More than anything I am blessed to have been given this opportunity and could not be more thankful. Ever since I brought up studying abroad at the beginning of my freshman year my parents did nothing but help me find a way to make it happen. Without them I would not have been able to pay for a flight, make my weekend trips, and pretty much everything else that came along with this trip. They have given me support when I need it, encouragement to do things I have never done before, and of course a reason to come home.
When it comes to the people I have met I could not be more thankful. I have had the most amazing roommates and they have become some of my best friends. I was blessed to have a great group of friends while I have been abroad and they have made this trip full of memories I will have forever. Who would have thought that random roommates would have resulted in people that I spend hours on end with, travel every weekend with, and now plan weekend road trips with across the US. From the best of times to a rough last week they have been there for me when I need it most. To think that I have known them for only 4 months, yet it feels like I have known them forever. I am forever grateful and I am 100% sure they are friends I will have for a lifetime.
Florence will forever hold a piece of my heart. These have by far been the best 4 months of my entire life and it was an experience I will never forget. I have changed in ways that I would have never known without this trip, and learned things that I will hold with me for eternity. Europe you are the most charming place, filled with sincere people, and views that I will think of 24 hours a day. I could go on forever but for now its arrivederci.
Florence I love you and no worries I will be back sooner than later.
Always,
Sam
5/18/2015 0 Comments Arrivederci FirenzeIn just 3 hours I will be in a cab on the way to the airport. As my time here has come to an end, it has felt just as surreal as it did when I first got here in January. 27 cities later, it had all been a dream come true. I had loads of emotions such as being excited for my adventures to come, nervous about knowing zero Italian, ecstatic about my travels over the next four months and now I have those same emotions about going home. Of course I am more than thrilled to see my family, but I wish they could come experience Europe with me for just a little longer. I am ready for some similar customs from home, but I will miss everything here in Florence. Although it seems like everything should go back to normal I am nervous I will almost have more of a hard time going back to my old lifestyle. No more 2 day school weeks, traveling to a different country every weekend, walking through museums that carry famous statues, or even eating at life changing restaurants casually each evening. As much as I am looking forward to not have to search far and wide for wifi to contact my family, I will miss having dinner with my friends and no one ever looking at their phones. I will miss walking the streets at 7 am, and strolling home at 4 am. I will miss the quaint family owned shops, and our friends we have made in the stores by our house. I will miss my leisurely walk to class on my own each day being able to take in my surroundings and see new sites down each hidden road. I could go on forever.
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This past weekend I went on my last long trip of the semester and I can definitely say I saved the best for last. I was able to visit Sorrento, the Island of Capri, Positano, and Pompeii all within 4 days. Thankfully these past few weeks have been full of warm weather so we have taken every advantage to get to the coast. I think I may have found my favorite place this weekend. Thursday we took an overnight boat ride to arrive in Sorrento around 3 am. We got to our rooms and went straight to bed before having to wake up very early for our departure to the Island of Capri. We stayed at a quaint hotel tucked into the hills of Sorrento. There was everything from a pool with an outside bar, a garden seating area with orange and lemon trees overhead, and even better our balcony overlooked it all. Friday morning we woke up early to walk to the port to catch our boat to the Island of Capri. As we arrived at the dock I couldn't help but stare at the crystal clear water, and the blue ripples that went into the horizon for miles. We quickly got off our boat and onto the next for our private boat tour of the island. The boat took us all the way around the island with a few stops in between at some major sites. First we slowed down to view the large rocks found in the middle of the sea. We continued to drive through for good luck of course. After that we continued onto the Blue Grotto. We waited for our turn before my friends and I switched to a much smaller boat. The rickety wooden boat fit 4 of us plus our very nice Italian "rower". The Blue Grotto is one of the 7 natural made wonders of Europe because of its glowing blue water. The cave has a tiny entrance that allows light to enter at the right angle to reflect off the white sand at the bottom. We waited for the wave to come at the right moment to push into the cave. Our rower had us lie down as he pulled us through the hole with the help of the wave. The