Coming soon!
* Hey everyone! I just got back from my Fall Break today (10 days of traveling) and am totally beat! It's going to take me a little while to upload all of my pictures and update my blog so please just check back at a later time. Thanks!
Paul
Monday, November 3, 2008
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Nice, Monte Carlo, and the French Riviera! 10/9/08 - 10/15/08
Buonasera!!!
This past weekend, October 11-12th, I went on a trip to Nice, Monte Carlo, and the French Riviera! We departed from Florence by bus at 4:30 AM and arrived in Monte Carlo around 10 AM. Monte Carlo, a bustling port, is one of six principle areas within the tiny country of Monaco. Known for its lavish casino's, world famous Grand Prix, and the fairy tale marriage of its modern day Prince to the beautiful movie star turned princess, this is the playground of Europe's elite. Situated on the Cote d'Azur between Cap d'Ail and Menton, just a few kilometers from the Italian Riviera, Monaco is a sovereign state, independent and prosperous. It has its own government and the head of the state is "His Highness" Prince Albert. Here, a two-hour guided tour of Monte Carlo was provided for us by a local guide. He took us to many beautiful spots overlooking all of Monte Carlo, a magnificent church, into the city streets, and finally to the royal palace where we watched the "Changing of the Guards" ceremony...a spectacular sight to see! Afterwards, we were given free time to explore and have lunch on our own. At 2:30 PM, we departed from Monte Carlo and arrived in Nice, France about 45 minutes later.
Perched on the Mediterranean coast halfway between Monaco and Cannes and a mere 30 km form the Italian border, Nice is one of the most famous holiday destinations of Europe. From clean pebbly beaches, to some of the country's best museums, it is the gateway to the beautiful Cote d'Azur. Stretching from the baie des Anges (Bay of Angels), where the Alps and the Paillon River meet the sea, it is an unbelievably picturesque spot. Having arrived in Nice, we checked into our hotel, a very centrally located 3 stars off of the main strip and across the street from the beach. Afterwards, a two hour guided tour of Nice was provided by a local guide, where we visited the Vieux Ville (the Old Town), central market, and the Promenade des Anglais. After the tour, my friends and I went to the beach across the street from our hotel, where we swam and relaxed in the sun for a few hours. At 6:30 Pm, we all headed back to our rooms, showered/got dressed, and went to a dinner based on a typical French cuisine. Later that night, we all headed out for a night on the town...bars/clubs...played a couple hands in Nice's most lavish casinos... checked out some Ferarri's and Lamborgini's...and the rest? Well...I guess your just gonna have to ask to find out! Haha.
The next morning, after a free continental breakfast in our hotel, we departed from Nice at 9 AM and arrived in St. Paul de Vence, France about an hour later. Built on its rocky outcrop and surrounded by its ramparts built under the orders of Francois I, St. Paul is certainly one of the most beautiful villages in the entire Provence. The beauty of the surrounding area, the quality of life and exceptional light has inspired numerous famous artists, painters, writers and poets, some of whom took up residence in the village. Here, we were given 2 hours to explore the village and all of the beauty found around each and every corner. Arrays of flowers, trickling fountains, cats basking in the sun...this place was straight out of a fairytale!!! I honestly feel like I left a part of myself behind when I left this unbelievable place! Unbelievable.
Leaving St. Paul, we took a 45 minute bus ride and arrived in Cannes. Located on the south of France, on the French Riviera, Cannes is considered to be one of the most elite and expensive areas in Europe. Packed with luxury boutiques and celebrity property (saw Elton John's place!), it is manly famous all over the world for its Cannes International Film Festival where the hottest stars and directors come to show the new movies they've been working on and plan to release to the rest of the world. In Cannes, we walked around the harbor for a little while, checking out the spectacular yachts and sailboats, and then went over to where the Cannes International Film Festival is held. Here, we walked the red carpet, took pictures with Han Solo and Chewbacca, Austin Powers, Captain Jack Sparrow, and explored the sidewalk with all of the celebrity hand prints/signatures. Really cool!
At 3 PM, we left Cannes and departed for the picturesque village of Eze. Here, we were given the opportunity to visit a typical Provence perfume factory to see how perfume, soap, and other beauty products are made. This was a great experience because we got to learn the whole process that goes into making perfume, the variety of flowers/plants/fruit/spices that are used, and we were given the opportunity to sample a never ending list of great perfumes and colognes. They all smelled amazing but I'm still sticking to my "Curve"... thank you very much! With the day coming to an end, the bus smelling like a botanic garden, and the sun setting behind the horizon, we departed for Florence and our weekend in the lavish French Riviera finally came to an end!
"The warmth of the sun on my face,
the smell of a salt water breeze,
the sound of waves crashing against the smooth, pale rocks.
Water so cold, it sends a chill down my spine, but still leaves my heart feeling warm.
I sit here...watching...waiting.
Lovers holding hands walking towards unforgetfulness.
Others looking, longing for another.
We are all not so different.
Off in the distance, the haze leaves me wondering, "what is just over that horizon?"
.....a never ending smile.
Off in the distance, I hear your voice.
It is different from all other sounds.
It can be heard over noises that bury everything else.
Even when it's just a whisper,
Even the lowest whisper can be heard when it's telling the truth.
Like the water washing away the hardest, toughest stones along the shore,
I am finally letting the current take a part of me away.
A part of me that I will never forget
and never surrender to."
- Paul Nowacki -
The Opera:
Last night, Tuesday Oct. 14th, some of my roommates and I got all dressed up (suits...baaaaller!) and went out for a night at the opera. "Tosca," the name of the opera we saw, is an opera in three acts by Giacomo Puccini to an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa, based on Victorien Sardou's drama, La Tosca. The work premiered at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome on January 14, 1900. One of the most dramatic of operas and a staple of the standard operatic repertoire, Tosca appears as number 8 on Opera America's list of the 20 most-performed operas in North America.
This night, the opera was performed in Florence's Teatro Comunale. It was all in Italian so here are the acts explained in English:
Act I. Cesare Angelotti, an escaped political prisoner, rushes into the church of Sant' Andrea della Valle to hide in the Attavanti chapel. As he vanishes, an old Sacristan shuffles in, praying at the sound of the Angelus. Mario Cavardossi enters to work on his portrait of Mary Magdalene - inspired by the Marchesa Attavanti (Angelotti's sister), whom he has seen but does not know. Taking out a miniature of the singer Floria Tosca, he compares her raven beauty with that of the blonde Magdalene ("Recondita armonia"). The Sacristan grumbles disapproval and leaves. Angelotti ventures out and is recognized by his friend and fellow liberal Mario, who gives him food and hurries him back into the chapel as Tosca is heard calling outside. Forever suspicious, she jealously questions him, then prays, and reminds him of their rendezvous that evening at his villa ("Non la sospiri la nostra casetta?"). Suddenly recognizing the Marches Attavanti in the painting, she explodes with renewed suspicions, but he reassures her ("Qual' occhio al mondo"). When she has gone, Mario summons Angelotti from the chapel; a cannon signals that the police have discovered the escape, so the two flee to Mario's villa. Meanwhile, the Sacristan returns with choirboys who are to sing in a Te Deum that day. Their excitement is silenced by the entrance of Baron Scarpia, chief of the secret police, in search of Angelotti. when Tosca comes back to her lover, Scarpia shows her a fan with the Attavanti crest, which he has just found. Thinking Mario faithless, Tosca tearfully vows vengeance and leaves as the church fills with worshipers. Scarpia, sending his men to follow her to Angelotti, schemes to get the diva in his power (Va, Tosca!")
ActII. In the Farnese Palace, Scarpia anticipates the sadistic pleasure of bending Tosca to his will ("Ha piu forte sapore"). The spy Spoletta arrives, not having found Angelotti; to placate the baron he brings in Mario, who is interrogated while Tosca is heard singing a cantata at a royal gala downstairs. She enters just as her lover is being taken to an adjourning room: his arrogant silence is to be broken under torture. Unnerved by Scarpia's questioning and the sound of Mario's screams, she reveals Angelotti's hiding place. Mario is carried in; realizing what has happened, he turns on Tosca, but the officer Sciarrone rushes in to announce that Napolean has won the Battle of Marengo, a defeat for Scarpia's side. Mario shouts his defiance of tyranny ("Vittoria!") and is dragged to prison. Scarpia, resuming his supper, suggests that Tosca yield herself to him in exchange for her lover's life. Fighting off his embraces, she interrupts: faced with capture, Angelotti has killed himself. Tosca, forced to give in or lose her lover, agrees to Scarpia's proposition. The baron pretends to order a mock execution for the prisoner, after which he is to be freed; Spoletta leaves. No sooner has Scarpia written a safe-conduct for the lovers than Tosca snatches a knife from the table and kills him. Wrenching the document from his stiffening fingers and placing candles at his head and a crucifix on his chest, she slips from the room.
Act III. The voice of a shepherd boy is heard as church bells toll the dawn. Mario awaits execution at the Castel Sant'Angelo; he bribes the jailer to convey a farewell note to Tosca. Writing it, overcome with memories of love, he gives way to despair ("E lucevan le stelle"). Suddenly Tosca runs in, filled with the story of her recent adventures. mario caresses the hands that committed murder for his sake ("O dolci mani"), and the two hail their future. As the firing squad appears, the diva coaches Mario on how to fake his death convincingly; the soldiers fire and depart. Tosca urges Mario to hurry, but when he fails to move, she discovers that Scarpia's treachery has transcended the grave: the bullets were real. When Spoletta rushes in to arrest Tosca for Scarpia's murder, she cries to Scarpia to meet her before God, then leaps to her death.
*Overall, a spectacular performance, beautiful story, and a great night at the opera!
