This week was probably the craziest week I've ever experienced. "Epic," as Elizabeth called it. I have seen more disturbing and scarring behavior than ever before and more drunk people all at once then I've ever ever seen. This week was RAG week at NUI Maynooth. RAG stands for "Raising and Giving," and the week is meant to be about charity. But over the years it has become one big drinking fest. The drinking started early Monday morning, and people were plastered by the afternoon. Each university in Ireland has its own RAG week, and many people travel all around the country to attend each one. The Student Union held events every night at the Bar, and every pub was packed every night. There were queues down the street to get in as early as 9pm. Lectures were sparse except for the "mature students" (or non-traditional students as we would call them) and a few hung-over or dedicated youngsters. I would be scared to know how much alcohol was consumed this week. And it was all sponsored and encouraged by the university. I'm not making this up-- it's a real thing!
So, this week, my friends and I went out every night-- which is pretty crazy for us. Monday we started in Elizabeth Kelling's room and had a drink or two with her roommates Micheal (who we're pretty much best friends with), Gwen, and Simone. Then we headed out to the Roost where I ran into Will, the director of my play. We all found a table and I went over to chat with Will for awhile (he bought me a drink... the Elizabeths, Katy, and I have decided to have a competition to see how many drinks we can get bought for us this semester-- one point for me!) Then I went back and sat by the Elizabeths, Katy, and Laura (our new friend from Marathon, Wisconsin, which is about 20 minutes from Mosinee-- crazy!) We chatted with each other and with our friends Darrin, Dave, and Neil who came over and sat with us. Darrin revealed to me that he'd had a crush on Elizabeth since we played football with them (like the first month we were here). He was talking to me about teaching, how he wants to change the world, and about his 2 year old nephew, and he would periodically stop and say something about how beautiful Elizabeth was. It was pretty much freakin' adorable. Too bad he has a girlfriend from Canada. Stupid. But he bought her a drink anyway. Point for Elizabeth Reinert!
Tuesday we had tickets to go see B*Witched at the SU (student union)... For those of you who don't know or don't remember, B*Witched is a band of 4 girls that were popular in the 90s.. mostly for their hit "C'est La Vie." They're from Ireland, and all our Irish friends were surprised that we knew their songs. We were so pumped to see them in concert. However, it was only two of the members and they only sang like 5 songs. But it was still lots of fun, and brought back some middle school memories. After the concert we were going to stay for the next act, but once we saw that it was a crazy DJ named Slash with weird dancing girls, we left. Brady's was closed because there was apparently a fire there, and the line for the Roost was down the block. So we just stopped into Dunnes and got ourselves some Doritos for the road.
(oh, and for the record, I did attend all my classes this week. i was quite proud).
Wednesday all the girls and Laura's boyfriend Matt (also from Wisconsin) and I went to the Roost. We snagged a nice corner table right by the bar and I spent the night chatting away with our German friend Andi who then gave me his Guinness pint glass to steal. After he, Laura, Matt, and Elizabeth K. left, Katy snagged a man to buy her a drink. He just randomly sat down and started talking to her. Katy has a boyfriend back home, but she was still thrilled to get the attention. And the guy was really nice. So it was fun to see her so happy.
Thursday night (last night) we went to Brady's. It was crazy packed, and we didn't get a table. But while we were standing by the bathroom looking mucho anti-social, this cute blond guy (who we later found out was named Wayne) came and asked us if we wanted to join him and his friends at their table. He was sitting with three girls at that point... the boys were off dancing or buying drinks. But we sat and chatted with Wayne and the girls a bit and then with his friends when they came back. They were all really nice, but we were a bit disturbed by the drunks at the table next to us who were repeatedly exposing themselves right in the middle of the pub. It was pretty much ridiculously inappropriate and annoying and disgusting. We told the bouncer and got one of the guys kicked out. Then the rest of them stopped. Meanwhile I met a new friend... his name is Niall and I'm pretty much in love :) We'll see what happens with that... he's been texting me all day. He's really nice and super cute... too bad I didnt get a point out of that one, dang.
And today was a day of rest. After our early Moral Theology class across campus, I came back and napped in my room. I watched a little TV and then went to Elizabeth K's for dinner. I'm newly obsessed with brussel sprouts, and they were GOOD tonite.
Also, today I found out that I was selected as an RA for next year! I'm really excited, but I'm not sure yet if I'm going to do it for sure. I have to find out if I'm allowed to still have an on or off campus job as well, because after this year, I will be up to my eyeballs in debt and will def. need a job to pay it all back. But I hope it works out, because, not only would I just be great at that job, it would look great on my resume, and I would also get an extra huge room of my own for FREE! woot! So we'll see what happens... I got a room in LeMans, too, which is where I wanted to be, so I hope it all works out!
That's all for now, I guess. It seems like the craziness of this week has made up for the a-little-bit-boring few weeks prior. Tomorrow is March, and I can hardly believe it! February flew by, and I only have three more months left on this beautiful island. In a week, my friend Rae Ann gets here, Jim comes the week after that, and then my sister Kris and cousin Mary the week after that. So March is going to be a crazy crazy month, and I can't wait! Before I know it, I'll be packing for home with mixed emotions. But for now, I'm doing my best to soak it all in and just enjoy every moment of it...
Friday, February 29, 2008
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Photo Links
And, finally, links to my Italy pictures, and everything since...
Asti: http://nd.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2133708&l=b861c&id=5619987
Alba: http://nd.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2133710&l=1e417&id=5619987
Asti: http://nd.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2133708&l=b861c&id=5619987
Alba: http://nd.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2133710&l=1e417&id=5619987
Milan: http://nd.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2133868&l=5c6c5&id=5619987
Turin: http://nd.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2133873&l=8484e&id=5619987
Venice 1: http://nd.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2133880&l=8fdad&id=5619987
Venice 2: http://nd.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2133957&l=1ed3f&id=5619987
Venice 3: http://nd.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2133960&l=ab070&id=5619987
Murano/Burano: http://nd.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2133974&l=5f59a&id=5619987
Everything so far since: http://nd.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2134979&l=9cb95&id=5619987
Sabato
Saturday we woke up around 8.30 and caught a boat to Giardini, then to Murano, a a small island on the north side of Venice. We headed to the Murano Glass Factory. Murano’s reputation as a centre for glassmaking was born when the Venetian Republic, fearing fire and destruction to the city’s mostly wood buildings, ordered glassmakers to move their foundries to Murano in 1291. Murano’s glassmakers held a monopoly on quality glassmaking for centuries, developing or refining many technologies including crystalline glass, enamelled glass (smalto), glass with threads of gold (aventurine), multicoloured glass (millefiori), milk glass (lattimo), and imitation gemstones made of glass. Today, the artisans of Murano are still employing these century-old techniques, crafting everything from contemporary art glass and glass jewellery to Murano glass chandeliers and wine stoppers.
