After a long pause in the bloggosphear, I'm back!
One reason I have been so delayed was because my computer broke! Che peccato! The hard drive died and I had to use my limited Italian vocabulary and the apple tech guys limited English vocab to reach the consensus that I needed to buy a new hard drive for €170. I hate money. But yes my computer is now working. The only bad part is that I basically lost everything. Bummer because I lost my first three weeks of Italian pictures.
It still doesn't ruin the fact that I'm in Rome. Still obsessed.
Actually right now I'm on the train to Firenze! Blogging-on-the-go!a few things could go wrong this trip. There is a train strike that starts tonight and lasts until tomorrow night and I already bought my train ticket home for 6 tomorrow afternoon so hopefully something will work out! I'm going to visit some friends and check out the lay of the land for when I get there. I already missed my first train this morning. I silenced my alarm at 5am. Whoops. Got to termini and was told to get on another train to Orte (?) and transfer to a train going to Florence.
I have the rest of the week alone in Rome so if any of you have suggestions of things I can do that are cheap and exciting, pleaseee let me know!! Classes start a week from Monday. I'm taking ancient roman art, age of baroque, and renaissance art. Oh and Italian. Lots of art history. I couldn't be more excited!!
Also, I bought my tickets to Madrid and Paris for the 1st week in November. I love those cities!
That's all for now. More on Florence later!!
Ciao Bella!
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Things I have learned in Italy
Yesterday I took a day trip to Naples. Excited to eat pizza and experience a new Italian city, we booked our tickets home for late in the afternoon, around 6:30 pm. We left Rome at 8:15 am and purchased the cheapest Trenialia ticket, €10.50 each way. Being our first time going to Termini Stazione, we arrived at 6:30 am, thinking it would take us longer. At that point it was raining in Rome. Alright, deep breath, we're fine, just have to hang out at the train station for three hours. Don't get mugged, don't get mugged! I got a cappuccino and got on the train.
I slept most of the two hours we were on the train. Got to Stazione Centrale in Napoli at around 10:30 am and instantly went looking for L'Antiche Da Michele, the pizza place featured in Eat Pray Love. #obvi.
Took us sometime to find it but arrived before the lunchtime rush. We were seated instantly and the six of us ordered our own pizzas. It was the best pizza I have ever had. ever. Perfect in every way. Here's a picture:
Gorgeous, right?
the dough was light but chewy and the sauce was so simple. Perfect.
Once we all finished our pizza (or tried, i definitely couldn't finish it all) we were all in complete food comas. All we wanted to do was lay down at rub our bellies into a nice long nap. But we couldn't. We were in Naples for another six hours. We walked down the main street from the train station and looked at sunglasses and shoes and then decided to find the National Archeological museum.
We walked back to the train station and looked for the metro. found it but there was actually no way to buy tickets. just open escalators down to the metro. we hopped on and hopped off without any problem. Went to the museum and they wouldn't let us use the student discount because we're not students from the EU. Walked around the museum, hungover from pizza, for two hours. We still had four hours to kill. We found that there's not a lot to do in Naples except eat pizza and buy crappy shoes. The city is very very dirty too, trash everywhere and people are everywhere! Definitely made me realize my San Francisco bubble. We hung out in the train station McDonalds for another hour or two and finally could go and sit on the train. This was the same McDonalds I went to when I was eight when my brother got his camera stolen and he missed America. I think I got an ice cream cone. The train ride home was really gorgeous at sunset but took almost four hours because it took long breaks at every station. It was a very long day.
Here is just a short list of things I have learned in Italy thus far
- There are no toilet seats in public bathrooms. be prepared to squat.
- Rarely is there toilet paper. bring tissues or TP in your bag.
- Bring a lot of water, or be prepared to spend a few euros on water bottles.
- Sometimes you even have to pay to use the bathroom. what?
- Hand sanitizer. 'nuff said.