My quotes:
- I know I didn't write anything of my own for my last blog (Switzerland and Lake Como) because I was so busy and instead posted a funny quote from one of my favorite movies, but I was doing my laundry a few days ago and found a piece of paper in the back pocket of my jeans that I had wore on that trip and noticed that I had scribbled something down so I decided to go back and add it into my other blog. It really is nothing special but feel free to take a look if you want. It simply describes how I felt, at that given moment, when I was sitting by myself on a bench by the lake in Switzerland.
Things to come:
- Trip to Barcelona this weekend!
- Midterms Week all of next week...ouch!
- Fall Break: Prague, Czech Republic (3 nights), Berlin, Germany (3 nights), Amsterdam, Netherlands (3 nights), Brussels, Belgium (1 night).
(To be continued...)
Love you all...take care!
Buonanotte,
Paul
This past weekend, October 11-12th, I went on a trip to Nice, Monte Carlo, and the French Riviera! We departed from Florence by bus at 4:30 AM and arrived in Monte Carlo around 10 AM. Monte Carlo, a bustling port, is one of six principle areas within the tiny country of Monaco. Known for its lavish casino's, world famous Grand Prix, and the fairy tale marriage of its modern day Prince to the beautiful movie star turned princess, this is the playground of Europe's elite. Situated on the Cote d'Azur between Cap d'Ail and Menton, just a few kilometers from the Italian Riviera, Monaco is a sovereign state, independent and prosperous. It has its own government and the head of the state is "His Highness" Prince Albert. Here, a two-hour guided tour of Monte Carlo was provided for us by a local guide. He took us to many beautiful spots overlooking all of Monte Carlo, a magnificent church, into the city streets, and finally to the royal palace where we watched the "Changing of the Guards" ceremony...a spectacular sight to see! Afterwards, we were given free time to explore and have lunch on our own. At 2:30 PM, we departed from Monte Carlo and arrived in Nice, France about 45 minutes later.
Perched on the Mediterranean coast halfway between Monaco and Cannes and a mere 30 km form the Italian border, Nice is one of the most famous holiday destinations of Europe. From clean pebbly beaches, to some of the country's best museums, it is the gateway to the beautiful Cote d'Azur. Stretching from the baie des Anges (Bay of Angels), where the Alps and the Paillon River meet the sea, it is an unbelievably picturesque spot. Having arrived in Nice, we checked into our hotel, a very centrally located 3 stars off of the main strip and across the street from the beach. Afterwards, a two hour guided tour of Nice was provided by a local guide, where we visited the Vieux Ville (the Old Town), central market, and the Promenade des Anglais. After the tour, my friends and I went to the beach across the street from our hotel, where we swam and relaxed in the sun for a few hours. At 6:30 Pm, we all headed back to our rooms, showered/got dressed, and went to a dinner based on a typical French cuisine. Later that night, we all headed out for a night on the town...bars/clubs...played a couple hands in Nice's most lavish casinos... checked out some Ferarri's and Lamborgini's...and the rest? Well...I guess your just gonna have to ask to find out! Haha.
The next morning, after a free continental breakfast in our hotel, we departed from Nice at 9 AM and arrived in St. Paul de Vence, France about an hour later. Built on its rocky outcrop and surrounded by its ramparts built under the orders of Francois I, St. Paul is certainly one of the most beautiful villages in the entire Provence. The beauty of the surrounding area, the quality of life and exceptional light has inspired numerous famous artists, painters, writers and poets, some of whom took up residence in the village. Here, we were given 2 hours to explore the village and all of the beauty found around each and every corner. Arrays of flowers, trickling fountains, cats basking in the sun...this place was straight out of a fairytale!!! I honestly feel like I left a part of myself behind when I left this unbelievable place! Unbelievable.
Leaving St. Paul, we took a 45 minute bus ride and arrived in Cannes. Located on the south of France, on the French Riviera, Cannes is considered to be one of the most elite and expensive areas in Europe. Packed with luxury boutiques and celebrity property (saw Elton John's place!), it is manly famous all over the world for its Cannes International Film Festival where the hottest stars and directors come to show the new movies they've been working on and plan to release to the rest of the world. In Cannes, we walked around the harbor for a little while, checking out the spectacular yachts and sailboats, and then went over to where the Cannes International Film Festival is held. Here, we walked the red carpet, took pictures with Han Solo and Chewbacca, Austin Powers, Captain Jack Sparrow, and explored the sidewalk with all of the celebrity hand prints/signatures. Really cool!
At 3 PM, we left Cannes and departed for the picturesque village of Eze. Here, we were given the opportunity to visit a typical Provence perfume factory to see how perfume, soap, and other beauty products are made. This was a great experience because we got to learn the whole process that goes into making perfume, the variety of flowers/plants/fruit/spices that are used, and we were given the opportunity to sample a never ending list of great perfumes and colognes. They all smelled amazing but I'm still sticking to my "Curve"... thank you very much! With the day coming to an end, the bus smelling like a botanic garden, and the sun setting behind the horizon, we departed for Florence and our weekend in the lavish French Riviera finally came to an end!
"The warmth of the sun on my face,
the smell of a salt water breeze,
the sound of waves crashing against the smooth, pale rocks.
Water so cold, it sends a chill down my spine, but still leaves my heart feeling warm.
I sit here...watching...waiting.
Lovers holding hands walking towards unforgetfulness.
Others looking, longing for another.
We are all not so different.
Off in the distance, the haze leaves me wondering, "what is just over that horizon?"
.....a never ending smile.
Off in the distance, I hear your voice.
It is different from all other sounds.
It can be heard over noises that bury everything else.
Even when it's just a whisper,
Even the lowest whisper can be heard when it's telling the truth.
Like the water washing away the hardest, toughest stones along the shore,
I am finally letting the current take a part of me away.
A part of me that I will never forget
and never surrender to."
- Paul Nowacki -
The Opera:
Last night, Tuesday Oct. 14th, some of my roommates and I got all dressed up (suits...baaaaller!) and went out for a night at the opera. "Tosca," the name of the opera we saw, is an opera in three acts by Giacomo Puccini to an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa, based on Victorien Sardou's drama, La Tosca. The work premiered at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome on January 14, 1900. One of the most dramatic of operas and a staple of the standard operatic repertoire, Tosca appears as number 8 on Opera America's list of the 20 most-performed operas in North America.
This night, the opera was performed in Florence's Teatro Comunale. It was all in Italian so here are the acts explained in English:
Act I. Cesare Angelotti, an escaped political prisoner, rushes into the church of Sant' Andrea della Valle to hide in the Attavanti chapel. As he vanishes, an old Sacristan shuffles in, praying at the sound of the Angelus. Mario Cavardossi enters to work on his portrait of Mary Magdalene - inspired by the Marchesa Attavanti (Angelotti's sister), whom he has seen but does not know. Taking out a miniature of the singer Floria Tosca, he compares her raven beauty with that of the blonde Magdalene ("Recondita armonia"). The Sacristan grumbles disapproval and leaves. Angelotti ventures out and is recognized by his friend and fellow liberal Mario, who gives him food and hurries him back into the chapel as Tosca is heard calling outside. Forever suspicious, she jealously questions him, then prays, and reminds him of their rendezvous that evening at his villa ("Non la sospiri la nostra casetta?"). Suddenly recognizing the Marches Attavanti in the painting, she explodes with renewed suspicions, but he reassures her ("Qual' occhio al mondo"). When she has gone, Mario summons Angelotti from the chapel; a cannon signals that the police have discovered the escape, so the two flee to Mario's villa. Meanwhile, the Sacristan returns with choirboys who are to sing in a Te Deum that day. Their excitement is silenced by the entrance of Baron Scarpia, chief of the secret police, in search of Angelotti. when Tosca comes back to her lover, Scarpia shows her a fan with the Attavanti crest, which he has just found. Thinking Mario faithless, Tosca tearfully vows vengeance and leaves as the church fills with worshipers. Scarpia, sending his men to follow her to Angelotti, schemes to get the diva in his power (Va, Tosca!")
ActII. In the Farnese Palace, Scarpia anticipates the sadistic pleasure of bending Tosca to his will ("Ha piu forte sapore"). The spy Spoletta arrives, not having found Angelotti; to placate the baron he brings in Mario, who is interrogated while Tosca is heard singing a cantata at a royal gala downstairs. She enters just as her lover is being taken to an adjourning room: his arrogant silence is to be broken under torture. Unnerved by Scarpia's questioning and the sound of Mario's screams, she reveals Angelotti's hiding place. Mario is carried in; realizing what has happened, he turns on Tosca, but the officer Sciarrone rushes in to announce that Napolean has won the Battle of Marengo, a defeat for Scarpia's side. Mario shouts his defiance of tyranny ("Vittoria!") and is dragged to prison. Scarpia, resuming his supper, suggests that Tosca yield herself to him in exchange for her lover's life. Fighting off his embraces, she interrupts: faced with capture, Angelotti has killed himself. Tosca, forced to give in or lose her lover, agrees to Scarpia's proposition. The baron pretends to order a mock execution for the prisoner, after which he is to be freed; Spoletta leaves. No sooner has Scarpia written a safe-conduct for the lovers than Tosca snatches a knife from the table and kills him. Wrenching the document from his stiffening fingers and placing candles at his head and a crucifix on his chest, she slips from the room.
Act III. The voice of a shepherd boy is heard as church bells toll the dawn. Mario awaits execution at the Castel Sant'Angelo; he bribes the jailer to convey a farewell note to Tosca. Writing it, overcome with memories of love, he gives way to despair ("E lucevan le stelle"). Suddenly Tosca runs in, filled with the story of her recent adventures. mario caresses the hands that committed murder for his sake ("O dolci mani"), and the two hail their future. As the firing squad appears, the diva coaches Mario on how to fake his death convincingly; the soldiers fire and depart. Tosca urges Mario to hurry, but when he fails to move, she discovers that Scarpia's treachery has transcended the grave: the bullets were real. When Spoletta rushes in to arrest Tosca for Scarpia's murder, she cries to Scarpia to meet her before God, then leaps to her death.