water glistened off the side of the cave as we rowed in circles with all the Italian men singing songs and our eyes captivated by the sight of the bright blue waves. It only lasts about 5-10 minutes, but it is completely worth it. After our boat tour we had the rest of the day to explore Capri. We started out in capri, then made our way to Capri Town, and finished in Anacapri. We spent most of our time in Anacapri where we had lunch, got handmade sandals, and did a little shopping. We ended by taking a taxi ride back down to the dock. Not your normal taxi ride, but a convertible that played music and fit all 7 of my friends and I. Our boat then took up back to Sorrento where we ate dinner and headed in at a reasonable time to rest up for our next day. Saturday we woke up early to drive to the town of Positano. About a 45 min ride from Sorrento, we rode along the coast and saw the most breathtaking views. From lemon trees, to islands the size of a neighborhood, cliffs covered in trees with a goat here and there, and bright blue water for as far we we could see. We walked down to the beach where we laid our towels and pretty much didn't move for the remainder of the day. The weather couldn't have been better and the water could've been warmer, but we made it work. We swam in the ocean, drank lemonade, ate delicious sandwiches, and soaked up the sun. The perfectly aligned umbrellas and stacked houses along the cliffs made for the perfect scenery. Around 4 o'clock we started our trek back up to the top of the mountain where we caught a train to Sorrento. Drained from a day in the sun we rinsed in the pool and caught a bit of sleep before dinner. Another fabulous perk of our hotel was that it threw a BBQ dinner right by the pool. Considering we were not in much of a mood to walk around town to find food, dinner by the pool was the greatest idea we had heard all day. We spent the night continuously filling our plates, picking lemons we probably weren't supposed to and filling the air with an abundant amount of laughter. Sunday morning we loaded the bus to head to our final destination of Pompeii. Instantly the hit song was the first thing that came to my mind. We only had few hours, but thankfully it was the first Sunday of the month so we were abel to get in for free. We walked around aimlessly through the ruins, catching lizards and taking pictures here and there. The only unfortunate thing was with it being free there were a million other people there. As sad as it is, I think I have had my maximum dosage of historical sites that I have to listen to automated recordings or read pamphlets. It was amazing to see Pompeii and Mount Vesivius in the background knowing that the volcano in technically still active. We finished the ruins and ended with a personal pizza from Pompeii Pizza, yummmm. I can't believe that this trip was my last weekend excursion of the semester. With only 10 days left in Florence, I am excited to see my friends and family, but I wish they could come here instead. I have a few things planned with my friends as we count down the days, but I am trying to make the most of my last moments before I have to say arrivederci to Florence! Ciao for now!
Always, Sam 4/27/2015 0 Comments Guten Tag from Munich!A weekend full of German beer, dirndls, and pretzels the size of my face. Going abroad in the spring means you miss out on Oktoberfest, but thankfully Germans are always up to party so we were able to make our way to Munich for Fruhlingsfest. Thursday night my friends and I rode through the night to arrive in Munich Friday morning. Germany wasn't exactly one of my must see places, but after this weekend I am glad I squeezed it into the last few weeks of my semester. Friday morning we took a guided fur of Munich by bike with guides that were some of the funniest people I have met. We all got pretty blue bikes and strolled throughout Munich for almost 4 hours. The weather ended up being perfect for the weekend, so thankfully the bike ride was extremely enjoyable. Unfortunately I do not have a ton of pictures because I wasn't able to stop and pictures, but I must say I was pleasantly surprised by the beauty of Munich. It had its medieval and historic parts, yet at the same time it was very modern. We stopped by a church, a few large historical sites, parks, and more. The main park we rode through was Munich's famous English Garden, that covers 900 acres. To our surprise we were slightly taken back by the nude people we rode right past, but besides that it was a beautiful park with bright green grass and millions of wild flowers. In the park we made a stop at Chinesischer Turm, Munich's 2nd largest beer garden, for a lunch break. My friends and I filled our plates with bratwurst, pretzels, beer, and more! After being very stuffed we hopped back on our bikes and made our way through the city. We made a pit stop at Munich's famous river where people surf. I was confused when our guide said we would take a break to watch people surf, but let me tell you it was so awesome to see. There were around 10 people with surfboards on the side of the river waiting their turn for a chance to jump into the current and stay steady for as long as possible. With the river not being too wide, the surfers turn back and forth before jumping into