- Do not buy a return ticket for late in the afternoon/evening. Most tickets allow you to take a train four hours past the time listed on your ticket.
- Police officers do not speak English and are rarely helpful.
That's all for now. I should start studying for my midterm on Wednesday. Almost halfway done with my Intensive Italian! Wish me luck! or better, wish me bocca di luppo (in the mouth of the wolf, as they say in Italian)
te amo, Hallie
I slept most of the two hours we were on the train. Got to Stazione Centrale in Napoli at around 10:30 am and instantly went looking for L'Antiche Da Michele, the pizza place featured in Eat Pray Love. #obvi.
Took us sometime to find it but arrived before the lunchtime rush. We were seated instantly and the six of us ordered our own pizzas. It was the best pizza I have ever had. ever. Perfect in every way. Here's a picture:
Gorgeous, right?
the dough was light but chewy and the sauce was so simple. Perfect.
Once we all finished our pizza (or tried, i definitely couldn't finish it all) we were all in complete food comas. All we wanted to do was lay down at rub our bellies into a nice long nap. But we couldn't. We were in Naples for another six hours. We walked down the main street from the train station and looked at sunglasses and shoes and then decided to find the National Archeological museum.
We walked back to the train station and looked for the metro. found it but there was actually no way to buy tickets. just open escalators down to the metro. we hopped on and hopped off without any problem. Went to the museum and they wouldn't let us use the student discount because we're not students from the EU. Walked around the museum, hungover from pizza, for two hours. We still had four hours to kill. We found that there's not a lot to do in Naples except eat pizza and buy crappy shoes. The city is very very dirty too, trash everywhere and people are everywhere! Definitely made me realize my San Francisco bubble. We hung out in the train station McDonalds for another hour or two and finally could go and sit on the train. This was the same McDonalds I went to when I was eight when my brother got his camera stolen and he missed America. I think I got an ice cream cone. The train ride home was really gorgeous at sunset but took almost four hours because it took long breaks at every station. It was a very long day.
Here is just a short list of things I have learned in Italy thus far
- There are no toilet seats in public bathrooms. be prepared to squat.
- Rarely is there toilet paper. bring tissues or TP in your bag.
- Bring a lot of water, or be prepared to spend a few euros on water bottles.
- Sometimes you even have to pay to use the bathroom. what?
- Hand sanitizer. 'nuff said.
- Do not buy a return ticket for late in the afternoon/evening. Most tickets allow you to take a train four hours past the time listed on your ticket.
- Police officers do not speak English and are rarely helpful.
That's all for now. I should start studying for my midterm on Wednesday. Almost halfway done with my Intensive Italian! Wish me luck! or better, wish me bocca di luppo (in the mouth of the wolf, as they say in Italian)
te amo, Hallie
Friday, September 2, 2011
La Bella Vita
Ciao Tutti!!!
Rome doesn't cease to amaze me. I love the streets, the buildings, the history, the art, the food, the wine, the trees, the drinking fountains - almost everything.
I went out to dinner with Andy Steves, Rick Steves son, who is starting a weekend study abroad trip company. Small group of us went on a walk through the different piazzas then ended up at a great Italian restaurant near the Pantheon. The funny part was that on one of our first days in Rome, some of the girls I live with went to the Pantheon and we were following Rick Steves guide book and ended up at this restaurant. it wasn't until I was standing outside of it when I realized why Andy brought us there. It was great though.
Naples tomorrow for the day. going to eat some pizza and then coming right back. Any other suggestions?
My backpack for the past few days:
My backpack, my keys, my little vodafone, old bus tickets, sunglasses, my water bottle, information about Naples and my train ticket, map of Rome, Italian-English Dictionary, wallet, chapstick, pens, euro coins, my Italian textbook, and a sweater to cover my shoulders for the occasional church visit.
...and those are my toes
Still can't believe I've been in Rome for just little over a week, seems like a decade already! There is so much to do! Haven't even discovered half of Rome.
