I had a fantastic weekend in Rome. We were lucky to have beautiful weather - the sun was out the whole time. My only complaint would be that we did not have enough time. We arrived Saturday late morning and had to leave Sunday afternoon. That said, I saw many of the important sites, including the Colosseum, Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museum, Pantheon, Saint Peter's Square, The Spanish Steps, etc, etc. We walked around the city, over the river to Trastevere for dinner. We stayed at the Kolbe Hotel, a beautiful 4 star hotel with a backyard full of orange, lemon and clementine trees (which I helped myself to). I took 100+ photos, but I chose my favorites to share:
Il Colosseo
La Fontana di Trevi
The most delicious Roman pizza
Tartufi per 135 euro
Trastevere
Pasta con aragoste
Pasta con pomodori, mozarrella bufala e melanzane
Sistine Chapel
Cannot wait to return. There was a market next to our hotel that had lots of local vendors selling fresh cheese, preserves, produce and bread...with LOTS of opportunities to taste. I bought a pumpkin spread that tastes incredible with ricotta on fresh bread. YUM.
I've managed to succumb to some sort of head cold. I'm one more sleepless night away from popping a strong sleeping pill and knocking out for 12 hours. It doesn't help that I don't understand any of the over-the-counter medicine labels in the supermarket. I have been so miserable in class the past 3 days that my teacher actually slipped me a piece of paper with a list of medicines I should try out. I hadn't even told her I was sick -- I must look like death.
Despite a rough start to the week, I have ROME to look forward to this weekend. Lots of great pictures are sure to come.
Also, I'm also happy that I'm not back home -- did I read 9 degrees F today on weather.com?
If you are ever in Siena and you love hot beverages and delicious sweets, or you just want to relax...go to the Tea Room on Via Porta Giustizia. It is the perfect hideaway for rainy Sundays such as today. You can sample dozens of exotic teas and lounge in the cozy atmosphere. Definitely not a tourist trap -- I felt like I was doing my homework in my imaginary Italian grandmother's living room.
And there is a couch. With a fireplace.
This Friday I went to Florence for the night. As in 9pm to 8am. I'm definitely going back, but I'm glad that I chose to live in Siena -- I heard English everywhere I went and they were even playing American ESPN on the tvs in some of the bars. Whats up with that?!?
BUT, we did manage a fairly nice picture of the Americans that night:
This was one of the most American places we went (notice the American college signatures on the walls)
Above is a picture of the amazing mozzarella that Antonio brought for us. Tonight, they made pizza at home with the remaining. I missed it because I had dinner with the family that I met last week.
Today was very long. In anticipation for a snowy morning (which never happened), our professor postponed class for 11am. This means we didn't finish until 4:15 pm. I went straight from class to Porta Romana to spend the afternoon with my family (can I call them "my" family yet?). They continued to surprise me with their hospitality. Le ragazze and I spent a few hours helping each other with Italian and English. I find it interesting that they have difficulty with sounds that they don't use in Italian. For example, we spent a lot of time practicing the "th" sound used in English. I liken it to me attempting to roll my R's.
And then I helped them cook dinner. Of course, it was fantastic:
Pepperoni
Zucca e una torta di spinaci e ricotta
During dinner, it started to snow and the whole family FREAKED out. They went out onto the terrace to watch it fall, as did every other person in the neighborhood. I guess snow is a big deal here.......
The mother gave me 2 books in Italian to read, one about the history of Siena and the other about il Palio. I feel very lucky to have connected with this family. Even in Italy, I speak English most of the time, because I live with so many Americans. It's unfortunate and ideally we would practice our Italian at home, but it is just more practical. Spending time with this family is definitely challenging my language skills. I'm seeing them again next Thursday.
Also, I had 3 caffe' today. But the 3rd one was at their house at 9pm, so it was against my will. I can't be rude right? Looks like I'm getting zero sleep tonight........
This is my friend Antonio from Napoli. Yesterday, his mother brought us fresh Neapolitan mozzarella. I am not a huge fan of cheese, but these tasted like little pillowy clouds of heaven. Thank you, Antonio's mother, for officially making any other mozzarella I ever try insignificant.
I had a great first full weekend. Saturday's lunch with the Italian family went great. I walked to their home in Porta Romana. Of course, their house was gorgeous. The grandmother lives on the first floor, while the family lives upstairs. The best part was their balcony, overlooking their olive trees. In the backyard they grow every kind of fruit and vegetable I can think of: pears, apples, apricots, peaches, artichokes, basil, rosemary, mint, squash, KIWI. I'm sure I'm forgetting some.
Porta Romana
View from the balcony
Olive trees
The family was incredibly nice. None of them speak any English, except for the oldest daughter (16) who has learned a few phrases in High School. We spoke in Italian the entire afternoon. And we ate....a lot.
I wish I took pictures, but I didn't want to be rude during the meal. Pasta with pumpkin sauce, a frittata, chick peas, potatoes. Followed by a fruit basket with fruit and nuts from the backyard and of course...dolce. Chocolate panforte. Amazing. I've never been so full after a meal, but it was worth it. They invited me back next week to practice speaking more, as well as work on English with the girls.
For dinner, we went to a pizzeria. I was so full from lunch, that I got a lighter meal but it was delicious just the same!
Salmone, zucchine e funghi
My friends' pizze looked delcious, I may need to go back...
Finally, the gelato. In a perfect world, I would eat this every day. Oh wait, I can!
Now time for another grueling week of class comforted only by the fact that when it's over at 1:30, I'm in an Italian paradise. Ciao!
Its 11am. Running on 4 hours of sleep. Made it through the first 2 hours of Italian class. Struggling...to...keep...eyes...open....
