Venice and Florence

This is going to be a big, bg post, bear with me.

Venice!
So, we went to Venice for my music class. After questionable bag lunches (except for my orange) and a train and bus ride, we arrived in Venice. Venice is nice and odd. Firstly, parts of it smell oddly. And not oddly as in good and interesting. Also, I kept seeing babies in prams. There are little bridges with stairs EVERYWHERE. I would just put the little thing in a snuggli and go, but no, super parents hafta haul the babe and pram up and down the stairs.

ANYWAY! First we got lost (we were in a big group for me, like eight people) and then we found our way again. We made it to the Bascilica de San Marco and the Piazza San Marco. We also saw a handful of other little churches, and the Ponte de. Rialto. Then we saw the Teatro Fenice, the Phoenix Theater and Opera House. We had a tour (this is why we came) and couldn't take pictures inside, poo. It was large and grand, and has been burned down twice and rebuilt, that's why it's a phoenix.

Bus and train ride home were uneventful.

Then the rest of the week happened. It was fine.

Then, on Thursday, I left for Florence!

It was me, Melinda, and a couple of lads heading out to where we were. So, we bussed to Castelfrancco. Then we trained to Padua, and then to Florence. Trains are so nice in Italy. Seriously, the US needs to step up. We ate ate a 'fast food' sort of pizza place called spizzico. It was good, and not expensive for fruit, a drink, and a quarter of a pizza. Then we found the Sette Santi hostel, which was by the Church of the Sette Santi. It was old and neat. The next morning we got up and the boys were long gone. We got up, had breakfast (bread and coffee) and were on our way. After a couple of bus mixups, we found Piazza de San Marco, and made a beeline for the Duomo. One of our travelling lads, Brendon, was there. (Ragesh (sp?) was spending more time in the shopping sector they had gone through.) We (Melinda, Brendon, and I) climbed to the top of the Duomo. It was hard. Haaaaaard. Lots and lots of steep stairs, and winding stairs.

But the view was worth it. Srsly. I'm putting pictures up on facebook as soon as I finish writing this.

Then we went back down and looked at the Duomo from the ground floor of the inside, which was lovely as well. Then, Brendon jetted off to meet Ragesh and go through the Uffitzi. Melinda and I decided to check out the Academia and see how long the line was. It wasn't bad, and we waited in line a half an hour to get in. It was lovely, old statues, Renaissance art and paintings, and most of all, the original David by Michelangelo. No pictures here, which was disappointing.

Then, we grabbed lunch, and started toward the Palazzo Vecchio. We passed the Duomo (while we had virtually no wait, the lines were looooong now) and kept on, seeing the reproduction of the David that's displayed there, and getting gelatto.

Then, we found and waiting in line for the Uffitzi, which was fabulous as well, not too long a line. The Uffitzi is much bigger than the Academia, so it took up longer, but the was Bottecelli there, and it was all lovely and to be appreciated, and Renaissance art is just so good guys, it's really super good. No pictures here.

The we saw the Ponte Vecchio and the Palazzo Pitti, both of which were very nice. The Ponte was covered in fancy, fancy jewelery shops. Then some shopping, meeting the lads for dinner, and offing to the hostel again.

The next morning, the boys were up early again to catch their train to Siena, while us lasses were much more relaxed. We slept in a little and got breakfast, before doing some shopping. We went to this fancy, fancy clothes and accessories store called coin. Things there were pretty and neat, but pricey. If MB had been there, I'm sure we would have seen every inch of it. We got our train back to Bassano, and we were on out way. The wait time was long there, we spent roughly six hours in transit, including wait times, but we made it back, got dinner and went to bed.

So that's that! I'm going to try to go to Marostica of Possagno tomorrow (I forgot to sign up, but they leave at the same time, so I'll just get on the bus with room). Tuesday, I have class in the afternoon and an Etiquette Seminar to attend (I get to learn Italian etiquette!). I have a late concert on Wedneasday, and on Thursday, I'll off to somewhere else exciting. I don't kow where we'll go yet. Maybe Milan then Turin. Dunno, dunno.

I love you all!

-K

Padova!

So, yesterday I went to Padova, and it was fabulous. We saw the Capella Degli Scrovegni. It was built, like, seven-hundred years ago, and Giotto frescoed the insides. Giotto is so fabulous, I mean really. He's simply too kickin'. We couldn't take pictures inside, but I'm sue there are pictures on the intarwebs for your viewing pleasure. I also god pictures of the outside, but today is going to be busier than I thought, so no pictures for you yet! ((I'm working on it, I promise. This week is busy.)) We also saw the Bascilica de San Francisco. It was beeeeaaaautiful. No pictures inside either. So sad. But pictures of the outside. Picked up a few gifts too.

So, class was/will be fine. We get to talk to the local police today, so they know we're here and we're not super illegal, and gonna take over the government.

