ciao for now: January 2014

31.1.14

A (Italian) Mexican fiesta...finally!

Chips, salsa, guac, oh my! I truly never thought I would see Mexican food again for the next 4 months, but low and behold, just 2 blocks down for our apartment the gods blessed us with the one and only, Tijuana. I didn't care that people claim they get their guac from a bag, all I needed was an ice cold margarita, steaming fajitas, and endless chips and salsa. Now, I can't say that this was the best Mexican I've ever had, but I can tell you it was the best Mexican I've ever had on this side of the Atlantic... Definitely a much needed break from pesto, red wine, and olive oil. Thank you Tijuana, I'll be back.

A fun, authentic interior made it seem like we weren't even in Italy anymore

Passion fruit margaritas to save the day!

I really never thought that there would come a day

where I would truly appreciate the giant, $30, dollar pitches at Dos, but Italy, you do it again, most expensive margaritas to date. Did I also mention we were charged for chips and salsa?!

Ciao, or rather, Adios, for now!

30.1.14

Italian 101

Buongiornio! Ciao! It was all fun and games in Italian until yesterday when our teacher decided to start teaching us "Italian gestures" that she believed would help us out in day to day life. I'm not sure what I think of her after this lesson, and I'm also not sure what I think of the Italian population either...

Take a look for yourself.

Highlights: "Look at that @$$hole", "You sh*tted your pants, eh?"

Highlights: "Your @$$ is this big", "Dead", "Gay", and some other explicits we don't need to get into...

Highlights: too inappropriate to even name...

Fingers crossed I won't be having to use any of these...

Ciao, for now!

27.1.14

land o' switz

Interlaken, Switzerland.

The place where fears and bucket lists go to die. If you're an adrenalin junkie Interlaken was made for you. Canyon jumping, skydiving, bungee jumping, paragliding, and skiing some of the largest mountains in the world; this place is your wonderland. But, if you're afraid of heights whatsoever...good luck!

Okay, let me start from the beginning...

The bus.

"Please arrive to the Santa Maria Novella train station around 18:30 on Thursday and expect to arrive in Interlaken at 2:30 (am...) on Friday." I had been preparing myself for those 8 hours since we signed up for the trip, but little did I know that our bus would leave 3 hours late, we would stop for an hour to let people eat (at 11:30 at night...why?), and then the cherry on top...we would be pulling into the Alps just as a blizzard was beginning, leaving our tired bus driver to brave the tiny, cliff side roads with minimal vision. 12 hours later, though, we pulled into Funny Farm, at 5:30 am. We got a hefty 4 hours of sleep, just enough to give me the energy to sign up for canyon jumping, but little enough for me not to realize what that would entail. Hard to complain when we woke up to this view, though.

The scenes.

No words can do these pictures justice, so enjoy!

The view from our hotel room

Lake Beirnz

More views of Lake Beirnz

The beautiful Alps

View from the top

The chocolate.

For the pure reason of being a choc-aholic, I could never move to Switzerland. Ever. I would blow up faster than a Coke filled with mentos. But, with my motto for the weekend being YOLO, I decided why not try every kind? White, dark, filled with caramel, truffled, filled with shots of brandy and champagne, hazelnut, praline, nothing was off limits. I even decided that "a hot chocolate a day will keep the doctor away" was the perfect way to fight my cold.

Night sledding.

Our makeshift snow outfits...

Contrary to popular belief, night sledding is probably one of the more dangerous activities available to do in Switzerland. After taking a gondola 5000 feet up the mountain we are given tiny glow sticks to light our way and told we will see the bottom in around 45 minutes. Equipped with makeshift snow pants, boots, and a tiny wooden sled, we are on our way!! This is what I would call real life Mario Kart, except instead of losing lives due to slipping on bananas, one wrong turn and you are falling down the side of a mountain. But, I had to stick to my motto...YOLO and also had to survive long enough to eat the fondue dinner that was waiting for me at the bottom.

