Ciao!
So I am sitting in my apartment, which is completely packed into four very heavy suitcases, and thinking about the last 9 months of my life here in Florence. I absolutely can not comprehend the amount I have learned about myself, about art, about new cultures, and everything else I have tried, tasted or attempted in the last year.
I am unsure what I take away from this year, but I know I return home a re-modeled version of my old self, though where the renovations took place I am not sure. I hope that I am able to hold on to the feeling I have right now of being so unbelievably lucky this great city allowed me to spend time here. I worry that with the ease of life at home I will forget the skills and confidence I found here.
While I miss my family, my friends, my language, my car, foods from all over the world, and especially my school, I can not help but feel like I am on a one-way street wanting to go in the opposite direction....
That's all for now, my conclusions about the trip must come later as I am very unsure about what they are at the moment. I do know it has been one thing... a definite TRIP.
All the love, and here I come USA.
That Girl Who Is No Longer Living In Europe But In Transit Back to the States
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
My Last Weekend Excursion!
Hey Everyone!!
So it is Wednesday of my last week (I leave Sunday!), and I am actually starting to pack everything up, which is VERY STRANGE! I just can not believe it is coming to an end. However, I plan to go out with a bang, and have planned accordingly. This past weekend I made my final excursion around Italy to Mantua and Verona, two beautiful northern cities I had never been to.
We left Saturday, and pulled into Verona just as the sun broke out, and it was perhaps one of the most glorious days I have seen in a while. Roughly 75 degrees with a light breeze! We walked around Verona for hours, the lack of actual sites makes it an ideal town to simply wander. We ate well (SO WELL, we couldn't eat the next day!), and saw the House of Juilet! The balcony was very nice :) After wandering for a while and enjoying the lovely views of the River, we hopped back on the train and headed back South a bit to Mantua.
Mantua, unlike Verona, is heavy on sites, especially Palazzos!! We spent the night in Mantua on Saturday night, and woke to RAIN RAIN AND MORE RAIN. It was pretty bad, but we got out the umbrellas and headed out to the Palazzo Ducale and the Palazzo Te. Both were decorated extravagantly, and the Te is something to behold with its Room of the Giants, and its Room of the Horses. After we perused the palaces we sought out shelter in the Church of Saint Andrea, a church built by the fabulous Alberti. This church is inexplicably moving in its classical porportions and overall harmony, the man certainly knew how to build a nice church :)
After another lovely meal, we headed back to Florence and I realized that I was walking from the train station home for the last time after one of my amazing experiences around the continent. It was a truly heart-breaking moment, and I still haven't quite recovered from the realization that it is indeed almost over!
Anyway, no time for unhappiness, I have three more days here! I have attached pictures below, I hope you will enjoy them, some were gotten against the express wishes of numerous museum guards!! However, I prevailed, and I hope you enjoy them!
All the love!
That Girl Still Kind of in Europe
VERONA:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2551139&id=8642257&l=d05f16d67e
MANTUA:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2551651&id=8642257&l=618af54a60
So it is Wednesday of my last week (I leave Sunday!), and I am actually starting to pack everything up, which is VERY STRANGE! I just can not believe it is coming to an end. However, I plan to go out with a bang, and have planned accordingly. This past weekend I made my final excursion around Italy to Mantua and Verona, two beautiful northern cities I had never been to.
We left Saturday, and pulled into Verona just as the sun broke out, and it was perhaps one of the most glorious days I have seen in a while. Roughly 75 degrees with a light breeze! We walked around Verona for hours, the lack of actual sites makes it an ideal town to simply wander. We ate well (SO WELL, we couldn't eat the next day!), and saw the House of Juilet! The balcony was very nice :) After wandering for a while and enjoying the lovely views of the River, we hopped back on the train and headed back South a bit to Mantua.