Venice tomorrow, with my music class, and Florence this weekend. A girl we thought we would travel with is now going to Munich, so we need to pick up another couple of people or join another group, but I'm not freaking out yet. ((I'm mellower here. Meeeeeelloooooow.))

And that's about it. Pictures soon, I promise, but today is full, and I have a paper to write. Don't expect a post tomorrow, but I'll try to get one up Thursday before I leave.

I love you!

-K

Mercado!

So, on Sunday Melinda and I went to the open air market in Crespano. It was huuuuuge. More than a hundred 'stands' I am sure, and the stands are large. They were mostly selling clothes, but others sold shoes, bags, food, local honey, curtains, flowers, potted plants, fruits and vegetables and even more.

All stores in Italy are closed on Sunday (or at least most) so these Markets are hugely lucrative. There are even shops in Crespano that will open just to make extra money during market time (mostly resturants and gelatorias.)

So, we wandered around for a while, and I bought a hair clip, because I missed the number of them I had at home.

We also ate a little from the food stands. Of course, they were noisy and the people working there don't know English, and we know little Italian. So we pointed until we got a bag of french fries (which are eaten with very long toothpicks) and these round things which were kinda flavored like hush puppies, but inside they seemed to be filled with potatoes.

Then we got gelato (bacche, which is berries and limone, which is lemon!). and walked back. Then we did homework, and I did things like straighten my room and launder a few clothes in the sink.

Today, though, after lunch we're going to Padova! (Padua, in English. I don't know why the english didn't just say Padova, but instead insisted on making their own word). I have quite a lot of free time tomorrow, so expect some picture then, but probably not before, as I'll be out rather late tonight.

All my love.

-K

Bassano e Cinese.

I spelled nothing in the title wrong.

So, today is a very nice day off! Malinda, Nick and I went to Bassano. We caught the 11:45 bus to Bassano after getting tickets on the tabacchi. A half an hour bus ride later, we were in Bassano. We found the bridge (ponte) and took more pictures, and wandered around s'more.

Then we had 'Cinese'. ((You say 'c' as a 'ch' in Italian, So, it's Chinese.)) I had salt and paper shrimp, and their shells were still on, along with their little legs, and they were fab and crunchy.

Then we got gelato (rocher and cookie for me) and sat in the shade during siesta time. We hit up a couple of stores on the way back to the bus stop.

We totally bought bus tickets, and the man selling them didn't make fun of us. ((The train and bus terminal people can be mean!!)) Then we got back on our bus and came home!

We did a few things in our rooms before running to the tabacchi for sandwiches for dinner. We all got an extra, in case there's no food to be had tomorrow. ((Everything is closed on Sunday)).

Tomorrow we're walking to Crispano to go the the big open air market. There should be food there, along with maybe some neat things to buy.

There's pictures from Bassano, Asolo, and Paderno on Facebook.

No confirmed location for this coming weekend's trip, but I'll let y'all know as soon as possible!

I love y'all!

-K

((I think I have a bug bite on my ankle.))

Bassano and Asolo.

So, class was fine yesterday, whatever.

But then I went to Bassano, the 'big' town nearby. It's a lot more urban looking than the rest of the 'de Grappa' region. We found this fabulous old bridge and took a lot of pictures there, and ate gelato. The only problem I had with the trip, is when everyone sticks together in one big group, we look more like tourists, but we were all going to see the same things (the Church in the town, and the Bridge) so it was smart to stay together.

That night, I went to Asolo for a concert for one of my classes. Asolo is like... Maybe certain areas in Williamsburg. Covered in ritzy resturants, a few high end places to shop, and scenery. Malinda and I went back today after class, I got some lovely pictures there, including climbing to the top of a large hill (or small mountain) to see a castle. ((It's not like the castle in your head. I'll post pictures later)). I also ate more gelato. ((Gelato flavors tried: bacio, or hazelnut, and a long word, that starts with an s, that means vanilla ice cream with chocolate pieces in it.))

Tomorrow, I think we're gonna go to Bassano again. Bus tickets are cheap, and we won't go unless we know we can get there and back without calling a cab. So that'll be me, Malinda, Nick, and maybe Brendon if we can find him.

I promise to do pictures this weekend, and get at least some of them up online. I hope everyone if having a good summer or last of the school year, and I'll be back tomorrow with another post!

ilu.

-K

Wheee-coughcough-eeeeee!

Hey everyone! So here's another update from your friendly neighborhood Italian wannabe. The rest of yesterday was fine, nothing out of the ordinary. Just class, lunch, studying, dinner, and bed. Then I woke up with a cough and grumbled angrily. And went to breakfast and then class.

Then I went to the farmacia for my cough. I'm glad the signora there seems to like me. Probably because I try to speak Italian. I even bring my little book along. She got me fixed up with some Bronchetab! They dissolve in your mouth, and stop you from coughing. So win-win for me.