While standing in line for the glass factory, a little boy asked if he could take a picture of Elizabeth's earrings because his grandma liked them. It turned out they were from San Francisco but now lived in China or something... weird. After visiting the glass factory and watching a demonstration, we walked around Murano and shopped-- looking for the perfect jewelry to buy. I got some black rose earrings that are so beautiful! The Murano glass is beautiful, especially jewelry, and there are tons of little shops with pretty jewelry in them along the canals.
After exploring Murano, we took a boat to Burano, another island in the Venetian Lagoon. Two stories are attributed to how the city obtained its name. One is that it was initially founded by the Buriana family, and another is that the first settlers of Burano came from the small island of Buranello, five miles to the south. Although the island soon became a thriving settlement, it was administered from Torcello and had none of the privileges of that island or of Murano. It rose in importance only in the sixteenth century, when women on the island began making lace with needles. The lace was soon exported across Europe. Burano is also known for its small, brightly-painted houses, popular with artists. The colours of the houses follow a specific system originating from the golden age of its development; if someone wishes to paint their home, one must send a request to the government, who will respond by making notice of the certain colours permitted for that lot. This practice has resulted in the myriad of warm, pastelly colours that characterises the island today.
We shopped a bit, and I got some cute hippo earrings for 4Euro! After a boat ride to Lido, we had to walk all the way to the other end of the island to get to our hotel. We stopped at Billa for a snack of cheese doodles and ACE. Back at the hotel we packed up and went to bed REALLY early to be ready for our early boat ride in the morning to the train station where we hopped a train to the airport.
The whole 9 days was such a whirlwind, and SO amazing. Italy is the most romantic and beautiful country I've ever seen, and it still doesn't seem real to me even now that I was there. There are so many places in Italy I'd still love to visit, but Venice was the one place in the whole of Europe that I knew I needed to see before I left this continent. It was everything I imagined and more, and being a part of Carnevale was a once in a lifetime experience.
But now it's back to the real world again. My second semester lectures started the day after we got back from Italy, and I'm enjoying those for the most party. Also, my friend Katy from Saint Mary's is here now, and it's been a blast having her here. We've also made some other new friends already! Katy met a girl named Elizabeth Kelling on the plane on the way here, and she hangs with us all the time! We also met Laura and Matt from St. Norbert's in Green Bay! Laura looks like Hilary Swank and is from Marathon (about 20 minutes from Mosinee, where I live). It's crazy how small the world keeps getting!
So it's been nice to have a fresh new start this semester, and I survived Valentine's Day. It was actually not as depressing as it had the potential to be-- it just made me think about all the people that I love and that love me and I was happy. Even though the one I love the most is far away, I'm incredibly greatful to have him in my life, and just thinking about love and luck kept me smiling on St. Valentine's day! My friends and I got all dressed up and went out to Brady's-- it was lots of fun!
Next week here on campus is called "Rag week." It basically consists of activities all week... and lots of getting drunk every night. (Don't worry, I won't be partaking in the "getting drunk every night," but I WILL be partaking in the B*witched concert! Woo hoo!) But apparently lectures are unofficially cancelled during Rag week. I'm not exactly sure how it's actually going to work, but if that's the case, it will be nice to have a break already!
The weather here has been beautiful, and hopefully it will only get nicer. It feels like spring, which makes me think of summer, which makes me think of home, which makes me happy. I love sunny days!
While standing in line for the glass factory, a little boy asked if he could take a picture of Elizabeth's earrings because his grandma liked them. It turned out they were from San Francisco but now lived in China or something... weird. After visiting the glass factory and watching a demonstration, we walked around Murano and shopped-- looking for the perfect jewelry to buy. I got some black rose earrings that are so beautiful! The Murano glass is beautiful, especially jewelry, and there are tons of little shops with pretty jewelry in them along the canals.
After exploring Murano, we took a boat to Burano, another island in the Venetian Lagoon. Two stories are attributed to how the city obtained its name. One is that it was initially founded by the Buriana family, and another is that the first settlers of Burano came from the small island of Buranello, five miles to the south. Although the island soon became a thriving settlement, it was administered from Torcello and had none of the privileges of that island or of Murano. It rose in importance only in the sixteenth century, when women on the island began making lace with needles. The lace was soon exported across Europe. Burano is also known for its small, brightly-painted houses, popular with artists. The colours of the houses follow a specific system originating from the golden age of its development; if someone wishes to paint their home, one must send a request to the government, who will respond by making notice of the certain colours permitted for that lot. This practice has resulted in the myriad of warm, pastelly colours that characterises the island today.
We shopped a bit, and I got some cute hippo earrings for 4Euro! After a boat ride to Lido, we had to walk all the way to the other end of the island to get to our hotel. We stopped at Billa for a snack of cheese doodles and ACE. Back at the hotel we packed up and went to bed REALLY early to be ready for our early boat ride in the morning to the train station where we hopped a train to the airport.
The whole 9 days was such a whirlwind, and SO amazing. Italy is the most romantic and beautiful country I've ever seen, and it still doesn't seem real to me even now that I was there. There are so many places in Italy I'd still love to visit, but Venice was the one place in the whole of Europe that I knew I needed to see before I left this continent. It was everything I imagined and more, and being a part of Carnevale was a once in a lifetime experience.
But now it's back to the real world again. My second semester lectures started the day after we got back from Italy, and I'm enjoying those for the most party. Also, my friend Katy from Saint Mary's is here now, and it's been a blast having her here. We've also made some other new friends already! Katy met a girl named Elizabeth Kelling on the plane on the way here, and she hangs with us all the time! We also met Laura and Matt from St. Norbert's in Green Bay! Laura looks like Hilary Swank and is from Marathon (about 20 minutes from Mosinee, where I live). It's crazy how small the world keeps getting!
So it's been nice to have a fresh new start this semester, and I survived Valentine's Day. It was actually not as depressing as it had the potential to be-- it just made me think about all the people that I love and that love me and I was happy. Even though the one I love the most is far away, I'm incredibly greatful to have him in my life, and just thinking about love and luck kept me smiling on St. Valentine's day! My friends and I got all dressed up and went out to Brady's-- it was lots of fun!
