and 900+ photo's later.....

I've finally updated my shutterfly, so check it out. http://postcardsfromitaly.shutterfly.com/.

MILANO....

Today we took a nice long train to Milano for a field trip for my 20th Century Art in Italy class. So I know you are probably thinking, "20th Century Art and Italy....really?" and I don't blame you, cause it's so freaking hard for Italians to move on from the Renaissance but there seems to be at least one exception. Exactly 100 years ago, 1909 Futurism was born....a movement started by Italians (but again because of some "moving on" issues, actually began in Paris). The idea of futurism is machine....it's very anti-classicalism and ironically very anti-museum. Marinetti the father of Futurism said, "We rebel against the spineless worshipping of the old canvases, old statues, and old bric-a-brac, against everything which is filthy and worm-ridden and corroded by time". And with that, came Futurismo, the most famous modern art history movement to come out of Italy.

During the 1900's, Milan served as the home for many Futurists of the time and today, in honor of it's 100th anniversary, they had a pretty amazing exhibit that gave a nice overview of the art work as well as music, furniture, costumes, books, magazines, and set design. It was pretty sweet. These were some of my favorites....

A lot has happened....

Since I last updated you all. We finished finals which was a bit of hell but worth it because it meant vacation!

For semester break I left Florence at 3 in the morning to embark on my first adventure outside of Italy. First stop.....Amsterdam. Some highlights: pancakes, coffeshops, good food (that isn't italian), canals, rain, snow, Anne Frank's house, an AMAZING metro, english speakers (really weird), sex shops, red light district, rjiksmuseum, Van Gough Museum, big hotel beds, sneaking my 2 roommates into our hotel room, Ben and Jerry's.

Next stop on a train to Paris....

Half Way

My study aboard school year is more than half way over, it came quietly, and as a suprise because things have been going by so fast. I can't say that I have enjoyed every second but I can say I would never do anything differently. These last 5 months I've learned a lot. Not only all that school stuff (cause thats the "real"reason I'm here, right?), but I know myself even more.  I mean there is still more to see, do, taste, touch, hear, and learn but it is kind of sad to think that this whole experience is almost over. I mean in many ways Florence is my home, I could never see myself living here forever but then again I could never see myself living in Elk Grove again, yet "the Grove" is more of a home than anywhere else. 

I don't think you realize until you've gone away how much you miss home. But many times here, when I go away whether it be a short weekend trip or a week long trip how much you miss home, and many times the "home" I can't wait to get back to is my home in Florence. And I think that is something many people miss out on because they only go away for a few months and it is just a really (really) long vacation. But I'm no longer on vacation, because Florence in many ways has become another home for me.  

A Grand Adventure

Today was all about avoiding EVERYTHING (among the "everything" would be reading and writing essays) and I would say I have been pretty successful. It began with cookies, seriously, thats what I made for breakfast and ended with HOOK...the movie!!! We kind of built a magic carpet bed in the middle of our living room and ate fresh bread and played steam roller. Somewhere in between we went on a magical adventure that took us (in the rain) to Piazza Michelangelo then to an old forest and straight out of Florence (we actually walked passed a sign that said "Firenze" and had a fat red line though it!) and then back down the hill to the grocery store and then back home for tasty tasty soup and more cookies. 

It was a very good day. 

The FIRST post of the New Year

I feel like my first post of the New Year should be entertaining, I want to keep everyone interested right? Especially since I haven't written in ages.....And anyways I don't want to bore anyone with my New Year's Resolutions (which by the way has nothing to do with this blog, although it would be a great resolution to "blog everyday/every week/on a regular basis...." I can tell you now it would never happen....sorry) 

I'm staying at my parent's apartment in Florence until they leave and since my Aunt and Uncle have left there is and extra room which for me is a nice change. So Tuesday morning my parents left the house early to catch a train to Venice and since it was Tuesday and I don't have class until 1:30 I took my time. I made myself some breakfast, got ready at a nice leisurely pace, and talked with Glady on SKYPE.  I didn't even consider leaving the house (I wanted to go boot shopping) until around 10:30. Well when I go to open the door find out that the door won't open os I figure ok, I'll just use my key and unlock it from the inside. After messing with the lock for a good 15 minutes I realize my efforts will get me no where....especially since by the 15th minute I am fully pissed and pull off the door handle....at this point I figure I should try another route. I text my roommates who with my luck happen to all be in class and then I text some friends that live around the corner from the apartment on Pepi.  I also give the land lady (who is also happens to be my land  lady) but she doesn't answer. SO, about an hour-hour and a half later I am finally rescued (THANK YOU SARAH YOU ARE MY HERO) and seriously I felt like Rapunzel. I opened the window and threw down my long blond hair....actually I just threw down my keys and Sarah unlocked the door from the outside. It is a very non climatic ending to my stressful morning. 

BUT, afterwards we went to lunch at Tavola Calda da Rocca ("hot table") inside the San Ambrosia  Mercato and had a AMAZING (....and cheap) lunch. For 6.50 I got bread, water, pesto lasagna, and creme carmel (and some wine which our very nice booth mates shared with us). It was a perfect "happy ending"....

I'M DONE!!!!

Well kind of....while everyone in the States have finished Fall semester, I still have about 2 more months after break until we start a new semester. LAME! But I had mid-terms and I still studied like everyone else, I'm just not really done. I am on vacation though and I'm getting ready for my family to come and I'm looking forward to it. 

Can't wait to see you all!!!