And the rest of the day is going to be so super fabulous.

I'm going to Bassano (at 3) to do a little looking about and shopping. It's the 'big' town near Paderno. Big is relative, of course. It has a bus stop and a train station. Courtney is going too, so that should be super fun.

Then I'll come back, have dinner, and go to Asolo for a concert done by the faculty here. We're seeing to Schubert's Die schone Mullerin. (Sorry about the lack of little dot things. They confound me on the computer.)

Brendon (Brandon? Everytime he says his name, I'm not sure, but he hasn't corrected me yet) and Malinda are staying in town this weekend too. It'll be mellow, eat out, get some homework done, so on and so forth. We'll go to the open air market on Sunday, and be 100% more rested than everyone coming back from a trip.

That's it for now. More pictures will be up sometime this weekend. Again, if you're reading my blog, and I didn't send the first batch to you or you're not my friend on Facebook, friend me or comment here, so I can know to e-mail them to you.

ilu!

-K

Mellow day, man.

So, today is pretty mellow. But I'll talk about yesterday first. So, Organizational Comm is gonna be awesome. The teacher is super easy-going and everything is fabulous, but I need to do my paper (due on Friday) today, so I can go on both my trips tomorrow. I'm missing a masterclass for my music class, but I only need to attend like, 8 of 20 events. And it seems like the least interesting masterclass. But that means no afternoon classes yaaaaaay.

Anyway, after class and lunch, I napped, and then went to a thing that told us how to travel. It was helpful.

Then dinner, where Malinda and I met some new girls and then we went on a walk about town to see the sights. We found the pizzaria, and a couple of bars. Malinda and I (along with a couple of other people I know) are staying in town this weekend to just hang around and go to the open air market. I'm excited about it.

The rest of today is straightforward. Class, lunch, homework, dinner, homework, but tomorrow is class, break, class, lunch, trip to Bassano, dinner, and trip to concert. I'll be getting back late-ish that night.

Today I also went to the tobacchi for cough drops and a box of tissues. I also got some Kinder cookies. I'm looking forward to seeing if they're cookies or snack cakes or what, but in case they aren't individually wrapped, I want to keep it closed until I'm gonna eat one. ((Which might end up being soon than I think, as I don't eat again for another... two and half hours.))

I took some nice pictures yesterday, and I will get them on facebook soon. If you aren't my friend on facebook and I didn't e-mail you the first batch of pictures and you want to see them, either friend me or leave a comment giving me your e-mail.

That's it for now.

I love all of you! Talk to you soon!

Tabacchi and class.

So, this morning I woke up nice and early to get ready and get to breakfast. After that, I went to my first class, Concepts of Music. The teacher is fab and super easy to get along with. It looks like everything is going to be easy flowing and super nice.

Then, I found out how to say 'stuffy' in the sense of a stuffy nose (Why learn how to say nose when I can point to it? It's raffreddore, by the way.) and went on my way to find the farmacia. I say the tobacchi on the way, but wanted to be sure to get my meds first. The lady there was very nice, and spoke a little English. I got my meds (chewable, by the way, and only twelve, and I take them twice daily. I might be buying them a lot.)

I stopped at the tabacchi and looked around, and eventually found the tissues. I also bought a Coke Light, though it's warm and I haven't seen any ice since I got here. Sigh.

Oh well. I have my other class at 11 and then lunch right after. I'm still looking into Venice for this weekend, but I'm not sure if it can be swung. Most of the hostels are pretty booked up. If there was a way to really easily day trip out there, that'd be keen, but I don't know if there's a bus that goes from Bassano to Paderno, as we had a Instituto bus pick us up. I'll ask around, and see what's what.

I also have a short class on how to travel this afternoon, so that should be very, very helpful.

That's pretty much my day. I have homework already, but I kind expected it. Other than that, I'm trying to keep things mellow and fight off jet lag, though I do want to go to a concert on Thursday. My teacher said the village it was in was very pretty.

I'll be getting some pictures soon, so keep an eye out for things I may post.

Love,

-K

So. I'm here. Where are you?

For time's sake, I'm basically going to copy what I wrote into my little log last night. Then, I'll post something brand new and fabulous for all of you!

"May 18th

Today I reached Italy. It is beautiful, and I am sleepy. I’ve hit my… Third or fourth wind, and can’t hold on much longer. My room is small, but nice, and oddly, contains no separate shower, from the bathroom. The shower floor is the bathroom floor and vice versa. Interesting, eh?

I’m looking into Venice this weekend and it’s going to be tight. A lot of places are already booked and it doesn’t help that we’re going on the weekend. I’ll talk to Malinda tomorrow.

I am fighting off terrible allergies. I don’t have any tissues, so for now, it’s toilet paper. I’ll go to the tobacchi tomorrow and get some."

If I don't make it to Venice this weekend, I do get a trip with my music class. But more on that in the next post. See you there!