10 Things I See Everyday!

Artists

Boaters (the crew kind)

Dog walkers (often without leashes)

Flowers! (window boxes everywhere)

Pigeons

Stores/stalls selling leather or scarves

Tourists

Graffiti

Smart/electric cars & vespas & bicyclers

Gelato Shops

Beach Day!

Saturday was Beach Day! Totally should be a holiday ;) Christina, Sarah, Jessica, Lauren, and I went to Viareggio- about an hour and a half train ride west of Florence. Fun fact: In Italy you have to pay to use the bathrooms at train stations! Luckily I didn’t have to go but thought that was strange. Our train to Viareggio was two stories! Amazing views on the way… Pictures on Facebook J Train drama there and back though… see previous post!

Once in Viareggio, we had to walk a ways down to the private beaches then over to the free public ones but had trouble getting to the public ones. The private ones were only about $5 each so we just paid for it instead and it wasn’t even too crowded! The water was a bit cold but it was the Mediterranean/Tyrrhenian Sea (?? Don’t really know where they differ…) so still amazing. J Most the men wore speedos. :/ There were a lot of annoying persistent vendors wandering the sand who kept trying to sell us bracelets, purses, soccer balls, sticky tattoos, and massages. L Christina and I got lunch at a pizzeria and a gelato before sunning- which was so relaxing and perfect! We could hear the waves and Lauren’s iPod, the sun was warm, and there was a nice breeze so we didn’t overheat. I know I fell asleep at least once. J

We must have looked a bit confused on our walk back because two Italian guys actually asked if we needed help and if we were looking for the train station. They gave us directions and were very nice! All the people we encountered today were very polite, much more so than in Florence, I’m guessing due to less tourists there. Cute/strange siting: a puppy black poodle sitting on a lunch table between two guys talking at a café! They weren’t eating so I guess it wasn’t totally unsanitary but was odd… there was a placemat and everything! They were right in front of the counter too so the workers could see them with the dog on the table. Plus it was inside! Though dogs are allowed in a lot of places in Italy I have noticed.

I got a little pink but tanner overall (I actually have light tan lines!) and had fun and relaxed so Beach Day was definitely a success and a cheap adventure! J

Train Troubles

During last Saturday's beach trip (stay tuned for the beach post!)...

En route to Viareggio: There was a scary moment on the train because a kid (only five or so) got stuck between the doors on the train. Luckily he was physically okay and did not even freak out (though I doubt he'll want to use a train again soon!). It took his dad and another guy to openthe door and pull the kid into the train. The other guy came running with the dad's shouting and the door's alarm buzzing. Apparently, Sarah somehow thought the noise/commotion was gunshots somehow...? Oh Sarah. :P

Returning home to Florence: We apparently got on the wrong train, though it was at the right platform five minutes before ours. It wasn’t on the departures list either but perhaps it was only supposed to be an arrival with no one boarding…? Anyway, a ticket checker came by after we had left the station and told us. Then he said we were to get off at Pisa and look for our train at 8:33PM. So we got off at 8:10 in Pisa and our train number wasn’t on the board but there was an 8:30 to Florence so we got on it and nobody checked our ticket so it all worked out (made it home!).

Jersey Shore

On my orientation tour last Saturday, Lorenzo (director of CAPA) actually mentioned Jersey Shore so let me preface my sighting of them with this… First, the headlines of some newspapers are displayed by newsstands. He pointed out two that specifically mentioned the arrival of the cast of Jersey Shore, which happened to be last Friday (yes, the same day I arrived- weird). And they both dis them- “supercafoni” and “tamarri” insults like muscle-headed, rude, crude, backwards louts. Hey, they said it, not me. :P Also, Lorenzo took us on a slight detour to point out where they are living here in Florence. You can see the sound cables coming out of their rooms and a police car in front. There were a lot of people standing across the street from the building (probably like 30) just waiting, hoping to see them. A few legit photographers were in an alley down the way too. Also, I heard (and saw where supposedly) they are working in a pizzeria near that club which is near downtown Florence by the Uffizi and Duomo.

