I finally have internet! :)

Hey everyone!

I miss you guys!!! How are things going? Are starting your programs already? I've been thinking about you a lot these past couple days as I've been settling in over here! We FINALLY got our internet up and running in our residence so I'm so excited that I can talk to you again!

I finished my program in Geneva on August 14th and since then I’ve been having an AMAZING time traveling around Italy with my parents. Now I’m settled into my residence in Florence for the fall and I FINALLY have internet again! So, hopefully it won’t seem like I’ve dropped off the face of the planet. : )

To complete my time in Switzerland, I took a “Chocolate Train” to visit the Callier/Nestle Chocolate Factory and the Guyere Cheese Factory. Our tour of the cheese factory was narrated by a “cow” (o yes- the recording quickly clarified “I’m the cow”) and the “cow” explained how the cheese was made- starting from digestion in the cow’s stomach (haha-appetizing, right?) through the production process and into the cellars where they allow the cheese to age. We took a bus from the factory into the actual town of Guyere which is so small it seems like it basically exists as a place for tourists but we had a delicious lunch of cheese fondue. There’s nothing that can make you feel like you’re in Switzerland more than being surrounded by green hills and eating cheese. Then we hopped back on the train and went to the Chocolate Factory. All of us were going absolutely nuts- the smell of chocolate was so intoxicating and delicious! AND the tour included an “all-you-can-eat” sample room! Haha omgosh it was INSANE! There were counters covered with every type of chocolate and truffle you can imagine, and we were shoving chocolate into our mouths as fast as we possibly could to try to “sample” everything. Needless to say, we didn’t want ANY chocolate for the rest of the week… I guess we learned why gluttony is very very bad. ; )

Over that weekend we also went to the Fete (which is Geneva’s summer festival) and saw the most incredible fireworks display that lasted over an hour. We decided it was our chance to celebrate the Fourth of July since most of us were on airplanes flying to Geneva during the real 4th and missed all the fireworks. On Saturday, we took the bus from Geneva into France and took a cable car up the mountain. At the top there is the most gorgeous view of Geneva and people were hand gliding off the mountain.

So, my parents met up with me on August 14th and it was wonderful to see them again! The next day, we flew to Naples, Italy to begin our “Italian Whirlwind Adventure.” Haha we seriously went all over and saw so many things that it was absolutely crazy!

Naples:
We basically went to Naples just as an “in-between” stop for one night. The city is really old and full of a lot of historical buildings but it was pretty packed with people and street vendors who would follow you around. What I enjoyed the most was that we went to one of the museums that was filled with artifacts from Pompei – it was amazing to see how advanced their society
was and how they have been able to preserve some of the things.

Pompei:
On our way from Naples to Amalfi, we stopped to tour to ruins of Pompei. I had been impressed by the things from Pompei in the museum in Naples but actually being there and walking through the city took things to a WHOLE new level. I never realized how HUGE the city of Pompei was before it was destroyed when Mount Vesuvius erupted. They have only been able to excavate a small part of it and after walking around for three hours, we still hadn’t even seen more than 60% of it. There are actually bodies there that were “frozen” as the lava solidified and you can seen the expressions on some of the victims faces…it was mind-blowing.

Amalfi:
Okay, THIS is where I want to get married! Amalfi is probably the most GORGEOUS place I have ever been to in my life! It’s this little town on the coast of Italy whose cliffs dotted with little houses meet up with sparkling blue-green water. We had breakfast every morning on a little patio overlooking the sea and the small city below. It was absolutely breathtaking… Upon leaving Amalfi, we took a boat ride and passed by the islands where the Sirens were said to be in
the Odyssey and the island of Capri. I thought I had died and gone to heaven.: )

Rome:
I was blown away by this city and loved every minute I spent here. Rome is FILLED with historical ruins, amazing restaurants, and lots of little shops. Trevi Fountain is gorgeous lit up at night! We took the most incredible tours of the Coliseum and Palatine Hill. Many of the places are falling apart now, but people lived so lavishly back then, I couldn’t even believe what I was seeing. I honestly felt like everything I have learned about in Mythology and AP Euro is in this city. We also took a tour of the Vatican City (couldn’t stop thinking of Euro Trip and the book Angels and Demons), and I got to see the Sistine Chapel. It the most incredible work of art I have ever seen,and I seriously just stood there amazed at how a person could possibly have done that.

Pisa:
Haha yes, we went to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa! At first I was a little surprised because it wasn’t as “tilted” as I thought it would be. We learned that they have been trying to stabilize the structure by removing the earth under one side of the building so that it doesn’t actually fall over. However, when we got closer and could see the base, I couldn’t believe how the building is actually still standing considered how sunken the base is!

Venice:
Gondola ride? Of course! Haha I felt like I was dreaming or something going through the canals and seeing Italian men singing on the bridges. We also went to San Marco’s Square which has a TON of pigeons (its not a joke!) and into the Doge Palace. There really aren’t ANY cars in Venice-I felt like I was playing make-believe. They say that eventually with global warming the city may no longer exist because water levels are rising every year, causing more and more buildings to flood. Venice is pretty idealistic- with musicians playing late at night and boats floating around you.

Florence!
Ahhh yes, I’m finally here! Haha- now that I’ll actually be in one place for more than five days at a time, I plan on soaking up everything that I possibly can! My parents left on Saturday to fly back to California so, I’ve been here by myself over the weekend walking around and exploring little piazzas and streets. I am SO incredibly happy that I chose to study abroad here! This city is simply amazing!!! I went up to a place called Piazza Michelangelo and had the most
breathtaking view of the city. Certain places in Tuscany remind me a little bit of California-a little bit like the drive out to Temecula with vineyards and rolling hills. The food is TO DIE FOR- Italian cuisine at its finest! There are markets with tons of beautiful leather purses, Italian handmade stationary, and cheeses and fruit. And I just can’t get over where my residence it located. I’m basically in the middle of the city next to the Uffizi Gallery that has amazing masterpieces from the Renaissance including Botticelli’s Birth of Venus and da Vinci’s Adoration of the Magi. Two streets down from me is the main shopping street Via de Tornabuoni-the headquarters of Gucciand Prada.
I live in an apartment with 13 girls and everyone seems really nice so far! The only problem is that we live on the 6th floor of the building and our building doesn’t have an elevator so it’s quite the trek up the stairs after a long day. This week we are doing orientation activities and then classes start on Monday.

Basically, I’m in love with Italy! Now I just need to learn Italian. : )

Amy