Mantua, unlike Verona, is heavy on sites, especially Palazzos!! We spent the night in Mantua on Saturday night, and woke to RAIN RAIN AND MORE RAIN. It was pretty bad, but we got out the umbrellas and headed out to the Palazzo Ducale and the Palazzo Te. Both were decorated extravagantly, and the Te is something to behold with its Room of the Giants, and its Room of the Horses. After we perused the palaces we sought out shelter in the Church of Saint Andrea, a church built by the fabulous Alberti. This church is inexplicably moving in its classical porportions and overall harmony, the man certainly knew how to build a nice church :)
After another lovely meal, we headed back to Florence and I realized that I was walking from the train station home for the last time after one of my amazing experiences around the continent. It was a truly heart-breaking moment, and I still haven't quite recovered from the realization that it is indeed almost over!
Anyway, no time for unhappiness, I have three more days here! I have attached pictures below, I hope you will enjoy them, some were gotten against the express wishes of numerous museum guards!! However, I prevailed, and I hope you enjoy them!
All the love!
That Girl Still Kind of in Europe
VERONA:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2551139&id=8642257&l=d05f16d67e
MANTUA:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2551651&id=8642257&l=618af54a60
Friday, April 24, 2009
Just Some Fun Pictures
Ciao!
I just wanted to put up a link to some recent pictures of my life in Florence. The first set of them is Easter Sunday in the Piazza al Duomo and the next set are pictures of my apartment!! The final part are some pix snapped at my school with some of the kids relaxing in our Giardino (garden).
Hope you enjoy!
Lydia
"Tu Vuo Fa L'americano?":
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2549218&id=8642257&l=972d015363
I just wanted to put up a link to some recent pictures of my life in Florence. The first set of them is Easter Sunday in the Piazza al Duomo and the next set are pictures of my apartment!! The final part are some pix snapped at my school with some of the kids relaxing in our Giardino (garden).
Hope you enjoy!
Lydia
"Tu Vuo Fa L'americano?":
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2549218&id=8642257&l=972d015363
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Padova Starring the ARENA CHAPEL!
Ciao tutte!
I am just returned from the North, and the beautiful town of Padua (or Padova). It was picturesque and beautiful but it was soooo RAINY. Put a bit of a damper on the day (hehe, pun totally intended) but did not spoil the fun. I went with my friend Kellin BW, and we hit up the Church of Saint Anthony of Padua, and his healing tomb, before we headed to the Arena Chapel. The Church of San Anthony was soooo strange, but very cool. There are parts that have 13th century art in the style of Giotto, other parts that are totally Baroque-ified with crazy gilding and soaring details, but there is also a large part that was either restored or maybe just redecorated in the 19th century with art noveau figures! Seriously there are saints that look like they came straight out of a Mucha calendar! One female saint has long blonde pigtails that go all the way down to her knees! Definitely do not see that often in Renaissance church decoration.
After the Church, we ate lunch at a hideously decorated restaurant. The food was good, but the place itself was rather ... unappealing in decor. We then headed back over toward the Arena, and the Chapel!!!! I was sooo excited. Some of you who read this may know that I have actually visited the Scrovegni Chapel before... when I was 9. Mom took us, Nick, me and Guy, on our first trip to Europe, and I guess after the Louvre, and Versallies, and the wonders of Venice, I was a bit tired, and especially tired of art. The story of our visit goes that while Mom, and I'm sure Guy, were esctatic to be there, I was decidely not. I believe that I began to cry, lied down on one of the side benches, closed my eyes, and refused, quite loudly, to look at any more art. For any of you who have seen the interior of the Chapel, you will know that it is almost impossible to NOT look at something when you are there, and my decision to close my eyes was one of absolute desperation. HOWEVER, this time was definitely different.
We only got to be inside the Chapel for 15 minutes, and we looked over every single scene! It was breathtaking and I am so happy I had the opportunity to return when I was a bit more knowledgeable and a lot less tired. Pictures follow below of the town of Padova, and the outside of the Chapel, however cameras were not allowed inside, so Sorry!
Missing everyone, but relishing my last days here!
That Girl in Europe (for exactly two more weeks!)
