the prostitutes are protected by the law (and each other) from anyone trying to expose them publicly (they will smash your camera and pee on it if you try and take a picture),. They display themselves in rented out windows with red lighting and pose trying to get passers by to come in and pay for their services. It's unreal. Also, look out for the blue lights. Those mean that they may have lady and man parts! Uh oh. hahaha So many fun facts come out during those tours.In the few days we were there, besides seeing the prostitutes and watching half the people on the trip get high from the legal marijuana from the "coffee shops" around town, we went into the Anne Frank House, explored the city, and had amazing pancakes. The Anne Frank house cost 8.5 Euro to get into and explained Anne's story along with artifacts from her family's stay in the secret apartment. We also got to walk through the actual apartment where they had been housed in Amsterdam before being betrayed and discovered, see actual journal pages from her diary, and really try to understand what it was like being cramped in that small apartment for two years, hoping she wouldn't be taken away by the Nazis. It was really emotional to see. Walking through made Anne less of a character (or Apples to Apples trump card) in my mind and more of a real person. Between that and seeing everything in Berlin, I was educated on the Holocaust and Nazism during this trip in such a real way. It was amazing to experience.
Outside of the Anne Frank house
My friends and I also found our way to the "I Amsterdam" sign in the middle of the nicer part of the city. We spent a good amount of time posing on the letters and relaxing in the park nearby. We then made our way over to this fantastic pancake house, which was built around an old carousel. I splurged a tad and got the Carousel Pancakes...the most elaborate creation on the menu. It was a giant pancake covered in powdered sugar, mixed fruit, two scoops of ice cream, and whipped cream. After not having pancakes, or any American breakfast food for that matter, for the past two months, it was like heaven. After that, my friends and I did some shopping, returned to the hostel, fell asleep at an embarrassingly early time ("It's 9:30...and we're in Amsterdam..."), and then got up to head to Paris the next morning.
Love.
Even though Amsterdam is a pretty scandalous place, I fell in love with the city and really enjoyed the easygoing culture, as well as the quaint appearance of the area. Even if you're not a partier, I'd highly recommend a visit. :)
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