Next week here on campus is called "Rag week." It basically consists of activities all week... and lots of getting drunk every night. (Don't worry, I won't be partaking in the "getting drunk every night," but I WILL be partaking in the B*witched concert! Woo hoo!) But apparently lectures are unofficially cancelled during Rag week. I'm not exactly sure how it's actually going to work, but if that's the case, it will be nice to have a break already!
The weather here has been beautiful, and hopefully it will only get nicer. It feels like spring, which makes me think of summer, which makes me think of home, which makes me happy. I love sunny days!
Venerdi
Friday we woke up early again, got ready, and headed out to find the grocery store, Billa. The supermercado was packed, and it took us forever to get through the line, but we got groceries for the rest of the week. We brought the food back to our room, snacked, and made lunches for later.
We then headed out to explore Lido. We found a beach, picked seashells, and found a lovely spot on the end of a pier to sit and have lunch. Venice's Lido is an 11-mile long sandbar, home to about 20,000 residents, greatly augmented by the (mainly Italian) tourists who move in every summer. The island is home to three settlements. The Lido itself, in the north, is home to the Film Festival, the Grand Hotel des Bains, the Venice Casino and the Grand Hotel Excelsior. Malamocco, in the centre, is the first and for a long time the only settlement. It was at one time home to the Doge of Venice. Alberoni at the southern end is home to the Fort San Nicolo and a golf course.
After walking around, taking pictures, and admiring Lido, we returned to our room for a cat nap (I know, lots of naps, but it was still vacation!). We woke up, painted our eyes with pretty Carnevale make up and boarded a boat for San Marco. There were scary Australians dressed as rats on the boat, and we were frightened...
We explored San Marco and the surrounding areas a bit more, took pictures, stopped into a few chiese (churches), and saw an Antonio Vivaldi exhibit. Then we picked a cute little ristorante to eat at: Ristorante Piccolo Martini. There was a huge table full of American students from Syracuse behind us. I had gnocchi delle bolognese (potato pasta with meat sauce). It was delish!
We found a crepe stand and bought crepes from the friendliest Italian we had met. He was seriously adorable. Then we walked around more, and went back to take a boat to Piazza San Marco. The lights in the Piazza were beautiful, and there were tons of people by the stage watching the crazy (and a bit scary) entertainment. We found a step to sit on, but ended up next to some severely drunk Americans who ended up being taken away but the polizie and some medics. But the people watching was fun, and it was amazing to be a part of the Carnevale celebration!
Back in the room, we journaled, of course, read, and went to sleep!
We then headed out to explore Lido. We found a beach, picked seashells, and found a lovely spot on the end of a pier to sit and have lunch. Venice's Lido is an 11-mile long sandbar, home to about 20,000 residents, greatly augmented by the (mainly Italian) tourists who move in every summer. The island is home to three settlements. The Lido itself, in the north, is home to the Film Festival, the Grand Hotel des Bains, the Venice Casino and the Grand Hotel Excelsior. Malamocco, in the centre, is the first and for a long time the only settlement. It was at one time home to the Doge of Venice. Alberoni at the southern end is home to the Fort San Nicolo and a golf course.
After walking around, taking pictures, and admiring Lido, we returned to our room for a cat nap (I know, lots of naps, but it was still vacation!). We woke up, painted our eyes with pretty Carnevale make up and boarded a boat for San Marco. There were scary Australians dressed as rats on the boat, and we were frightened...
We explored San Marco and the surrounding areas a bit more, took pictures, stopped into a few chiese (churches), and saw an Antonio Vivaldi exhibit. Then we picked a cute little ristorante to eat at: Ristorante Piccolo Martini. There was a huge table full of American students from Syracuse behind us. I had gnocchi delle bolognese (potato pasta with meat sauce). It was delish!
We found a crepe stand and bought crepes from the friendliest Italian we had met. He was seriously adorable. Then we walked around more, and went back to take a boat to Piazza San Marco. The lights in the Piazza were beautiful, and there were tons of people by the stage watching the crazy (and a bit scary) entertainment. We found a step to sit on, but ended up next to some severely drunk Americans who ended up being taken away but the polizie and some medics. But the people watching was fun, and it was amazing to be a part of the Carnevale celebration!
Back in the room, we journaled, of course, read, and went to sleep!
Giovedi
Thursday morning we got up early, showered, and got ready for the day. We got 3 day boat passes and took boat #1 to San Marco, one of the six sestieri of Venice (a sestiere is a subdivision of a number of Italian towns). We didn't know this when we planned the trip, but we ended up being in Venice for Carnevale! Carnival is a festival season. It occurs immediately before Lent. It typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus and public street party. People often dress up or masquerade during the celebrations. Masks have always been a central feature of the Venetian carnival. There were people dressed up all over the place-- it was kind of like Disney World. We explored San Marco all morning, admiring the masks, people in costume, Basilica di San Marco, the boats, bridges, and canals, and did lots of window shopping.
We saw the Bridge of Sighs, the Doge's Palace, St. Mark's Camanile, St. Mark's Clocktower, St. Mark's Basilica, Piazza San Marco, and the procuratie.
The Bridge of Sighs (Italian: Ponte dei Sospiri) is one of many bridges in Venice built in the 16th century. It passes over the Rio di Palazzo and connects the old prisons to the interrogation rooms in the Doge's Palace. The view from the Bridge of Sighs was the last view of Venice that convicts saw before their imprisonment.
The Doge's Palace is a gothic palace in Venice. In Italian it is called the Palazzo Ducale di Venezia. The palace was the residence of the Doge of Venice. The current palace was largely constructed from 1309 to 1424. It is now preserved as a museum.
St Mark's Campanile is the bell tower of St Mark's Basilica. The tower is 98.6 meters tall.
St Mark's Clocktower, a clock tower adjoining the Procuratie Vecchie. It houses the most important clock in the city, St Mark's Clock. It was constructed as a display of Venice's wealth, and as an aid to sailors on the Grand Canal about to depart on a voyage. The building was constructed between 1496 and 1499.
St Mark's Basilica (Italian: Basilica di San Marco a Venezia), the cathedral of Venice, is the most famous of the city's churches and one of the best known examples of Byzantine architecture. For its opulent design, gilded Byzantine mosaics, and its status as a symbol of Venetian wealth and power from the 11th century on, the building was known by the nickname Chiesa d'Oro (Church of gold).