the wave and giving the next person a chance. I recommend going to watch if you are ever in town! After watching, we made our way back to city center where we dropped off our bikes and went on a mission to find our dirndls. The store consisted of hundreds of people trying on german clothing very frantically to make sure we made it the festival with enough time. The looks we got walking through the main square in our dresses were priceless. We finally entered Fruhlingsfest and it was a dream. Ferris wheels, swings, carnival games, tents full of food and beer, and people from all over the world. We walked around at first deciding on where to settle before finding a table and within seconds an older lady slamming steins filled to the brim with German beer in front of us. That night we ate pretzels, drank yummy beer mixed with lemonade and rode every ride we could afford. Saturday was pretty much a repeat of Friday night. We got up early dressed in our dirndls, took the metro to Fruhlingsfest, found our friends in one of the tents and ate food and drank yummy beer. It was fun to be able to meet so many people in such a short span of time from so many different places. Sunday morning we woke up at 7 am and took the metro to Dachau, Germany. We were able to tour Dachau Concentration Camp before heading out Sunday afternoon. I have always been interested in the Holocaust since I was younger so it was an experience I will remember forever. As we arrived at the camp, I was taken back by how beautiful the surrounding area was. The small pastel stacked houses circling the camp gave off a warm and welcoming feeling that wasn't expecting. Entering through the main gate I felt a bit strange being in a place where such horrible things took place. I first went through the museum where I read about what I was going to be seeing and got to see pictures and articles of clothing, etc. that had been saved from the camp. The museum is found in what used to be the office of the officials and some of the living quarters. From there I walked down camp road, which is located down the middle of the camp with spaces on either side where the living barracks used to be found. There are 2 left standing which you could go into and view the beds, bathrooms, and living spaces. At the end we were able to walk through Barrack X, which was also the crematorium. I found it a bit unsettling to be standing in a room where thousands of people lost their lives, but still an experience I will remember and I am glad I was able to do. ( I will upload a few pictures later, or you can find them on my Facebook.)
After returning to Munich we boarded our bus for long drive back to Florence. The drives home to Italy have become some of my favorite times. The scenery change from January until now is amazing. The grass is bright green, the mountains still capped with snow, and the changes in the buildings as we pass through each country. Each time we have passed through Austria I have fell in love. Being a bit of a Sound of Music fan I have always wanted to run through the hills of Austria like they do in the movie. Cliche I know, but wait until you see Austria in person. We arrived back in Florence around 10 and went straight to bed. We have a few days of school this week before leaving Thursday for our trip to the Amalfi Coast. I will be visiting Positano, Pompeii, Sorrento, Capri, and more! I see this trip as sun, sand, and ocean water for miles and I couldn't be more excited! Ciao for now!! Always, Sam For the longest time I had always dreamed of seeing Cinque Terre with my own eyes. After learning it was only a little under two hours away I knew I would have to go before my time in Italy ended. CInque Terre consists of 5 towns off the western coast of Italy all within a few miles of one another. From Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso al Mare. My friends and I left Florence around 7 am on bus to take us to the train right outside Cinque Terre. We started in Manarola where we had around an hour to climb on rocks and take in the views from the cliffs. It was a small town with a few shops and places to eat. There were boats covered and a few men fishing off the cliffs. From there we took the train to Vernazza. Vernazza was a picturesque town with a port that wrapped around the front of the coast. We ate at a small pizzeria where we indulged in pesto pizza. This town is one of the first places where pesto was used. It was nothing less than delicious. We walked around into the shops and took in all of the pastel colored buildings and strands of white clothes dangling from each terrace. Vernazza is the fourth town where we hiked for two hours along the coast to arrive in the final city of Monterosso. The hike was definitely not easy but gave indescribable views. The beginning of the hike was all uphill, legs shaky and continually having to make sure we didn't tumble off the side of the cliff. As we walked we were able to see Monteross in the distance as well as Vernazza behind us. It was amazing to see each small town bundled up on the side of the mountain, each unique in there own way. After a few hours we made our way down to the beaches of Monterosso. Monterosso is known for the best beaches of the five towns. Although I haven't been to Monte Carlo, from what I have seen, the buildings in Monterosso reminded me of something that would be seen there. With clean painted buildings in bright color schemes, each was individually unique. We walked around and waited in line at the infamous shop where bucket drinks are sold. An Italian man owns a shop right on the beach where he plays country music, and sells buckets of whichever drink you please! He actually met an American girl that attended Auburn and started the business from there. My friends and I then spent the rest of our time enjoying our strawberry daiquiris on the beach. Worn out from a day in the sun and hiking the coastal terrain we headed back to Florence with memories of a fantastic day. I highly recommend Cinque Terre to anyone that is visiting Italy.
