Tag Archives: italy

Ciao dall’Italia – Videoblog 1

CI SONO TANTI SBAGLI.

THERE ARE SO MANY MISTAKES.

Haha, I guess you won’t be able to tell… Anyway, it took a lot of time to film, edit, and upload this thing, not to mention that it turned out a lot longer than I expected, so I don’t know how often I’ll be doing this. I’m still hoping for once a week and that I’ll just get more efficient at it (plus when/if my speaking ability improves, it’ll be smoother), but we’ll just have to see.

I know I said I was going to post the text to the videoblog, but I just don’t feel like doing that right now. It’ll take a long time. Hopefully I’ll get around to it at some point.

I edited out my pauses and mistakes just using jump cuts. Hope that’s okay.

Well, I hope you enjoy! Again, if you don’t have a Penn State account, you can leave comments on the YouTube video itself.

Location: Via Pinturicchio, Perugia, Italia

La Bella Vita

I have been joking, with a small, awkward chuckle, that I will be traveling from one university town of conflict to another.

For the next semester, I will be studying abroad in Perugia, Italy–the town that was shaken by the murder of Meredith Kercher and the Amanda Knox trial. In fact, I will be attending the exact same school that Amanda Knox attended: L’Universita’ per Stranieri (literally, “The University for Foreigners”). It is strange to go from State College, Pennsylvania, which was recently shaken by the Sandusky scandal, to another town that is now recovering from the aftershock of the Kercher-Knox ordeal.

I have been told that I probably won’t be hearing too much about it while I’m there. This relieves me, because Perugia seems like an incredible town that is so much more than the media hoopla. Just like State College is.

Really, Perugia does kind of seem like State College in Italy. It’s a small university town, nestled in the region of Umbria (which is right next to Tuscany) that has about 40,000 students living in it. It’s a pedestrian town with cobblestone streets and a whole lot of history. Additionally, it’s very hilly; an alumnus of my program said that he walked uphill both ways to and from his classes. Well, at least I’ll be burning off all of the calories from all of the delicious Italian food I’ll be eating. That is, if I decide not to take advantage of the escalators that are built into some of the steeper roads.

I read in the Collegian the other day that at Penn State, Italy is the most popular country to study abroad. 530 students studied there last year. I don’t tend to pick the most popular thing to do, but ah, La Dolce Lingua Italiana, mi fa una serenata!

For the past several years, I have swooned over the beauty of the Italian language, so much so that I decided to begin teaching it to myself through a computer program in high school (and no, it was not Rosetta Stone, which is not nearly the best program, by the way; it was called “Tell Me More,” and I highly recommend it). I poured over vocabulary lists, conjugated verbs in the margins of my Spanish homework, and memorized grammar rules. It was only natural for me to choose it as my minor.

So I travel to Italy not to jump on the bandwagon–I really, really want to get fluent in Italian. I am participating in a “full-immersion” program; the only subject I will be studying is Italian. Additionally, since so many students come to study the language from all over the world, not only will I get to interact with Italians, but them as well. The program even rooms you with students who do not speak your native language (with the prevalence of English these days, I’m wondering how hard or easy it will be to pair me with a non-English speaker), so that way, you are forced to use Italian as your lingua franca. Is that not the coolest thing ever?

I am really getting pumped. So pumped. I’m going to be jumping out of my skin by the time January 5th rolls around!

So, a little bit about me. I’m a junior in the Schreyer Honors College here at Penn State. I’m originally from York, PA, which is about 2 hours south of State College. I am majoring in Film-Video with a dual major in International Studies, and, as I mentioned, minoring in Italian. I participate in a student-run news show and game show through the PSN-TV club, and I am also a proud member of Springfield THON. I have sung for a large part of my life and I sing with the University Choir here on campus. I have a huge passion for travel and have visited over 20 countries, including Eastern and Western Europe, China, Israel, Costa Rica, Canada, Mexico, and all over the US. I enjoy long talks on the beach, that moment when you eat really good food and drop your fork, and wasting ridiculous amounts of time traversing the Internet.