*Overall, a spectacular performance, beautiful story, and a great night at the opera!
My quotes:
- I know I didn't write anything of my own for my last blog (Switzerland and Lake Como) because I was so busy and instead posted a funny quote from one of my favorite movies, but I was doing my laundry a few days ago and found a piece of paper in the back pocket of my jeans that I had wore on that trip and noticed that I had scribbled something down so I decided to go back and add it into my other blog. It really is nothing special but feel free to take a look if you want. It simply describes how I felt, at that given moment, when I was sitting by myself on a bench by the lake in Switzerland.
Things to come:
- Trip to Barcelona this weekend!
- Midterms Week all of next week...ouch!
- Fall Break: Prague, Czech Republic (3 nights), Berlin, Germany (3 nights), Amsterdam, Netherlands (3 nights), Brussels, Belgium (1 night).
(To be continued...)
Love you all...take care!
Buonanotte,
Paul
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Switzerland and Lake Como! 9/30/08 - 10/8/08
Ciao everybody!!!
So last Tuesday, Sept. 30th, I took the time to organize and plan a trip for a bunch of friends and I to go to the Fiorentina "Champions League" soccer game vs Bucharest (capital of Romania). Altogether, there were 11 of us plus one of my new local Italian friends, Filippo Morandi. Filippo is one of the head tour guides that works for "Florence for Fun," a local travel agency that organizes trips for students here in Florence. I got to know him pretty well our trip to Cinque Terre and have been hanging out with him ever since. Considering that soccer games here in Europe can get pretty crazy at times, I asked Filippo if he'd be willing to take a bunch of us (Americans) to a local Fiorentina soccer game and he got all excited and agreed! That night, we all met up over by the Duomo and Filippo showed us how to hop on the right bus and we all headed to the game. Wearing new purple Fiorentina soccer jerseys and scarfs, we were all really excited for our first official soccer game here in Italy!!! As the bus approached the stadium, you began to see streets filled with people heading for the game...wow, what a site! After going through security and having our tickets checked, we headed for the "home side" bleachers to get some good seats for the game. Already, there was a "sea" of purple, giant Fiorentina/Firenze flags blowing in the wind, and people screaming and shouting like there was no tomorrow! We took our place amongst the rowdy crowd of local Italians and before we even knew it, the game had begun!!! In the end, the game tied "0-0" but overall it was a great game and we all had a lot of fun!
This past weekend, Oct. 4-5th, my friends and I went on a trip to Switzerland and Lake Como! We departed from Florence at 4 AM by private bus and arrived in Tirano, a small Italian village at the foot of the Alps, at 10 AM. From here, we boarded a train called the Bernina Express which crosses the Alps and takes you into Switzerland. The Bernina Express from Tirano (Italy) to St. Moritz (Switzerland) boasts countless jaw-dropping views from bridges, viaducts, and tight bends as the train climbs even higher and higher, until it goes through the Bernina Pass, the highest elevation of 2,553 m. This line is the highest rail crossing of the Alps, making it one of Europe's most outstanding and unforgettable train journeys. I thought the sights I saw on my "Hiking in the Alps" trip were amazing, but the things I saw on this train ride...WOW! AMAZING X 100!!! Absoooooluuuuutely breathtaking! The coolest part about the train ride was noticing how, when we began at the foot of the Alps, there was no snow, and slowly and slowly as you get higher and higher up, you could see more and more snow on the ground/in the trees until finally when we reached the Bernina Pass, it was snowing hard and looked like the Arctic...no joke! Snow everyywhere! Finally, after the wonderful three-hour train ride through the Alps, we arrived in the St. Moritz train station, where our bus was waiting for the group, ready to take us to our hotel.
St. Moritz (Switzerland) is one of the most renowned holiday resorts of the world. Chic, elegant, and exclusive with a pronouncedly cosmopolitan ambiance, it is situated at 5,624 ft (1,856 m) above sea level in the middle of the lake-dotted landscape of the Upper Engadine. After checking in at our hotel, some friends and I spent the rest of the afternoon walking along one of the most beautiful, romantic, and scenic glacial lakes I have ever seen. We took plenty of pictures, went into town and bought Swiss chocolate (soooo good!), I fed some horses, and the remainder of the time just sat by the lake and enjoyed the scenery of one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen in my entire life! Something I will never forget. At 7:30 PM, we all met back up with our entire group and enjoyed a typical Swiss dinner which was served in the restaurant of our hotel. DELICIOUS!!! Tired from our long day of traveling, we all headed to our rooms and slept like babies, with mountains all around us, knowing that the next morning we had to wake up extra early and head to famous and beautiful Lake Como.
After waking up and having breakfast in our hotel, we departed from St. Moritz and at 10 AM, arrived on the North-Eastern coast of the Lake of Como. Lake Como is considered the jewel in the crown of Italy's famous lakes and it is often described as a haven of tranquility, superb cuisine, majestic snow capped mountains, courteous folk and style. It's coastline is bordered by spectacular towns, world renown magnificent villas, and steeped in history. Our first stop on the lake was the town of Varenna. From here, we took a ferry ride to Bellagio, a stunning town ranked as one of the most beautiful in Europe, with its breathtaking views, immaculate homes/gardens, and stupendous villas. Here, we were given two hours of free time to explore the town, take pictures, and drink espresso/cappuccino by the lake. After taking the ferry back to Varenna, we took a nice bus ride around the lake and about one hour later arrived in the town of Como. Como, the main centre on the lake, is situated at the head of Lake Como and is an ancient town over 400 years old with magnificent churches, historic monuments, and with a wonderful lakeside walk with cafes and restaurants making it one of the most charming towns of Italy. Here, we were given several hours to tour the town, visit the famous churches/historic monuments, walk along the lake, and enjoy a nice lunch with friends. After a spectacular day on the lake, we departed from Como, arrived in Florence, and our unforgettable weekend finally came to an end!
"A breath of fresh, cold air.
A chill deep within my soul.
Snowflakes brush my cheek.
The quiet...like a whisper.
I close my eyes.
Beauty all around me."
- Paul Nowacki -
My Quotes:
- For those of you who have been reading all my blogs and about all of my experiences while I've been here, you've probably noticed that I've been writing little poems/quotes about how I've been feeling since coming here. This weekend I definitely felt warmth and inspiration from my experience, however I've been so busy with school, planning my Fall Break, and everything else that's been going on that I haven't really had the time to write anything special or poetic.
- Lately, my roommates and I have been joking around a lot, watching funny movies, and having a good ole time together so I would like to leave you all with a quote from one of our favorite movies:
"What is love? What is this longing in our hearts for togetherness? Is it not the sweetest flower? Does not this flower of love have the fragrant aroma of fine, fine diamonds? Does not the wind love the dirt? Is not love not unlike the unlikely not it is unlikened to? Are you with someone tonight? Do not question your love. Take your lover by the hand. Release the power within yourself. Your heard me, release the power. Tame the wild cosmos with a whisper. Conquer heaven with one intimate caress. That's right don't be shy. Whip out everything you got and do it in the ****. By Leon Phelps"
- From the movie, "The Ladies Man". Haha
- Don't worry, I'll be back to writing my own stuff whenever I get a chance/have some good inspiration!
Things to come:
- Trip to Nice, Montecarlo, and the French Riviera this weekend!
- Going to the Opera next Thursday night!
Cooking:
- I'm learning how to cook from a well known/respected cook here Florence so if your lucky, I'll cook for you when come home!
Pictures:
- All of my pictures of Switzerland/Lake Como as well as some new ones of things here Florence are up on my Facebook page so feel free to check those out!
(To be continued...)
Miss you all...take care!
Ciao,
Paul
(a.k.a "Paolo" - My new Italian name!)
So last Tuesday, Sept. 30th, I took the time to organize and plan a trip for a bunch of friends and I to go to the Fiorentina "Champions League" soccer game vs Bucharest (capital of Romania). Altogether, there were 11 of us plus one of my new local Italian friends, Filippo Morandi. Filippo is one of the head tour guides that works for "Florence for Fun," a local travel agency that organizes trips for students here in Florence. I got to know him pretty well our trip to Cinque Terre and have been hanging out with him ever since. Considering that soccer games here in Europe can get pretty crazy at times, I asked Filippo if he'd be willing to take a bunch of us (Americans) to a local Fiorentina soccer game and he got all excited and agreed! That night, we all met up over by the Duomo and Filippo showed us how to hop on the right bus and we all headed to the game. Wearing new purple Fiorentina soccer jerseys and scarfs, we were all really excited for our first official soccer game here in Italy!!! As the bus approached the stadium, you began to see streets filled with people heading for the game...wow, what a site! After going through security and having our tickets checked, we headed for the "home side" bleachers to get some good seats for the game. Already, there was a "sea" of purple, giant Fiorentina/Firenze flags blowing in the wind, and people screaming and shouting like there was no tomorrow! We took our place amongst the rowdy crowd of local Italians and before we even knew it, the game had begun!!! In the end, the game tied "0-0" but overall it was a great game and we all had a lot of fun!