'till next time, Hallie
Rome doesn't cease to amaze me. I love the streets, the buildings, the history, the art, the food, the wine, the trees, the drinking fountains - almost everything.
I went out to dinner with Andy Steves, Rick Steves son, who is starting a weekend study abroad trip company. Small group of us went on a walk through the different piazzas then ended up at a great Italian restaurant near the Pantheon. The funny part was that on one of our first days in Rome, some of the girls I live with went to the Pantheon and we were following Rick Steves guide book and ended up at this restaurant. it wasn't until I was standing outside of it when I realized why Andy brought us there. It was great though.
Naples tomorrow for the day. going to eat some pizza and then coming right back. Any other suggestions?
My backpack for the past few days:
...and those are my toes
Still can't believe I've been in Rome for just little over a week, seems like a decade already! There is so much to do! Haven't even discovered half of Rome.
'till next time, Hallie
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Do as the Romans do!
Do as the Romans do, which really just means eat and drink. and sweat. It's a little cooler here today but now its just really humid and its suppose to rain.
I've got myself a cell phone too! email me if you want my phone number, it's free for you to call me and a low rate for me to call anyone else who has the same type of phone.
Nothing too new today. I had my Italian placement exam this morning which didn't go too great, but that's alright. I'm okay with starting from the bottom and working my way back up. The rest of today is going to be pretty lazy. We're going to make some dinner and then go on a night walk from Piazza Navona to the Spanish steps.
I'm going on a Baroque tour tomorrow and going into the Vatican! Its going to be great.
Here's a picture of my room:
I'm the middle bed and we have TWO balconies. It's super nice. The entire apartment is furnished by Ikea. Feeling right at home!
My lunch today.
And last but not least, the contents of my purse: Euro coins, wallet, camera, pens, keys, notebook, receipts, and a shopping bag
That's all for now! Write a comment! I'd love to hear from you!
Love, H
I've got myself a cell phone too! email me if you want my phone number, it's free for you to call me and a low rate for me to call anyone else who has the same type of phone.
Nothing too new today. I had my Italian placement exam this morning which didn't go too great, but that's alright. I'm okay with starting from the bottom and working my way back up. The rest of today is going to be pretty lazy. We're going to make some dinner and then go on a night walk from Piazza Navona to the Spanish steps.
I'm going on a Baroque tour tomorrow and going into the Vatican! Its going to be great.
Here's a picture of my room:
My lunch today.
And last but not least, the contents of my purse: Euro coins, wallet, camera, pens, keys, notebook, receipts, and a shopping bag
That's all for now! Write a comment! I'd love to hear from you!
Love, H
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
I made it!!!
Got up some unknown amount of hours ago in San Francisco, got on the plane to Toronto, sassed at passport control, bought a neck pillow, waited for four hours in the very SWANKY airport, and then got on the eight hour flight to ROME. The flight was long and I slept a little. I watched a movie (or six) and drooled on my neck pillow (very true).
Got my bags and waited for a seven person taxi for just little ol' me. I got nervous when I was trying to tell the taxi driver that I could wait for a smaller cabie so I just blurted out in English "It's just me!" and he was like, "thats okay... get in" :)
But I did give the address for my apartment correctly in Italian. Patted myself on the back for that.
Got to the apartment. Oh did I mention its HOT? its like 98 degrees today. No air conditioning. My apartment is on the 7th floor of a seven floor building. Eight girls all together. My roommates seen nice and two of them are from UCSC! The apartment is HUGE. Super funky. There's a balcony off every room! photos of the apartment tomorrow.
here are some photos from the past 24 hours
Thanks mom for snapping this photo at 6am. AND I'M OFF!
This is my face and glasses position as I sit next to three Dutch 6 year olds for four hours.
Coming into Rome!
Check out this cute piazza we stumbled upon when we were in a desperate search for gelato tonight!
dinner. fresh gnocchi and a banana.
