Last Thursday, Amsterdam came calling and we answered promptly! We flew Alitalia through Rome straight in to Amsterdam. Hilliary and I had to check our bags, so we went to the baggage claim when we got there. Her backpack came right on out...my bag did not, which is hard to fathom since we checked in together. I filed a report and all I could do was wait for some news. So we motored on. After checking in to the hostel, we explored our food options. Amsterdam is such an international city that you could eat anything you wanted whenever you wanted. I started with a bagel and soup. I decided that I should probably invest in some change of clothing since I would be there for 4 days--and who knows if my bag will ever show up. Luckily, Amsterdam also has some great shopping. We went to a second-hand vintage store that sold gas masks. I abstained.
The next day, the rest of the group met us later in the afternoon. We got our bearings just in time to head to the Crystal Castles concert a few metro stops away. It was insane! I had never really listened to their stuff before, but they are quite the entertainment. The lead singer reminded me of Coraline. Kind of freaky. But ridiculous in a way that only Amsterdam could embrace. It truly is a city that has anything and everything anybody could ever want out of life. Seriously.
Saturday, we stumbled upon a carnival that was gearing up for the Queen's Day celebration the following weekend. Orange, the color of Amsterdam, was everywhere. It felt like a European version of the state fair. We rode the tall ferris wheel to get a view of the entire city--beautiful. Afterward, we ate lunch along a canal and went to the Heineken Experience. It was pretty cool! It was a very hands-on type of museum. I helped brew some beer...and then we went on a ride where we got brewed! How creative. The ticket included some beer, so we hung out in the brewery's bar for a little while after the tour. That night, we walked through the Red Light District. It's funny, because none of us felt like that was obscene or inappropriate. I guess I'm embracing that European attitude more each day. And I guess that's how Amsterdam blends it all seamlessly together.
Hilliary and I found ourselves at Anne Frank's house. Such a poignant story. And the house was very cool, too, because Otto Frank, Anne's father, personally guided its development. He is quoted a few times throughout the museum. In the last room, the Freedom2Choose room, Otto clarifies that the house isn't meant for people to dwell on the past, but rather to move forward, forgetting prejudices and bigotry. I think I will try to visit Dachau, a concentration camp outside Munich, this weekend. It could be a nice little parallel.
That afternoon, we had to head to the airport to come back home. I went early to pick up my bag (the airline called me Saturday saying they'd found it. I didn't see any merit in wasting time getting it with only one night left). So I found it. Put my new purchases in and proceeded to check in. Of course, I had to check my bag again. However, due to our 20 minute connection in Rome, none of our bags made it to Florence! All I could do was laugh. I had worn the same clothes for 4 days. No toothpaste. No nothing. But I was home. And that's all that mattered.
Two days later, my bag was delivered. I emailed Alitalia to see what they would do for me. I'm still waiting for a response.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Amici e le Cinque Terre: il bellissimo luogo
After Jennifer and company left Florence last week to continue their Italian excursions, the Florentine routine resumed. Although hardly a routine, we frequented our familiar establishments and discovered some new ones as well.
Last Thursday, Accent arranged for the TCU group to go see Momix, a modern show that could be described as Cirque du Soliel meets Blue Man Group. The show actually started in the United States, but must be on a tour of Europe. We saw it at Teatro Verdi, a beautful old theatre near Santa Croce. We got to sit in a balcony for the performance! Every scene was amazing. There was no dialogue, but the incredible soundtrack said it all. The show moves through the four seasons in extremely unique ways. The performers were some of the most talented I've ever seen. I highly recommend Momix to anyone.
Saturday, we decided to go to the Inter Milan v. Fiorentina futbol game! What an experience! Inter is one of the top teams in the world and Florence hosted them right in our backyard. Fiorentina scored first within the first 15 minutes and held Inter for most of the game. In the second half, Inter snuck in two back-to-back goals. Fortunately, Fiorentina answered them right away to tie it back up at 2-2. The clock ran up at 90:00, so a short overtime ensued. At the end of overtime, neither team managed another goal, so the game ended in a tie. At least Fiorentina didn't lose to one of the best teams in the world! We also had some extra entertainment in the stand when a Milan fan haphazardly identified his affiliation amidst a sea of diehard Fiorentina supporters. We seriously feared for his wellbeing. It almost got real ugly. I suppose that is why they had hundreds of crowd-control personnel seperating the fans. And this was just a normal game! I can only imagine Johannesburg this summer.