This past weekend, Oct. 4-5th, my friends and I went on a trip to Switzerland and Lake Como! We departed from Florence at 4 AM by private bus and arrived in Tirano, a small Italian village at the foot of the Alps, at 10 AM. From here, we boarded a train called the Bernina Express which crosses the Alps and takes you into Switzerland. The Bernina Express from Tirano (Italy) to St. Moritz (Switzerland) boasts countless jaw-dropping views from bridges, viaducts, and tight bends as the train climbs even higher and higher, until it goes through the Bernina Pass, the highest elevation of 2,553 m. This line is the highest rail crossing of the Alps, making it one of Europe's most outstanding and unforgettable train journeys. I thought the sights I saw on my "Hiking in the Alps" trip were amazing, but the things I saw on this train ride...WOW! AMAZING X 100!!! Absoooooluuuuutely breathtaking! The coolest part about the train ride was noticing how, when we began at the foot of the Alps, there was no snow, and slowly and slowly as you get higher and higher up, you could see more and more snow on the ground/in the trees until finally when we reached the Bernina Pass, it was snowing hard and looked like the Arctic...no joke! Snow everyywhere! Finally, after the wonderful three-hour train ride through the Alps, we arrived in the St. Moritz train station, where our bus was waiting for the group, ready to take us to our hotel.
St. Moritz (Switzerland) is one of the most renowned holiday resorts of the world. Chic, elegant, and exclusive with a pronouncedly cosmopolitan ambiance, it is situated at 5,624 ft (1,856 m) above sea level in the middle of the lake-dotted landscape of the Upper Engadine. After checking in at our hotel, some friends and I spent the rest of the afternoon walking along one of the most beautiful, romantic, and scenic glacial lakes I have ever seen. We took plenty of pictures, went into town and bought Swiss chocolate (soooo good!), I fed some horses, and the remainder of the time just sat by the lake and enjoyed the scenery of one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen in my entire life! Something I will never forget. At 7:30 PM, we all met back up with our entire group and enjoyed a typical Swiss dinner which was served in the restaurant of our hotel. DELICIOUS!!! Tired from our long day of traveling, we all headed to our rooms and slept like babies, with mountains all around us, knowing that the next morning we had to wake up extra early and head to famous and beautiful Lake Como.
After waking up and having breakfast in our hotel, we departed from St. Moritz and at 10 AM, arrived on the North-Eastern coast of the Lake of Como. Lake Como is considered the jewel in the crown of Italy's famous lakes and it is often described as a haven of tranquility, superb cuisine, majestic snow capped mountains, courteous folk and style. It's coastline is bordered by spectacular towns, world renown magnificent villas, and steeped in history. Our first stop on the lake was the town of Varenna. From here, we took a ferry ride to Bellagio, a stunning town ranked as one of the most beautiful in Europe, with its breathtaking views, immaculate homes/gardens, and stupendous villas. Here, we were given two hours of free time to explore the town, take pictures, and drink espresso/cappuccino by the lake. After taking the ferry back to Varenna, we took a nice bus ride around the lake and about one hour later arrived in the town of Como. Como, the main centre on the lake, is situated at the head of Lake Como and is an ancient town over 400 years old with magnificent churches, historic monuments, and with a wonderful lakeside walk with cafes and restaurants making it one of the most charming towns of Italy. Here, we were given several hours to tour the town, visit the famous churches/historic monuments, walk along the lake, and enjoy a nice lunch with friends. After a spectacular day on the lake, we departed from Como, arrived in Florence, and our unforgettable weekend finally came to an end!
"A breath of fresh, cold air.
A chill deep within my soul.
Snowflakes brush my cheek.
The quiet...like a whisper.
I close my eyes.
Beauty all around me."
- Paul Nowacki -
My Quotes:
- For those of you who have been reading all my blogs and about all of my experiences while I've been here, you've probably noticed that I've been writing little poems/quotes about how I've been feeling since coming here. This weekend I definitely felt warmth and inspiration from my experience, however I've been so busy with school, planning my Fall Break, and everything else that's been going on that I haven't really had the time to write anything special or poetic.
- Lately, my roommates and I have been joking around a lot, watching funny movies, and having a good ole time together so I would like to leave you all with a quote from one of our favorite movies:
"What is love? What is this longing in our hearts for togetherness? Is it not the sweetest flower? Does not this flower of love have the fragrant aroma of fine, fine diamonds? Does not the wind love the dirt? Is not love not unlike the unlikely not it is unlikened to? Are you with someone tonight? Do not question your love. Take your lover by the hand. Release the power within yourself. Your heard me, release the power. Tame the wild cosmos with a whisper. Conquer heaven with one intimate caress. That's right don't be shy. Whip out everything you got and do it in the ****. By Leon Phelps"
- From the movie, "The Ladies Man". Haha
- Don't worry, I'll be back to writing my own stuff whenever I get a chance/have some good inspiration!
Things to come:
- Trip to Nice, Montecarlo, and the French Riviera this weekend!
- Going to the Opera next Thursday night!
Cooking:
- I'm learning how to cook from a well known/respected cook here Florence so if your lucky, I'll cook for you when come home!
Pictures:
- All of my pictures of Switzerland/Lake Como as well as some new ones of things here Florence are up on my Facebook page so feel free to check those out!
(To be continued...)
Miss you all...take care!
Ciao,
Paul
(a.k.a "Paolo" - My new Italian name!)
Monday, September 29, 2008
A Day in Florence and Cinque Terre! 9/24/08 - 9/29/08
Ciao everybody!
Since the last time I had the opportunity to update my blog, so many things have been going on. This past Thursday(the 24th), I had a Wine Tasting Dinner Class in one of Florence's upscale restaurants called "Dino." It was really nice because all of the Wine Tasting and Food's classes at my school were invited for a very elegant 5 course meal paired with some of the most delicious wines of Italy. The dinner was comprised of very popular Italian dishes such as an assortment of meats and cheeses, bruschetta, risotto, pasta (rigatoni), some type of eggplant casserole (I think that's what you call it), tiramisu, etc...and the wine kept coming and coming! Haha. Overall, it was one of the best Italian meals I have ever had, the people I sat with were great, and everyone left happy, full, and a little tipsy (well, maybe more then just a little)!!!
On Friday (the 25th), my friends and I and also maybe half of our entire school went on a free, school sponsored Wine Tasting Trip to a vineyard in the Chianti region of Tuscany. Here, we were taken on a tour of the 350 year old vineyard where they make some of the best wine and olive oil I have ever had in my life! The grapevines, the olive trees, the smell of fermenting grapes in 300 year old barrels, the history, the romantic views of the villas and Italian countryside...the only way to put it in words is simply "AMAZING!" After the tour, we were taken inside the old, classical villa and had the opportunity to sample an assortment of the vineyards finest red, white, and dessert wines and also their fantastic extra virgin olive oil. Life was good! I enjoyed the wine so much that I purchased 4 bottles of different kinds of wines to take back home, where I plan on sharing some with family and friends and using the rest for starting my own wine collection. At the table, I also promised everyone that I would save a bottle of the best wine, which can age for up to 15 years, and that at some point down the road in our lives we would all reunite and share a glass together again...this is my wish!
The following day, on Saturday, I was planning on going to Venice with a couple of friends however I wasn't able to go because I came down with a bad cold, fever, and sore throat. In the morning, when they left, I woke up and had completely lost my voice so I figured that the best thing to do was to stay in bed, get plenty of rest, and to wake up and spend a relaxing day in Florence. After getting plenty of sleep, I woke up at 10 AM, got dressed, and went out to spend a wonderful day in Florence. Accompanied by my roommates Charlie and Garrett, we walked through the market where we got Fiorentina soccer jerseys and scarfs to wear to the games, then we headed over to the Duomo and found out that they were having a huge parade to mark off the beginning of this years' wine harvest. There were trumpeteers, people dressed in historical/classical Italian garments and clothing, soldiers, flag dancers/throwers, and even a wagon that rolled by selling original Chianti wine (of course I had to buy a small bottle of it to take back home and share with family and friends). For two hours, we followed the parade through the streets of Florence and watched the grand finally...totally packed but an awesome experience! Afterwards, Charlie and I decided to head over to the Uffizi Gallery to look at some works done by the famous Boticelli, Michaelangelo, Raffaello, and Leonardo Da Vinci. The Uffizi Gallery is so big and has so much amazing art to see, it wasn't possible for us to see even a fraction of what it has to offer so we decided just to go and see the ones we've been really looking forward to and plan on going many more times throughout the semester, especially after all of the tourists are gone. I would just like to say though, that never in my life have I have seen such amazing and exquisite art. The feelings I got when I saw the works of Boticelli and Leonardo Da Vinci are something that will live with me forever! My two favorite pieces of art were "The Birth of Venus" and "Spring" by Boticelli. I don't really consider myself to be "big" when it comes to art but when I saw these two painting, they meant something different to me...something meaningful and beautiful that I cant really describe. Looking out the window, I noticed the sun going down and so Charlie and I quickly made our way out of the Uffizi Gallery and quickly made our way over to Piazza Michaelangelo...my first time! Of all the places I have been in my life, I truly think that Piazza Michaelangelo is one of my favorite places on Earth! The piazza is located across the Arno River on a hilltop overlooking all of Florence and has the most amazing views of the city and the mountains in the background. Here, Charlie and I stood, talked about life, and watched as the sun painted a beautiful picture in the sky and slowly began to set...my god, what sight!!! It was during this time that I thought a lot about some of the most important things in my life and decided that this was my new place where I would come to think and let go...I truly look forward to the next time I have a chance to go back which will be soon...very soon!!!