 So, club TwentyOne last night (thirsty Thursday)… we went because we kept hearing about it at CAPA and from flyers in Piazza del Duomo so we decided to check it out. It’s like 1:30AM and we’re waiting for a few people when we realize there are camera people sitting on the curb nearby with sound stuff too, so we’re like is Jersey Shore here? They arrived like 10 minutes later in taxis (one for the boys, one for the girls). I didn’t have my camera but Jessica and Christina did and took pictures. No flash though, the security and filming staff were very adamant about that and kept repeating it. We went in after. Before they had arrived, the security and camera crew were getting ready for the arrival… Some girls walked in the club shouting “we’re the real Jersey Shore” and one of the crew made some crack about Jersey whores that a few more crew laughed at. Thought that was interesting because in my CIS class we talked about Jersey Shore being here a bit and my professor wondered what their Italian crew would think of them and their antics. Guess that answered that question! Brushed against Pauly D and Ronnie, they kept going from room to room (dance floor to bar area). Also, the Situation stepped on my foot accidentally so like patted my arm and apologized which I found quite surprising- didn’t think he’d be so polite, definitely made me like him more (which I didn’t at all before so… not hard). The girls stayed by themselves mostly, grinding on each other by the bar (which was not a dance area) or by the wall on the dance floor (literally facing the wall and kind of rubbing against it with no one around them). Snooki was pretty short. The guys were more social- saw Ronnie greet a few like he knew them but the Situation talked to the most girls and was dancing (well, he stood and the girls like rubbed themselves against him). Pauly D let all these girls touch his spiked hair, haha. So they (well, the boys at least) seemed pretty friendly and socialized and soaked up the attention. They were still there when we left at about 3AM.

Money drama

Taxi story: Day 1 (arrival Friday)… I took a bus to the train station and caught a cab from there to CAPA to check in and get a key for my apartment. CAPA has said in our letters that they would pay the cab fare from CAPA to our apartments. However, I didn't see Lorenzo (director of CAPA) pay the taxi driver and the driver asked me for money when he dropped me off so I paid him. I asked Lorenzo about it the next day to get reimbursed and he said he did pay them, called the company, then paid me back and said he would get it from the company. Moral: Sometimes you get cheated (but it still works out).

Wallet story: Saturday… Backstory- everybody warns us that Florence is safe and whatever crime they have is nonviolent (so instead of getting mugged at knife/gun-point, you just realize later someone had already lifted your wallet). They also say the most likely time/place to get mugged is when you’re distracted taking pictures or such in a big tourist location or when walking through the crowded areas like markets. So Saturday, we hiked up a hill to Piazzale Michelangelo, where there were amazing views and I was very distracted taking tons of pictures. After that we went to dinner and I realized I didn’t have my wallet (with about €50, debit card, and ID)… at first I wasn’t worried at all- I figured I had left it on my desk after taking it out to give change to Lauren for our groceries that day. As I thought about it and how everybody warned us to be careful, I started worrying so decided to skip dinner (I wouldn’t have been able to relax not knowing) and head back to my apartment alone to see if my wallet was there. It was! I called my roommates to let them know I was an idiot and had Frosted Flakes for dinner. Moral: Sometimes you don’t get cheated (so don’t worry!). Also- don’t carry around more money than you should need! Now I don’t carry a debit or credit card unless I know I will be shopping and need it and only take about €25.

ATM story: Monday… I needed more euros than what I had exchanged in the US so finally stopped at an ATM. I tried using my card in one and it just spat out my card after I entered the amount I wanted. No money had come out though. I tried another ATM in a nearby piazza and it said my daily limit had been reached. After that I was worrying that my bank somehow charged me for the first “withdrawal” so I immediately went back to my apartment to skype my dad to call my bank. But as I was talking to him I realized I had exceeded my daily asking amount because I was asking in euros (so the converted dollar amount was more than I could withdraw in one day). So I walked all the way back to the second ATM (which I know works well because my roommates have used it just fine) to try to withdraw a smaller amount WHICH IS STILL REJECTED! So now I’m very nervous, my dad calls my bank, and it turns out my bank had never actually upped my daily limit, even though I went in person to request it 2 months ago and was given a receipt to attest to the fact. Yeah, that makes 3 worthless ATM visits, thanks Forum CU. Moral: None, haha. Or I guess, always convert your euros to U.S. dollars so you know how much you are getting/spending!

First time... in my classes!

Had both of my classes for the first time yesterday- 3 hours of Contemporary Italian Society and 2 of Art History. CIS is a lot more work than I expected- I have a 4-6 page paper due Monday (but just over expectations of Italy and what’s different and such), a mid-term, and a final presentation (5-8 minutes about our…) and paper (10-15 pages that includes interviews of Italians). In class we just basically defined anthropology then talked about how you can define Italy (geographically, politically, and culturally) and how can you tell how old it is. I was shocked to learn that the Italian Republic is a baby! 1946! The whole peninsula was only unified in the 1860s too! Before that, it all hasn’t been unified since the Byzantine Empire in the 600s!! So here, the people think of themselves much more as Florentine than Italian. Anyway, I'll talk more on that another time (which you can skip if you don't find that interesting...).