Padova:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2547150&id=8642257&l=a3192dc727
I am just returned from the North, and the beautiful town of Padua (or Padova). It was picturesque and beautiful but it was soooo RAINY. Put a bit of a damper on the day (hehe, pun totally intended) but did not spoil the fun. I went with my friend Kellin BW, and we hit up the Church of Saint Anthony of Padua, and his healing tomb, before we headed to the Arena Chapel. The Church of San Anthony was soooo strange, but very cool. There are parts that have 13th century art in the style of Giotto, other parts that are totally Baroque-ified with crazy gilding and soaring details, but there is also a large part that was either restored or maybe just redecorated in the 19th century with art noveau figures! Seriously there are saints that look like they came straight out of a Mucha calendar! One female saint has long blonde pigtails that go all the way down to her knees! Definitely do not see that often in Renaissance church decoration.
After the Church, we ate lunch at a hideously decorated restaurant. The food was good, but the place itself was rather ... unappealing in decor. We then headed back over toward the Arena, and the Chapel!!!! I was sooo excited. Some of you who read this may know that I have actually visited the Scrovegni Chapel before... when I was 9. Mom took us, Nick, me and Guy, on our first trip to Europe, and I guess after the Louvre, and Versallies, and the wonders of Venice, I was a bit tired, and especially tired of art. The story of our visit goes that while Mom, and I'm sure Guy, were esctatic to be there, I was decidely not. I believe that I began to cry, lied down on one of the side benches, closed my eyes, and refused, quite loudly, to look at any more art. For any of you who have seen the interior of the Chapel, you will know that it is almost impossible to NOT look at something when you are there, and my decision to close my eyes was one of absolute desperation. HOWEVER, this time was definitely different.
We only got to be inside the Chapel for 15 minutes, and we looked over every single scene! It was breathtaking and I am so happy I had the opportunity to return when I was a bit more knowledgeable and a lot less tired. Pictures follow below of the town of Padova, and the outside of the Chapel, however cameras were not allowed inside, so Sorry!
Missing everyone, but relishing my last days here!
That Girl in Europe (for exactly two more weeks!)
Padova:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2547150&id=8642257&l=a3192dc727
Thursday, April 16, 2009
I Leave In Two Weeks
Wow. It just hit me that I am leaving Florence and Italy in two weeks. This idea blows my mind. For so long my life has been either waiting to go to abroad to Florence, applying to Florence, waiting to hear back from Florence, planning my trip to Florence, LIVING in Florence, exploring Florence, and now its leaving Florence? I am having such a hard time with this. While it is true that all good things must come to end, does this really have to?
The hardest part about this is that I am so conflicted. A large part of me is excited to go home, see my family, not stress about language barriers and strange customs. But a HUGE part of me will miss blundering through conversations with crazy taxi drivers, weaving through the crowds gawking at the Duomo (this I will miss less than the other things), and most of all living in this incredible city in this inspiring country on my favorite continent. But then again I am a European Studies minor :) With all that has been happening, like writing and presenting my 22-page research paper on Marriage Imagery in the Florentine Renaissance, I feel like I haven't quite taken the time to think about what I am leaving behind, and what I am moving towards. Unfortunately, the list of what I leave behind is much, much longer than what I am moving towards.
There are no funny stories today, or even scary anecdotes, I just kind of needed to get these thoughts out of my head and into another space. Maybe now I can sleep.
Love to all,
That Girl in Europe (but not for long)
The hardest part about this is that I am so conflicted. A large part of me is excited to go home, see my family, not stress about language barriers and strange customs. But a HUGE part of me will miss blundering through conversations with crazy taxi drivers, weaving through the crowds gawking at the Duomo (this I will miss less than the other things), and most of all living in this incredible city in this inspiring country on my favorite continent. But then again I am a European Studies minor :) With all that has been happening, like writing and presenting my 22-page research paper on Marriage Imagery in the Florentine Renaissance, I feel like I haven't quite taken the time to think about what I am leaving behind, and what I am moving towards. Unfortunately, the list of what I leave behind is much, much longer than what I am moving towards.
There are no funny stories today, or even scary anecdotes, I just kind of needed to get these thoughts out of my head and into another space. Maybe now I can sleep.
Love to all,
That Girl in Europe (but not for long)
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Mexican Easter!