The school week has started and come thursday my friends and I will be headed to Munich, Germany for Springfest! I can't wait for a festival filled with delicious beer, giant pretzels, and braided hair with German dresses! Just a few weeks left and trying to squeeze everything in that I can before I head back to the states. Always, Sam 4/14/2015 0 Comments Hola Barcelona!Hola! First off this weekend was full of mispronunciations and accidentally saying Italian words instead of Spanish, oops! Barcelona was a coastal city dream! I am not sure I was prepared for the city to be so big and be full of so many people, but other than that any city that is near an ocean automatically becomes one of my favorites. Thursday afternoon, after almost a 3 hour delay, we made our way from Pisa to Barcelona. My friends and I arrived that late afternoon, checked into our hostel and walked around the area before heading to dinner by the beach. I unfortunately am not the biggest fan of seafood so while my friends ate fishy meals I opted for some chicken and delicious sangria. Friday we headed out in the morning to grab coffee and do shopping before spending the day at the beach! I was extremely thankful for warm weather and a blue sky full of sunshine, since almost every trip I have been on hasn't had the best of weather. The beach was full of people from all over the world. One of my favorite things about traveling is getting to hear so many different languages and meet people from all over. We were those girls who every person that came up to us trying to buy something, we bought it. From mojitos, hair wraps, henna tattoos, fresh coconut, tapestries, bracelets, and of course food. We even ended up meeting guys from England that somehow convinced us to join them for a bar crawl that night. That night we met up with the guys we met on the beach for a few drinks before parting ways to go to a club we had been told we could not miss. I am not sure how long I would survive in Barcelona if I stayed more than a week. Apparently they go out late and stay up til the sunrises. We also had our new friends from Switzerland that were staying in our hostel room tag along with us. Side note: After the girls found out we were from America they instantly were in awe of our lives. They said " America is their dream" and they can't wait to visit. It was interesting to see that everyone from Europe and Australia in our room wants to go America just as much as we wanted to come to Europe. So with that, we danced until about 6 am and then made our way to the beach to watch the sunrise with a few people we met throughout the night from England, Holland, and more. After about a 3 hour "nap" we forced ourselves to get up so that we could do some sight seeing. We walked around the city to see Casa Batllo, the Sagrada Familia, and more! The architecture in Barcelona is so different from anywhere I had been before, and I loved seeing something so different. The mosaic walls, and spindled iron rods, all so intricate. So far in Europe a lot of the cathedrals have been similar, but the Sagrada Familia is so unique. It reminds me of the drip sand castles my family always makes on the beach. After loads of walking we spent an hour or so napping on the beach before making our way home. We stopped for dinner along the way and I have never been so happy to see a taco in my life. I ate roasted corn on the cob, nachos, and tacos. I have missed a little Spanish food in my diet. That night we headed up to Park Guell, which over looks all of Barcelona. The walls are covered in mosaic art work and spanish designs. I thought Florence was decently big, but after seeing these other cities I can't imagine having to trek across a city so big for class each day and to go to my friends apartments. Before heading to bed we lounged in our hostel with a large crown to watch the Barcelona futbol game. I had wanted to attend the game, but unfortunately the tickets I could actually afford were all sold out. I appreciated watching the game with people who actually care and are interested in the game. After sipping on some sangria we made our way to bed to prepare for our 5 am wake up call to head for the air port sunday morning. A weekend well spent, with warm weather and great friends! I can't believe I only have a few weekends left before heading back to the states. As excited as I am to see my family and friends, I wish they could come to me. This weekend I am making some small trips including Cinque Terre, which I am so excited about! Thats all for now!
