Tag Archives: college travel

Italia in 40: Day 39…Pizza, Gelato and Puzzles!

19 Thursday Jun 2014

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Today was my last full day in Italy.

I got a new bellybutton ring. I got my bellybutton pierced when I was 17, but I probably haven’t worn a bellybutton ring since I was 19. I saw some cute ones and they were only 6 Euros!

I took the subway to Flaminio and walked to Piazza del Popolo. I sat and watched people for a while and then walked down Via di Ripetta to Tavola Calda da Simone e Mirella.

I got 2 pieces of pizza, a water, and a beer for 6,50! I walked back to the Piazza and sat on the steps of Chiesa di Santa Maria dei Miracoli and ate my pizza, but I felt weird about drinking beer on the steps of the church, because I’m a weirdo, so I walked into the Piazza and sat and watched the street performers and finished my drink. I took some cool pictures and video and then I walked back down Via del Corso. I got some gelato: coconut and chocolate and walked down a little bit and found a place to sit. I ate my gelato and go some sun and then I stopped back into Alcott. They had a sign that said they had new arrivals, but those new arrivals didn’t include my shorts…sad face…I almost got a t-shirt, but changed my mind.

I kept walking up Via del Corso and went into a couple of churches, including a church with a HEART in it. One of the little chapels had all kinds of pamphlets about life as a Catholic and Catholic doctrine. I took a few because since I am a convert there are lots of things that I didn’t learn in RCIA or topics that I was never told the official stance of the church. I gave a donation since I took several pamphlets and saint cards. I took some pictures of the church and then left.

I walked down Via delle Carrozze to Piazza di Spagna. I stopped and bought some more postcards and souvenirs for friends, but I couldn’t find a post office ANYWHERE. I am praying I see one tomorrow on the way to or at the airport. If not, I will have to mail the last 3 postcards I have from the U.S.

After walking around Piazza di Spagna trying to find a post office, I walked down Via del Babuino and stopped at Difronte A to have a couple of glasses to Prossecco and just relax and enjoy the afternoon. I walked into a couple of shops and wanted to buy some stuff, but refrained. I made it back to Piazza del Popolo and took some more pictures. I wanted to go up to the top of the hill bordering the piazza, but there were tons of people and tour buses up there, so I just walked around some more. I started walking back toward the metro, but then I found an awesome little shop under the portico of the arches leading into the piazza. It had lots of souvenirs and typical stuff like that, but also awesome cool books and PUZZLES! I got two puzzles-one of one of my favorite paintings by Gustav Klimt and one of my mom’s favorite paintings. I wanted to get some books, but it’s already going to be hard enough to get these puzzle boxes back.

After getting my puzzles, I went back to my apartment. I wanted to go back to Blind Pig or get dinner somewhere, but I still had a crap ton of groceries to eat that I bought earlier in the week. I ate some cheese, tuna, crackers, and salami. I won’t lie and say it was delicious, but at least I didn’t waste all the money I spent on food.

I had a little wine, packed my stuff, bagged up my trashed, got the food I was going to eat for breakfast, threw out all of the trash I’ve accumulated, and laid out my outfit for tomorrow. I have to check out of my apartment at 10, but I don’t have to be to the airport until 1:45, so I might stop at a cafe or something. If not, I will go straight to the airport and check in for my flight and check my bag, but then leave and go eat or do something before I go through security.

Thank y’all so much for reading. I will reveal my next series tomorrow…be READY, it’s going to be CRAZY! 🙂

 

 

Italia in 40: Day 38…Books, Cross-dressing, and Korean Food!

18 Wednesday Jun 2014

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Today I woke up and paid the bill for my hotel. I highly recommend Aurora Green B & B! It’s a reasonable price for the location, cleanliness and quality of accommodation! As I was leaving the guy that runs the place was getting in to a MAJOR argument with someone on the phone and I was laughing so hard…he was going HAM on whoever was on the other end of the phone!

After all that, I went back to Via del Corso to try to find those shorts I saw at Alcott in Naples. Earlier this week I went to Men’s Alcott on Via del Corso, but today I went to the coed store.

I can’t wear their women’s clothes–it’s basically Hollister/Abercrombie & Fitch for Italians. They have CUTE women’s stuff, don’t get me wrong, but I have too much cellulite to wear their shorts or pants…MERP. They had a Brooklyn basketball jersey that was really cute, but I didn’t get it.

I didn’t find my shorts at the coed store on Via del Corso.

If you are going to Rome, I suggest two things for sure: Vatican City and Via del Corso. The Vatican is beautiful and overwhelming, and Via del Corso runs from the Spanish Steps to Mussolini’s “palace.” It’s store after awesome store. The luxury brands are closer to the Spanish Steps and the cheaper stores are closer to Mussolini’s “palace.”