Mi chiamo Ariel Siegelman–e mi sono innamorata d’amore.

Location: York, Pennsylvania

Lawrence in Florence: An Introduction

Hi readers! I’m really excited to share my experiences with you as I study abroad for a semester in Florence, Italy! But first, you may want to know a little about me: My name is Lawrence Weathers, and I’m a junior at Penn State studying business management. I’m from Media, PA, which is about 15 minutes southwest of Philadelphia. I absolutely love Penn State and enjoy giving back to our great university through Lion Ambassadors (you may see us giving tours everyday or running events such as Be A Part From the Start, Lantern Tours, and Old Main Open House). In my (not-so-abundant) spare time, I also enjoy filming and editing short videos, and I hope to film a lot while in Florence and share them here, so be sure to check-in often!

I’ve always known I wanted to study abroad, but I didn’t give much thought as to where until last year when it was time to apply. After talking to my study abroad advisor, I decided that between my interest and what I wanted to get out of my experience, taking international business and art history courses at the Institute at Palazzo Rucellai in Florence was the place for me, and I’ve been excited to go ever since. My excitement has grown with nearly every person I’ve talked to who has been to Florence, with people describing it as “the most beautiful city in the world,” and telling me it will be “absolutely amazing.” When I found out my neighbor had studied abroad in Florence last spring, I asked her what she thought of it. She literally didn’t even have words to describe her experience; she just got really excited and kept saying how much she misses the city. And just look at it, how can you not miss a city this beautiful:

To be honest though, as excited as I am to go, with the fall semester winding down, I’m realizing just how much I’m going to miss Penn State, all my friends, and everything going on here (like THON). I am also a bit nervous because I don’t know a word of Italian. However, I know that once I get home for winter break and get closer to my departure date (January 9th!), those feelings will dwindle as my excitement builds. I truly cannot wait for what I’m sure will be the experience of a lifetime, and I barely know what to expect; all I know is this is going to be an exciting adventure and I can’t wait to share it with you through this blog!

Also, a sidenote: 9 out of 10 people who I tell that I’m going to Florence respond with “Lawrence in Florence! Haha! Did you plan that?!” While I obviously had better reasons for choosing to study in Florence than the simple fact that it rhymes with my name, I admit that it does have a nice ring to it, so feel free to use that term.

Location: State College, Pennsylvania

One Week

So so so so so sorry I have not been writing/photo-updating! Finals are crazy!

So, I’m just going to write about Italy and not photoblog about it, because I don’t have time to photoblog right now.

We flew into Milan and slept in the airport night #1 in order to save money, because hostels in Milan are CRAZY EXPENSIVE. Just like the rest of the city. Everything was very elegant and there were just dozens of designer stores everywhere. We explored a bit, got some solid gelato, and wandered around a big flea market. There really isn’t too much to do except shop in Milan, so we headed to our hostel in Genova a bit earlier than expected. HELPFUL HINT: We had a ton of luggage for our trip, and we didn’t want to lug it around Milan all day. SO we ended up storing it at the train station for very cheap. I highly suggest doing that if you aren’t checking into your hostel right away when you are traveling. That was awesome.

Anyway, Genova was sweet. It was SO HIGH UP. The roads are very narrow and windy. Seriously the craziest bus rides ever. But the view from our hostel was spectacular. And we went out to dinner and got some delicious pizzas (the first of many we would get on this trip). We left Genova early in the morning to get our train to Monterosso in Cinque Terre. We arrived and it was BEAUTIFUL. We stayed in an apartment than an American girl and her Italian boyfriend owned. It was awesome. There were 6 of us total, so it was a little tight, but our view was spectacular and we had a grape vine and a lemon tree (AWESOME). It was also very close to everything (though the towns are very small, so unless you are halfway up the mountain, everything is rather close). We were beach bums most of the time. On my 21st birthday, I decided to do a 3 hour hike into the next town with my friend Brittany. HELL OF A HIKE. Holy hiking, seriously. It was the scenic route since all of the coastal trails were closed due to rock slides and such in the winter. And it was HARD. But we made it to the other town, and saw some incredible views. We also went out for a full 3 course Italian meal on my birthday. SO GOOD. Then we passed out (hell of a birthday, huh? haha). The rest of the week we explored more of the towns, hiked some more, and laid on the beach. Our town was by far the best town out of the 5…mostly because we had a huge beach and they didn’t have any. I don’t know what you would do there without a beach, really.