The school week was pretty slow. That is, until I found out we had a quiz Thursday in my Italian class. Normally, that wouldn't have been a problem. But, when Jennifer was in town, she let me know that she would be in Cinque Terre, a 2-hour train ride from Florence, for her 21st that week. Of course as a best friend, I had to go! I had planned on leaving Wednesday morning after class as to only miss my Thursday morning Italian class. Well, the quiz was worth 5% of my final grade--and it's date was non-negotiable. I really cannot complain about the effect on my grade, since it is technically in the syllabus. It just angered me that the ONE class I miss (of a 3 day/week 8am class), it would be worth 5%. Woe is me.
Cinque Terre: the most beautiful place on the planet!
I arrived Wednesday afternoon before Jennifer. The train station was literally on the beach! So I soaked up the ambience, then headed for the hostel. I checked in at the top of the hill in Riomaggiore. The room, however, was at the bottom of the hill near the water's edge. It was a hidden little door down an alleyway/maze--only in Italy. I met some of the others staying in the 11-person room (one of the girls actually knew some TCU people!) and headed for the beach. After I finished reading, I went back to see if Jennifer had made it for her 21st and she had! We got ready for dinner and headed up the hill. To our surprise, there were only three restaurants in the whole town--luckily they were open (and the only things open!). We had some great seafood followed by some great mojitos (thanks, Rick Steves!). We finished the night with wine on the marina.
The next day, we woke up and hiked from Monterosso to Vernazza, the hardest trail of the five towns. We made it back to the hostel where we met some more roommates. Tom, a 23-year old kiwi from New Zealand. After spending 5-months in Fort Lauderdale and gaining his deck-hand experience for boating, he traveled through Western Europe. Cinque Terre was his last stop before meeting his port of call just south. He signed on as a deck hand for a 44-metre yacht, owned by a middle-eastern oil tycoon. The yacht isn't even completed yet. It has a crew of 9...for a six-person family! That must be nice! His contract is for 7 months--all exepenses paid. I'm slightly envious. And James, a 23-year old masters student in London who originates from Canada. The two of them joined us for some of our adventures on Friday and Saturday.
We spent all-day Saturday on the beach! It was PERFECT weather in a PERFECT place for relaxation. We picked up a picnic lunch at the local market: foccacia, pesto, mozzarella, salami, grapes, apples, and white wine. I know...rough life. It was great, though, to have those moments to relax with great friends (Spain was a great spring break, but one of those vacations that demands a vacation afterward).
Now it is Saturday and I am back in Florence with the weekend still ahead of me! Granted, I have alot of schoolwork to catch up on this weekend before a week of papers and presentations. We will leave for Amsterdam on Thursday!
Last Thursday, Accent arranged for the TCU group to go see Momix, a modern show that could be described as Cirque du Soliel meets Blue Man Group. The show actually started in the United States, but must be on a tour of Europe. We saw it at Teatro Verdi, a beautful old theatre near Santa Croce. We got to sit in a balcony for the performance! Every scene was amazing. There was no dialogue, but the incredible soundtrack said it all. The show moves through the four seasons in extremely unique ways. The performers were some of the most talented I've ever seen. I highly recommend Momix to anyone.
Saturday, we decided to go to the Inter Milan v. Fiorentina futbol game! What an experience! Inter is one of the top teams in the world and Florence hosted them right in our backyard. Fiorentina scored first within the first 15 minutes and held Inter for most of the game. In the second half, Inter snuck in two back-to-back goals. Fortunately, Fiorentina answered them right away to tie it back up at 2-2. The clock ran up at 90:00, so a short overtime ensued. At the end of overtime, neither team managed another goal, so the game ended in a tie. At least Fiorentina didn't lose to one of the best teams in the world! We also had some extra entertainment in the stand when a Milan fan haphazardly identified his affiliation amidst a sea of diehard Fiorentina supporters. We seriously feared for his wellbeing. It almost got real ugly. I suppose that is why they had hundreds of crowd-control personnel seperating the fans. And this was just a normal game! I can only imagine Johannesburg this summer.
