Italy at its finest!

My friends and I decided to take one last adventure within our final days of Italy. We ventured off to the beautiful island of Capri. Before leaving we decided to take any precautions and packed a whole suitcase FULL of food. This was done because being an American and being hungry is not ever an option or acceptable in our book. We left Thursday night and spent a whooping ten hours on an overnight train that dropped us off in Naples. When we got to Naples, we took the train to the ferry station and took a 45 minute ferry ride to the island. Once we got to the island we were all in amaze at how beautiful it was. We went to our hotel, put on our bathing suits and ventured off onto the island. We took a 2 hour boat ride around the island that seemed to be much longer. On the boat ride, we stopped at the blue grotto and went through the cave. It was so blue, and so beautiful. It was really an amazing experience.

After that, we continued to ride around the island. Eventually the “skipper” took us to a secluded beach where the group of us found interest in diving off the 20 foot cliff into the blue. All of us, completely fearless, did this anywhere from three to seven times before we were too exhausted to climb back up the steps. The boat driver took us back to the dock and we went back to our rooms to clean up for the night. At night, we walked around the island and window shopped in stores such as D&G, Louie Vutton, and so on and so forth. We then decided that a good dinner would be just what we needed to end the trip. The dinner on the island was so good, but at the same time SO expensive. After dinner, we decided that it would be fun to stop at a club “bye bye baby”. More like “bye bye euro”. For one drink, I was charged ten euros, but once they noticed I was an American it changed to twenty euros. Needless to say, the twenty euro redbull & vodka, did NOT give me wings.

The next day, half of us shopped in the stores, and Nick and Gwen took a moped ride all along the entire island. After a few hours, we got back on the ferry and back to Naples. While in Naples, we learned how to watch people like a hawk, due to the fact that one of the students ALMOST got pick pocketed. We quickly got on the train and ventured back to Milan. Overall, the experience my group of friends and I went through was truly a life learning lesson. Not only in Capri, but in Florence, Venice, Rome, and all the other amazing cities we visited. The lessons and the memories are things that we will all cherish forever. Twenty years from now, we’ll all be able to look back on this experience and appreciate all the memories we made. From being charged to use a bathroom, to jumping into fountains, and being overcharged in bars and taxis, are all things we will look back on and laugh at when we’re older. So thank you, new and old friends, for giving me an experience of a lifetime! Love you guys!! –Arrivederci

video from the gondola ride

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4SYTc8f2o8

-Julie

The wonderful city of Venice

This weekend we went to beautiful Venice. When we first walked out of the train station we saw the water with the water taxis going by, because there are no cars in Venice which was crazy. Everyone travels by the water taxis and gondolas. I need to start off by saying that Venice is the most confusing city ever; it was like we were walking around in a maze. We asked for help numerous times just to find our way to the famous San Marco Piazza, which was worth the long walk. We went on top of the bell tower to see the entire city which was breathe taking. We also went on a gondola ride which was so amazing; it made my trip to Venice complete. Our gondola driver was so funny and he sang along with us while we sung. Of course, the Americans that we are, we went to the Hard Rock Café in Venice to have our amazing cheese burgers. Over all it was a great trip, but a very long and hot day.

-Julie

Soooo many horns!

Well it has been a while since my last blog since my computer fried in one of the outlets about 2 weeks ago, but right now just seems like the perfect time to blog. The hometown team has just won the play off finale against rival torino in grand 2 - 1 fashion. This game was no regular game, with this victory tonight, Brescia is now going to move up to Serie A, according to our friend Mattia. It is going to be a very long night now becasue there has been non-stop honking of horns for over the past 2 hours already. And I was just told to not expect it to stop for at least another 2 to 3 hours! This is definitely a cultural difference between the two countries. Along with honking their horns non-stop, they are all carrying around giant flags. There are even some real crazies ride motorcycles holding the giant flags of their hometown team. Well it looks like it is going to be a long night. Good Night America! Hopefully I will be back tomorrow to let you know how the rest of this night goes. Hopefully the fact that they have work tomorrow will cause most of them to go to bed at realitivily decent hour, nevermind here comes the horns again!!!!!!!
Love,
Nick

Can't Get Enough of Lake Garda!