I would also like to add a HUGE thank you to Sarah T. Kellin, Sarah D, and Chris for having me over for your Mexican Easter festivities. I don't think I have EVER enjoyed Easter so much :)
Some of My Last Travels
Hello!
What a couple of weeks, and the ones coming up don't look much calmer! It has been an interesting time, as I took my last trips out of the country and welcomed friends to my own. I toured tiny towns of Italy, and visited the largest Metropolis on this side of the Atlantic. A study in paradoxes, my last couple of weeks have been in a word.... exhausting. :)
The weekend following my trip to beautiful Belgium, I traveled over mountains to the other side of the Italy, and embarked on a Pilgrimage to the great Italian painter, Piero della Francesca. I will henceforth refer to it as the Piero Pilgrimage. Sarah M. and I went with a class from our school, and visited FIVE cities: Arezzo, Monterchi, Sansepolcro, Urbino, Rimini. It was a whirlwind of two days, but absolutely unforgettable. We saw, without a doubt, almost the entirety of this artist's work, and even if we didn't see every work, we saw the best!! We also had this FABULOUS dinner, where we sat at two huge tables of 25 people each, and were served course after delicious course of food for 3 hours. I must explain the magnitude of the food though. When I say course after course, I mean FOUR courses with at least SEVEN options each. We had antipastas, primis, secundis, and dolce! All washed down with unlimited delicious wine from central Italy. I have NEVER been so full. It was an unforgettable weekend, and I adored all the small towns I had never seen before!
I came home after that weekend, and looked at the list of places I had compiled on my first flight to Florence last September of all the places that I wanted to see while I was abroad and realized that my number one city was NOT crossed off! So I got my ticket and I headed to LONDON the next weekend. I must say that it was a relief to get off the plane and be able to speak English, it made everything so much easier! However, I did miss the smell of Italy when it was replaced with the pollution in London. :( I immediately hit the museums, starting off with the National Gallery and touring for hours. I saw paintings I have dreamt about for years, but interestingly I did not remember being there before. I went to London on my first trip to Europe when I was 9 years old, and I didn't remember anything I saw on my trip this time. Anyway, I hit the National Gallery, the Tate Modern, the Portrait Gallery, the Tower, and Somerset House and Courtauld Institute, which many of you know I had hoped to attend this semester. It was a good experience, and I was given a tour of the Institute so I know what I am getting into if I decided to apply again, this time for graduate school there. Also by chance they were hosting an exhibition of the Tuscan Renaissance Marriage Cassone (large chests given to brides by the groom's parents) which I am writing a very long presentation on at the moment! So it was great to see some other examples of the works, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time there. I then walked all around that area, and truth be told, shopped. I was staying in Sloane Square at the Sloane Square Hotel (which I completely reccomend, it was AMAZING and perfect location). It was easy to hit up the square for shopping and an easy walk to HARRODS! :) All in all a great weekend but London was a bit hard to do alone, I feel like it is definitely a place to go with a group as walking around all those museums gets a bit lonely! However, I had tons of English movies to keep me company and I saw two chick flicks I had been dying to see, hehe. It was a great end to a fantastic weekend.
I headed back to Italy, and welcomed my bestie Natalie T. to our shores! We toured Florence, went on a day trip to the hill towns of Orvieto and Cortona, and then back to Florence where we did a whirlwind of museum visits (Uffizi, Accademia, Pitti Palace) with some shopping thrown in (San Lorenzo, Oltrarno) where we are proud to say she only bought things crafted in Florence! We dined on amazing food, including a new place for me in the Oltrarno. It was incredible to be able to share my adopted city with someone who knows me so well from another life! We finished our time together in Rome, and she went on to tour the city while I headed back to real life and homework!
This weekend I have stayed in Florence and caught up on culture and sleep! Today's Easter celebration was intense, but another experience I am so happy to remember. No one celebrates like the Florentines!
All my love, and I have attached pictures below!