After failing to find my shorts, I walked back towards the Steps and got on the subway. I stopped at the government library and bought some excellent primary and secondary sources for my future research. The cashier acted like she had legit never rang anyone up before (as in didn’t know what buttons to push on the register), but she was SO sweet and told me about an exhibit happening right now regarding the liberation of Italy in WWII and she told me how to order books online from their store-which will be AMAZING for my future studies of Italian political history. After leaving there I went into the Italian parliament building and got yelled at for taking pictures. I saw something today about them having a parliamentary meeting today, but I went into the “public entrance” and got in trouble, so I don’t know how one would go see a meeting of the parliament. I know you can go in for tours, but once again I’m not sure how.

After leaving parliament some man stopped me in the common area in front of the building and was being really weird. He had pamphlets for some kind of art thing, but never gave me one. He asked how long I was in town and where I was staying, but it wasn’t like a flirty type of thing, it was just weird. I played it off and after about 5 minutes he walked off and I started back towards the Spagna stop. I made an uh-oh and went into a book store…I wanted ALL the books! I might go back tomorrow and get A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway, since I was in Bassano del Grappa and part of it is set there. I didn’t buy anything there since I bought books earlier and I started back toward the station.

I looked up the locations of Alcott and saw that there was Alcott men’s store on Tuscolana, so I just stayed on line A a couple of stops past my building and checked that store with NO luck…I should have just bought the damn shorts in Naples when I saw them…

I saw that there was another store near the Bologna station so I decided to try. It was almost 5 so I was worried it would be closed. I got back on Line A, went to Termini, switched to Line B and rode to Bologna. The store was literally right in front of the station exit, so I went in and couldn’t find the shorts I wanted…:(

They are khaki burlap, with an aloha print–help me find them!

After leaving the store I realized I had lost my metro pass! Yesterday I bought a 16 Euro, 3 day pass, so I was freaking out! I bought a one-time ticket for 1,50 Euro and went back into the station and patrolled the floor, picking up every pass I saw (a lot of people drop their tickets). It turns out that I either found mine or another one that expired tomorrow at midnight, so I picked it up and got on my way.

I decided to try to find a Korean restaurant called Hana that was advertised on a sign in Vatican City yesterday. I got off at Termini station and started walking around. I had taken a picture of the map printed on the advertisement yesterday, but I got confused. I walked all around and my phone was dying, but I couldn’t find it. I walked past one Korean restaurant called Arirang and ALMOST went in, but decided against it because there were NO customers and the proprietor was standing outside trying to get people to come in. I used my iPhone and finally found Hana Korean Restaurant. It was kind of expensive and the service wasn’t great (just a man and his son running it and cooking), but the food was great and I didn’t get food poisoning-so 4/5 stars!

I got the chicken bulgogi entree which included rice and banchan. I ordered soju, but didn’t get it (they didn’t charge me-so, no harm, no foul). The entre, water, and cover charge came to 22 Euro, which isn’t bad, considering how much I’ve been charge at other places I’ve been in Italy. They also have free Wifi and my corner table had an outlet!

SN: I highly suggest carrying a converter and charger everywhere you go.

After dinner I walked the short 20 yards back to Termini, hopped back on the train and decided to stop at Re di Roma to go back to the super market. I ran right in and picked up some yogurt, wine, water, and an ice cream cone. They have AWESOME yogurt flavors at Punto Simply. The Muller brand is so delicious. I’ve tried white yogurt with chocolate crunch and coconut with lime crunch.

SN: I think I’ve seen this brand, but different flavors, at U.S. stores…

Today I bought white yogurt with truffles, so I will update you when I eat it. Also, I bought a liter of red table wine for a little over a Euro!

I was able to walk from the grocery store to my building since I’d already been there and it was only one subway stop away (maybe a 10 minute walk).

Today, I shopped and got to take some awesome pictures.

I can’t believe tomorrow is my LAST day in Italy. After that difficult 12th-14th day hump, it  FLEW by. I’m already packed up, so I don’t know what I’ll do tomorrow, but it will definitely include one last visit to Blind Pig and hopefully something fun and memorable.

🙂

Italia in 40: Day 35…A Monsoon and a $48 Adventure!

15 Sunday Jun 2014

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Holy crap! I had no clue that it could storm so hard in Rome.

I didn’t go to bed until 6 this morning, but around 8:30 I was woken up by a crazy intense storm. It was windy, raining, thundering, and lightening so heavily.

I went back to bed and woke up around noon and got ready. It had stopped raining, or so I thought, so I decided to go out and find some food since it was Sunday at 2 and I knew I would be SOL if I waited any later.

I left my building and walked up the main street to see if I saw a grocery store, but I didn’t have any luck. I saw a billboard for a grocery store about a block and a half away and decided to see if it was open. About the time I turned around to head for the store, it started pouring. It was so windy that my umbrella turned inside out and then it started hailing! The stones were small, but it was still crazy. They don’t service the storm drains in Rome either, so all of the street are like rivers. It’s gross to have to walk through all of the dirty water, but I think it’s somewhat good that the streets are cleaned since it smells like pee so much here.

