Pisa, Italy= Fun!

You better believe it...I was at the Leaning Tower of Pisa on Saturday. I go to all of these places and I still can't believe I am actually here. We hoped off the train and began walking to the Tower. Then all of a sudden we came around a corner and BAM it was right there. It was so cool!

Inside the Tower

Our group had the opportunity to climb to the top. It was actually really freaky. As you climb the stairs, you lean to different sides of the wall, depending on which side you were on. It really messed with your mind. The steps are made of granite, so it was extra slippery. Everyone who knows me pretty well, knows that I have a serious problem with stairs. Luckily there were no casualties!

Once we reached the top of the tower, we only had 5 minutes to get the pictures we wanted before they made us come down. Only 30 people are allowed up the tower at one time, so they kept us moving.

We then took a tour of the Duomo and the Baptistery, but neither of these places were as cool as the tower. They were all very beautiful though. We got the classic pics of holding the tower up, and then had lunch at a small pizzeria. While I was eating lunch I got a lovely surprise on my leg. Yep, I got pooped on by a pigeon. I'm just glad it missed my pizza.

This was an awesome group trip. Our next side trip is Florence again next Saturday!

GOOAAALLLLL!!!

Let me dedicate this post to Matt...because he loves soccer...and last night I attended my first Siena soccer game!! Here soccer is called Calcio, so I went to a Calcio Match. :) It was just like any other soccer game I have attended...but I am in Siena, so that made it really cool. The arena is about the same size of Rio Tinto, but Rio Tinto is a lot nicer. We sat together as a group and had lots of fun.

We had to leave about 10 minutes early to catch the bus, but the final score was 0-0. Siena played Verona. Verona is the city in Italy where Romeo and Juliet are from. It was a fun event and I am glad I had the opportunity to go.

Oh and have you ever seen a pizza like this? Yep, that is an egg... sunnyside up...in the middle of the pizza...with bacon. I couldn't stop laughing when they brought this out for one of my friends. Buon Appetito! ha

The Duomo of Siena

I have been to a lot of churches my first few weeks here in Italy, but I think I have found my favorite. Yesterday I went to the Duomo of Siena. It was much different from all of the other churches I have visited. This one is very unique and SO big.

Outside the Duomo

Inside the Duomo. Don'tcha love the stripes?

When this church was being built, Siena was in power. They tried to make this the largest church in the world, but did not succeed because of the plague. This church has stripped marble on the exterior and interior, symbolic floors inside the nave, and stained glass windows. There are also statues from Michelangelo and Donatello inside. It was amazing.

Also inside this Duomo is the picture of Madonna Del Voto. She is the most worshipped Madonna in Siena. She is known for performing many miracles for the Sinese people and is highly respected.

Madonna Del Voto

San Gimignano = World’s Best Gelato

This weekend we had a trip to San Gimignano and Volterra. I liked our trip to San Gimiguano a little better, and I have a few reasons why.

Let’s start with our trip to Volterra. Volterra is a small town, about 1 hour from Siena. They aren’t really known for anything... but for having a large metal mine…and being the setting for the book series Twilight. Yep… I went to vampire land. It was cool, but not super exciting. I went to an Etruscan museum and that was neat. But by the 10^th room of Etruscan Tombs, I was ready to head back to the bus. Volterra was fun, but nothing like San Gimignano.

San Gimignano is a larger town and after Siena is the highest tourist destination in the Tuscany providence. Hundreds of years ago 76 towers were present in San Gimignano. Today there are only 13 remaining. These towers were used as houses. They only used ladders in these tall towers. This was because if they were attacked. they would simply raise the ladders and the enemy could not reach them. The kitchens of these houses were found on the top level in case there was a fire. Then only the top level would burn. The people of San Gimignano were very smart!

 

One of the 13 tower homes.

The Beautiful View

We arrived and headed to one of these towers. We made our way up the staircase and then climbed a ladder to the roof. The view was amazing. Green vineyards could be seen in every direction. This is what I pictured Italy to look like.

Not only was San Gimignano beautiful…it is home to the World’s BEST Gelato…Literally. The Pluripremiata Gelato Shop has won the competition for the world’s best gelato in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009. After a cone of peach and mango gelato, I was in heaven. It was very yummy and the best gelato I have had yet!

 

Firenze!

I had the opportunity of going to Florence yesterday. The drive was about 1 hour long, so about the distance from Salt Lake to Provo. It wasn’t bad at all.

I got to Florence and right as I got off the bus, I knew I was going to like it. There were stores EVERY WHERE. This city is very busy. There are tons of cars, people, shops, and smokers…unfortunately.

Anyways, we walked from the bus station to a little market. Since I have been in Italy, I haven’t had any run-ins with creepy Italian men…until Florence. They were everywhere. Luckily, I do not have blonde hair and blue eyes. They love those girls.

After the shops we headed to the Florence Cathedral. It was amazing. Simply amazing! I couldn’t believe how big it was. The colors were so vivid and the decorations were so elaborate. We walked to the south side of the Duomo and started our decent up the 414 stairs of the bell tower. I don’t think any of us expected there to be that many stairs. It was quite the workout…but we kept telling each other there would be gelato waiting at the bottom!! The view from the top of the Bell Tower was breathtaking. You could see all of Florence.