So. Came home from Italy on Easter. Started to prep for finals. Have had my Irish Music and Dance, Geoscience, and Irish Folklore exams so far. I only have one left, and it is for my Psychology course…and it is on a Saturday (really?! Saturday exams? That sucks).

I am also very torn about coming home. I want to see all of my friends from home. A lot. I miss them so so so so so so so so much. But I don’t want to leave my housemates and friends here. But I am INCREDIBLY sick of the immaturity level of Irish people. The series of events that have led me to hate Irish people:

1. These kids were in my house one night and threw my shoes out of my house. MY NICE RUNNING SHOES. And I found one in the neighbors bush the next morning. But the other is nowhere to be found. Thanks for that.
2. That same night, my friend Katie and I were getting kebabs before going to the pub. Katie gets hers and pays for it, and this Irish guy literally takes it right out of her hands and runs away with it. Her response, “MY KEBABBBBBBBB!!” But…really? REALLY? It’s 5 euro. You can’t get your own damn kebab?
3. Someone stole my housemate’s student ID card. They checked out a book at the library then returned the card. So now she’s receiving all of these emails saying she owes money for this book she didn’t check out (late fees). And she’s going to end up paying for the damn book.
4. Someone broke into my friend’s house one night while we were all hanging out and broke the “break in case of fire” box. 250 euro fine. STUPID.
5. Eggs. People throw eggs everywhere. DISGUSTING. GROW UP.
6. I was walking home happy to be back in Ireland after a trip, and these guys drive by in an SUV and pull out a giant super-soaker…and I get soaked (good thing the name rings true to its outcome, huh?).

I am so lucky to have awesome housemates and friends, cause if I was stuck purely with college-aged Irish kids, I would be pissed off. My best Irish friend here is 28 years old. Go figure.

So. Yeah. One week til I go back to the states. The first thing I am going to do is go to several doctor’s appointments, because Ireland has destroyed my immune system. Then I am going to go to Fatheads in Pittsburgh, order a bangin’ sandwich with their homemade french fries and ask for a vat of ranch dressing. Seriously. Why don’t they have ranch in Europe?!

Might do one more entry before I leave, depending on my time constraints. Packing is NOT going to be fun.

Cheers,
Melanie

Oh, PS. I also won a photo competition at UL for my photos in Ireland. Won a hoodie and 40 euro (could have taken 80 euro, but the hoodie is pretty cool. haha). SO YAY!

Location: Limerick, Ireland

Cusine Trip Part 1: Cremona and Parma

At the beginning of Spring Break, IES:Milano offers all students a 3-day all-expenses included (except for lunch) Cuisine and Culture Field Trip that features visits to the small Italian cities of Cremona, Parma, Mantova, and Castell’Arquato. Given the chance to eat great food, drink good wine, and experience authentic Italy for free, I was more than eager to sign up.

Cremona

The first destination on our trip was a tiny town located about 2.5 hours southeast of Milan called Cremona. Upon reaching the city by bus, we first visited it’s famous opera house. Considered one of the four most important opera houses in all of Italy, we were given an exclusive tour of the facilities, even though there was a performance scheduled for the next day. Although this theater pales in comparison to La Scala in Milan in both size and grandeur, it’s quaint atmosphere and intricate decoration make it a worthy tourist destination when visiting Cremona.