On Sunday, a bunch of friends and I went on a day trip to Cinque Terre. Cinque Terre, also known as "The Five Villages," are some of the most romantic, beautiful, picturesque, and authentic fisherman's villages located on the Italian coast. The five villages forming the so-called Cinque Terre are Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso. For the trip, we all signed up with a local travel agency called FlorenceForFun and "boy, did we have fun!!!" Haha. Leaving at 8:30 AM, we traveled by train and after a quick stop in Piza, arrived in Cinque Terre just before noon. Here, we were given some time to have lunch on our own, receive our Hiking Daily Pass, and then begin our hike through each village. The hike, was and will always be something that I will never forget! The hike through the first three villages was pretty easy, and the scenery was simply amazing. However, if you chose to go ahead and do the hike through the last two villages - something I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND to anyone going to Cinque Terre - the difficulty is much more difficult and a lot more tiring but the views...Stunning! Simply something that is too hard to put in writing!!! In Monterosso, the last of the five villages, we were given the rest of the day to enjoy the sights, the beautiful weather, and to swim. Here, we all relaxed on the beach and then my roommate, Charlie, and I took the time to scope out some good spots where we convinced the rest of our friends to come and go CLIFF JUMPING!!! The spot we found to jump from was located near a bunch of rocks and cliffs that surrounded a calm, tranquil pool of deep, aqua-colored water. Scared, but excited at the same time, Charlie and I were the first one's to jump (20 feet). What a rush!!! Soon, all of our friends climbed up on the rocks and got the courage to jump...it was awesome! Of everyone who jumped, I was most proud of our friend Hallie. Scared of heights, we took the time to convince her to face her fears and that we wouldn't let anything bad happen to her. We were there for her. After standing 20 minutes up on the rock, she finally jumped! It's amazing how during these four months that we are traveling, living/studying abroad, we take a chance to have new experiences and do things that we never thought we'd do...to have the courage to face the challenges in our lives. Personally, I thought it was sooo awesome that she decided to take a breath, build up the courage, and finally jump. In life, I feel that we all must "jump" at some point! Halfway through all our jumping, a large crowd started to build on the ferry dock and people began to watch, take pictures, and cheer for us...so cool! Before we left, Charlie and I decided to go even higher and jumped a few times from 30 feet up...so high, but so much fun!!! I never would have thought I would ever get to do anything like that...what an experience! Finally, as the day began to come to an end, we all had some time to get dinner and watch the sunset. It was at this time that I decided to leave the group and go on my own. I got some crab claws and calamari for dinner (sooo good!) and afterwards went on the beach, sat all by myself, and listened to the sound of the waves crashing against the rocks and watched and waited as the sun began to set over the horizon...it was BEAUTIFUL! After the sun finally set, I left the beach, met up with the group, and we all hopped back on the train and headed back to Florence to end our beautiful and one of my most memorable days in the sun.
"As I sit here and and reflect on my life,
my heart grows fonder because I know that the next set of waves will come in.
My life, my love, my journey...it will never end.
As I sit here and watch the the last ray of light disappear over the water,
I know tomorrow will be another day, and the sun will rise again."
- Paul Nowacki -
Things to come:
- Fiorentina Soccer Game: Champions League Cup (9/30/08)
- Trip to Switzerland and Lake Como this weekend!
Pictures:
My camera charger and uploader have finally been released from Customs and have arrived! I have been uploading all of the pictures of my trips and experiences on Facebook so go and check them out. If you don't have Facebook, you can set up a free account at www.facebook.com, friend request me, and soon be able to see all of my pics.
(To be continued...)
Take care!
Ciao,
Paul
Since the last time I had the opportunity to update my blog, so many things have been going on. This past Thursday(the 24th), I had a Wine Tasting Dinner Class in one of Florence's upscale restaurants called "Dino." It was really nice because all of the Wine Tasting and Food's classes at my school were invited for a very elegant 5 course meal paired with some of the most delicious wines of Italy. The dinner was comprised of very popular Italian dishes such as an assortment of meats and cheeses, bruschetta, risotto, pasta (rigatoni), some type of eggplant casserole (I think that's what you call it), tiramisu, etc...and the wine kept coming and coming! Haha. Overall, it was one of the best Italian meals I have ever had, the people I sat with were great, and everyone left happy, full, and a little tipsy (well, maybe more then just a little)!!!
On Friday (the 25th), my friends and I and also maybe half of our entire school went on a free, school sponsored Wine Tasting Trip to a vineyard in the Chianti region of Tuscany. Here, we were taken on a tour of the 350 year old vineyard where they make some of the best wine and olive oil I have ever had in my life! The grapevines, the olive trees, the smell of fermenting grapes in 300 year old barrels, the history, the romantic views of the villas and Italian countryside...the only way to put it in words is simply "AMAZING!" After the tour, we were taken inside the old, classical villa and had the opportunity to sample an assortment of the vineyards finest red, white, and dessert wines and also their fantastic extra virgin olive oil. Life was good! I enjoyed the wine so much that I purchased 4 bottles of different kinds of wines to take back home, where I plan on sharing some with family and friends and using the rest for starting my own wine collection. At the table, I also promised everyone that I would save a bottle of the best wine, which can age for up to 15 years, and that at some point down the road in our lives we would all reunite and share a glass together again...this is my wish!
The following day, on Saturday, I was planning on going to Venice with a couple of friends however I wasn't able to go because I came down with a bad cold, fever, and sore throat. In the morning, when they left, I woke up and had completely lost my voice so I figured that the best thing to do was to stay in bed, get plenty of rest, and to wake up and spend a relaxing day in Florence. After getting plenty of sleep, I woke up at 10 AM, got dressed, and went out to spend a wonderful day in Florence. Accompanied by my roommates Charlie and Garrett, we walked through the market where we got Fiorentina soccer jerseys and scarfs to wear to the games, then we headed over to the Duomo and found out that they were having a huge parade to mark off the beginning of this years' wine harvest. There were trumpeteers, people dressed in historical/classical Italian garments and clothing, soldiers, flag dancers/throwers, and even a wagon that rolled by selling original Chianti wine (of course I had to buy a small bottle of it to take back home and share with family and friends). For two hours, we followed the parade through the streets of Florence and watched the grand finally...totally packed but an awesome experience! Afterwards, Charlie and I decided to head over to the Uffizi Gallery to look at some works done by the famous Boticelli, Michaelangelo, Raffaello, and Leonardo Da Vinci. The Uffizi Gallery is so big and has so much amazing art to see, it wasn't possible for us to see even a fraction of what it has to offer so we decided just to go and see the ones we've been really looking forward to and plan on going many more times throughout the semester, especially after all of the tourists are gone. I would just like to say though, that never in my life have I have seen such amazing and exquisite art. The feelings I got when I saw the works of Boticelli and Leonardo Da Vinci are something that will live with me forever! My two favorite pieces of art were "The Birth of Venus" and "Spring" by Boticelli. I don't really consider myself to be "big" when it comes to art but when I saw these two painting, they meant something different to me...something meaningful and beautiful that I cant really describe. Looking out the window, I noticed the sun going down and so Charlie and I quickly made our way out of the Uffizi Gallery and quickly made our way over to Piazza Michaelangelo...my first time! Of all the places I have been in my life, I truly think that Piazza Michaelangelo is one of my favorite places on Earth! The piazza is located across the Arno River on a hilltop overlooking all of Florence and has the most amazing views of the city and the mountains in the background. Here, Charlie and I stood, talked about life, and watched as the sun painted a beautiful picture in the sky and slowly began to set...my god, what sight!!! It was during this time that I thought a lot about some of the most important things in my life and decided that this was my new place where I would come to think and let go...I truly look forward to the next time I have a chance to go back which will be soon...very soon!!!
On Sunday, a bunch of friends and I went on a day trip to Cinque Terre. Cinque Terre, also known as "The Five Villages," are some of the most romantic, beautiful, picturesque, and authentic fisherman's villages located on the Italian coast. The five villages forming the so-called Cinque Terre are Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso. For the trip, we all signed up with a local travel agency called FlorenceForFun and "boy, did we have fun!!!" Haha. Leaving at 8:30 AM, we traveled by train and after a quick stop in Piza, arrived in Cinque Terre just before noon. Here, we were given some time to have lunch on our own, receive our Hiking Daily Pass, and then begin our hike through each village. The hike, was and will always be something that I will never forget! The hike through the first three villages was pretty easy, and the scenery was simply amazing. However, if you chose to go ahead and do the hike through the last two villages - something I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND to anyone going to Cinque Terre - the difficulty is much more difficult and a lot more tiring but the views...Stunning! Simply something that is too hard to put in writing!!! In Monterosso, the last of the five villages, we were given the rest of the day to enjoy the sights, the beautiful weather, and to swim. Here, we all relaxed on the beach and then my roommate, Charlie, and I took the time to scope out some good spots where we convinced the rest of our friends to come and go CLIFF JUMPING!!! The spot we found to jump from was located near a bunch of rocks and cliffs that surrounded a calm, tranquil pool of deep, aqua-colored water. Scared, but excited at the same time, Charlie and I were the first one's to jump (20 feet). What a rush!!! Soon, all of our friends climbed up on the rocks and got the courage to jump...it was awesome! Of everyone who jumped, I was most proud of our friend Hallie. Scared of heights, we took the time to convince her to face her fears and that we wouldn't let anything bad happen to her. We were there for her. After standing 20 minutes up on the rock, she finally jumped! It's amazing how during these four months that we are traveling, living/studying abroad, we take a chance to have new experiences and do things that we never thought we'd do...to have the courage to face the challenges in our lives. Personally, I thought it was sooo awesome that she decided to take a breath, build up the courage, and finally jump. In life, I feel that we all must "jump" at some point! Halfway through all our jumping, a large crowd started to build on the ferry dock and people began to watch, take pictures, and cheer for us...so cool! Before we left, Charlie and I decided to go even higher and jumped a few times from 30 feet up...so high, but so much fun!!! I never would have thought I would ever get to do anything like that...what an experience! Finally, as the day began to come to an end, we all had some time to get dinner and watch the sunset. It was at this time that I decided to leave the group and go on my own. I got some crab claws and calamari for dinner (sooo good!) and afterwards went on the beach, sat all by myself, and listened to the sound of the waves crashing against the rocks and watched and waited as the sun began to set over the horizon...it was BEAUTIFUL! After the sun finally set, I left the beach, met up with the group, and we all hopped back on the train and headed back to Florence to end our beautiful and one of my most memorable days in the sun.