Some of us took a relaxing weekend to visit Lake Garda again because we fell in love with it the first time! We went on paddle boats again and this time, we layed on on a dock/pier. We could jump off the dock and we did just that! We would lay out for a bit, get hott from the nice Italian sun, then jump off the dock into the nice clear blue water! It was so refreshing! We also took the paddle boats out again, which is ALWAYS a good time! We paddle out real far into the middle of the lake, stop paddling, and just lay and drift. When we got hott, into the water we went! It was so fun and the scenery is gorgeous. The Alps can be seen in the distance which adds to the wonderful relaxing day! We have all fallen in love with Lake Garda! We can't wait to visit Professor Clewis' lake next weekend!
Bye for now!

~Gwen

Busy Weekend.

This weekend flew by so fast. Everyday was filled with fun and new experiences. Not to mention I think all 3 of the places I visited were my favorite out of all the places I have been. On friday a group of us took a train to Edolo, which is a small town where you are able to see the Swiss Alps. It was absolutely incredible. The temperature dropped about 20 degrees when we reached the town, and got even colder as we took a bus up to the top of one of the mountains. When we reached the top of one, we took a ski lift to the very tippy top of a mountain, where snow was beneath our feet! It was incredible!! How many people can really say they were at the top of a mountain in the Alps, overlooking the rest of the mountains! It was a once in a lifetime experience, and was a moment I will never forget. I still cannot believe i was there, the whole experience seems surreal. It was beautiful.
On saturday was our trip to Venice. Venice was gorgeous, I have never before seen any town such as that one. It was built completely on water and there were no cars in sight. The people who lived there only had one form of transportation, and that was by boat. Private boats, boat taxis, gondolas, you name it, they had it. It was beautiful, we must have crossed over a hundred bridges, each one with a view of beautiful architecture (Homes, hotels, businesses, etc...) with water in between them. Little alley ways, where instead of seeing people walking, you saw them rowing. It was fantastic. The only downside to Venice was the maze they called streets. It was nothing like the grids of Philadelphia, we were so lost half of the time, but never cared because everything was beautiful. Out of all the tourist towns i have seen in Italy, Venice is my absolute favorite.
Today (Sunday) we took our 2nd trip to Garda Lake. Today was even better than the last, we spent the whole day relaxing, sunning, and reading. We had lunch at a place that made the most amazing pizza, than decided to rent a boat that had a slide off the back of it. This was amazingly fun. The water was a little chilly, but sliding right into it was so worth the cold I felt. We had someone paddle for us (because apparently they think American women aren't smart enough to do it on their own) and he spoke very little english, it was SO hard to tell him where we wanted to go. However, we made it fun and entertaining throughout the whole boat ride. We stopped numerous times to slide in the water and float around the lake. It was a perfect day to remember. I am a little sun burnt now, but the pain is worth having one of the best days since I've been here. I couldn't have asked to have more fun than I did today.  It was a great way to end my trips, because next weekend a few other girls and I decided to stay around town and experience a few more things in Brescia before traveling back to Philadelphia.

That's all for now. Ciao!


Crystal

 

When In Rome

I can honestly say that out of all the cities my group of friends and I visited in Italy, Rome, beats all of them, by a long run.  The city of Rome is everything I love.  The history, and the art, and even the nightlife are some of the things I was attracted to, that made it hard for me to get back on a train to Brescia.  If it was up to me, I would want to move the entire class to Rome and finish out the semester there (although, I'm sure that everyone would agree, we'd all be as broke as a joke!).