After leaving the opera house, we walked to the city center and visited the the Duomo and Baptistery. Although I certainly wouldn’t make a special trip to Cremona to visit these sites, if you happen to be in the city, they are worth stopping by

Our next stop was to a shop owned and operated by a violin maker, a skill and craft from which Cremona derives it’s worldwide fame. A small town in Northern Italy, Cremona is known throughout the music world as the heart of violin making and the prime destination for those who wish to purchase the best and most expensive of these intricately made musical instruments. We sat and listened for an hour as the violin maker explained the history of his craft, including the painstaking process required for the construction of each individual violin. Throughout this lecture we learned that each violin takes 2-3 months for its complete construction and costs anywhere from 5,000 – 25,000 euros. (Fun Fact: A violin made by revered violin maker Antonio Stradivari typically goes for 3-5 million euros at auction!).

After leaving this shop, we were given a more extensive tour of the city center, including a stop at a famous candy and sweet shop. In addition to it’s fame as the home of violin making, Cremona is also well known for it’s delicious nugget. After purchasing a giant chocolate from this shop (which I must say was amazing) and eating lunch, we headed to Parma.

Parma

Since Parma was the town in which we would be based in for the next two days, we checked into our hotel immediately upon arriving. After about an hour of free time, IES had arranged for us to receive a tour of the city before dinner. On this tour, we again visited the Duomo and Baptistery of this larger, but still small, Italian town. Although my desire to visit old churches has significantly waned over the course of the semester, I was still very impressed by the Duomo in Parma. In particular, the dome painted by Correggio was a breathtaking example of Italian art. This work was equally as impressive as any I have seen across Europe, although it was absolutely ridiculous that in addition to having to pay to visit the church, an additional fee was required to actually activate the lights necessary to see the dome!

After our tour was completed, we walked over to the restaurant in which IES had arranged for us to eat dinner, the Trattoria Corrieri. This 2.5 hour, 5-course meal was probably the best dinner I have ever had as we were treated to an appetizer of fried dough and assorted deli meats, a first course of pumpkin ravioli, a second course of rizzoto and polenta, a third course of chicken with gravy, and dessert featuring tiramisu.

Location: Cremona, Italy

In the Heart of the Empire

Roughly halfway through the semester, I got a little slice of home this weekend when my parents and older brother came to visit! Meeting them in Rome and spending the weekend in this historic and beautiful city in the center of Italy, I had an awesome time both exploring the metaphorical heart of Italy and introducing my family to Italian culture.

Friday

Arriving early Friday morning (7:00 A.M. departure time!) in Rome, I met my family at the airport and then proceeded to take a shuttle to our hotel. I have to say I enjoyed staying in an actual hotel with my own bed rather than sleeping on a cot in a hostel or sharing a bed in an apartment. On our first day in Rome, we headed to the Vatican. First, we went to St. Peter’s Square to view this iconic piazza where the Pope delivers his addresses and gives his blessings, as well as where thousands of Catholics wait during Conclave for the election of a new Pope. Since we booked a tour online we headed over to the museum and we were able to skip the enormous line that stretched around the block and took over 2 hours. Our tour lasted 3.5 hours and included the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica. Fortunately, our tour guide spoke incredibly clean English despite being a native Italian. The sheer beauty and magnificence of the entire Vatican Museum was striking as it contained priceless pieces of artwork from renowned artists such as Michelangelo, Raphael, and Bernini, as well as innumerable architectural wonders. The Sistine Chapel was even more impressive as it is impossible to walk into this room and not be amazed at both the intricacy of the works and the vibrant colors used by Michelangelo. Lastly, even though I have seen some impressive churches during my stay in Europe, St. Peter’s Basilica more than lived up to its billing due to its size and beauty.

After leaving the Vatican, we walked to the Castel Sant’Angelo, the castle made famous by Dan Brown’s Angels and Demons as the location of the secret passageway into the Vatican. We then went back to our hotel, ate dinner at a local restaurant, and went to the Trevi Fountain. Out of all of the sights that I saw in Rome, this historic monument was one of my favorites. Unfortunately, however, I forgot my camera at the hotel, so I have no pictures.