That Girl in Europe
Piero Pilgrimage (Arezzo, Monterchi, Sansepolcro, Urbino, Rimini):
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2539154&id=8642257&l=119ca9cab7
London Calling:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2543716&id=8642257&l=0d4f390007
Natalie in Italy (Florence, Orvieto, Cortona):
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2543729&id=8642257&l=5899527a75
What a couple of weeks, and the ones coming up don't look much calmer! It has been an interesting time, as I took my last trips out of the country and welcomed friends to my own. I toured tiny towns of Italy, and visited the largest Metropolis on this side of the Atlantic. A study in paradoxes, my last couple of weeks have been in a word.... exhausting. :)
The weekend following my trip to beautiful Belgium, I traveled over mountains to the other side of the Italy, and embarked on a Pilgrimage to the great Italian painter, Piero della Francesca. I will henceforth refer to it as the Piero Pilgrimage. Sarah M. and I went with a class from our school, and visited FIVE cities: Arezzo, Monterchi, Sansepolcro, Urbino, Rimini. It was a whirlwind of two days, but absolutely unforgettable. We saw, without a doubt, almost the entirety of this artist's work, and even if we didn't see every work, we saw the best!! We also had this FABULOUS dinner, where we sat at two huge tables of 25 people each, and were served course after delicious course of food for 3 hours. I must explain the magnitude of the food though. When I say course after course, I mean FOUR courses with at least SEVEN options each. We had antipastas, primis, secundis, and dolce! All washed down with unlimited delicious wine from central Italy. I have NEVER been so full. It was an unforgettable weekend, and I adored all the small towns I had never seen before!
I came home after that weekend, and looked at the list of places I had compiled on my first flight to Florence last September of all the places that I wanted to see while I was abroad and realized that my number one city was NOT crossed off! So I got my ticket and I headed to LONDON the next weekend. I must say that it was a relief to get off the plane and be able to speak English, it made everything so much easier! However, I did miss the smell of Italy when it was replaced with the pollution in London. :( I immediately hit the museums, starting off with the National Gallery and touring for hours. I saw paintings I have dreamt about for years, but interestingly I did not remember being there before. I went to London on my first trip to Europe when I was 9 years old, and I didn't remember anything I saw on my trip this time. Anyway, I hit the National Gallery, the Tate Modern, the Portrait Gallery, the Tower, and Somerset House and Courtauld Institute, which many of you know I had hoped to attend this semester. It was a good experience, and I was given a tour of the Institute so I know what I am getting into if I decided to apply again, this time for graduate school there. Also by chance they were hosting an exhibition of the Tuscan Renaissance Marriage Cassone (large chests given to brides by the groom's parents) which I am writing a very long presentation on at the moment! So it was great to see some other examples of the works, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time there. I then walked all around that area, and truth be told, shopped. I was staying in Sloane Square at the Sloane Square Hotel (which I completely reccomend, it was AMAZING and perfect location). It was easy to hit up the square for shopping and an easy walk to HARRODS! :) All in all a great weekend but London was a bit hard to do alone, I feel like it is definitely a place to go with a group as walking around all those museums gets a bit lonely! However, I had tons of English movies to keep me company and I saw two chick flicks I had been dying to see, hehe. It was a great end to a fantastic weekend.
I headed back to Italy, and welcomed my bestie Natalie T. to our shores! We toured Florence, went on a day trip to the hill towns of Orvieto and Cortona, and then back to Florence where we did a whirlwind of museum visits (Uffizi, Accademia, Pitti Palace) with some shopping thrown in (San Lorenzo, Oltrarno) where we are proud to say she only bought things crafted in Florence! We dined on amazing food, including a new place for me in the Oltrarno. It was incredible to be able to share my adopted city with someone who knows me so well from another life! We finished our time together in Rome, and she went on to tour the city while I headed back to real life and homework!
This weekend I have stayed in Florence and caught up on culture and sleep! Today's Easter celebration was intense, but another experience I am so happy to remember. No one celebrates like the Florentines!
All my love, and I have attached pictures below!
That Girl in Europe
Piero Pilgrimage (Arezzo, Monterchi, Sansepolcro, Urbino, Rimini):
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2539154&id=8642257&l=119ca9cab7
London Calling:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2543716&id=8642257&l=0d4f390007
Natalie in Italy (Florence, Orvieto, Cortona):
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2543729&id=8642257&l=5899527a75
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