The weekend started with a 8 a.m. tour through Vatican City.  My two friends and I were overwhelmed with the art and the atmosphere of the Sistine Chapel.  For once in our lives, we had a hard time chatting because we were too busy taking in all the beautiful artwork we were presented with.  The day progressed with a visit to the Spanish Steps, and to cool off, for some of us, a nice refreshing 160 euro swim in the Trevi Fountain.  Which I can say, was the highlight of my trip (thanks jordan!)

Saturday was a very long, and exciting day.  We began the day with a tour of the Coliseum and the ancient Roman city.  The tour was very long, and the heat made it hard to focus, but luckily we had an intelligent and BEAUTIFUL tour guide, who made the tour run a lot smoother.  We finished the day up with a visit to the Pantheon and made our way to Campo di Fiore to experience what the saying "do as the Roman's do" really means.

Sunday was also an amazing day!  A few of us visited St. Peter's Basilica.  During our visit, we attended confession, as well as participated in a mass that was given in Italian.  It was nice for me, because as a catholic, everyone dreams of attending mass in the church, and I am privileged enough to say that I met my goal.  For those of you who do not dream of visiting the church, you should now!!!!!!!!!  It was a great way to end an amazing weekend!!!!!

In all, our trip to Rome was more than perfect.  It was an experience of a lifetime, and something I recommend to just about anyone who needs vacation ideas.  I had a hard time leaving Rome, because I enjoyed the atmosphere entirely too much, but I know one day I will return!  ..... When in Rome.

When in Rome...

I can not believe that I was actually in Rome this weekend. It was the first time I couldn't believe what I was doing, and what I was seeing was truly reality. I have seen it in pictures for years, but never thought one day I would be there. Walking into the Colosseum my jaw literally dropped, I could barely say anything. Our tour guide talked a little too much, but I was really entranced by the information and stories he was telling us. I was standing where, 2,700 years ago, people were standing. Our guide even said if they tried, they could probably still find blood of those who fought there all those years ago. Walking into ancient Rome had the same affect on me. It was like I was walking thousands of years backwards into another century. It was amazing. The ruins and the paths were beautiful, I sat and tried to picture what they looked like when they were newly built. We also had the chance to get to the Vatican and took a tour through all of the museum and of course the chapel. Everything was spectacular, I was standing in places that Michaelangelo stood and painted, and other artists as well. I actually saw the image of the Creation of Adam. I have seen that painting for years in so many other ways, but I was up close to it, looking at the original painting. I could not take my eyes off of it. Even now I can't believe i saw that. It still feels like it was all a dream. It was a VERY long day, but every moment of it was worth it.

After our tour we got the chance to go out and do our own thing. Of course we made 3 wishes at the Trevi Fountain, did a little shopping, saw Sex and the City 2 (in ENGLISH! with Italian subtitles: very cool), and then got to go out and experience the night life. You can tell how frustrated Romans get with tourists, they would lie about directions and push us into things as they walked by, it was kind of funny, but after a while got frustrating... It was fun to go out, we went to an area that had bars that was full of people our age and really got to experience a fun time. I can't even begin to tell you how awful the ride home in the taxi was though. Driving in Italy is like one giant free for all. There are no lines on the road, and rarely any stop signs. They just drive fast and weave in and out of traffic. I will never complain about the Roosevelt Boulevard EVER again. Anyway, it was literally my most favorite trip thus far. I loved Lake Garda, but this was definitely more of an Italian experience, and I still can't believe I was there. It was perfect.

These are some of the 500 pictures I took.... The one of the three of us in front of the Trevi was right after making our wishes... We were obviously happy to make them, hopefully they come true! The picture of the movie screen is the english movie with Italian subtitles!

It's Only Illegal... If you get Caught!

To everyone at home reading this blog, I think there are a few things you should know about Rome: 

1. Pictures with Gladiators cost money... after you have already taken the photo.

2. Always carry change (coins) with you, because public restrooms do not exist.

3.Sitting down in a cafe will double the cost of everything you order.

