Naples, Ischia, Capri, Pompei Part I

I'm sorry I've been neglectful with the blog! We are so busy here it is difficult to find time to write with everything plus homework. I will try to do a quick recap of one of the busiest and most wonderful weekends I have had here in Italy.

On Thursday we booked it straight from class to our apartment quickly packed a tote bag with the essentials and narrowly made a train to Naples. Now, Naples is the second largest city in Italy after room and its widely renowned for its Pizza, since that is where pizza was developed. The most famous pizza, the Margherita, was developed in Naples for the coming of Queen Margherita (she was visiting from some other country) and they made the pizza with tomato, mozzeralla and basil to resemble the italian flag. Naples, unfortunately, is also known for being the headquarters for the italian mob, its poor sanitation/garbage problems, child prostitution and generally not being the best place for tourists. However, we wanted to go to see it and mostly wanted to go to the islands and the coast....

So we made it to Naples via train by about 7pm, wandered through the tiny stinky streets to find our hostel. This place is full of crazy drivers. The scooters drive right onto the streets, and the stoplights are more of an advisory thing and you might just get hit on a red light in a cross walk because truly, the italians in Naples have a "vaffanculo" type of attitude (excuse my italian.) However, it was refreshing to be in a place that was so gritty and authentic. The people were very nice (our hostel manager went far out of his way to help us) and the food was inexpensive and delicious. They even upgraded our room because there had been some kind of issue and moved us to a more centrally located hostel, called aptly, "The Pizza Hostel". So, after dropping our bags we set off to find Da Michele, the famed pizzeria that Elizabeth Gilbert went to in Eat, Pray, Love. With my scant italian (everyone else was pronouncing it wrong) we finally made it there by taxi. Now, this is a little gross, but I don't want to leave anything out....

The wait for pizza was loooooong. So we got ours to go and ate it right there on the sidewalk. We devoured it. Like rapid wolves. Next to garbage. But it was some of the best pizza I've had in my entire life, and one of my classier moments. (Don't cringe too much, mom.) After that we were exhausted and made our way back to the hotel room and fell asleep with the elusive island of Ischia on the itinerary for the next day...

Life in Firenze

It is so beautiful here! But it is getting hot. I am somewhat settling into the day to day life and also schoolwork. We have our daily walk to school, which takes us across Piazza San Lorenzo and there is a beautiful gigantic church, cobblestone streets, fountains, a carousel and large wonderful arches that we pass by. We stop at a little caffe where the Italian businessmen order their morning breakfast and get a cappuccino and a brioche or croissant. Yesterday we went shopping at a wonderful italian department store, Oviesse, and I got a complete beach ensemble for when we go to the Amalfi Coast and also to Cinque Terre. We also went to the Mercato Centrale last night which is like a large flea market full of wonderful italian goods like leather, pottery, scarves, purses, etc. I got a wonderful florentine ring and some gifts for my mom and sister. We wondered around and say the Medici palace, the historic family that ruled the area. After that we had dinner at ZaZa, a highly recommended restuarant in town that our Italian landlord suggested, also in a Rick Steves book. The decor was kind of kitsch but had a rustic flair with mismatched tables and chairs, quirky animal print dinner plates and vibrant colors on the wall. The food was amazing! Best pizza in Italy thus far (I think only Naples will top it). Also, I ordered our entire meal in Italian!! I know that may not be that amazing but it was pretty exciting for me and my roommates were impressed. I try to the best I can with my little Italian for Dummies book, I think half the fun is tossing around a phrase or two in Italian while around the city. Since we dont have school tomorrow we are going to go to Space Electronic, a local club that one of our teachers called a 'Gonzaga tradition since 1996'. Tomorrow we might go to the Florence outlets since we didnt make it there the other day. For the first time in a long time I feel happy. I feel very akin to how Elizabeth Gilbert felt in Eat Pray Love, like I am on a similar journey that she was on in some ways. And Italy has the ability to rejuvinate and awaken the mind, body and spirit. The food is wonderful, friends are amazing, and I am constantly busy with things to do, see and learn.

Start of school...etc

So, yesterday we had orientation. We saw the David, which was amazing and much larger than I realized. We also had a wonderful 5 course meal at a local ristorante with everyone (including our professors), plenty of vino and pasta. Today I have my first classes and we are going to go shopping this afternoon!