Saturday

Our Saturday was dedicated to the ancient part of the city. We started by visiting the famed Coliseum and this sight was absolutely amazing. When first entering this historic arena, it is almost inconceivable to think that this structure was constructed entirely by hand about 2,000 years ago. Even with the most advanced modern technology and most skilled labor, this structure would take tens of years and billions of dollars to construct today. Standing in this site, the feelings of its historical importance in the culture of Ancient Rome are unbelievable as you truly can imagine the famous battles and fights occurring right before your eyes. Next, we walked to the Roman Forum, which is conveniently located only about 200 yards away. This was another impressive sight and the fact that these structures are left standing today is amazing by itself. Then, we walked over to Palentine Hill and the Circus Maximus to continue our exploration of the Roman ruins. We decided to end our day by venturing to the “Spanish Steps,” a unique area located in the northern portion of Rome that is made of an interesting mixture of local and designer shops. However, while eating a late lunch there, we discovered that my Mom had her wallet stolen! So, we proceeded to hurriedly attempt to call each credit card provider and immediately cancel both her credit and debit cards. But, her phone had no service and my cheap Italian phone wouldn’t allow me to connect with the 1-800 numbers. So, after trying use the phones at a few local hotels, we ended up back in our hotel room with the credit card companies for a good portion of the night. In the end, it was simply a minor inconvenience as no charges were made to any of her cards and she still had her passport and cell phone.

Sunday

During my last day in Rome, we decided to head to the Pantheon and then back to the “Spanish Steps” to do some shopping. Arriving at the Pantheon at 10:00 A.M., we were surprised to find out that mass was being held and that we would need to wait until noon to come inside. So, we walked around for a bit and watched some of the Rome Marathon that was occurring that day, before going back into this iconic church (which ironically was originally a pagan temple). The Pantheon is an awesome architectural wonder and more than lived up to my expectations as it was truly amazing. The gigantic dome ceiling with its signature oculus was breathtaking. After leaving the Pantheon, we went back to the “Spanish Steps” and then I took a train to the airport.

My parents are staying in Rome through Monday, spending Tuesday and Wednesday in Venice, then coming to see me in Milan on Thursday and Friday before we go to Switzerland next weekend. It was great seeing them this weekend and I’m really excited that they got to experience Italy and Europe for the first time. I can’t wait for Switzerland in 3 days!

Location: Rome, Italy

St. Patty’s Day…in Milan?

After a hectic and busy midterms week, all residents of Italy got to enjoy a day off on March 17, St. Patty’s Day. While the cause of this national holiday was not a deep love for Ireland, shamrocks, and green beer, it was the 150th anniversary of Italy’s unification as a single nation, we were not about to argue semantics as to why we were able to take a day off in the middle of the week. Fortunately for us, this holiday occurred during the first round of the NCAA Basketball Tournament. In true American fashion, we spent the day crowded around three TVs hooked up to different laptops and streaming three games simultaneously. Featuring an exorbitant amount of upsets and ridiculous finishes, this was the perfect way to spend a relaxing Thursday in March. The only downside was that Penn State lost on a heart-breaking buzzer beater to Temple.

In tribute to the start of an exciting month of college basketball, here is a tribute to the voice of the tourney:

Location: Via P.S. Mancini, 4

Streets are Overrated

Spending the semester in Italy means a few things: pasta for nearly every meal, more wine than you know what to do with, soccer, churches, and most certainly the March celebration of Carnivale. Taking full advantage of studying in Italy, my friends and I decided to head to the epicenter of the celebrations, Venice. Arriving Thursday evening and staying until Saturday afternoon, we spent 2 nights and 2 days in this beautiful city on the eastern coast of Italy.