Always, Sam 4/4/2015 0 Comments A Week In GreeceI will start this off by saying everyone needs to put Greece on their " Must Travels To" list if you haven't already. I was able to visit Corfu, Athens, and Santorini all in a week for my spring break and I had the most amazing time. From multiple bus, ferry, and cruise ship rides, it was well worth all the traveling. Early friday morning we left Florence for a short bus ride to the port of Ancona to board a cruise ship to Corfu. Of course this cruise ship wasn't like the massive ones you see in the United States, but never having been on one before, it was big enough for me. It had a few places to eat, common areas, a bar, and a decent cabin for my friends and I to sleep in. We were on the boat overnight and arrived early Saturday morning in Corfu. In my mind I think of Greece from the pictures I pin on Pinterest, and let me tell you theres not much of a difference. As we got off the boat I took in my surroundings, with palm trees, white buildings, and the OCEAN. I have never seen such blue crystal clear water in my entire life. To say I love the beach, is an understatement and with that I was in heaven. We then took a bus to our hostel, The Pink Palace. Off the side of a cliff we stayed in a bright pink hostel with its own bar, club, eating area, hundreds of rooms, and more! As soon as we sat our stuff down in our rooms we changed into our swim suits and headed for the beach. It was only about 65 degrees, but that was not about to stop me from getting into the water. My friend Audrey, from California, was just as excited to be at a beach as I was. With that, we got into the very frigid cold water together. Though we didn't last more than about 10 minutes, it was well worth being freezing cold. We spent the rest of the day laying on the beach and meeting new friends before a dinner hosted by our hostel. Unfortunately the plans we had for sunday were cancelled due to rain, so we hung out at the hostel playing games, and meeting new friends before getting ready for dinner and the toga party later that night. The Pink Palace is known for hosting a Toga Party for their guests. We all were given a pink silk sheet to dress up in for the party after dinner. We ate, tried multiple times to tie our togas correctly, then made our way to the party. Never have I seen so much pink in one area. The night consisted of free drinks, traditional greek dancing, plate smashing, and more. We stayed out late dancing and running around before making our way to bed to leave for Athens the next day. As usual the day we leave its bright and sunny, but we boarded the bus to make our next journey to Athens We only spent a day in Athens, but that was enough time for me. I wasn't a huge fan of Athens overall. There were parts that were beautiful, but for the most part it came off as a dirty and crowded city. Every wall was covered in graffiti and every boy you walked by asked if you were from America. We started off the morning with a walking tour of the city where we were able to see the Olympic stadium, acropolis, and most of the other main attractions. My friends and I then wandered through the Athens Flea Market, where we bought fun pants, postcards, and other trinkets. That night we ate a traditional greek meal with a bunch of our friends. I thought I got a lot of food at restaurants back home, but everywhere in Europe has what feels like endless courses. From non-stop wine, bread, greek salads, a variety of meat, gyros, and more, we left very stuffed and content. We all got back to our hotel ready to rest before our trek to Santorini. We took an 8 hour bus ride, followed by a ferry ride where we slept on the ground, before arriving in Santorini. We stayed in a hostel located in Fira, which is central Santorini. We were within walking distance to the central square, delicious restaurants, and amazing views. The first day we arrived in the late afternoon, so we walked around and came across a small restaurant that I am pretty sure was actually closed, but fed us anyway. We all ordered a variety of gyros, with sides, followed by the owner giving us free desert and shots of who knows what. That night we explored the night life with our friends and I think we were the only people in the bars. Every shop or restaurant we went to asked us why we were in Santorini so early in the season. Of course I would love to come back when I could lay on the beach and be able to swim in the water without freezing, but I am glad I got the chance to go at all. The next day we woke up early to rent ATV's with some friends to ride around the island. As usual the days we decide to do activities the weather isn't the greatest, but