I was wearing leather shoes and they got SOAKED. So much so that they created suction around my feet and kept almost being pulled off when I would step in the torrents of water.

I braved the rain and made it to the store, only to see that it was closed. I went back towards my place and ducked into my building for a minute to get out of the rain. It let up a bit, so I just started walking around until I happened upon a Punto Simply, about 5 minutes from my place. I went in and started shopping. I got breakfast foods, stuff to make two lunches, wine, water, UHT milk (I don’t have an oven or microwave, only a toaster and mini fridge), alone with some snacks. I did really well planning out some meals for the week and buying stuff on sale, so in the end I got two bags of groceries for 48 Euros. Yes, it’s expensive, but it’s a hell of a lot better than paying >12 Euros a meal, 3 meals a day, for the next 4 days.

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I’ve been to several grocery stores here and there are a few things you should know: you pay to rent a shopping cart, you pay for each bag you need for your items and cashiers don’t bag your purchases. Food and drink is very expensive compared to the U.S., but you can definitely find deals if you shop around and I HIGHLY recommend buying your own groceries, especially if you are staying in a location where you can cook!

I was soaking wet and freezing, so once I got back to my place I made some hot tea, had a yogurt, and watched the rain from my balcony. Around 7 the storm picked up again, so I decided to repack my suitcase (that way I can enjoy my trip down to the last minute, without worrying about having to pack and get ready to leave).

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After repacking, I ate some tuna and crackers for dinner and took a shower. Tomorrow I need to buy a metro pass and then I am just going to wander around. I might go explore one of the big universities here, or go to a movie, or the zoo or something!

Italia in 40: Day 34…Pope Francis, Rain, and AZZURRO!

14 Saturday Jun 2014

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Today was once again a perfect day in Italy. I can’t believe everything came together like it did.

SN: I had planned to get tickets to a papal audience later in the week…

I woke up at 9 and met my friend out in front of my building at around 10. We took the subway to the area around Vatican City. He’d never been to St. Peter’s so we were going to go check it out. First, we walked the wrong way and had to navigate back toward the cathedral. There are hundreds of “guides” always asking you to sign up for a tour, but yesterday they kept telling us that the church was closed until 2. I thought about turning back, but thank goodness, we kept walking and we realized the Pope was going to be speaking in only about an hour and a half.

We got ready to go through the medal detectors to walk into St. Peter’s Square and I remembered I had a knife in my bag. I had a boyfriend one time whose dad always carried a knife and I remembered him stashing his in the bushes one time when we went into the courthouse, so I got out of line and went and hid my knife under a palm tree and then we went into the square. There was a gathering of volunteer health workers in the square and although we weren’t sure the Pope would come out, I assumed he would so I wanted to wait just in case. I waited with my friend for about 30 minutes, but then I saw there was a better spot to get closer to the path that I thought the Popemobile would take, so I wiggled my way through the crowed and found an opening to get into the center part of the square and then inched my way down the gates so that I could get a good view. We waited about 40 minutes and were about to leave, but I decided to wait until 10 after noon, just in case. Sure enough, about that time, the crowed started cheering and I could see the Pope riding around on the screens they had set-up at both sides of the square. A few minutes later he drove right past the place I was standing! It was so crazy! I was shocked. He looked older in person, but he also looked really happy and he was smiling, but looked genuinely excited to be there. I’ve always thought that being the Pope would be so exhausting, but he was out there in in 85+ degree weather, no shade in sight, and just looked stoked about life. I am still just so shocked I got to see the Pope! I officially converted to Catholicism 2 years ago, so it’s extra special that I’ve already got to see the Pope. I hope it’s not the last time…I would love to go to midnight mass at Christmas one day! It’s hard for me to truly believe in the complete infallibility of the Pope, but if there ever was a Pope that could be infallible, I think Francis would be it.

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After seeing the Pope, we were super hot and tired, so we went back to my friend’s apartment. We stopped at a little market and bought drinks, fruit, and pasta and it was only 6 Euros! He cooked us lunch and I sliced up the fruit and we just relaxed for a little bit, before leaving to go to Palatine Hill. We just got to Palatine Hill when it started to get really cloudy and began to rain, so we decided to skip that and go to the Pantheon. We rode to the Spagna stop and walked toward the Pantheon, but it was crowded and raining so we kept getting lost.

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We eventually made it to the Pantheon and he went inside to take pictures and I went to a little cafe and got a coffee. After the Pantheon, we went back to my apartment so that he could use my computer and I could rest. He left around 8 and I tried to take a nap, but couldn’t.