Rocky Start

So yes, after the snafu with the trains I had a nice hot shower, a long nap and took a nice walk around the area near my hostel. Florence really is a beautiful city and I have only seen a little bit of it. I found a cute little department store and wanted to buy everything. And I found the open market in Piazza Medici (I think) where they sell purses, scarves, plates, art and leather goods. I already have a list of all the things I want to buy/mail home (since my suitcase is so tiny, or might have to get another suitcase to bring home...hahaha). Anyway..I had a delicious smoked swordfish sandwhich for dinner with a glass of wine (bicchiere un vino). I have never had swordfish before but it was actually really tasty, or I was starving. I hadn't eaten since London so that latter is very possible. I went back to the hostel and tried to do a little homework and then I decided to get some gelato, I had an amazing chocolate hazelnut. Oh, and for the record I have already been hit on by no less than five italian men in the whole 24 hours or so that I have been here.

Not to complain, because I am in Italy and it is beautiful here but.....
1. I think I twisted my ankle/foot last night and it hurts
2. I waited for over an hour at the train station for my roomies and they aren't coming until 5pm and that means
3. I have to carry around my luggage and kill all this time

But sitting here in the cafe with my chocolate muffin and cappuccino isn't so bad...

Making it to Florence...barely....

So, after literally a day and half of traveling (Reno --> LAX --> London --> Rome) I arrived in Rome at about 5:45pm. I got my little suitcase, and after a little bit of confusion got on the train from the airport to Roma Termini (the main train station in downtown Rome). Sounds good right? And then all I needed to do was hop on another train for a short hour and a half ride to Firenze.

Simple. Except that I got on the wrong train.

Ten Things About My Flight

1. Met a girl from UNR at LAX. She was awesome. Go Wolf Pack.

2. Sat next to a fat german man all the way to London. And he took my window seat. But I demanded it back and he tried to play the "I don't understand you card" so I shoved my ticket in his face. If I have to sit next to you at least I'm going to have the window!

3. Watched the Princess and the Frog

4. Had the best sandwich at Pret in the London Airport.

5. Starbucks in London calls oatmeal "porridge"

6. Did the first two readings for my Justice and Society Class

7. Watched Crazy Heart. Does anyone else think Jeff Bridges kissing someone like half his age is kind of gross?

8. Learned that all people from New Jersey are annoying (minus Jen Brzezicki) because some wannabe snookie in first class was yammering on the whole flight. It was not Jerseylicious. It was god-awful annoying.

9. They don't even look at your passport in customs

10. The Roma airport is out in the middle of nowhere.

Today is the Day!

I can't believe it but I am leaving in a couple hours for the trip of a lifetime to live in Florence for part of the summer. I truly never believed this day would come, and with all that has happened in my life this last semester I feel extremely lucky to have this opportunity to reujuvinate, relax, and experience a different culture. I am only taking a little suitcase that I can also carry on my back (its a back pack with a rolley thing) which makes me nervous because I would love to bring so much more stuff! But, I know I will be happier for packing lighter. I have 3 dresses, 1 pair of jeans, 4 pairs of capris and a whole bunch of tank tops plus 2 pairs of walking sandals, 1 pair of flip flops (mostly for hostel showers), and 1 pair of nike mary janes. I did however give in and I am bringing both my straightener and my curling iron (a girl has to look good right?), some select jewelry pieces and a small bag of toiletries. All in all, it is amazing all of that fit in this little bag and that I didn't end up bringing a bigger suitcase.
Well, I have to go get ready for my flight!!

*Note: This isn't exactly the bag I have but its something similar

Airline Woes

So, the other day I am checking my e-mail and I have one concerning my flight reservation. I call CheapAir to see whats up and it turns out my flight has been flat out cancelled because British Airways is on strike! I wanted to cry and I started freaking out because it seemed like my dreams of studying abroad in Italy where all crumbling around me.

However, after hours on the phone I finally got another flight, except now I leave tomorrow! Gah! How am I going to get everything done, packed and ready? I guess the plus side is that I will get to spend a few extra days in Italy, who can complain about that, right?

I hope this Icelandic volcano doesn't screw with my flight to London. It is kind of sad I'm leaving earlier than excpected because I wanted to see everyone and take a day or two just to be lazy and rest, but that isn't going to happen now. Oh well, off to packing.

My Apartment in Florence!

So, I'm living about a 10 minute walk from where we will be having school in Florence and 2-3 blocks from the Duomo in downtown Florence, it should be awesome! I'm rooming with two classmates, Katy and Dianna.

Hello!

This is a blog for my adventures this summer living in Florence, Italy and taking law classes. I will post my trip preparations, thoughts, photos and hopefully some fun and exciting stories!

Ciao!