"As I sit here and and reflect on my life,
my heart grows fonder because I know that the next set of waves will come in.
My life, my love, my journey...it will never end.
As I sit here and watch the the last ray of light disappear over the water,
I know tomorrow will be another day, and the sun will rise again."
- Paul Nowacki -
Things to come:
- Fiorentina Soccer Game: Champions League Cup (9/30/08)
- Trip to Switzerland and Lake Como this weekend!
Pictures:
My camera charger and uploader have finally been released from Customs and have arrived! I have been uploading all of the pictures of my trips and experiences on Facebook so go and check them out. If you don't have Facebook, you can set up a free account at www.facebook.com, friend request me, and soon be able to see all of my pics.
(To be continued...)
Take care!
Ciao,
Paul
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Pompeii, Sorrento, and Capri! 9/17/08 - 9/23/08
Hey everyone!!! So this past weekend, I went on a trip to Pompeii, Sorrento, and Capri. The sights I saw were absolutely breathtaking! The trip began on a chilly Saturday morning when we departed for Pompeii by bus at 5:30 AM. The bus ride took five hours to get to Pompeii from Florence. As we drove further and further into the southern part of Italy, you could begin to see the changes in the terrain and a variety of beautiful landscapes. The city of Pompeii, located in the shadow of Mt. Vesuvio (the volcano which dominates the bay of Naples) is the considered to be one of the most important archaeological sites in the world. It is here where it is possible to appreciate and get in touch with the common life of the ancient Romans. Arriving in Pompeii, we were given some time to eat lunch (pizza made with the freshest mozzarella you can find anywhere in the world) and then we began our visit of the beautiful archaeological site with a professional guide. The tour lasted about 3 hours and was quite an experience. Closing my eyes, I tried to think back in time and imagine what it was like to be a Pompeiin, living during this time, and having experienced the tragedy that wiped out an entire city from existence. In the end, this site showed us how a Roman city in the first century BC was organized and how life existed during this period just before the eruption of Vesuvio's in 79 A.D. Never would I have thought that the city of Pompeii was so large, so advanced, and so beautiful. Walking around, it was difficult to imagine that such an amazing place and its people were lost within a matter of hours. We saw so much in such a little amount of time. Pompeii is the type of place you could explore for days and days and not even see a fraction of what it has to offer...there are just so many amazing things to see. There were statues, columns, bathhouses, brothels, art work you would never expect to find, and a style of architecture that baffled the mind. Even wild dogs ran around the city, one of which really took a liking to our group and for some reason decided to tag along and follow us throughout a good portion of our tour. The one thing that really amazed me but at the same time made me feel very numb was seeing the lost Pompeiin's that were trapped in lava. It was truly amazing to see but at the same time a feeling of loss and sadness came over me...a feeling that will always be difficult to describe but is my own and I will remember forever. At 2 PM, our tour of Pompeii finally came to an end. Before we departed, we were given an hour of free time to explore and get something to eat/drink. It was at this time that a few friends and I decided to get some slushies made from fresh oranges and a guy working the stand kept saying in a heavy Italian accent, "Come...come...we have BEST sendwiches in de WORRRLD!!! I give you stuuuudent priccce!" HAHA. This ended up being our new inside joke for the remainder of our weekend trip. Anything we would do or buy, it would be "De BESSST in de WORRRLD!!!" HAHA...WOW! At 3 PM, our time in Pompeii came to an end and we departed for Sorrento.
Located in the middle of the Sorrentina Peninsula, Sorrento is the best place to take a stunning look of the Bay of Naples, with views of Capri, the Ischia Islands, and the city of Naples with Mt. Vesuvio in the background. As the bus drove along the cliffs of the peninsula into Sorrento, all you could do was look with big, open eyes in absolute awe of the Mediterranean coast. It was here where movies such as Under the Tuscan Sun and the famous "Limoncello"(a kind of liquor made with lemons) were made. Arriving in our four-star hotel (bling bling, haha) for the night, we had a few hours of free time before our group dinner. As we walked along the streets of Sorrento, you could smell the fresh lemons growing from the trees on the sidewalks and the salty aroma coming from the sea. The streets were filled with people from all over with world and variety of shops and stores could be found for miles and miles. Absolutely stunning! Finally, at 8 PM, everyone met back at the hotel for dinner where we had the opportunity to taste a variety of special dishes from the Sorrentina Peninsula. The dinner consisted of a five course meal and was absolutely delicious...couldn't be happier! After dinner, we walked over and visited a local factory where we had the opportunity to taste the best "limoncello" in the world...quite an experience. Afterward, even though most of us were tired from our long day of traveling and walking around Pompeii, our group still decided to go out and have a few drinks at a local bar/club and sing some karaoke. Finally, we retired for the night feeling happy, excited, and looking forward to the last day of our amazing trip...the island of Capri!!!
Waking up at 7 AM, we ate a continental breakfast at our hotel and then departed to Capri from Sorrento by ferryboat. All together, it took about 35 minutes to get to the island, but once we arrived it felt as though time stood still! Positioned just a few miles away from Naples, the island of Capri is considered to be one of the most beautiful in the world because of it's blue sea, the sunny sky, and the incredible vegetation. A long time ago, Capri was the place the Roman Emperors Tiberius and Augustus preferred to live and from that moment on, it has been considered one of the most exclusive places in the world. After arriving in Capri, we got off our ferry and took a boat trip to view the island and its beautiful caves by the sea. Unfortunately, we weren't able to enter the famous "Blue Cave" because the sea conditions were considered to be too rough (Bull Sh*T!!!) but in the end we still had a great time and got to see a vast amount of incredible sights, including huge yachts owned by the mega rich and some of the most exclusive hotels and resorts in the world. After the boat trip, the remainder of the day was given to us as free time to explore the island. We visited luscious gardens, climbed to one of the islands highest peaks to take pictures and see the view of the island, explored the miniature towns filled with the ritziest and most expensive shops and stores (Prada, Gucci, etc.), ate a delicious lunch and gelato made of the freshest ingredients I have probably ever tasted, and ended the day with a cable car ride down to the main port where we went to the beach and swam in some of the most beautiful, crystal clear water that I have ever seen in my entire life! Finally, at the end of the day, we all met up at the ferryboat and took an hour long boat ride to Naples where we got back on our bus, departed back to Florence, and our amazing weekend trip finally came to an end!!!
Other things that I have been doing:
- Gelato: Tried a place called "Grom" next to the Duomo. Some of the BEST ice cream/gelato I have ever had my life. Everything is all natural, made from the freshest ingredients everyday, and the flavors are seasonal (change every month depending on fruit harvests, etc.)
- Classes: Working hard on learning Italian and practicing by speaking with the locals. My drawing class is hard but I spent 6 hours working on my first project which was recreating the famous "Birth of Venus"...came out pretty good...I was very proud! Visited two churches in Florence with my Art History class: Basilica Di Santa Maria Novella and Basilica di San Lorenzo...both are absolutely breathtaking! Social Psychology is very interesting and I am currently working on my Cultural Interview Report. Wine Tasting: keeps getting better and better! Tried 5 new kinds of wine from different parts of Italy and we are having a dinner class this Thursday night to learn how to pair the perfect wine with the perfect meal...cant wait!
- Friends: Everyday I meet someone new and make new friends...its absolutely wonderful! I met a 28 year old local here in Florence who owns his own businesses (3 leather product stores) and has really taken a liking to me. He is very friendly and helpful, has introduced me to a lot of his friends (bartenders, club owners/managers, business owners), and a few days ago he even called me when I was in the middle of class when I couldn't pick up, which totally sucks because he was waiting outside my apartment in a yellow Lamborghini and wanted to take me for a ride and out to some bars/clubs... I totally missed out but he said he'd give me a call the next time he'll be driving around in a Ferrari so that'll be siiiiiick!!! Cant wait! I've also been making friends with a lot of the local shopkeepers. Everyone here is just so warm and friendly...I love it!
- Bars/Clubs: The Red Garter - lots of Americans! They have a beer pong tournament every Tuesday where you can win free trips to Europe...pretty cool! Twice and 21 - Good mix of locals and Americans...great dance floors! Looking forward to a new bar opening up called "Mericana"...Little Scrappy (American rap) will be performing there in the next few weeks.
Chingy (another American rap/hip hop artist) performed at club "Space" last week. Too many bars/clubs/discotechas to list but they're all really fun. Some nights we prefer to just go out for a drink in one of the local pubs (Dublin Pub) or just sit on the steps of the Duomo or in a local piazza drinking wine and just talking all night. Most popular nights to go out still seem to be Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or any other night if there is something fun going on.
- Food/Wine: I'm in Italy, it's all AMAZING!!! I still haven't ate one thing that I haven't liked! I'll post all the good spots and things I taste whenever I can.
- * A lot of people have been asking me to post pictures of my experiences. I definitely will however I forgot to bring my digital camera charger and uploader to Italy with me and even though I had it shipped to me right away, I still haven't received it because it got held up in Customs and has been a nightmare to deal with. Hopefully I should have it all taken care of within the next few weeks and I'll be able to post all my pictures as soon as I can. Until then, keep reading and I'll keep you posted!
Things to Come:
- Wine Tasting Trip to the Chianti region in Tuscany this Friday.
- Planning on going to Venice on Saturday and Cinque Terre on Sunday.
- Trip to Switzerland and Lake Como the following weekend (Oct. 3-5th)
"As the sun rises over he horizon and you feel the warmth shine upon your face, close your eyes, take a breath, and live that day as if it were your last.
At the end of the day, when the sun paints a beautiful portrait in the sky, just watch and wait for the moon and the stars and you will know that, for everyone there's someone and despite what you may think, there's someone out there waiting for you and that you are not alone." -Paul Nowacki -
(To be continued...)