A remark often attributed to Napoleon (but perhaps more correctly to Alfred de Musset) calls the Piazza San Marco "the drawing room of Europe". It is one of the few great urban spaces in a Europe where human voices prevail over the sounds of motorized traffic, which is confined to Venice's waterways. The piazza was full of sick pigeons; there was even a little stand where you could buy bird seed.
The Procuratie (literally, "procuracies") are three connected buildings on St Mark's Square in Venice. Connected to St. Mark's Clocktower, the procuratie are historic buildings over arcades, the last of them completed, to finish off the square, under Napoleon's occupation.
We had sandwiches and berry gelato at a cafe, and Jackie bought masks for her and her sister. We walked along the water and through a pretty park we stumbled into. We found this really weird part with a bunch of abandoned but cool buildings with names of all different countries on them. When I tried to take a picture of Denmark, a creepy man sitting in front shook his finger at me. When we left, he followed us out, and I thought he was going to chase me and make me delete the picture I took. He didn't. But it was still scary.
After some more window shopping and LOTS of picture taking, we headed back to the hotel for a nap and then woke up and got ready to return to San Marco for dinner. We walked through the carnival along the boardwalk and found a cute little pizzeria run by asians. We tried to get Nutella crepes after, but the stand was closed.
Upon returning to Lido (the island we were staying on), we walked around trying to find the supermarket, but couldn't find it. So, we went back to the hotel, showered, journaled, and watched Chuck Norris on TV before bed...
We saw the Bridge of Sighs, the Doge's Palace, St. Mark's Camanile, St. Mark's Clocktower, St. Mark's Basilica, Piazza San Marco, and the procuratie.
The Bridge of Sighs (Italian: Ponte dei Sospiri) is one of many bridges in Venice built in the 16th century. It passes over the Rio di Palazzo and connects the old prisons to the interrogation rooms in the Doge's Palace. The view from the Bridge of Sighs was the last view of Venice that convicts saw before their imprisonment.
The Doge's Palace is a gothic palace in Venice. In Italian it is called the Palazzo Ducale di Venezia. The palace was the residence of the Doge of Venice. The current palace was largely constructed from 1309 to 1424. It is now preserved as a museum.
St Mark's Campanile is the bell tower of St Mark's Basilica. The tower is 98.6 meters tall.
St Mark's Clocktower, a clock tower adjoining the Procuratie Vecchie. It houses the most important clock in the city, St Mark's Clock. It was constructed as a display of Venice's wealth, and as an aid to sailors on the Grand Canal about to depart on a voyage. The building was constructed between 1496 and 1499.
St Mark's Basilica (Italian: Basilica di San Marco a Venezia), the cathedral of Venice, is the most famous of the city's churches and one of the best known examples of Byzantine architecture. For its opulent design, gilded Byzantine mosaics, and its status as a symbol of Venetian wealth and power from the 11th century on, the building was known by the nickname Chiesa d'Oro (Church of gold).
A remark often attributed to Napoleon (but perhaps more correctly to Alfred de Musset) calls the Piazza San Marco "the drawing room of Europe". It is one of the few great urban spaces in a Europe where human voices prevail over the sounds of motorized traffic, which is confined to Venice's waterways. The piazza was full of sick pigeons; there was even a little stand where you could buy bird seed.
The Procuratie (literally, "procuracies") are three connected buildings on St Mark's Square in Venice. Connected to St. Mark's Clocktower, the procuratie are historic buildings over arcades, the last of them completed, to finish off the square, under Napoleon's occupation.
We had sandwiches and berry gelato at a cafe, and Jackie bought masks for her and her sister. We walked along the water and through a pretty park we stumbled into. We found this really weird part with a bunch of abandoned but cool buildings with names of all different countries on them. When I tried to take a picture of Denmark, a creepy man sitting in front shook his finger at me. When we left, he followed us out, and I thought he was going to chase me and make me delete the picture I took. He didn't. But it was still scary.
After some more window shopping and LOTS of picture taking, we headed back to the hotel for a nap and then woke up and got ready to return to San Marco for dinner. We walked through the carnival along the boardwalk and found a cute little pizzeria run by asians. We tried to get Nutella crepes after, but the stand was closed.
Upon returning to Lido (the island we were staying on), we walked around trying to find the supermarket, but couldn't find it. So, we went back to the hotel, showered, journaled, and watched Chuck Norris on TV before bed...
Mercoledi
Wednesday morning we woke up at 7 and caught the 8:19 train to Bologna. Paolo helped us get our tickets-- he was so cute. It was so sad to say goodbye to our new family. It's so amazing how you can find people everywhere in the world that are kind enough to welcome you into their homes and make you feel so loved!
But, on we traveled to Venice. We had a bit of stop in Bologna, so we went out into the city to find a bench to have lunch. Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna in northern Italy, between the Po River and the Apennines. Home of the oldest university in the world, "Alma Mater Studiorum", founded in 1088, Bologna is one of the most developed cities in Italy.
After about 5 hours on two different trains, we finally made it to Venice and took a boat to the island we were staying on. We met up with Jackie at the boat stop dn walked to Hotel Villa Parco. It was so cute and charming! An Indian man checked us in and told us there was only one other room with people in it... crazy! We took about a 2 hour nap, and then got up and got ready for dinner. We went into Lido and found a pizzeria to eat at. We even splurged on dessert! We each had a bite of eachother's, and they were all delicious! We walked back to the hotel and had to go in the back door... we struggled a bit with the key, but eventually got in. Once in the room, we planned out what we were going to do the rest of the week and went to sleep...
But, on we traveled to Venice. We had a bit of stop in Bologna, so we went out into the city to find a bench to have lunch. Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna in northern Italy, between the Po River and the Apennines. Home of the oldest university in the world, "Alma Mater Studiorum", founded in 1088, Bologna is one of the most developed cities in Italy.
After about 5 hours on two different trains, we finally made it to Venice and took a boat to the island we were staying on. We met up with Jackie at the boat stop dn walked to Hotel Villa Parco. It was so cute and charming! An Indian man checked us in and told us there was only one other room with people in it... crazy! We took about a 2 hour nap, and then got up and got ready for dinner. We went into Lido and found a pizzeria to eat at. We even splurged on dessert! We each had a bite of eachother's, and they were all delicious! We walked back to the hotel and had to go in the back door... we struggled a bit with the key, but eventually got in. Once in the room, we planned out what we were going to do the rest of the week and went to sleep...