4. Coca Cola is 4+ euros a can.

5. For a small fee, you can swim in the Trevi Fountain!

* I am telling you these things because my friends and I have had to learn them the hard way. 

Christine and Rebecca fell victim to the gladiators tumescent muscles and coruscating armor, and had to pay ten euros for a single picture. Amanda was livid when she had to dig through her purse to find 80cents to open the gates of the restroom after a four hour train ride. Nick and Gwen wanted a slice of pizza (advertised at 2.50 in the window) and had to pay double the price because they sat down at the small tables outside the pizzeria. Heather believes her Coca Cola was sent from the gods since she paid one euro per sip. As for me... well lets just say pictures will never do justice for my experience at the the Fontana di Trevi! 

After a small Italian boy used my camera as his wish token, the events of our day became notorious. Not knowing what consequences would ensue, I climbed into the Trevi Fountain to retrieve my camera. I was in and out faster than I can even remember, but I will never forget the feeling of what came next. The Italian police were standing in front of me demanding my passport. They explained that it is unlawful to set foot into the fountain, and the cost for my ignorance would be €161,82. Fortunately for me, I have crazy American friends who will stick up for me when I am too mortified to even walk. The police officer was very understanding and explained that he would not take me to jail because he saw that I was holding my soaking wet camera, and was not just some lunatic climbing on a famous Italian monument. Also, tourists from other countries explained to the police officer that they had seen the event in its entirety and it was all just a big misunderstanding. They explained that they saw the little boy throw my camera in the fountain then run away. The stated that they saw the boys mother scream expletives at me and tell me she would do nothing about my camera; and that she then ran off with her child. 

Now, I have to carry with me the carbon copy of the ticket the police issued and the receipt that I paid the fine... for five years. I felt so ashamed after the event I could barely speak. Now, I realize that I am one of the very few people to set foot into one of the most amazing pieces of Italian art. The others were movie stars, of course. And although my camera does not work, I would not take back a single second of my submergence into the Trevi Fountain.  

When in Rome...

Jordan

How much does it cost to go for a swim in the Trevi Fountain!?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sIwaytmKck

Watch this hilarious video of Jordan walking threw the center of the Trevi Fountain to get back her camera that a little boy tossed into the fountain! We do not recommend anyone to do this because it will cost you about 161.60 euros. And please if you do decide to go for a swim, please take a video so everyone can laugh afterwards. Love you Jordan

Lago di Garda

Yesterday a group of us went to Lake Garda and an amusement park called Gardaland. As much as I have loved all the beautiful places we have gone thus far, I have to admit this has been my favorite day since I got here. Not only was it the most beautiful lake I have ever seen, but it gave me a familiar taste of home, which you can't help but miss when your so far away. Being at the beach and by the water just made me want to cry, because it was such a familiar feeling standing by the lake. The only difference was the scenery, off in the distance you could see mountains covered with snow, yet people were standing in their bathing suits and swimming in the water, quite a contradicting scene. It was amazing.
Than the latter part of the day we spent at an amusement park, it was only four of us together, but that kind of was  reason the day just seemed to flow so smoothly, being in a large group would have been very difficult in the 45 minute wait lines. It was soo amazing there, it was like a tiny Disney World only 20 minutes away from where we are staying. Rides were everywhere, we went on rollercoasters, and the rapids ride. It was such a fun time, and as before gave us a feeling of home, at least for a day. It was the perfect taste of home where now we are ready for another two weeks of nothing but pure Italia. Italian culture must be VERY different from American though, because no one complained when people would budge, and people would smoke while standing in line! We hated that part, it really was disgusting having it blown in your face while you were waiting, but we did our best to keep moving up.

Overall, I just had such a wonderful day, and I think the other girls would agree. We plan on going back again to the beach, with a larger group of people this time, and just enjoying the weather and the scenery... Rome is this weekend, so I better start getting ready! This is the trip I have been waiting for!!

