Milano e Verona

Two weekends ago I went to Milan with a group from my program. We had tons of fun- seeing the magnificent Duomo, the famous opera house- La Scala, the most beautiful shopping in the Galleria and in the shopping district, a museum to see Raphael's sketch of the School of Athens. We also went to a nice dinner, all of us dressed up and having fun talking and then chic and fun nightclub called Hollywood that cost us a total of 50 euros each (cover, drinks and coat check) but the money was definitely worth it! The trip started off Lauren and I going without much planning at all. But we did try to plan to see The Last Supper. We thought that we didnt really have to make reservations a month in advance in February because it doesnt seem like such a touristy time. But the line was always busy and online it said tickets were sold out- not for the weekend but seemingly forever... So unfortunately we didnt see this famous work of art and also Lauren and I read that you could get discounted opera tickets two hours before a show so we planned on stopping by and seeing if we could get some tickets. It is opera season so we thought that there would be an opera but we looked at the scheduled posted outside and there was an opera every day in the month of February besides the Saturday night we were there... what bad luck. Even missing these two things we had a great time at the museum, the club and window shopping. 

Then I had my first week of school at the university. I have one class Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and the other Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. The first class is the Sociology of Tourism. It is supposed to be an easy class and the teacher seems very nice and laid back. The second class is History, Society and the Family. This class last two hours and the teacher talks non stop- very boring after the first hour. Luckily, or else i wouldnt make it, she starts 15 minutes late (like most professors here) and stops 15 minutes early. It is kind of dry because she just sits in front of us with a microphone and talks at us but the test is supposedly just over the books you read. This week I went out every night and consequently did not get enough sleep and thus developed a cough that wouldnt quit.

This past weekend on Saturday Lauren and I and two other girl friends went to Verona for Valentine's Day. Verona is the city where Romeo and Juliet lived- ideal city for the lovers holiday. We had a great time. We saw the arena (a small version of the Coliseum), the river, a basicilica, a chiesa, a castle and had a great lunch and dinner. For our romantic Valentine's dinner we ate at a Indian restaurant. Some what of a strange concept but of course (as i suspected) everywhere was booked for dinner in Verona on Valentines Day. The girls I went with seemed to think there might be a good place that wasnt full- i didnt have any hope. We grabbed the last train around 10:30 and got home around 1am. 

Then I slept all day Sunday to try to feel better.

This week is week two of classes and this coming weekend we are going to Venice for Carnivale, i'll update when I get back!

Bella Bologna

I finally met my eighth roommate, Roberto- the brother of Dani. He studied for a year in Arizona and knows some english. He just came back to Bologna from being in Toulouse, France with his girlfriend. The day he came back his mother came from Sardinia to see her sons. She has been staying with us and is very sweet. Of course cleaning and cooking a lot. Tonight I had dinner with Dani, Roberto and their mother. She cooked minestrona and an egg, zucchini dish- both very delicious of course. I told her I did not know how to cook because at school I have a cook- she was a little surprised and understood why i was so thankful for her cooking. I would have been content with the panino I had in mind to eat for dinner- quick and easy:) I also got to try an strong alcohol that she made, a little sweet but very strong. The Italian mother is somewhat how I imagined one would be- sweet to me, controlling to her sons, wanting to cook and clean, and a cute older lady:) I wonder how long she will be here for. Happily i was able to carry on a conversation with her. Though some of the time when the three of them talk, the boys mumble and talk quickly- so I only catch some of it.  I am excited to spend time with Roberto now, and I think Dani is starting to warm up to me finally, tonight he said buona notte to me before he went out. 

Tonight everyone is gone besides my new italian mother and I. I think Leo is probably working and all the girls are out somewhere. Lauren is out on a date with a guy we like to call "bangs"- he is quite the metro italian. Last night he took her to the top of a hill, with a gorgeous gold-glowing church, and tonight they are doing dinner and a movie. I helped her get ready- it took forty minutes for her to decide what to wear- luckily I was there to simultaneously dry and straighten her hair while she did her make-up. 

Today was the most gorgeous day we have had yet in Bologna. It was in the fifties and soo sunny. Today was a Wednesday so we had our culture/history lesson and excursion. We went to the Museo di Palazzo Poggi on via Zamboni. We toured some of the museum and then climbed its tower. We got the most gorgeous view of the city! I took tons of pictures and was in awe of the city that i can say i actually live in! ahhh,... this is definitely the life. 

Ciao for now! 

Modena

Saturday Lauren, some people from my program and I took a day trip to a nearby city- Modena. The train ride only took about 15 minutes. From there we took a bus ride to the Ferrari museum. It was a cool experience seeing all the different ferraris in person. I even saw a picture of the Speedway! We took a lot of pictures. And to make it more fun we tried to take fun pictures of the cars with us. We took one at the end with us girls all jumping in the air. We had a great afternoon there. 

Then we had an appointment at a Balsamic Vinegar vineyard in Modena. Modena is the true and original place where balsamic vinegar is produced. On all bottles of b.v. the city Modena is on the label even though it is not truly from Modena. We went to this little cottage, up to the top floor where the barrels of vinegar are. A very cold room, the top vinegar sits for 25 years, and a small bottle of it costs about 65 euro. We had a taste testing session and took some pictures. The daughter of the family told us all about the history and process. 

Then we took a bus back to the city center to the annual street festival- we happened to come on just the right day! There were dozens and dozens of vendors- selling cheese, meat, sweets, piadini, crepes, clothes, and other random things. There were hundreds of people milling around- good people watching. Lauren and I bought some fresh cheese- pecorini fresca. and also some sweets to eat while walking around. Lauren and I went with Rachel, Teresa, Addriene and Monica- a great group of girls, we had a wonderful day. Our first of many day trips!

But unfortunately that night after i got home i became sick and have been ever since- and it keeps getting worse. Today i was supposed to have a presentation in class but my nose would not stop running and i couldnt breathe out of it so i could barely talk. i am supposed to go tmrw, i wonder if i will be any better. We have two finals and a paper this friday for this presession class. I hope i get well by tmrw so i can start studying hard core.