Anyway, Art History- found out we’ll be taking a lot of field trips which was expected. We even toured the city and he pointed out the oldest buildings and parts of the original city of Florence. Before that he talked about the history of Florence too but focusing only on Florence and not at all on the whole. Fun fact: Florence was founded in 59 BC by Julius Caesar. Of course, my teacher focused on artistically significant events- bombing of the bridges during WWII (only Ponte Vecchio survived) and the Arno flooding the city and many collections (leading Florence to become a leader in restoration after the mud damage)- besides also a few famous artists and pieces (Michelangelo’s David and the Duomo and Baptistry foremost). Apparently the Baptistry of St. John (the Baptist... duh, haha) is older than the Duomo and is the actual reason why the Duomo was built there. It had been widely accepted that the Baptistry was built on an ancient Roman temple of Mars and so that upped its importance level a lot and the Duomo was built right next to it. However, modern excavations have shown that it's just not true- an original Roman temple, that is. Anyway, John the Baptist is Florence's patron saint and there is a holiday (St. John's Day) on June 24th that I am super pumped for because there are fireworks and a special soccer game in one of the piazza's (central squares).

Upon arrival

Checked out the apartment, pretty spacious- living room, dining room, kitchen, two bedrooms, and a bathroom. I was last here of my flatmates- Brittany (my roommate), Lauren (you can check out her blog "How I Met Europe" here: http://laurenlucile.tumblr.com/- love the title!), and Christine (also CHS '08). I'm travelling with Brittany, Lauren, and also Sarah after the program (Paris, London, and Dublin- stay tuned!). You can see some pictures of my apartment on Facebook, as well as other stuff (I'm sure I'll be taking tons of pictures, unsure of how quickly I will update them though). Today is rainy, thus me here talking to you all. It is nice to have a bit of a break after the last two days...
   Friday- welcome dinner with the whole "Purdue Summer in Florence" crew. Started my new "being adventurous" and "trying new things" goal there- tried clam Tuscan soup, which, to be fair, I figured I would like since I love clam chowder (props to Red Robin). Anyways, here, it's different. It was basically a pile of clam shells on top of a piece of bread soaked in a semi-spicy sauce, not much of a soup. I enjoyed our later gelato trips more- we've already made three! Wondered around on our own that night (luckily Christine knew her way around since she got here a day early and had already explored).
   Saturday- orientation then a walking tour with Lorenzo. In the evening we hiked up a hill to Piazzale Michelangelo where there were amazing city views. Also, the Uffizi Gallery was open late that night for free so a group of us went but only got through half of one floor in the hour we managed before it closed. I'll be back- we buy passes for lots of museums for my Art History class. Did see the Birth of Venus though! BTW- I obviously did not take that, no pictures there! But that's what I saw :)

Getting there

          Start: A little after 2PM, Indy time, at Indianapolis airport, Thursday 5/12/11
          End: 3:45PM Florence time, 9:45AM Indy time, at CAPA, Friday 5/13/11

I had two two-hour layovers, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Frankfurt, Germany. The overnight plane-ride from Philly to Frankfurt had great movies (lots of new releases) and a delicious in-flight dinner (chicken teriyaki!) but awful sleeping opportunities- quiet but no leg room! I wish I had a watch because I had no way to keep track of time either! I just kept estimating time remaining on my 8 hour plane ride based on the length of movie, how long I took to fall asleep, and guessing how long I actually slept. Germany’s Frankfurt airport had several smoking rooms in the airport- glass windows in a small box with about three people in each huddled around ashtrays. After having my ticket checked, I had to go outside to catch a shuttle bus for the flight to Florence, Italy, so I did get to step on German “soil” (really blacktop) and breathe the air. In Germany I also had to get my passport stamped and go through security again, big time-suck. Passport security asked about my reasons for travelling, wanted to see my return tickets, wanted to know how much money I had, and wanted to see all my credit cards... crazy. Flight from Frankfurt Florence- I was impressed by the Alps; they stretched out for so far. Random but I wanted to go make snow angels on them. Florence arrived and I had to climb down outside, shuttle again, then get my luggage but no passport stamp. I was disappointed to learn that you only get stamped going into Europe but not between the countries (I don't really understand why) so I only got and will have that one Frankfurt stamp in my passport book. L But I am in Florence now so J.