Canyon "swinging"...yeah right. More like canyon "jumping to my death hoping that the harness works".

After jumping out of a plane, you gain this sense of confidence that you are invincible and nothing will ever be scary again. WRONG. Canyon jumping/swinging/falling (whatever you like to call it) easily takes the cake for scariest thing I have ever done. There's something about plunging to the depths of a snowy canyon with nothing but a tiny cable holding you from falling, that makes jumping out of plane a walk around the block. It's safe to say I'm keeping my feet on the ground for a while after this one..

Awkward solo shots...

My dare devil partner in crime

BYE!

Going, going, gone...

If you can't tell...I was a little scared

The look of pure relief!

We did it!

As you can see, Switzerland was a success!

Ciao, for now!

22.1.14

bon appetit

Chicken and sautéed peppers...yum!

Home cooking has been quite the struggle for us here in Firenze, but I think we are finally beginning to master it (either that or we are buying stronger wine...). Tonight's menu? Chicken with sautéed peppers, a simple tossed salad, and caprese. We realized that less is more and that a little olive and S&P can go a long way.

With "The Best of the 60s" radio in the background and a classy 3 euro bottle of wine...all I can say is "Salute" ("Cheers")!!!

Ciao, for now!

21.1.14

things i know for sure (part uno)

Due to my mom's seemingly life-long subscription to O Magazine, I have been inspired by the one and only, Oprah, to create my own column:

"Things I Know for Sure: Italian Edition"

This week's post will be dedicated to Italian oddities, and all I have learned thus far from living in Firenze.

Wine is an experience, not a drink.

If you are 5'10" with red hair (aka as non-Italian as you can get), you will be cat-called at least 5 times a day.

If you are wearing a winter coat, nine times out of ten it is Moncler, and if you are carrying a handbag, it is most likely designer. I would either like their secret to success or their salary...

Italians drink coffee and wine like its water. Therefore, coffee and wine are cheaper than water.

I either drink wine to fall asleep or fall asleep because I drink wine; I am not sure which way it works, but if you do not have earplugs, this is necessary. Italian walls are paper thin, and voices carry...

Everyone is skinny and everyone eats pasta. (Still searching for the secret behind that one...)

The last thing I know for sure, thus far, is that, despite all the oddities, this truly is about to be the adventure of a lifetime, and I cannot wait for what's next!

Stay tuned for more posts, as I am sure that there is much more that I will come to know for sure as my time in Europe goes on!!

dr. niccolo capponi

When I signed up for History of Tuscany way back when, I hardly knew that I was signing on to spend my semester learning from one of Firenze's most famed and esteemed historian and Count. Dr. Capponi, or Count Niccolo Capponi, as he is known to most, is one of a kind. I dedicate this post to him because he is the most inappropriate and crude professors I've had, one that drinks, smokes, swears, and believes that "political correctness is not apart of his vocabulary," but he is also the most interesting, smart, and passionate professor I believe I ever will have. Did I mention today was our first class with him and he took us to visit his palace? (If that doesn't make him seem cool to you, I don't know what will...) He has a library full of ancient letters, articles, proposals from Popes, Kings, Emperors, and endless stories of his family to go along. I am so excited to spend more time learning from him, but hopefully I can begin to grasp his sense of humor so I can stop awkwardly laughing and hoping he doesn't notice...

As he wrote at the top of our syllabus, "La va a pochi" ("For the few").

I guess I am one of the lucky few...

Ciao, for now!

19.1.14

gucci museo

Kreayshawn must've visited Firenze a time or two before she wrote her one hit wonder "Gucci Gucci" because everyone here seems to be decked out head to toe in designer. Today, we decided to go back to where it all began, with Mr. Guccio Gucci (yes, that is his real name) and visited the Gucci museo in the heart of Florence. The pictures speak for themselves. Note to Mom and Dad: if you can't find the car, the Gucci bike will suffice.