Martedi
Tuesday we slept in, then got ready to go have lunch with Omar (Caitlin's boyfriend). Omar picked us up, but he had to go back to school, so we picked up Federica, grabbed some pastries, and ate in the park by the school. Eugen tried to show us some kind of trick with gum wrappers... Then we rode to the piazza with Federico, met Piano and his friends, and walked to another piazza to have pizza. (It was seriously the best pizza I've probably ever had! Plus the pepperoni was sooo much better than Irish pepperoni!) They all walked us to the train station, and we said goodbye to our friends and got Piano's email address so he can come visit us in Ireland!
Eugen, Caitlin, Elizabeth and I hopped the train to Torino. Torino/Turin is a major industrial city as well as a business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the west bank of the Po River. The company Fiat automobile manufacturer has its headquarters here and many other Italian car brands such as Lancia were born here: hence Turin has been nicknamed the Automobile Capital of Italy.
We walked across town to the Mole Antonelliana-- a major landmark of the Italian city Turin. It is named for the architect who built it, Alessandro Antonelli. Construction began in 1863. Originally, it was intended to be a Jewish synagogue, as religious freedom had just been granted to non-Catholic groups, but in 1873 an exchange with the city of Turin for other land for a synagogue took place, and the Mole was dedicated to Victor Emanuel II. Since 2000, the building has housed the Museo Nazionale del Cinema, the National Museum of Film. The Mole appears on the reverse of the two cent Italian euro coins and was the official emblem of the 2006 Winter Olympics. A panoramic lift runs up through the centre of the building carrying visitors to the tempietto, which offers a spectacular showing of the exposition areas and the panorama of the city from above. The view was spectacular.
The museum itself is the highest museum in the world. In the framework of scenographic displays and projections, enriched by the exhibition of photographs, sketches and objects, the visitor travels through the great themes in the history of cinema and the early experiments with moving pictures in a fantastic and interactive itinerary. Unique objects are exhibited from the period of silent films: from charlie Chaplin's bowler hat to Rudolph Valentino's costume. There are also objects from sound films like the egg from Aliens by cameron, the head from Jaws by Spielberg and Marylin's jewellery and shoes. The collection of machinery for viewing and filming, posters, and photographs is extraordinary. In the spectacular and immense Temple Hall, the visitors can relax in the chaise lounges and watch films and other sensational shows of lights and shadows inside the dome.
Once we finally pulled ourselves off the chaise lounges and got back on the road, it was dark out. We walked past shops, book sellers, and through beautiful romantic piazze on our way back to the train station. On our train ride home, Eugen poured his heart out to us about his girlfriend from home that he missed-- it was so cute.
When Paolo picked us up from the train station, we stopped at la casa dei nonni (their grandparents' house) to pick up Daniele. Nonna gave use cookies and candy! They were pretty much the cutest Italians ever. Back at the house, we snacked on the cookies before a dinner of pasta, french fries and white fudge covered oreos (that Caitlin got from the States). After dinner, we ordered our train tickets, took a family picture, and Paolo gave us candy to take with us. We packed and showered, and then it was time for bed.
Eugen, Caitlin, Elizabeth and I hopped the train to Torino. Torino/Turin is a major industrial city as well as a business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the west bank of the Po River. The company Fiat automobile manufacturer has its headquarters here and many other Italian car brands such as Lancia were born here: hence Turin has been nicknamed the Automobile Capital of Italy.
We walked across town to the Mole Antonelliana-- a major landmark of the Italian city Turin. It is named for the architect who built it, Alessandro Antonelli. Construction began in 1863. Originally, it was intended to be a Jewish synagogue, as religious freedom had just been granted to non-Catholic groups, but in 1873 an exchange with the city of Turin for other land for a synagogue took place, and the Mole was dedicated to Victor Emanuel II. Since 2000, the building has housed the Museo Nazionale del Cinema, the National Museum of Film. The Mole appears on the reverse of the two cent Italian euro coins and was the official emblem of the 2006 Winter Olympics. A panoramic lift runs up through the centre of the building carrying visitors to the tempietto, which offers a spectacular showing of the exposition areas and the panorama of the city from above. The view was spectacular.
The museum itself is the highest museum in the world. In the framework of scenographic displays and projections, enriched by the exhibition of photographs, sketches and objects, the visitor travels through the great themes in the history of cinema and the early experiments with moving pictures in a fantastic and interactive itinerary. Unique objects are exhibited from the period of silent films: from charlie Chaplin's bowler hat to Rudolph Valentino's costume. There are also objects from sound films like the egg from Aliens by cameron, the head from Jaws by Spielberg and Marylin's jewellery and shoes. The collection of machinery for viewing and filming, posters, and photographs is extraordinary. In the spectacular and immense Temple Hall, the visitors can relax in the chaise lounges and watch films and other sensational shows of lights and shadows inside the dome.
Once we finally pulled ourselves off the chaise lounges and got back on the road, it was dark out. We walked past shops, book sellers, and through beautiful romantic piazze on our way back to the train station. On our train ride home, Eugen poured his heart out to us about his girlfriend from home that he missed-- it was so cute.
When Paolo picked us up from the train station, we stopped at la casa dei nonni (their grandparents' house) to pick up Daniele. Nonna gave use cookies and candy! They were pretty much the cutest Italians ever. Back at the house, we snacked on the cookies before a dinner of pasta, french fries and white fudge covered oreos (that Caitlin got from the States). After dinner, we ordered our train tickets, took a family picture, and Paolo gave us candy to take with us. We packed and showered, and then it was time for bed.
Lunedi
Monday morning we woke up really early to catch the 7.30 train from Asti to Tortona and then Tortona to Milano. Eugen came with us! The train station in Milan was gorgeous! It was huge and old and beautiful. We stopped at McDonalds to use the bathrooms... there are McDonaldses everywhere you look in Italy. It's kind of sad. Anywho, it was a beautiful day, and we headed to Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II-- the world's oldest shopping mall! The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is a covered double arcade formed of two glass-vaulted arcades at right angles intersecting in an octagon; it connects Piazza della scala and Piazza del Duomo. Inside the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. Named after Vittorio Emanuele II, the first king of united Italy, it was originally designed in 1861 and built by Giuseppe Mengoni between 1865 and 1877. More than 120 years after its inauguration, the four-story arcade includes elegant shops selling most things from haute couture to books, as well as restaurants, cafés and bars. We browsed the Gucci, Prada, Louis Vuitton shops, and then we went to see the Piazza del Duomo. Eugen fed pigeons in the piazza, and we went into the big beautiful church. Duomo di Milano is the cathedral church of Milan. It is the seat of the Archbishop of Milan, currently Cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi. Built from the late 14th well into the 19th century, the Duomo di Milano is one of the world's largest churches, second in size within Italy only to Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome, and the second largest Gothic cathedral in the world, after the Cathedral of Seville in Spain.