Miss you all!
Ciao,
Paul
Located in the middle of the Sorrentina Peninsula, Sorrento is the best place to take a stunning look of the Bay of Naples, with views of Capri, the Ischia Islands, and the city of Naples with Mt. Vesuvio in the background. As the bus drove along the cliffs of the peninsula into Sorrento, all you could do was look with big, open eyes in absolute awe of the Mediterranean coast. It was here where movies such as Under the Tuscan Sun and the famous "Limoncello"(a kind of liquor made with lemons) were made. Arriving in our four-star hotel (bling bling, haha) for the night, we had a few hours of free time before our group dinner. As we walked along the streets of Sorrento, you could smell the fresh lemons growing from the trees on the sidewalks and the salty aroma coming from the sea. The streets were filled with people from all over with world and variety of shops and stores could be found for miles and miles. Absolutely stunning! Finally, at 8 PM, everyone met back at the hotel for dinner where we had the opportunity to taste a variety of special dishes from the Sorrentina Peninsula. The dinner consisted of a five course meal and was absolutely delicious...couldn't be happier! After dinner, we walked over and visited a local factory where we had the opportunity to taste the best "limoncello" in the world...quite an experience. Afterward, even though most of us were tired from our long day of traveling and walking around Pompeii, our group still decided to go out and have a few drinks at a local bar/club and sing some karaoke. Finally, we retired for the night feeling happy, excited, and looking forward to the last day of our amazing trip...the island of Capri!!!
Waking up at 7 AM, we ate a continental breakfast at our hotel and then departed to Capri from Sorrento by ferryboat. All together, it took about 35 minutes to get to the island, but once we arrived it felt as though time stood still! Positioned just a few miles away from Naples, the island of Capri is considered to be one of the most beautiful in the world because of it's blue sea, the sunny sky, and the incredible vegetation. A long time ago, Capri was the place the Roman Emperors Tiberius and Augustus preferred to live and from that moment on, it has been considered one of the most exclusive places in the world. After arriving in Capri, we got off our ferry and took a boat trip to view the island and its beautiful caves by the sea. Unfortunately, we weren't able to enter the famous "Blue Cave" because the sea conditions were considered to be too rough (Bull Sh*T!!!) but in the end we still had a great time and got to see a vast amount of incredible sights, including huge yachts owned by the mega rich and some of the most exclusive hotels and resorts in the world. After the boat trip, the remainder of the day was given to us as free time to explore the island. We visited luscious gardens, climbed to one of the islands highest peaks to take pictures and see the view of the island, explored the miniature towns filled with the ritziest and most expensive shops and stores (Prada, Gucci, etc.), ate a delicious lunch and gelato made of the freshest ingredients I have probably ever tasted, and ended the day with a cable car ride down to the main port where we went to the beach and swam in some of the most beautiful, crystal clear water that I have ever seen in my entire life! Finally, at the end of the day, we all met up at the ferryboat and took an hour long boat ride to Naples where we got back on our bus, departed back to Florence, and our amazing weekend trip finally came to an end!!!
Other things that I have been doing:
- Gelato: Tried a place called "Grom" next to the Duomo. Some of the BEST ice cream/gelato I have ever had my life. Everything is all natural, made from the freshest ingredients everyday, and the flavors are seasonal (change every month depending on fruit harvests, etc.)
- Classes: Working hard on learning Italian and practicing by speaking with the locals. My drawing class is hard but I spent 6 hours working on my first project which was recreating the famous "Birth of Venus"...came out pretty good...I was very proud! Visited two churches in Florence with my Art History class: Basilica Di Santa Maria Novella and Basilica di San Lorenzo...both are absolutely breathtaking! Social Psychology is very interesting and I am currently working on my Cultural Interview Report. Wine Tasting: keeps getting better and better! Tried 5 new kinds of wine from different parts of Italy and we are having a dinner class this Thursday night to learn how to pair the perfect wine with the perfect meal...cant wait!
- Friends: Everyday I meet someone new and make new friends...its absolutely wonderful! I met a 28 year old local here in Florence who owns his own businesses (3 leather product stores) and has really taken a liking to me. He is very friendly and helpful, has introduced me to a lot of his friends (bartenders, club owners/managers, business owners), and a few days ago he even called me when I was in the middle of class when I couldn't pick up, which totally sucks because he was waiting outside my apartment in a yellow Lamborghini and wanted to take me for a ride and out to some bars/clubs... I totally missed out but he said he'd give me a call the next time he'll be driving around in a Ferrari so that'll be siiiiiick!!! Cant wait! I've also been making friends with a lot of the local shopkeepers. Everyone here is just so warm and friendly...I love it!
- Bars/Clubs: The Red Garter - lots of Americans! They have a beer pong tournament every Tuesday where you can win free trips to Europe...pretty cool! Twice and 21 - Good mix of locals and Americans...great dance floors! Looking forward to a new bar opening up called "Mericana"...Little Scrappy (American rap) will be performing there in the next few weeks.
Chingy (another American rap/hip hop artist) performed at club "Space" last week. Too many bars/clubs/discotechas to list but they're all really fun. Some nights we prefer to just go out for a drink in one of the local pubs (Dublin Pub) or just sit on the steps of the Duomo or in a local piazza drinking wine and just talking all night. Most popular nights to go out still seem to be Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or any other night if there is something fun going on.
- Food/Wine: I'm in Italy, it's all AMAZING!!! I still haven't ate one thing that I haven't liked! I'll post all the good spots and things I taste whenever I can.
- * A lot of people have been asking me to post pictures of my experiences. I definitely will however I forgot to bring my digital camera charger and uploader to Italy with me and even though I had it shipped to me right away, I still haven't received it because it got held up in Customs and has been a nightmare to deal with. Hopefully I should have it all taken care of within the next few weeks and I'll be able to post all my pictures as soon as I can. Until then, keep reading and I'll keep you posted!
Things to Come:
- Wine Tasting Trip to the Chianti region in Tuscany this Friday.
- Planning on going to Venice on Saturday and Cinque Terre on Sunday.
- Trip to Switzerland and Lake Como the following weekend (Oct. 3-5th)
"As the sun rises over he horizon and you feel the warmth shine upon your face, close your eyes, take a breath, and live that day as if it were your last.
At the end of the day, when the sun paints a beautiful portrait in the sky, just watch and wait for the moon and the stars and you will know that, for everyone there's someone and despite what you may think, there's someone out there waiting for you and that you are not alone." -Paul Nowacki -
(To be continued...)
Miss you all!
Ciao,
Paul
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
A Trip of a Lifetime!!! 9/10/08 - 9/16/08
So much has happened since the last time I had to the opportunity to write about what's new in my life here in Italy. This past weekend, I went on a hiking trip to the Alps with my program and let me just say that never in my life did I ever think I would do anything so incredible or see something so amazing that it practically took my breath away. Our trip started with bus ride to the Alps. We departed from Florence at 4:50-5 AM. All together there were about 35 of us including 3 of our professors from school, two of which I have teaching my classes. For 4 1/2 hours, the bus took us further and further into Northern Italy and finally up into the Alps. The views along the way were absolutely incredible. Mountains, forests, vineyards, streams, rivers, apple orchards, beautiful towns, etc. As we began our drive further and further into the Alps, it was hard not to be an absolute awe of everything around you. Finally we arrived at the base of huge mountain in the towns of Madonna di Campiglio and Pinzolo (two of the most famous resorts of the Alps in the region of Trentino). The towns are about 1500 meters above sea level and are located in a wonderful position from where it is possible to hike, climb, or take cableways and chair lifts to reach the peaks of the surrounding mountains. Having arrived and getting off the bus, immediately you could tell that you were in the Alps. The temperature was much cooler and in the low 50's. We had 15 minutes to change, get food/water for the hike, and go to the bathroom. We met two of our guides, one of which climbed Mt. Everest and before we knew it, we were on our way!
The start of the hike up the mountain was very basic. We walked together on a trail through the forest and it seemed pretty easy. After an hour, it began to rain and everyone began putting on their rain jackets. The guides led us further and further up the mountain and soon you could heart the raging waters of massive waterfall. As we turned the corner, there it was!!! One of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen in my life! We stopped at the waterfall for a what was supposed to be a quick lunch and to take pictures. Within 20 minutes of being there, a huge mist began to roll down the mountains and it began to pour. The guides told us that we had to wait out the rain and when it was over we could continue our hike. For 2 hours, the rain kept coming and coming. Some of the people on our trip figured that we wouldnt continue so they decided to start drinking, haha. Big mistake! Finally, one our teachers said that our hike would have to be cancelled due to weather conditions and that we were going to have to head back in 15 minutes. Myself and many others were so bummed. We wanted to continue our hike, rain or shine! Finally, as if it were a gift from God, it stopped raining 5 minutes before were going to head back and the guides said that we were going to keep moving on. Hell yeeeeah!!! We spent a few more minutes at the waterfall and were even allowed to go behind it and take pictures...absolutely amazing!
As we continued our hike, the terrain became harder and harder to walk, especially because it was so wet. For the next three hours, we hiked through heavily wooded forests, up rock faces next to some of the most amazing waterfalls I have ever seen in my life and saw views of the mountains that very few get to see in there life. Close to the fourth hour, everyone was completely soaked from head to toe, tired, hungry, thirsty, and several of us even started to feel delirious. We came to a clearing with rocks and boulders all over the place and another huge mountain in front of us. The guides told us we were about 30 minutes from where we had started and that we would be back soon. What a load of crap! haha. We walked for an 1 hr 1/2 on the side of a mountain that was only 4-5 feet wide! If you had slipped and fallen to your left, you would have fallen down the mountain...it was insane! The craziest part was that our guides had walked way ahead of us and for over an hour we didnt see anyone or even know if we were going to the right way (or so we thought). It was at this time that my roommate, Garrett, said one of the funniest things I have ever heard..."This better not be like fu**ing Touristas and these guys are gonna lead us up into the mountains and fu**ing cut out our organs!" HAHA. We all honestly thought we were going to die of laughter! Finally, after a little while we caught up with one of our guides and he led us down the remainder of the moutain. Tired, cold, and wet...it didnt matter...we totally just climbed the Alps!!!After getting back on the bus, everyone fell asleep right away. After a 2 hour drive, we arrived in the town of Trentino where we spent the night in a very nice hotel. A dinner based on typical local dishes was served and afterward everyone called it a night.