Thursday

Leaving Milan after our classes on Thursday, we traveled by train and arrived in Venezia late that evening (30 euro round-trip!). Already dark-out upon our arrival, we were unable to truly enjoy the wonder and beauty of this city until the next day. The most interesting thing about Vencice (other than the unique canal system and the combined lowering of the city and rising water levels that causing it to sink) is that this city is actually a combination of small islands. For instance, when we got off of the train, we found that we needed to travel by water to reach the island on which our apartment was located. So, we boarded a “waterbus” and headed for our place. Meeting the landlord to our apartment once we got off the “waterbus,” she lead us through a winding, twisting combination of maze-like streets until we arrived at the dark alley that was home to our apartment. Despite the suspicious looking exterior of our building, our apartment (4 rooms and 4 beds) was actually very nice.

Friday

Waking up around 9:30 am, we were dressed and out the door by 10:00. Not being able to actually appreciate the city the previous night, I was stunned when I opened the window in my room and noticed how beautiful and unique Venice is. Here is the view from our apartment:

When traveling to Venice, the starting point for the majority of any sight-seeing or city exploration is found at the Piazza San Marco (San Marco Square). So, we decided to start our day in true tourist fashion, making our way to this crowded, tourist-filled space. Stopping for lunch at a small cafe and perusing several stores selling masks, we eventually made it there around noon. Located within San Marco Square are the famous San Marco Basilica, the Ducal Palace, and the Campanile. We decided to explore the city by walking around on our own and visit these sights the following day. Spending the rest of the afternoon walking along the waterfront and throughout the winding, confusing streets of Venice, we really got a feel for the city culture and feel.

Since we chose this date to visit Venice specifically because it was during Carnivale, we also were able to celebrate this holiday in true Venetian fashion. With each of us purchasing authentic Carnivale masks, we spent a great deal of time admiring and looking at the various costumes of the Venetian natives, as well as the thousands of tourists who flock to this location during this time of the year. I have to say that I was truly impressed by the intricacy and the uniqueness of these costumes. With the entire city participating in and supporting this event, it was easy to see why this is such a popular destination for Carnivale.

At night, we took a signature Venetian gondola ride. While it is an entirely cliche thing to do, it was worth it (80 euro for a gondola of up to 6 people) as it truly lets you see the city in a way that can’t be captured by walking on the streets. We also managed to time it perfectly by reserving our gondola for 6 PM, allowing us to see the city at dusk with the perfect amount of light.

Saturday

On Saturday, three of us got up early and went out to see the city and the specific sights that we missed on the first day. Traveling yet again to San Marco Square, we started by visiting the San Marco Basilica. Although I have visited more churches during my stay in Europe than I can even remember, with countless others to come during my upcoming trip to Rome, I was impressed with the remarkable architecture and painting evident in this structure. If you travel to Venice, you need to visit this sight. We chose not to visit the Ducal Palace because of the high entrance fee, so we took an elevator to the top of the Campanile, a tower located in San Marco Square, instead. This was my absolute favorite place that I visited in Venice as it provided breathtaking 360 degree views of the entire city, including the other islands. After coming down from this tower, we ate lunch and headed back towards the train station. After walking around this area for about an hour, and also visiting the Venice Casino, we boarded our train and went back to Milan.

In summary, I thought Venice was one of the most beautiful and unique cities I’ve seen in Europe and one of my favorite places we have been so far. The interesting canal system unseen in the rest of the world, save for Amsterdam, make it a must see destination in Italy. I’m glad I was fortunate enough to get the opportunity to see the city and I would recommend it to anyone visiting or staying in Europe/Italy. Hurry because the city is going under water!

Observations and Fun Facts

1.) Venice is hands down the most confusing city I have ever been to. The unpredictable winding roads, streets just wide enough for one person, and high concrete walls obstructing the views of other streets make you feel lost from the minute you arrive. It took two of us approximately 2 hours to get back from our apartment because we got lost. If you are trying to get to a certain location, make sure and ask directions because you will most likely get lost trying to find your own way. Hint: Try gondola drivers, they pretty much all speak English.