After a quick stop at the tourist information shop, we went back to Piazza della Scala to enjoy our sandwiches. We went inside the Teatro della Scala and learned about a famous Greek-American soprano that sang there. The Teatro alla Scala (or La Scala, as it is known), in Milan, Italy, is one of the world's most famous opera houses. The theatre was inaugurated on 3 August 1778. The theatre was breathtaking... we felt like Abe Lincoln or Julia Roberts. It was beautiful!
After the theatre, we returned to Piazza della Scala for another panino (sandwich). Eugen called his friend Paolo that lived in Milan, and he left to meet him. Caitlin, Elizabeth and I walked to the Olona River to take pictures, and stopped by a little stream to eat our last sandwiches. We window shopped for awhile, and I bought an Audrey Hepburn bag at the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. One of my favorite things about Italian cities is that, amongst all the craziness of a huge metropolitan city, on nearly every street you can turn down an alley and find little Italian apartments secluded from the city. Many have fountians and balconies... They're so adorble. We also went to see the Colonne di San Lorenzo-- the best-known Roman ruin in Milan. It is located in front of the Basilica of San Lorenzo. It is a square with a row of columns on either side, which were taken from a temple or public bath house dating from the 2nd century. The columns were moved to their current location sometime in the 4th century.
Eugen called us, so we went to meet him, Paolo, and his friends at a park, but we couldn't find them or get a hold of them. So, we just sat on a park bench, rested, people watched, and chatted. I had lasagna at the restaurant we stopped at on the way back to the train station where we met Eugen and Paolo (who was DROP DEAD GORGEOUS, by the way... like MANY of the Italian men we saw in Milano and all over Italy). Eugen talked non-stop on the train on the way back; he told us the story of Hansel and Gretl in German and taught us about facts about the world. He tried to teach us the German alphabet, but we were hopeless. We couldn't even SAY the letters!
Once we got back to the train station in Asti, Caitlin's dad Paolo picked us up and we went back to the house to have dinner with the fam (minus Giusi). We had bowtie noodles, tomato and basil sauce, pineapple juice, bread, vegetables and some kind of weird meatballs. After some more tiramisu and moscato (this time a bit stronger) for dessert, we did some more chatting and showered before bed...
After a quick stop at the tourist information shop, we went back to Piazza della Scala to enjoy our sandwiches. We went inside the Teatro della Scala and learned about a famous Greek-American soprano that sang there. The Teatro alla Scala (or La Scala, as it is known), in Milan, Italy, is one of the world's most famous opera houses. The theatre was inaugurated on 3 August 1778. The theatre was breathtaking... we felt like Abe Lincoln or Julia Roberts. It was beautiful!
After the theatre, we returned to Piazza della Scala for another panino (sandwich). Eugen called his friend Paolo that lived in Milan, and he left to meet him. Caitlin, Elizabeth and I walked to the Olona River to take pictures, and stopped by a little stream to eat our last sandwiches. We window shopped for awhile, and I bought an Audrey Hepburn bag at the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. One of my favorite things about Italian cities is that, amongst all the craziness of a huge metropolitan city, on nearly every street you can turn down an alley and find little Italian apartments secluded from the city. Many have fountians and balconies... They're so adorble. We also went to see the Colonne di San Lorenzo-- the best-known Roman ruin in Milan. It is located in front of the Basilica of San Lorenzo. It is a square with a row of columns on either side, which were taken from a temple or public bath house dating from the 2nd century. The columns were moved to their current location sometime in the 4th century.
Eugen called us, so we went to meet him, Paolo, and his friends at a park, but we couldn't find them or get a hold of them. So, we just sat on a park bench, rested, people watched, and chatted. I had lasagna at the restaurant we stopped at on the way back to the train station where we met Eugen and Paolo (who was DROP DEAD GORGEOUS, by the way... like MANY of the Italian men we saw in Milano and all over Italy). Eugen talked non-stop on the train on the way back; he told us the story of Hansel and Gretl in German and taught us about facts about the world. He tried to teach us the German alphabet, but we were hopeless. We couldn't even SAY the letters!
Once we got back to the train station in Asti, Caitlin's dad Paolo picked us up and we went back to the house to have dinner with the fam (minus Giusi). We had bowtie noodles, tomato and basil sauce, pineapple juice, bread, vegetables and some kind of weird meatballs. After some more tiramisu and moscato (this time a bit stronger) for dessert, we did some more chatting and showered before bed...
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Zweet White Wine
Day Two of our Italian adventure: Domenica
We woke up slowly and made a late American breakfast of french toast and pancakes for our Italian family. Caitlin had maple syrup (which Daniele apparently likes to put on chocolate chip cookies). After breakfast we showered and left with the family and Eugen to go to Alba, a small wine town near Asti. We went to an art show (The Roberto Longhi collection) which I really liked, and then we walked around Alba going in churches and taking lots of pictures of the streets, buildings and piazze. There were lots of people out shopping, but not many other thing open. We visited Chiesa della Maddelena (built in the middle of the 18th century by the architect Bernardo Antonio Vittone, it was the church belonging to the Dominican convent founded by Margherita di Savoia, whose remains are conserved there) and Chiesa di San Domenico (built in 1292; there was a very cool art show inside). We window shopped a bit (which is a sport in Italy) and admired the cute old men with their fur-wearing wives.
After a quick stop at the tourist office, we left Alba and drove through the vineyards to Il Castello di Serralunga d'Alba, the castle near Alba. When we got there, the lady said tours were over for the evening, but Paolo convinced her to give us a sunset tour of the castle. Caitlin translated here and there for us. The castle was beautiful, and the views of the town and the Alps were even more beautiful. The sun setting over Alba was breathtaking, and probably one of my favorite parts of the trip.
We took a little cat nap on the way home, and when we got back to the house we chatted it up with Eugen, Caitlin's new German brother for awhile about big cities and small towns. And, when Eugen asked us if we knew all the state capitals in the U.S., we started making a list that took us all night to complete. Dinner was red rice, chicken marsala and brocolli with tiramisu and Moscato (sweet white wine, or "zweet-ah, white-ah, wine-ah" as Giusi said) for dessert.) I was actually able to choke down the Moscato without too much trouble (it tasted like Welch's white grape juice). I was so excited to be drinking wine in Italy without hating it! After dinner we made panini for our lunches for the next day with peanut butter, jelly, nutella, and sweet bread. We had to say goodbye to Giusi that night because she left for Rome that night and we wouldn't see her again before we left. AFter goodbyes and a little research on what to see in Milan, we headed off to bed.