The next morning, we departed for Garda Lake. Garda Lake is the biggest Italian lake and one of the most renown summer resorsts of Europe. Here we visited Sirmione, the most beautiful town on the lake. In Sirmione, we enjoyed a wonderful lakeside walk, visited the Grotte di Catullo (ancient Roman ruins) and enjoyed a wonderful lunch on our own with friends. Here it was much warmer, the lake was an amazing acqua blue color and the view of the Alps in the background was unreal. At 2 PM, we got back on the bus and departed for Verona and arrived around 2:45 PM. Verona is one of the most famous cities in the world, the city of Romeo and Juliet, celebrated for its beautiful and elegant historical centre and amazing monuments. Here we took a bus tour of the area around the river Adige and afterward went on a walking tour of the centre and visited: The Arena (3rd largest colleseum like building in Europe), Piaza della Erbe, Piazza dei Signori, and the House of Juliet. The House of Juliet was a very pretty and we had the opportunity to take pictures from the so-called balcony where she and Romeo fell in love. Entering the house, the walls of the tunnel leading into the courtyard were COVERED in writing, love letters, and notes that people had left signfying there love for others. At 5:30 PM, we departed for Florence and our trip of a lifetime finally came to an end!
Other things that I have been doing:
- A bunch of us went and partied at place called "Space" nightclub/discotecha. This place is two floors and we had an awesome time dancing the night away. Fifteen minutes after we arrived, I had to go to the bathroom and totally ran into Mike Jones (Whoooo?! haha) as he was walking in with his posse. I went up to him, said "what up" and told him I had a good time at his concert. Suprisingly he was really nice, really cool and got really excited that I was from Chi-town!
- Went to place called the "Oil Shop". The make the best sandwiches!!!
- Finally went to the rest of my classes. I really like them all. I am literally the only guy in 3 out of 5 of them but that's alright, I guess...haha!
- Gelato: Ive had over 10 new flavors since I last wrote on my blog. Its sooooo good but I can only imagine how sick of ice cream Im going to get by the end of the 4 months Im here...or maybe not! haha
- Sushi: Tried the local sushi here in Florence...its actually really good!
- McDonalds: Twice if not three times as expensive as it is back in the U.S. The menu is different, food comes in huge portions, and they have curly fries...interesting!
- My trip to the doctor: Last night I went over to the girls' place from my program to hang out and I got bitten by a mosquito on my eyelid. This morning when I woke up, my entire right eye was swollen shut. I could barely open it and was blind in that eye. My roommates said I looked like Quasimotto...thanks guys! haha. Blind in one eye and looking like a carnival side show freak, I walked to a local student hospital/health clinic where they gave me a shot, and some medicine to get rid of the swelling. After a few hours...I was back to looking like my old self again. Thank God!!! The doctor said that a lot of times, foreigners get bit by the local mosquitos and have bad allergic reactions.
- Staying up late on night and talking to Charlie, one of my roomates, about girls, love and relationships. "To live life, you have to go through the pain. Sometimes the pain is too much to bear and it stays with you for what seems like forever and ever. As hard as it is, and no matter how much your heart aches, continue on your path knowing that one day you will look into her eyes and be loved again." - Paul Nowacki
Things to come:
- This weekend I will be traveling to Capri, Pompeii, and Sorrento!
(To be continued...)
Love and miss you all!
Ciao,
Paul
The start of the hike up the mountain was very basic. We walked together on a trail through the forest and it seemed pretty easy. After an hour, it began to rain and everyone began putting on their rain jackets. The guides led us further and further up the mountain and soon you could heart the raging waters of massive waterfall. As we turned the corner, there it was!!! One of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen in my life! We stopped at the waterfall for a what was supposed to be a quick lunch and to take pictures. Within 20 minutes of being there, a huge mist began to roll down the mountains and it began to pour. The guides told us that we had to wait out the rain and when it was over we could continue our hike. For 2 hours, the rain kept coming and coming. Some of the people on our trip figured that we wouldnt continue so they decided to start drinking, haha. Big mistake! Finally, one our teachers said that our hike would have to be cancelled due to weather conditions and that we were going to have to head back in 15 minutes. Myself and many others were so bummed. We wanted to continue our hike, rain or shine! Finally, as if it were a gift from God, it stopped raining 5 minutes before were going to head back and the guides said that we were going to keep moving on. Hell yeeeeah!!! We spent a few more minutes at the waterfall and were even allowed to go behind it and take pictures...absolutely amazing!
As we continued our hike, the terrain became harder and harder to walk, especially because it was so wet. For the next three hours, we hiked through heavily wooded forests, up rock faces next to some of the most amazing waterfalls I have ever seen in my life and saw views of the mountains that very few get to see in there life. Close to the fourth hour, everyone was completely soaked from head to toe, tired, hungry, thirsty, and several of us even started to feel delirious. We came to a clearing with rocks and boulders all over the place and another huge mountain in front of us. The guides told us we were about 30 minutes from where we had started and that we would be back soon. What a load of crap! haha. We walked for an 1 hr 1/2 on the side of a mountain that was only 4-5 feet wide! If you had slipped and fallen to your left, you would have fallen down the mountain...it was insane! The craziest part was that our guides had walked way ahead of us and for over an hour we didnt see anyone or even know if we were going to the right way (or so we thought). It was at this time that my roommate, Garrett, said one of the funniest things I have ever heard..."This better not be like fu**ing Touristas and these guys are gonna lead us up into the mountains and fu**ing cut out our organs!" HAHA. We all honestly thought we were going to die of laughter! Finally, after a little while we caught up with one of our guides and he led us down the remainder of the moutain. Tired, cold, and wet...it didnt matter...we totally just climbed the Alps!!!After getting back on the bus, everyone fell asleep right away. After a 2 hour drive, we arrived in the town of Trentino where we spent the night in a very nice hotel. A dinner based on typical local dishes was served and afterward everyone called it a night.
The next morning, we departed for Garda Lake. Garda Lake is the biggest Italian lake and one of the most renown summer resorsts of Europe. Here we visited Sirmione, the most beautiful town on the lake. In Sirmione, we enjoyed a wonderful lakeside walk, visited the Grotte di Catullo (ancient Roman ruins) and enjoyed a wonderful lunch on our own with friends. Here it was much warmer, the lake was an amazing acqua blue color and the view of the Alps in the background was unreal. At 2 PM, we got back on the bus and departed for Verona and arrived around 2:45 PM. Verona is one of the most famous cities in the world, the city of Romeo and Juliet, celebrated for its beautiful and elegant historical centre and amazing monuments. Here we took a bus tour of the area around the river Adige and afterward went on a walking tour of the centre and visited: The Arena (3rd largest colleseum like building in Europe), Piaza della Erbe, Piazza dei Signori, and the House of Juliet. The House of Juliet was a very pretty and we had the opportunity to take pictures from the so-called balcony where she and Romeo fell in love. Entering the house, the walls of the tunnel leading into the courtyard were COVERED in writing, love letters, and notes that people had left signfying there love for others. At 5:30 PM, we departed for Florence and our trip of a lifetime finally came to an end!
Other things that I have been doing:
- A bunch of us went and partied at place called "Space" nightclub/discotecha. This place is two floors and we had an awesome time dancing the night away. Fifteen minutes after we arrived, I had to go to the bathroom and totally ran into Mike Jones (Whoooo?! haha) as he was walking in with his posse. I went up to him, said "what up" and told him I had a good time at his concert. Suprisingly he was really nice, really cool and got really excited that I was from Chi-town!
- Went to place called the "Oil Shop". The make the best sandwiches!!!
- Finally went to the rest of my classes. I really like them all. I am literally the only guy in 3 out of 5 of them but that's alright, I guess...haha!
- Gelato: Ive had over 10 new flavors since I last wrote on my blog. Its sooooo good but I can only imagine how sick of ice cream Im going to get by the end of the 4 months Im here...or maybe not! haha
- Sushi: Tried the local sushi here in Florence...its actually really good!
- McDonalds: Twice if not three times as expensive as it is back in the U.S. The menu is different, food comes in huge portions, and they have curly fries...interesting!
- My trip to the doctor: Last night I went over to the girls' place from my program to hang out and I got bitten by a mosquito on my eyelid. This morning when I woke up, my entire right eye was swollen shut. I could barely open it and was blind in that eye. My roommates said I looked like Quasimotto...thanks guys! haha. Blind in one eye and looking like a carnival side show freak, I walked to a local student hospital/health clinic where they gave me a shot, and some medicine to get rid of the swelling. After a few hours...I was back to looking like my old self again. Thank God!!! The doctor said that a lot of times, foreigners get bit by the local mosquitos and have bad allergic reactions.
- Staying up late on night and talking to Charlie, one of my roomates, about girls, love and relationships. "To live life, you have to go through the pain. Sometimes the pain is too much to bear and it stays with you for what seems like forever and ever. As hard as it is, and no matter how much your heart aches, continue on your path knowing that one day you will look into her eyes and be loved again." - Paul Nowacki
Things to come:
- This weekend I will be traveling to Capri, Pompeii, and Sorrento!
(To be continued...)
Love and miss you all!
Ciao,
Paul
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