none the less it was a lot of fun. We spent a few hours riding aimlessly down roads we had no idea where they went, but the views were indescribable. I am sure the people in cars were not too fond of the American kids taking up lanes and randomly deciding to turn at the last second. We finished our ride with wind burnt faces, and extremely tangled hair, but came across a quaint garden restaurant to eat lunch at before heading back to our hostel. After a little rest we got ready for the night and headed to a restaurant that was right on the side of the cliff. Once again yummy Greek food, great friends, and a fantastic view. Friday we ended up having a full day to explore after having our ferry ride delayed due to rough waters. We did some souvenir shopping, gyro eating, and more, before making the walk down the cliff to take a donkey ride back up. Ever since watching The Sisterhood of The Traveling Pants, a donkey ride was something I knew I wanted to do. My friends and I walked down to the water for a bite to eat and relax before getting to the donkey station. Each donkey was decorated in beads, a unique colorful blanket, and twisted ropes. We each hoped on a donkey of our own and were sent on our way up the hill. I never would have thought I would be able to sit and take in my surroundings in Greece, riding a donkey, in Santorini. A storm blew in that night so we ran through the puddle filled streets for our last Greek meal before loading the boat back to Italy. Technically this was my first spring break that I have ever went somewhere in college. I usually opt for going home to hang out with my family, but this trip was one for the books. I got to experience paradise, historical landmarks, the #1 party hostel, and made great memories from them all. Anyone that is coming to Europe, make sure you make your way to Greece!
Always, Sam 3/18/2015 0 Comments When In RomeWhen in Rome...you try to do and quickly realize it's nowhere near possible. My friends and I boarded the 5:50 train Friday morning and headed to Rome. It was actually my first train ride yet, having taken a plane or bus to everywhere thus far. In my mind I imagined our own cabin with a sliding door, like in Harry Potter, and IT WAS! You probably haven't seen 5 girls so excited to be on a train at 5 am. As we arrived in Rome we checked into our Hostel, Yellow (highly recommend for anyone traveling to Rome), then headed to the Colosseum. We entered the Colosseum and I was in awe of what was surrounding me. To think of everything that had happened in there and now I was able to be in the same place just blows my mind. We made our way from top to bottom before it got too crowded then moved onto the Roman Forums. Each image I have in mind of a destination solely is based off of pictures, movies, or books. With that, each time I see a new attraction I'm amazed by whats in front of me. The Forum was spread out with multiple columns, perfectly placed stones, and small churches. As we walked through the small beaten paths, I could only visualize how it looked thousands of years ago. We trekked to the top where there was a view of the entire area, accompanied by a delightful garden. From seeing orange trees, very large rabbits sunbathing, and even an abandoned bathtub, it was time well spent. Around 2 we started to make our way to Vatican City for the Penitential Celebration with the Pope. On our way we passed jaw dropping architecture each with the slightest detail to set it apart from others. I don't think I realized just how big Rome was until I had to walk an hour just to get to the next monument. Walking from one place to another we passed multiple sites that I am sure were important, but I could not keep up with all the history of the city. Once we arrived in Vatican City I stood in line for at least 2 hours waiting to see the Pope (read last post to find out all about it!). After mass we headed back to our hostel for dinner and ended up going to bed not long after, exhausted was an understatement. Saturday morning we toured the Vatican Museum, seeing the Sistine Chapel and more. We grabbed a bite to say at a small cafe outside the Basilica mapping out where to catch the metro and decided to make our last trip to the Spanish Steps. Once again, yet another attraction under construction, but still fun to climb the steps and see the view from atop. I was pleasantly surprised by Rome. I didn't really have too high of expectations, but the warm weather and not too many people compared to what I imagined only helped. Rome was ancient, tropical, and religious all at the same time. If time allows I hope to make it back to Rome, if not this trip then sometime in the future!