 

Climbing the 414 stairs

View from the top of the Bell tower

The remainder of the afternoon we went to the Baptistery to see the Gates of Paradise by Ghiberti, and the Dome by Brunelleschi. It was so neat to see these things in person. I have only read about them in my art books. Although, the gates of paradise on the baptistery are not the originals...they were still beautiful. The originals are in a museum a little bit away.

In front of the Gates of Paradise

It was a wonderful day in Florence. I am excited to go back…there is a lot of shopping that needs to be done! J

Gino Cacino

Yesterday was another rainy day in Siena. I didn't think fall would come this soon for some reason...but it has been raining the past few days here. It is a warm rain though. As long as it doesn't start to snow....there will be all smiles here! :)

I am taking an Italian Culture class. Each week we attend a culture activity with our class, and then we are to attend something in Italy by ourselves. Then we are to keep a journal of all our experiences. Yesterday we went to Gino Cacino's market. He was a cute little Italian man who LOVES cheese!! 

His market was right below the Tower in the Campo. He taught us all about cheeses, balsamic vinegar, meat, and cakes of Siena. The best part was tasting all of these things. The cheese was amazing! I wish I could send some home to all of you!! 

After our little field trip we headed back to our apartment. I cleaned my clothes in the sink and hung them out to dry. I am SO grateful for washers and dryers!! Then...it was dinner time. The majority of the food I have been served from my host family has tasted fine...but last night I tasted something that I have never tasted before. Picorino cheese...but this was not normal picorino cheese. I couldn't even choke it down. I placed half of the slice on my lap and tried to feed it to Pepo, the dog. He didn't even eat it though. That tells you how gross it was. I hope they don't offer it to me again. 

This is my bathroom!!

And this is my bedroom! Notice the stuffed animals and the hanging glowing grapes! 

First Day of School

I already posted something today...but I am trying to catch up. Today was my first day of school. I was so excited to start. I only had my Italian class today...but it was great. Class started at 9 o'clock and lasted till 10:30. I am taking Italian 1020. It was a lot of information already. Our teacher's name is Aundrea. The whole lesson was taught in Italian. If my mind wandered for 1 second I would have been completely lost. 

We gave him a lot of blank stares and he would just laugh at us. That didn't really help our self esteem. I think he will be a good teacher though. He is going to push us hard...but I am hoping this will help my Italian. I am also hoping I will remember more of Italian 1010 as the class goes along. That would be very helpful.

Can I just mention how grateful I am for Skype?!! It was so nice to talk to Whitney today...and do it for free...and see her face!!! I can't wait to talk with Matt and the rest of mi familia!! 

My Apartment

These next pics are the things I see on my walk to school!

James Bond, Dad!!

This is the school and what it looks like inside.

The Golden Arches

Yesterday we went to church for the first time in Siena. It was an adventure. We used the bus right outside of our house to Piazza Giamci. There we met our group and walked the rest of the way to church. It was about a 15-minute walk to get to the church. The church was down a small alleyway. I would have never found it on my own. There are about 20 people in the ward…we doubled the population with our group. It felt so good to be at church. Even though it was in Italian... you could feel the spirit.

The rest of the day we went grocery shopping…and I had my FIRST Big Mac ever. Yes…a hamburger in Italy. It was needed though.  The food here is good, but we were craving some American food. I never thought I would crave a Big Mac…but my stomach proved me wrong today. Oh and let’s not forget that it cost 6.70 Euro, that is about 9 dollars in America. It was kind of ridiculous, oh well.

After lunch we met our group in the Piazza again, and walked to the school together to take a tour. It is called the Dante A’ligheri School. It is a nice school and there is internet there…YAY! Hopefully it works well. I am excited to start classes. I am taking Italian, Art History, Cooking, and a Culture class.

 

Ciao!

As you all know, I am in Italy right now. Pretty crazy, huh? I never thought this time would come…but it did, and now I am here. The Internet is not easily accessible over here, but I am trying my best to post as often as I can.

I arrived in Rome over a week ago. It was a very big shock. I have never been out of the country before. We arrived at the Hotel Pacific early on September 5^th and we have been very busy ever since.

 The first four days that I was here I saw: The Vatican, St. Peter’s Basilica, Michelangelo statues, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, the Spanish Steps, the catacombs, the Colosseum, the Arch of Constantine, the Forum, many Baroque Churches, Herculaneum and Pompeii. WOW... It was a lot to see in four days. I never thought in a million years I would be traveling through Europe. It is very surreal to actually be here.

The Trevi Fountain

After Pompeii we arrived in a small beach town called Minori. It is very beautiful. The bus ride here was a little rough, and I almost lost my lunch…but I made it!! One of the days we hopped on a ferry and traveled to the neighbor town of Amalfi. It was breath taking. Houses are all along the coastline and lemon groves are all over the place.

The Amalfi Coastline

This is a giant lemon that I found in Amalfi. They are all over the place.

Jumping into the Mediterranean Sea.

I am now in Siena. I arrived yesterday. I am experiencing some culture shock right now, but I think it will get better. Last night I had dinner with my host family. They do not speak one word of english. We just smiled and said si. I think I will learn a lot of Italian this way.

I can’t wait to see what else is in store for me this semester. I am slowly adjusting because I miss home very much, but thanks everyone for your support!!