Two days ago, someone stole my credit card info and purchased some stuff from Wal-Mart.com. I called my bank and told them that I was out of the country and hadn’t been in the U.S. for over a month, but they can’t do anything until I return to the country because they would have to cancel my card. I called my bank and took care of that and then showered and got ready to go out to watch Italy v England in the World Cup!

I looked online and found a pub near my building called Blind Pig, but on our way there we walked past another place that was more full and had food. We stopped and watched the first half of the game and split some pizza and wine. After the first half, we walked down the the Blind Pig and watched the rest. I really recommend this place. It’s the only place I’ve ever been to in Italy that sells craft beer on draft. They also serve food and it is decorated in a really cool way! I would definitely check it out if you are young or you like beer, or both! I had a beer called Apollo and it was delicious!

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After the game was over, my friend realized he had missed the last train for the night (in Rome trains stop running at 1:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights), so he walked me halfway back to my place and then we parted ways. It was really sad. We met last Christmas at school, where he was a foreign exchange student, so it’s going to be hard to stay in touch and see each other again. He’s the only other person I’ve ever met that is as interested in foreign languages as me, so I am really glad that we became friends. I have really weird interests, so it’s really hard for me to make friends and find people that are passionate about the same things as me. Even though I grew up in the Army, it’s still hard to say goodbye to a friend when you don’t know if you will ever see them again…

I didn’t get back to my place until 2:30 and I didn’t go to bed until 6 a.m…

To be continued…

Italia in 40: Day 33…Roma, Trevi, and World Cup!

13 Friday Jun 2014

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Today I woke up early and checked out of my hotel. I definitely recommend Hotel Berti if you ever go to Assisi. It’s 200 meters from the Basilica of St. Francis, has free WiFi, is CLEAN, there is a full bar downstairs, breakfast is included, and it was 150 bucks for 3 nights (I’ve paid 80 a night at Hampton Inn, so I feel like it’s a good deal)!

After checking out, I went down to the bus stop, but after waiting a few minutes I looked more closely at the schedule and although the bus arrived at my stop at 8:42, it didn’t get to the train station until almost 12, which meant I would have missed my train. I panicked a bit, but I asked a cab driver how much a taxi would cost and he said only 10 Euros! I took a taxi to the train station and then check out the schedule and saw that the next train left at 9:40. There was an old-timey bar at the station with about ten 60 year old men drinking coffee and shootin’ the shit, so I got a pastry, some juice, and a cappuccino while I waited.

The train came and I went to Foglino where I had to transfer and wait for about 40 minutes for my train to Rome. The train to Rome arrived on time and the ride was gorgeous. We went through several sunflower fields, which reminded me of Under the Tuscan sun-they were just so beautiful. At some point the train was delayed by over 20 minutes! I had originally called the owner of my B&B and told him I would be here between 12:45 and 1, but I didn’t arrive until 2!

After getting off the train at Termini, I was supposed to go to Tuscolana. I went down to the metro station and the map didn’t show a Tuscolana stop. I asked a two train employees and they had to go ask their superior what stop it was. It turns out it was at the Ponte Lungo stop. Although my ticket from Assisi showed Tuscolana as my final destination, I had to buy a separate metro ticket.

I didn’t know where to go and ended up having to walk across 5 lanes of traffic >_<I made it to my place and dumped off my stuff and then I went on to meet my friend from France (the one I hung out with in Verona). I went over to an apartment he rented and he cooked us lunch. We hung out for a bit and decided what we wanted to do, then set out to explore Rome!

We went to the Trevi fountain and it was CLOSED! Scaffolding was everywhere and people were just chucking money towards the fountain. I felt so bad for everyone trying to take pictures over the fences…that would suck so bad if you dreamed of visiting the fountain and traveled all that way for it to be dry and under construction!

After the fountain we walked to the Spanish Steps and went into Dolce and Gabbana and Prada. Ugh. I wanted so many shoes at Prada. I love that area and all of the luxury shops. I was SO shocked that the Chanel store had moved. It’s been there since the first time I visited Rome and now it’s moved to another place in the city.

We got a gelato and sat on the Spanish Steps and talked for a bit. He needed to use my WiFi to book his ride back to Verona, so we came back to my place and I tried to fix my phone (which apparently doesn’t work at all in Rome) and he played on the computer for a while.

After an hour or so of relaxing we decided to go to dinner so we rode toward Piazza del Popolo and went to a German place called Lowen (like the one in Bassano del Grappa-sans the AWESOME bruschette). We had pizza and beer and watched Spain get annihilated by Holland (sad face), before coming back to my place. He walked me back to my place and thankfully.

Tomorrow we are meeting up at 10 to go do some more exploring. It is SO hot here, so I will definitely be wearing shorts and dresses the rest of the week. I only have 6 days left of my trip, so I want to do some cool stuff.

Pictures tomorrow!  Buona Sera!