2.) There are no street names in addresses in Venice. Instead, buildings are identified by number and district. Venice is broken up into several districts, similar to the boroughs of New York City, and these are used to identify buildings. Again, be sure and ask directions or have a map handy.

3.) Gondolas cost anywhere from 25,000 to 40,000 euro and are owned by the individual gondola drivers. Our said that he does 5/day in the slow season (such as now) and 10-15 per day in the summer.

4.) Take the “waterbus” when moving between islands, NOT a water taxi. The waterbus is the Venetian version of the metro, only on water, and is reasonably inexpensive. The watertaxi is exactly what it sounds like and is a flat rate of 35 euro no matter where you go.

Location: Venice, Italy

More Milano Art: Arcimboldo

This week, in my Leonardo da Vinci-themed art history class, I had the opportunity to visit an exhibition of one of the more unique and interesting artists in art history, Arcimboldo. Renowned for his attention to detail and his his life-like portrayal of animals and nature, he was a Leonardo disciple who helped continue the Renaissance theme of realism. But, his most renowned works are his “Composite Heads,” which are an eclectic combination of aspects of nature that are arranged to form the shape of disfigured human heads. Arcimboldo created 2 famous series consisting of these heads: the seasons (“Spring,” “Summer,” “Fall,” “Winter”) and the four elements of nature (“Earth,” “Air,” Fire” and “Water”). Being able to see these works in person was an incredible experience due to the fact that the majority of them are owned by private collectors, who allowed them to be used for this one-time exhibition (Plus IES pays for it!). The ability to visit works of art such as these, as well as our later trip to “The Last Supper,” illustrate how taking art history in Italy can actually be interesting, even if you do not really have any prior interest in art.

Cameras were not allowed to be taken into the exhibit, but here is a link where you can see all of his works: Arcimboldo.

Location: Milan, Italy

Do as the Romans do

Hopefully this blog entry will publish fully this time… I’ve been trying to post it for two weeks.

Anyways, after lots of papers, I needed a break, so why not fly way up to the clouds to Rome?

I hopped on a plane and decided to embark on a journey solo. Since it was the weekend before midterms, I had no choice but to go by myself, and I knew there would be no opportunity to get to Rome otherwise. It was upsetting but I still had a good time exploring the city at my own pace (though next time, I would for sure go with my future husband- quite a romantic city).

First up was trying the local cuisine. Italian food is one of my favorites, so I went to a local Italian restaurant and was served their special. Probably the best Italian food I’ve ever had in my life, and probably ever will have. It was amazing. And the gelato there is to die for good. People rave about it and I understand why- it’s way better than ice cream.

Next up was the Vatican City, the smallest state in the world. The Vatican is its own state, so our tour guide told us we actually visited two countries at once! The Vatican Museum was absolutely unbelievable- amazing architecture and more art than the Louvre in Paris! The entire museum would take over 8 hours to explore, but our tour thankfully took us through the major rooms and the Sistine Chapel. We weren’t allowed to take photos in the Sistine Chapel, but after being there, I know that photos don’t do it justice. The Sistine Chapel is something you must see to believe! But, here are some photos from my day at the Vatican (probably the best part of the trip!).

(Above is a statue Michaelangelo studied and gave him some inspirations when painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel)

Instead of trying to pick where to explore my final day, I decided to take a tour, once during the day and once at night, to see everything in Rome. I saw the Colesseum and a beautiful nighttime shot of St. Peter’s, along with the Victor Emmanuel monument, which is absolutely stunning!

Rome is a beautiful city, but I was happy to return to London. London is definitely my favorite thus far. The city life is incredible and it’s astoundingly diverse. Sure, it’s expensive, but I have felt right at home in London. Plus, the principle language is English, not something else- which is an automatic plus. Next stop is Ireland though- and that I am quite excited for.

Location: Via Torino, Rome, Italy

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