We woke up slowly and made a late American breakfast of french toast and pancakes for our Italian family. Caitlin had maple syrup (which Daniele apparently likes to put on chocolate chip cookies). After breakfast we showered and left with the family and Eugen to go to Alba, a small wine town near Asti. We went to an art show (The Roberto Longhi collection) which I really liked, and then we walked around Alba going in churches and taking lots of pictures of the streets, buildings and piazze. There were lots of people out shopping, but not many other thing open. We visited Chiesa della Maddelena (built in the middle of the 18th century by the architect Bernardo Antonio Vittone, it was the church belonging to the Dominican convent founded by Margherita di Savoia, whose remains are conserved there) and Chiesa di San Domenico (built in 1292; there was a very cool art show inside). We window shopped a bit (which is a sport in Italy) and admired the cute old men with their fur-wearing wives.
After a quick stop at the tourist office, we left Alba and drove through the vineyards to Il Castello di Serralunga d'Alba, the castle near Alba. When we got there, the lady said tours were over for the evening, but Paolo convinced her to give us a sunset tour of the castle. Caitlin translated here and there for us. The castle was beautiful, and the views of the town and the Alps were even more beautiful. The sun setting over Alba was breathtaking, and probably one of my favorite parts of the trip.
We took a little cat nap on the way home, and when we got back to the house we chatted it up with Eugen, Caitlin's new German brother for awhile about big cities and small towns. And, when Eugen asked us if we knew all the state capitals in the U.S., we started making a list that took us all night to complete. Dinner was red rice, chicken marsala and brocolli with tiramisu and Moscato (sweet white wine, or "zweet-ah, white-ah, wine-ah" as Giusi said) for dessert.) I was actually able to choke down the Moscato without too much trouble (it tasted like Welch's white grape juice). I was so excited to be drinking wine in Italy without hating it! After dinner we made panini for our lunches for the next day with peanut butter, jelly, nutella, and sweet bread. We had to say goodbye to Giusi that night because she left for Rome that night and we wouldn't see her again before we left. AFter goodbyes and a little research on what to see in Milan, we headed off to bed.
Friday, February 8, 2008
Goodbyes and Hellos
Wow, it's been a long time since I've written in this-here blog! I guess I've been really busy!
Well, I survived my first semester finals... It's really hard to know what the expectations are here as far as grading goes, so I really won't know how I did until we get our grades back. But I did my best, and they're over-- that's all that matters.
So Colin was gone for 10 days while I had finals-- he was traveling around Europe. He came back for two days before he left for good. The night before he left we went into Dublin and went out to dinner. Before we went to dinner he took me to a teddy bear shop in Dublin and bought me a teddy bear so I have someone to snuggle with now that he's gone. I was so happy, and my new friend Psycho keeps me company when I get lonely here. The next morning I woke up early to say goodbye to Colin... I couldn't believe how hard I cried! Saying goodbye to him was the most difficult goodbye I've ever had to say... it's just really hard to say goodbye to someone never knowing if you'll see them again-- EVER! We'd gotten really close in the few months we had together, and I miss him so much. But every day gets a tiny bit easier. And he still sends me messages that make me smile. I don't know if or when I'll see him again, but I guess it's pretty amazing to meet someone that's so hard to say goodbye to...
So, after he left, I was having a really hard time, but I didn't have a lot of time to be sad. I left for italy a few days later, and that was the best thing I could have done to take my mind off of things.
Our Mercedes cab picked Elizabeth and me up at 4.30 am on Saturday the 26th. Our cab driver's name was Frank Fox and he was hilARious! He was very vulgar, and we decided that if we had a cab driver in the U.S. that talked like that, we might be offended... but in Ireland, it's just funny. Anywho, Frank was very entertaining... he told us stories about his trips to America (excuse my language, but I'm quoting... he told us about how he came into a bar and sat down next to a black guy: "He was seriously fuckin' seven times bigger than me, but I gave it to him straight; I told him football's a sport for pussies.") And he told us that he loves the U.S. because it is the only country in the world with a constitution that gives you the right to be HAPPY. He told us to watch a hurling match before we leave-- the best and fastest game in the world, and also that we need to go to Kilkenny because it has the most pubs per capita in the country. He called us "love" and told us he was an inner city boy at heart. Meanwhile, Elizabeth and I are in the back seat trying not to throw up because of how fast he's driving around the curving Irish country roads. But we survived the trip to the airport, and he dropped us off and said "if nobody's done it already, I'd like to thank you for coming here. I mean it; we're learnin' as much from you as you are from us. The Irish could learn a thing or two from Americans about being forthcoming and focused." He was pretty much adorable, and we'll remember him forever!
At the airport we studied my Italian notes, trying to brush up on our Italian so we could understand and communicate as best as we could when we got to Italy. (Although it wasn't much help... we were pretty disappointed with how much we actually remembered). We finally got on the plane, and it was delayed an hour because of air traffic controller strikes in France. Once we got off the ground, it was about a two hour plane ride over the Alps (Elizabeth: "I just wonder how people got over them before). We had a beautiful view from our window. And when we finally reached the airport and got through passport control and to our luggage, we met my friend Caitlin (who I was a counselor with at leadership camp last summer) and her host dad Paolo at the arrivals gate. We rode from Turin to Asti in his Range Rover and caught up with Caitlin. She told us that Paolo didn't speak much English, but he'd try. Caitlin didn't know any Italian when she came to Asti in September, and he family didn't know any English. She was supposed to have a host sister that spoke English, but she moved out of the house during Caitlin's second week in Italy. We were so impressed by how well she could communicate with her family and her friends. I guess full immersion into a language is really the best way to learn!
So we rode (on the right side of the road!) to Asti, dropped off our stuff in our new bedroom, and presented our gifts to the family. We got them these cute little bowls with shamrocks on them that we'd filled with candy, soda bread mix and shamrock seeds. It was pretty cute. Giusi, Caitlin's host mom, LOVED them! After we gave our gifts, we had lunch with the fam. (Paolo, Giusi, and their son Daniele). First we had antipasti (appetizers) of some kind of onion, corn and garbanzo bean salad, corn and tuna, salami, ham, homemade red pepper marmalade, blood orange juice and ACE (like V8 Splash) to drink, and some chex mix, pretzles, and Wisconsin mustard that Caitlin had sent from home. For the piatto primo (the first plate) we had whole grain pasta with pesto which was delicious! I think there might have been a piatto secondo of some kind of meat, but I didn't have any. Then we had some broccoli (which was really good), and homemade tiramisu for dessert!