I am finishing up mid terms and friday morning bright and early I depart for my 10 day trip to Greece! To say I am excited, thrilled, ecstatic, are all understatements and I can't wait to share my adventures when I return! Arrivederci for now! Always, Sam 3/15/2015 0 Comments A Day In Vatican CityA trip so jam packed I have decided to split it into 2 posts. My experience at The Vatican was unforgettable and I thought it deserved its own post. I spent only 2 days in Rome and I was nowhere close to getting to see everything I planned on visiting. I had researched Pope Francis' travel schedule a few times before and was elated when I found out he would be there the day I planned on visiting. Friday afternoon I stood in line for 2 hours with the hopes of making the cut to get into Pope Francis' Penitential Celebration. The Celebration was the start of a 24 hour prayer period during the Pentecost season where individuals gathered for parts of mass and a homily from the Pope, followed by time in which you were able to go to confession. As I stood in the line that wrapped all the way around the Vatican I prayed I would make it in for this once in a lifetime chance. Growing up you only dream of seeing the Pope, let alone actually being able to attend a mass and homily that he says in St. Peters Basilica. The Celebration started at 5 and at exactly 4:57 I made it through security and the doors of the Basilica before the line was cut off. We entered through the main doors and I was immediately in awe of my surroundings. I pushed and squeezed my way through, trying to get a seat as close as I could. Granted we barely made the cut to get in, but we made it a decent distance from the back of the church. We were handed a pamphlet (all in Italian) and took our seats. Surrounded my priests, nuns, people of all ethnicities and languages, we awaited the Pope to enter. At once everyone rose and the mass started. I attempted to read and sing along in Italian, at times I was able to know what was being said because of gestures made in prayer that I was familiar with. Of course even though it was mass, there were hundreds of cameras, iPads, go pros, you name it. At first I felt it wasn't acceptable to be taking pictures in Mass, but then I knew it was something I had to document, so I took a few minutes to photograph the scene before putting away my camera. (The small purple dot to the left of the gold and purple statue is Pope Francis) As Pope Francis spoke I took in all my surroundings. The detail of the sculptures, the architecture, each and every aspect of the church covered in gold. They were all things that I will never forget. From the nun that sat to the left of me, the delicate sound that came form the Harp near the altar, to the words slowly pronounced by Pope Francis in Italian. It all made for the perfect holy moment. As we left the church, the Vatican was perfectly lit by the sunset and the sound of the choir filled the city for the ideal exit only to return the next day. Saturday we had planned on getting up around 7 to be one of the first in line for the Vatican Museum. As you probably guessed, that did not happen. We grabbed a stack of chocolate chip pancakes and hopped on the metro around 10. As we arrived to the Museum we stood in line with the other hundreds of people who had the same idea and waited to enter. We had our minds set on getting to the Sistine Chapel, which was at the very end of the museum, but I didn't realize how much other art was displayed in the museum. From small statues of animals that were only a foot tall, to rugs that were hand stitched that took up an entire wall, and maps from thousands of years ago with only a few cities marked. Not only were the displayed pieces incredible, but the building itself was a work of art. Each column carefully detailed, every wall unscripted in a variety of ways, and the ceiling of each room uniquely painted. We finally stood in line to enter the Sistine Chapel along with what felt like everyone else in the world. We entered and immediately bent our necks to stare straight up. I had imagined more of a chapel instead of just a large room, but none the less the painting was a masterpiece. To think that one man painted all of that on his own is incredible and something I would never expect from an artist today. After being squished and sore from staring up for so long we exited the museum and made our way to our next location. (And no that is not the Sistine Chapel below, just a hallway with maps) I highly recommend visiting Vatican City to everyone, Catholic or not. It is the most holy place I have ever visited and am ever so grateful I was able to experience something most people do not have the opportunity to do. Here in the next day or so I will upload another post about my other adventures in Rome! I don't think I realized how big of a city Rome was and how many attractions were in the city until I arrived, but we tried to cross as many off our list as we could! Check back later this week!