The school week was pretty slow. That is, until I found out we had a quiz Thursday in my Italian class. Normally, that wouldn't have been a problem. But, when Jennifer was in town, she let me know that she would be in Cinque Terre, a 2-hour train ride from Florence, for her 21st that week. Of course as a best friend, I had to go! I had planned on leaving Wednesday morning after class as to only miss my Thursday morning Italian class. Well, the quiz was worth 5% of my final grade--and it's date was non-negotiable. I really cannot complain about the effect on my grade, since it is technically in the syllabus. It just angered me that the ONE class I miss (of a 3 day/week 8am class), it would be worth 5%. Woe is me.
Cinque Terre: the most beautiful place on the planet!
I arrived Wednesday afternoon before Jennifer. The train station was literally on the beach! So I soaked up the ambience, then headed for the hostel. I checked in at the top of the hill in Riomaggiore. The room, however, was at the bottom of the hill near the water's edge. It was a hidden little door down an alleyway/maze--only in Italy. I met some of the others staying in the 11-person room (one of the girls actually knew some TCU people!) and headed for the beach. After I finished reading, I went back to see if Jennifer had made it for her 21st and she had! We got ready for dinner and headed up the hill. To our surprise, there were only three restaurants in the whole town--luckily they were open (and the only things open!). We had some great seafood followed by some great mojitos (thanks, Rick Steves!). We finished the night with wine on the marina.
The next day, we woke up and hiked from Monterosso to Vernazza, the hardest trail of the five towns. We made it back to the hostel where we met some more roommates. Tom, a 23-year old kiwi from New Zealand. After spending 5-months in Fort Lauderdale and gaining his deck-hand experience for boating, he traveled through Western Europe. Cinque Terre was his last stop before meeting his port of call just south. He signed on as a deck hand for a 44-metre yacht, owned by a middle-eastern oil tycoon. The yacht isn't even completed yet. It has a crew of 9...for a six-person family! That must be nice! His contract is for 7 months--all exepenses paid. I'm slightly envious. And James, a 23-year old masters student in London who originates from Canada. The two of them joined us for some of our adventures on Friday and Saturday.
We spent all-day Saturday on the beach! It was PERFECT weather in a PERFECT place for relaxation. We picked up a picnic lunch at the local market: foccacia, pesto, mozzarella, salami, grapes, apples, and white wine. I know...rough life. It was great, though, to have those moments to relax with great friends (Spain was a great spring break, but one of those vacations that demands a vacation afterward).
Now it is Saturday and I am back in Florence with the weekend still ahead of me! Granted, I have alot of schoolwork to catch up on this weekend before a week of papers and presentations. We will leave for Amsterdam on Thursday!
Monday, April 5, 2010
Quando Jennifer arriva a Firenze
Jennifer is in town! She and two of her friends who are also studying in Aix en Provence, France are traveling around Italy for the next two weeks while they're on spring break. They're starting here in Florence, then heading to Venice, Rome, and Cinque Terre. They have Eurail passes, so taking trains everywhere is cheaper.
Jennifer will be turning 21 next week in Cinque Terre and I think I am going to meet here there!! Some other TCU folks went there this weekend and their pictures look too good not to go! Until then, I am showing Jennifer what it means to be Florentine. I hope I have done a good job so far! It was Easter (Pasqua) yesterday, so we went to mass at Santa Croce after watching the celebration in Piazza del Duomo. They shot fireworks off an ornate cart! Last night, we made dinner for the group. Unfortunately, my dishes didn't turn out the way I had planned....bo.
In other news, I signed up for fall classes. Unfortunately, the course offerings and times are not working to my advantage. I have to drop my Italian minor :( I am really mad about that. That is one of the reasons I came here and now I can't finish it! Hopefully I can work out some sort of compromise.
Jennifer will be turning 21 next week in Cinque Terre and I think I am going to meet here there!! Some other TCU folks went there this weekend and their pictures look too good not to go! Until then, I am showing Jennifer what it means to be Florentine. I hope I have done a good job so far! It was Easter (Pasqua) yesterday, so we went to mass at Santa Croce after watching the celebration in Piazza del Duomo. They shot fireworks off an ornate cart! Last night, we made dinner for the group. Unfortunately, my dishes didn't turn out the way I had planned....bo.
In other news, I signed up for fall classes. Unfortunately, the course offerings and times are not working to my advantage. I have to drop my Italian minor :( I am really mad about that. That is one of the reasons I came here and now I can't finish it! Hopefully I can work out some sort of compromise.
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