We had a quick afternoon nap and then Paolo and Giusi gave us a ride to downtown Asti. We walked around a bit and looked at the pretty Italian streets and buildings and then met up with Caitlin's boyfriend, Omar, and her friends: Matteo Piano (who was seriously like 8 feet tall), another Matteo, Mac, Bomber, Alby, and Silvia. We had pizza at a restaurant and then went to the new arcade in town to hang out. The Italians bowled on the sweet bowling lanes with music videos playing on big screens at the ends of them. We chatted with Bomber and the Matteos. They didn't speak perfect English, but we were at least able to have a conversation. After we met up with Federico and Erica at the arcade, we went to a piazza downtown for a bit and then to the train station to meet Caitlin's new German exchange brother, Eugen (pronounced "OY-gin with a soft "g"). We rode back with the whole family in the Range Rover and, at 1.30 in the morning when we got back, had some snacks with the fam. before bed.
It was a lovely lovely day!!!
Well, I survived my first semester finals... It's really hard to know what the expectations are here as far as grading goes, so I really won't know how I did until we get our grades back. But I did my best, and they're over-- that's all that matters.
So Colin was gone for 10 days while I had finals-- he was traveling around Europe. He came back for two days before he left for good. The night before he left we went into Dublin and went out to dinner. Before we went to dinner he took me to a teddy bear shop in Dublin and bought me a teddy bear so I have someone to snuggle with now that he's gone. I was so happy, and my new friend Psycho keeps me company when I get lonely here. The next morning I woke up early to say goodbye to Colin... I couldn't believe how hard I cried! Saying goodbye to him was the most difficult goodbye I've ever had to say... it's just really hard to say goodbye to someone never knowing if you'll see them again-- EVER! We'd gotten really close in the few months we had together, and I miss him so much. But every day gets a tiny bit easier. And he still sends me messages that make me smile. I don't know if or when I'll see him again, but I guess it's pretty amazing to meet someone that's so hard to say goodbye to...
So, after he left, I was having a really hard time, but I didn't have a lot of time to be sad. I left for italy a few days later, and that was the best thing I could have done to take my mind off of things.
Our Mercedes cab picked Elizabeth and me up at 4.30 am on Saturday the 26th. Our cab driver's name was Frank Fox and he was hilARious! He was very vulgar, and we decided that if we had a cab driver in the U.S. that talked like that, we might be offended... but in Ireland, it's just funny. Anywho, Frank was very entertaining... he told us stories about his trips to America (excuse my language, but I'm quoting... he told us about how he came into a bar and sat down next to a black guy: "He was seriously fuckin' seven times bigger than me, but I gave it to him straight; I told him football's a sport for pussies.") And he told us that he loves the U.S. because it is the only country in the world with a constitution that gives you the right to be HAPPY. He told us to watch a hurling match before we leave-- the best and fastest game in the world, and also that we need to go to Kilkenny because it has the most pubs per capita in the country. He called us "love" and told us he was an inner city boy at heart. Meanwhile, Elizabeth and I are in the back seat trying not to throw up because of how fast he's driving around the curving Irish country roads. But we survived the trip to the airport, and he dropped us off and said "if nobody's done it already, I'd like to thank you for coming here. I mean it; we're learnin' as much from you as you are from us. The Irish could learn a thing or two from Americans about being forthcoming and focused." He was pretty much adorable, and we'll remember him forever!
At the airport we studied my Italian notes, trying to brush up on our Italian so we could understand and communicate as best as we could when we got to Italy. (Although it wasn't much help... we were pretty disappointed with how much we actually remembered). We finally got on the plane, and it was delayed an hour because of air traffic controller strikes in France. Once we got off the ground, it was about a two hour plane ride over the Alps (Elizabeth: "I just wonder how people got over them before). We had a beautiful view from our window. And when we finally reached the airport and got through passport control and to our luggage, we met my friend Caitlin (who I was a counselor with at leadership camp last summer) and her host dad Paolo at the arrivals gate. We rode from Turin to Asti in his Range Rover and caught up with Caitlin. She told us that Paolo didn't speak much English, but he'd try. Caitlin didn't know any Italian when she came to Asti in September, and he family didn't know any English. She was supposed to have a host sister that spoke English, but she moved out of the house during Caitlin's second week in Italy. We were so impressed by how well she could communicate with her family and her friends. I guess full immersion into a language is really the best way to learn!
So we rode (on the right side of the road!) to Asti, dropped off our stuff in our new bedroom, and presented our gifts to the family. We got them these cute little bowls with shamrocks on them that we'd filled with candy, soda bread mix and shamrock seeds. It was pretty cute. Giusi, Caitlin's host mom, LOVED them! After we gave our gifts, we had lunch with the fam. (Paolo, Giusi, and their son Daniele). First we had antipasti (appetizers) of some kind of onion, corn and garbanzo bean salad, corn and tuna, salami, ham, homemade red pepper marmalade, blood orange juice and ACE (like V8 Splash) to drink, and some chex mix, pretzles, and Wisconsin mustard that Caitlin had sent from home. For the piatto primo (the first plate) we had whole grain pasta with pesto which was delicious! I think there might have been a piatto secondo of some kind of meat, but I didn't have any. Then we had some broccoli (which was really good), and homemade tiramisu for dessert!
We had a quick afternoon nap and then Paolo and Giusi gave us a ride to downtown Asti. We walked around a bit and looked at the pretty Italian streets and buildings and then met up with Caitlin's boyfriend, Omar, and her friends: Matteo Piano (who was seriously like 8 feet tall), another Matteo, Mac, Bomber, Alby, and Silvia. We had pizza at a restaurant and then went to the new arcade in town to hang out. The Italians bowled on the sweet bowling lanes with music videos playing on big screens at the ends of them. We chatted with Bomber and the Matteos. They didn't speak perfect English, but we were at least able to have a conversation. After we met up with Federico and Erica at the arcade, we went to a piazza downtown for a bit and then to the train station to meet Caitlin's new German exchange brother, Eugen (pronounced "OY-gin with a soft "g"). We rode back with the whole family in the Range Rover and, at 1.30 in the morning when we got back, had some snacks with the fam. before bed.
It was a lovely lovely day!!!
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