4/25/2010-- Portland, Oregon
Things I missed about America include but are not limited to:
*Maple Syrup, honey, real ketchup, and condiments in general that are not olive oil and vinegar
* Non-fat milk
* Big beds
* No shower shoes
* Filtered and free water
* Pedestrian right of way
That said, the things that I miss about Florence is an infinitely longer list and I am yet to be home for 24 hours. I cannot even begin to fashion a summation of my feelings about the experience as a whole. I am thrilled to be back and see my family and yet simultaneously yearning for one more walk up to Piazzale Michelangelo, one more euro cone of Gelato from La Carraia, one more gypsy harassing me for spare change. I am alarmed at this stage to be waking up in a room sans roommates, and not exiting my house to a busy street of speeding buses, bikes, and cigarette smoke. I will forever yearn to be back in Flo which just motivates me to prioritize a goal of returning some day soon. As the famous graffiti says, look after my heart, Florence, I have left it with you.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Corte d' Azur: Chicken Fights, Yachts, and finally some ocean.
4/12/2010-- Southern France
I am in complete and utter denial about our eminent departure from Florence. That said, if one were to theoretically leave, and request a closing tour, this past weekend's experience would be the epitome of what anyone could hope for. The South of France blew every expectation I had into it's crystal clear blue waters.
Day 1: Lounging, sunning, general merriment on the beach in Nice.
Day 2: Lounging, sunning, general merriment on the beach in Cannes. This concluded with a group-wide (keeping in mind we were rolling around 75 deep) chicken fight- session in the waves. One of the top-five happiest days of my life, hands down. Joy radiated from every person and scene. The sun was glorious, the water moderate, the entire ambiance was perfection.
Day 3: Monte Carlo/ Monaco, where luxury liners, race tracks, and casinos are a-plenty, and envy is solicited around every corner. I dream of retiring in a place 10% as amazing as here.
All in all, the weekend was relaxing, time for friends who have moved us in special and peculiar ways throughout the semester. I returned to Florence (despite a bus-breakdown circa Pisa aeroporto) feeling ready to face the coming onslaught of dead/finals week with only feelings of utter bliss.
I am in complete and utter denial about our eminent departure from Florence. That said, if one were to theoretically leave, and request a closing tour, this past weekend's experience would be the epitome of what anyone could hope for. The South of France blew every expectation I had into it's crystal clear blue waters.
Day 1: Lounging, sunning, general merriment on the beach in Nice.
Day 2: Lounging, sunning, general merriment on the beach in Cannes. This concluded with a group-wide (keeping in mind we were rolling around 75 deep) chicken fight- session in the waves. One of the top-five happiest days of my life, hands down. Joy radiated from every person and scene. The sun was glorious, the water moderate, the entire ambiance was perfection.
Day 3: Monte Carlo/ Monaco, where luxury liners, race tracks, and casinos are a-plenty, and envy is solicited around every corner. I dream of retiring in a place 10% as amazing as here.
All in all, the weekend was relaxing, time for friends who have moved us in special and peculiar ways throughout the semester. I returned to Florence (despite a bus-breakdown circa Pisa aeroporto) feeling ready to face the coming onslaught of dead/finals week with only feelings of utter bliss.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Munchen Munchkins-- Easter Break
4/1/2010-- Munich, Germany
The theory that all any man needs to attract a harem of women is a puppy or baby must have originated in Munich, a city so stock-piled with both it was near overwhelming. Babies (or as we fondly referred to them as "nuggets" or "nuggs") were often found in tow of the mothers, wearing a variety of entertaining and precious outfits. Some gems were entirely-denim ensemble nugg, afro nugg, dinosaur hat nugg, and beyond. Dogs were also abundant and accompanied their owners to just about anywhere (one also was alarmingly spotted exiting a Hofbrauhaus bathroom stall). The discovery of such adorable creatures around every corner led me to believe very early on that I was destined to love Munich. I did not expect to like Germany nearly as much as I did but it took me by surprise and ended up becoming one of my favorite cities thus far.
Day 1: Dachau concentration camp. An ethereal haze of heaviness hung over every building we visited, reconstructed or not. The feeling one gets upon entering the gas chamber was indescribable. While Dachau was said not to be an extermination camp it was apparent that there were still souls lost in that room at the hand of the SS. After attending Good Friday mass at the camp, we frolicked around the inner city, had lunch at the Pauliner factory, and dinner at the infamous Hofbrauhaus.
Day 2: Five hour bike tour which was unreal. We toured many high points of Munich and ended by my personal highlight of watching local surfers master the wakes of the Isar river. This moment alone made the entire trip worthwhile. The day was glorious, sunny and also 20x better than walking because we got to witness the struggles of 63 college students attempting to operate gracefully beach cruiser bikes, hilarity ensued.
Day 3: Happy Easter! An 11 hour bus ride home with a stop at the Neuschwastein castle and a beautiful drive along the Austrian alps we were back in Florence!
Day 4: I have the wonderful privilege to accompany a long-time family friend to her and her husband's vineyard in San Gimignano, where I was treated to an exceptional four-course Easter Monday traditional Italian feast. The wine, food, and company were all unparalleled and the experience as a whole was beyond relaxing. The perfect end to my Easter holiday. Buona Pasqua!
The theory that all any man needs to attract a harem of women is a puppy or baby must have originated in Munich, a city so stock-piled with both it was near overwhelming. Babies (or as we fondly referred to them as "nuggets" or "nuggs") were often found in tow of the mothers, wearing a variety of entertaining and precious outfits. Some gems were entirely-denim ensemble nugg, afro nugg, dinosaur hat nugg, and beyond. Dogs were also abundant and accompanied their owners to just about anywhere (one also was alarmingly spotted exiting a Hofbrauhaus bathroom stall). The discovery of such adorable creatures around every corner led me to believe very early on that I was destined to love Munich. I did not expect to like Germany nearly as much as I did but it took me by surprise and ended up becoming one of my favorite cities thus far.
Day 1: Dachau concentration camp. An ethereal haze of heaviness hung over every building we visited, reconstructed or not. The feeling one gets upon entering the gas chamber was indescribable. While Dachau was said not to be an extermination camp it was apparent that there were still souls lost in that room at the hand of the SS. After attending Good Friday mass at the camp, we frolicked around the inner city, had lunch at the Pauliner factory, and dinner at the infamous Hofbrauhaus.
Day 2: Five hour bike tour which was unreal. We toured many high points of Munich and ended by my personal highlight of watching local surfers master the wakes of the Isar river. This moment alone made the entire trip worthwhile. The day was glorious, sunny and also 20x better than walking because we got to witness the struggles of 63 college students attempting to operate gracefully beach cruiser bikes, hilarity ensued.
Day 3: Happy Easter! An 11 hour bus ride home with a stop at the Neuschwastein castle and a beautiful drive along the Austrian alps we were back in Florence!
Day 4: I have the wonderful privilege to accompany a long-time family friend to her and her husband's vineyard in San Gimignano, where I was treated to an exceptional four-course Easter Monday traditional Italian feast. The wine, food, and company were all unparalleled and the experience as a whole was beyond relaxing. The perfect end to my Easter holiday. Buona Pasqua!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