Always, Sam 3/1/2015 0 Comments Laid back and RelaxedAfter spending every weekend so far since I have been here traveling, I was extremely happy to spend some time in Florence and the Tuscan region. Friday my friends and I decided to walk around Florence aimlessly and explore some back areas of Florence. We wandered into the hills filled with large villas and breath taking views. After a while, and very out of breath, we arrived at Piazza Michelangelo. I had seen many pictures from this point, but after seeing it in person the pictures didn't do the view justice. I was able to view each and every inch of Florence from one point. With the mountains in the background, the church bells ringing, and just a tad bit of sunshine, it was perfect. Saturday I woke up early to go on a field trip with my Art History class to two different tuscan country side towns. I was expecting to walk around and listen to my teacher explain the architecture and renaissance art found within the walls of the city, yet I was pleasantly surprised to find out that we were partaking in a wine and cheese tasting in both towns. The first town we visited was Montepulciano, a small renaissance town found near Siena. We walked through vineyards and grass fields to finally arrive at an old farmhouse filled with barrels of wine. We got a tour of how the wind is made and stored then ended with a tasting. I don't think I could tell you what the differences were in each of the wines we tasted, but they were delicious. The wine was accompanied by a variety of salami, breads, and cheese. I left with a very content stomach, and some knowledge of how wine is made. We then made our way to Pienza. A bit bigger of a town, but not by much. The rolling hills, small cottage like homes, and very few people made it that much more enjoyable. We walked the streets, visited the only church in the town and ended with yet another cheese tasting. So much cheese, and I could've still ate more. It was nice to escape to smaller towns and really take in Italy and the environment that I am living in.
Today I went to brunch with my friends where I ate the most scrumptious waffle covered in fruit with drizzled nutella on top. Heaven on a plate. I ran along the Arno river this afternoon, when the sun decided to make an appearance, and have finished off my day by preparing for the week ahead. This weekend one of my best friends from home will be visiting and I can't wait! Heres to yet another week in Florence filled with many adventures! Always, Sam 2/25/2015 1 Comment Happy Monthiversary!I have officially been in Florence for a month now and time has never passed by quicker! I knew life would be different in a variety of ways when I moved to Italy, but I never realized how much I would have to adapt. I am not sure I would say I experienced culture shock, but I definitely have had to change many things I would normally do on a daily basis. Life here is a lot slower and laid back. Besides my personal choices of traveling on the weekends, I have lots of spare time to explore, hang out with my friends, and rest. School is a little different here, but the art classes don't differ too drastically from mine at home. As I travel from country to country each varies in multiple ways. Here are some of the major differences I have discovered:
I have learned that America is extremely convenient. From delivery food, 24 hour options, free bathrooms, wi-fi at all times, and easy access to places. I am in no way complaining, yet trying to adjust to my new lifestyle. There is much more I could write about, but these are just a few have noticed in my short time here so far! Heres to the next couple months and the many new adventures that will come with them! Always, Sam |
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