Ciao


Crystal

Anticipating Rome

It is unbelievable that we have been here for almost two weeks, I'm sure others will agree.. but I do not want to go home! This past weekend we went to Florence which was so beautiful, pictures cannot completely capture how beautiful the view was. We ate at a little cafe with the amazing view right there, now you can't get that in the United States. Yesterday we went to Lake Garda, which was yet another beautiful place. We had the day off because it was Italy's Independence Day so none of the schools were open. The mountains were right in the background and it was almost unreal looking. I got completely burned while lying out, but being there was so wonderful.
The other night me and one of the girls had a meal prepared for us by two Italian boys. First they made us pasta which was so delicious then we were served this typical meal that is eaten by those who live in Brescia. I forget exactly what it was called, but when we looked at it we were terrified because it was raw meat with vinegar and lemon, arugula on top and also some cheese. Once we tried it we were amazed at how delicious it was. We are going to have them teach us how to make it so we can have the others on the trip try it, and hopefully remember the recipe so we can have people at home try it too.
We leave for Rome tomorrow and I know this is a trip that all of us have really been looking forward to. Me and some of the other girls are going on a tour to see the Vatican, Sistine Chappel and other popular tourist sites. We are staying until Sunday so we don't miss a single thing. I'm so excited, and I'm sure all of us will have a lot to say, and a lot of pictures to post when we get back. Until then..ciao!
-Julie

Lake Garda

Today, because today was the Italian "Independence Day," we had off from classes due to lack of available classrooms (because all of Italy had off today for the holiday!) So, for the beautiful day off, we went to Lake Garda. At the lake, we were able to lay on the beach and relax in the sun! To cool off we hopped in the water...just like the beach at home...except this beach had rocks instead of sand...and this beach has teal water instead of brown...and this beach had a beautiful landscape with the Swiss Alps in the distance...it was beautiful and relaxing! A couple of us rented a paddle boat for a few hours and paddled out onto the lake to have some fun. We paddled out, took some dives in the water, and just relaxed! We enjoyed ourselves very much! It was so beautiful...words and pictures cannot do it justice! We keep getting lucky with the weather (keep your fingers crosed that the weather keeps up like it has been!) We plan to return to Lake Garda again before we come back home and soak up the beauty once more!
~Gwen

Firenze, Ti Amo

Ciao everyone!

This weekend was definitely an experience and a half. It all started with 11 of us attempting to book a reservation on a train to Florence. This was not easy when you do not speak Italian and are trying to work your way through a computerized ticket machine. Not only did the people working at the train station only speak Italian, but the police officers standing next to us didn't speak English either. We went and waited in line at the ticket office, only to find out the train we wanted was booked. We ended up having to get tickets for sunday morning. Sunday could not come soon enough, we were so excited for Florence. We have only ever heard good things about it. The Cathedral, the statue of David, and of course....THE SHOPPING! Their must have been a million stands on the streets and leather stores everywhere. However, let me get back on track. The shopping was fun, but the cathedral and Statue of David were MAGNIFICENT! I have never seen anything quite like the Cathedral. We caught a glimpse of it from a few blocks back and could see it through the buildings as we were approaching it. I was already in awe, you did not even need to see the whole thing to admire the beauty of it. Being up-close was almost too overwhelming, its beauty just kept you looking, and you would never want to stop! The walk up to the Statue of David was definitely a tough one, hill after hill after hill. It was absolutely perfect once you made it to the top. The entire town of Florence was at your fingertips. I felt so inferior to the world that surrounded me. We had lunch overlooking the entire city. I have only ever seen such beauty in movies, but now I was actually there. The train ride home was bitter sweet, I was happy to crawl into bed, but sad I know I would not be there again for a long time. I feel truly blessed.

I'm off to bed now, hoping to wake up for another wonderful experience tomorrow.

Crystal