But no fear! What's this? An espresso machine in the hallway of my school?!?
yup.
And it isn't like some cheap version of the good stuff (or maybe it is, and my American palette can't tell the difference). Figuring out how to use this machine was the highlight of my day. First, choose your type of caffe: espresso, macchiatto (a "spotting" of steamed milk), cappuccino, etc. Then pick how many sugars you want. Press Enter and enjoy the sweet sweet sound of fresh espresso beans grinding. As if I didn't love Italy enough.
Why had I only had 4 hours of sleep, you ask? Apparently American undergraduate college kids aren't the only ones who consider Thursday the official start to the weekend. The diversity of the people I'm meeting still shocks me. The kids upstairs (italians, brits and polish) have lived here for the past year, so they know other students living nearby. They have been incredible at making my roommates and I feel welcome -- inviting us to dinner, introducing us to their friends, etc.
Interesting things I've learned in the past 24 hours:
1. Brits practice their American accents -- apparently we sound glamorous, "like we're from Hollywood".
2. They also don't think all of America is like the Jersey Shore (yes, I asked them). In fact, they have an equally atrocious equivalent: The Geordie Shore
3. Europeans take soccer very seriously (I mean FOOTBALL. sorry.)
3. **Italian men are just as aggressive as everyone warned me. Also they pull at my hair -- rude.
4. Having Italian roommates helps when doing grammar worksheets for homework.
My Italian is coming along quite nicely -- I even understood what the woman at the gym said to me today! Ciao ciao ciaaaaaoo, parlo Italiano ;) ;)
Also, gelato is becoming a daily routine (pistachio...mmm....)
Buona serata! M
PS If you were as equally in disbelief that Jersey Shore exists in England, here is a clip of the hilarious opening credits:
**I would also like to point out that not ALL Italians are creepy. But many of the ones in the bars are entirely too pushy.I happen to adore my Italian friends, who came to my female friends' and my rescue when we were getting unwanted attention. When in Europe, travel in packs!
Ciao tutti! I'm starting to get into a routine: wake up, espresso, school, espresso, homework, gym, cook. Can't wait for the weekend -- the Italians upstairs are going to show us the nightlife of Siena.
This Saturday I am meeting an Italian family for lunch. My adviser reached out to me, because their daughter wants to converse with someone who speaks English. I am excited but nervous!
Also, did you know that like 90 percent of the music that Italians listen to is straight from America? I even heard "Call Me Maybe" at the gym...
Buy 10 caffe, get one free. My Italian Starbucks rewards card :)
Today was our first day of classes. I've determined a two things:
1. 4 hours straight of Italian is a bit overwhelming. I'm sure I'll get used to it, but this kind of schedule is much different than my easy breezy schedule last semester.
2. I am going to become much more effective at understanding Italian speakers at full speed. Most Italians speak slowly when they realize that they are conversing with an American..my teachers aren't so sympathetic.
The class was definitely challenging, but if I stick with the higher level, I'm sure that it will get easier. I do love that within my class there are students from all over the world - Japan, China, Turkey, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Australia, Sweden...just the name a few. I look forward to personally getting to know them.
Now I must go study...I am in denial that I must do schoolwork instead of simply wander around this beautiful city. Oh well!
Buongiorno, or for my friends/family reading this back in New England -- Buona mattina. It is 3pm but it has already been a long day. This morning we walked for the first time to the university. It is attached to a mall (?) which is strange but convenient. We took a placement exam to test our abilities with the language. Although I found the test VERY difficult, I placed higher than I thought--success! I'm expecting quite a challenge tomorrow when classes start, but I am equally excited to be speaking only Italian for 4 hours every day. Being in an apartment with 8 Americans, we speak more English than Italian.
Yesterday evening we met our Contemporary history professor, who took us on a brief tour. It was a great chance to see some of the le strade piccole, away from the main road.
I just got back from my first Sienese run! It felt so good to get back in my routine. This morning, we walked over to La Fortezza Medicea and I returned there for my run. Concerts and festivals are held there in the summer, but it is mostly a walking loop in the off-season. It has a beautiful view of the city.
Also, I had gelato for lunch (because why not?)
View from Fortress
Outside the Fortress
Grom Gelateria. I had pistachio e chocolate hazelnut. YUM!
I don't think I'll ever get tired of taking pictures of my meals:
La Pizza Napoli - anchovies, capers, pomodoro sauce e formaggio.
Plan for tomorrow: There is a running loop right outside the city center and I plan on finding it. I miss running every day, but I'm not trying to twist an ankle on the cobblestone streets! Supposedly there are also several gyms nearby which my suite mates and I are going to investigate.
Buona sera tutti <3
It is another beautiful day. One of my roommates arrived today and we explored the city a bit. It is amazingly easy to get lost in this city, but just as easy to find your way again. Every back road we took eventually led back to Piazza del Campo. And I got a macchiatto for 1 euro down the street from the apartment. I could get used to this!
I'm also sensing a gelato tasting in the near future....
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Buongiorno! Today is absolutely BEAUTIFUL. I was sweating in my coat sitting by il Campo, and probably managed to get a little sunburnt. I walked around aimlessly this morning, admiring and wanting to take pictures of everything. Elena treated me to my first Italian breakfast (although it was at noon): un macchiato caffe ed un brioche. Che squisito ;)
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Terrifying update:
I just arrived in Siena. My wonderful adviser Elena found me at Piazza Gramsci even though I took the wrong bus. The roughest part of the past 24 hours was the grueling 5 hour long wait at the Rome Aeroporto for my bus to take me to Siena. Apparently I have the next 4 days to explore and do whatever I please. Pictures soon of my apartment. But now I need some Zzzzzz's....
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