Tripa!

Yesterday I tried...tripe! Gaby and Avery and I all split a panino (just in case we didn't like it) but it was actually pretty good! Grammy will be so proud of me :)

This little cart is right by my apartment, I pass by it all the time on the way to the Sant'Amrogio mercato. There's always a crowd of hungry Italians.

Roma!

So Rome was amazing. It really was eternal, it was vast and magical and full of antiquities and art and good food and it was also very peaceful (for the most part)I will post more pictures and details of my journey later...buona notte!

rainy day!

It's been getting colder here in Firenze! Last night we had a real storm, with thunder and lightning (and I went out anyway to get gelato of course!) After a busy morning of Grammer (ugh..) and etching (yay), I walked around with John.
We stumbled upon some kind of food festival on our way to the mercato and we sampled cheese and bisocotti...marveled at the marzipan....
We bought some anrancini--a treat from southern Italy--fried risotto balls! One had creamy vegetables inside, the other cheese and prosciutto...sooo good for a rainy day! There were also tons of sweets--fresh cream and choclate filled donuts. Maybe I'll go back tonight for dessert!
Tomorrow we depart for Roma! (at 6 am...) I am very excited, this week has been a whirlwind..

this week's happenings

On Tuesday, we went to a big election party on the other side of the river. We were patriotic and ate free McDonalds and watched the big screens anxiously. We stayed until past 2 am, and none of us got much sleep...but yay!The next day we started our etching ("incisione") class at the Accademia...at 8:30 am! Our teacher is very nice and patient with us. He's been teaching for more than 40 years, he knows his stuff! The lessons are entirely in Italian, I feel like I'm getting so much better in listening comprehension already. I made my first print that day, it was pretty exciting!

I'm in the class with Avery, Gaby, Mel and Jackie, plus the Italian students. It's been amazing seeing their work. I am definately going to like this class :)

Belated Halloween!

Our friends threw a Halloween party tonight, since everyone was traveling last week for PLP break, and missed out on the festivities. We threw our costumes together rather last minute with things we had lying around, .99 euro cent store finds, and some handmade creations!



Avery is a star-catcher, Gaby is a flapper, John is a bee, Sara is a pirate, and I am the Virgin Mary! It was a lot of fun, even if there wasn't any candy....but I am so excited for the weekend!! A million possibilities, and no obligations yet. I am going to take my time, clean, study, paint, hang out...see what comes my way. This week has been so stressful...time for some rest :)

The Amalfi Coast!

During our PLP break, I went to the Amalfi Coast with my roommies--Gaby, Sara, Avery and John, and our friends Heather and Stefany. We stayed in the town of Atrani for a few days...hiking to Ravello, exploring Amalfi, and Positano...eating wonderful seafood..Then we took a ferry to the island of Ischia for Sara's 21st birthday!


I took a TON of pictures...go to my new photo site to see them! Now I'm off to a belated Halloween costume party....gotta go find a costume!

Fall Semester Begins!

Today I had my first classes of the new semester! John and I had to go to the Pecci Contemorary Art Museum in Prato for our first lezione for our Accademia painting class. It was very interesting...the only contemporary museum around Florence. I still don't understand anything anyone says. But then I had my Reading and Conversation class at CSU. I really like my new professor, I actually did understand everything he said..it was amazing! It was rainy all afternoon...it was nice just hanging out at home. Sara and I went to the Coop since we had absolutley no food in the house, and I made Jeana's chickpeas with wine/tomato/feta sauce. Delicious!


I have a lot to post for my PLP break trip to the Amalfi Coast, but that will be for another time. But, here are some pictures from the "Creative Festival" that was held at the Fortezza last weekend!