I should get some sleep.
love love and love, HBY
Got my bags and waited for a seven person taxi for just little ol' me. I got nervous when I was trying to tell the taxi driver that I could wait for a smaller cabie so I just blurted out in English "It's just me!" and he was like, "thats okay... get in" :)
But I did give the address for my apartment correctly in Italian. Patted myself on the back for that.
Got to the apartment. Oh did I mention its HOT? its like 98 degrees today. No air conditioning. My apartment is on the 7th floor of a seven floor building. Eight girls all together. My roommates seen nice and two of them are from UCSC! The apartment is HUGE. Super funky. There's a balcony off every room! photos of the apartment tomorrow.
here are some photos from the past 24 hours
Thanks mom for snapping this photo at 6am. AND I'M OFF!
This is my face and glasses position as I sit next to three Dutch 6 year olds for four hours.
Coming into Rome!
Check out this cute piazza we stumbled upon when we were in a desperate search for gelato tonight!
dinner. fresh gnocchi and a banana.
I should get some sleep.
love love and love, HBY
Monday, August 22, 2011
And I'm off!
In less than 10 hours, I'll be on my way to Italy.
Here is what a year of stuff looks like:
Nerves have been coursing through my veins all day. Some heartfelt goodbyes and packing behind me, I think I can say now that I am ready for this adventure.
Wish me luck! I'll miss each and everyone of you on this adventure and wish you were all by my side, but I am going to take a giant leap here and say, Arrivederci!
Some of the most simple advice I've received in my preparations has been, "You can't grow unless you're uncomfortable."
So here I am, growing.
bacio, H
Here is what a year of stuff looks like:
Nerves have been coursing through my veins all day. Some heartfelt goodbyes and packing behind me, I think I can say now that I am ready for this adventure.
Wish me luck! I'll miss each and everyone of you on this adventure and wish you were all by my side, but I am going to take a giant leap here and say, Arrivederci!
Some of the most simple advice I've received in my preparations has been, "You can't grow unless you're uncomfortable."
So here I am, growing.
bacio, H
Saturday, August 13, 2011
I've started packing!
And I've made a video! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOB1Wg9X96Y
Keep in mind, that is only a fraction of the amount of stuff I'm bringing.
(and here's a link to Avril's music video because I know you are all upset when the song ended: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NPBIwQyPWE&ob=av2n dude you wanna crash the maawll?)
I've also made two packing lists, cleaned out my backpack, decided I'm only bringing four pairs of shoes, and said goodbye to some people and IT STILL DOESN'T FEEL REAL. And when am I leaving? yup, in 9 days.
I'm bringing one huge suitcase, one small carry on, and my backpack. That's it. For a year in a different country. My entire life (wardrobe) in three bags. I'm totally overreacting. hashtag story of my life.
That's all for now. Making ice cream this weekend and getting ready for the last few days at the best summer job ever.
x, H
PS while writing this blog entry, I realized my shoe count just went up to 6. I'm horrible. Okay, compromise at 5.
Keep in mind, that is only a fraction of the amount of stuff I'm bringing.
(and here's a link to Avril's music video because I know you are all upset when the song ended: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NPBIwQyPWE&ob=av2n dude you wanna crash the maawll?)
I've also made two packing lists, cleaned out my backpack, decided I'm only bringing four pairs of shoes, and said goodbye to some people and IT STILL DOESN'T FEEL REAL. And when am I leaving? yup, in 9 days.
I'm bringing one huge suitcase, one small carry on, and my backpack. That's it. For a year in a different country. My entire life (wardrobe) in three bags. I'm totally overreacting. hashtag story of my life.
That's all for now. Making ice cream this weekend and getting ready for the last few days at the best summer job ever.
x, H
PS while writing this blog entry, I realized my shoe count just went up to 6. I'm horrible. Okay, compromise at 5.
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