I just thought I should give a quick update on what I’ve been up to lately. I am now in Orvieto, a small village built on a plateau. I arrived here today after spending four nights in Follonica, a small resort town on the coast. In Follonica our hotel was right on the coast, and our rooms had balconies that looked out over the sea! While we were there we took most of our finals. I still have one more to take tomorrow, but after that I am all done with school work for this semester…yay! There wasn’t much to do in Follonica other than spend time on the beach, so it was a really good place to be with minimum distractions for finals. My daily schedule went like this: wake up, go for a run on the beach, get ready for the day, eat breakfast, study a bit for my upcoming final, take my final at 10:30, spend a couple hours relaxing on the beach, study for a few hours for the next day’s final, then go to dinner in the hotel at 7:30. I loved spending time on the beach, and I actually got a tan! Also, the dinner at the hotel was wonderful. We had a choice of what we wanted, and I usually chose seafood. I can’t imagine a better place to take finals. In fact, I think St. Mary’s should take all of it’s students to the beach for finals each semester.
Today in Orvieto I did a bit of exploring, and when we went to the cathedral we were pleasantly surprised to find a symphony orchestra practicing. We found out that they were offering a free concert at 5:00, so we decided to go. I just got back from it, and it was amazing. The setting inside the cathedral was perfect, and the acoustics were great. When we arrived at 4:40, there was standing room only inside this huge cathedral. It turns out the band conductor used to be the conductor for the New York Symphony Orchestra, and he is world famous. What a day to pick to come to Orvieto! Then, as we were walking back to our hotel, a marching band came right by us on the street. They were citizens of Orvieto in an antifascism group. So, all in all it was a very musical sort of day.
I will be staying in Orvieto tonight and tomorrow night, then we depart for Rome, where I will be staying for three nights.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
A busy, yet relaxing weekend
As I mentioned before, I went on the Amalfi Coast tour this weekend. On Friday we spent the day in a small fishing village called Positano. While there I got in a good couple hours laying on the beach reading my book, even though it was overcast and not very warm. I have discovered that I really love the sea. I love the sound of the waves rolling in, the feel of waves washing over my feet, and the far-off horizon of water. Ashley and Bailey were there as well, but they went out for lunch, and I decided to just stay by the water. It was nice to get some alone time, something that has become quite the rarity on this trip. The downfall of the day was that it started getting really windy and raining heavily in the afternoon. It definitely wasn't the ideal day to spend on the coast, but I am grateful for the time that I did have on the beach.
Yesterday we spent the day in Capri, a small island off the coast of Italy. Capri is sort of a jet-set vacation destination. Some really famous stars have villas there, including Mariah Carey, so it is quite the expensive place. It was a nice place to spend the day though because it is beautiful and really clean without too many tourists around. We rode a ferry from Sorrento, where our hostel is, to Capri. It was sunny, but, once again, it was windy and cold. I really wanted to swim in the ocean for the first time during this trip, and I brought my swimming suit along. It wasn't looking too good for swimming as we made our walking tour to the beach. Even with jeans and a windbreaker I was freezing! However, once we got to the other side of the island it warmed up a lot, and the beach was sort of blocked from the wind. I decided I would brave the cold and jump in. After all, I have jumped into Lake Superior in October in the rain, so what could be colder? So Bailey and I changed into our swimming suits and jumped in. The water was cold, I will admit, but I've definitely been in colder. The water was really clear and blue, and, once again, it was just beautiful. It was very cold once we got out of the water, but I was still glad I did it. That was the highlight so far of this trip!
Today we go to Pompeii, which lies inland in the shadow of Mt. Vesuvius. It 79 A.D. Mt. Vesuvius blew up, and the lava covered Pompeii. The houses and buildings were preserved exactly how they were in that time. Later archaeologists discovered the city, and now you can go on tours of the old buildings. I hadn't really heard too much about Pompeii before this trip, but the more I hear about it, the more excited I get about it.
Yesterday we spent the day in Capri, a small island off the coast of Italy. Capri is sort of a jet-set vacation destination. Some really famous stars have villas there, including Mariah Carey, so it is quite the expensive place. It was a nice place to spend the day though because it is beautiful and really clean without too many tourists around. We rode a ferry from Sorrento, where our hostel is, to Capri. It was sunny, but, once again, it was windy and cold. I really wanted to swim in the ocean for the first time during this trip, and I brought my swimming suit along. It wasn't looking too good for swimming as we made our walking tour to the beach. Even with jeans and a windbreaker I was freezing! However, once we got to the other side of the island it warmed up a lot, and the beach was sort of blocked from the wind. I decided I would brave the cold and jump in. After all, I have jumped into Lake Superior in October in the rain, so what could be colder? So Bailey and I changed into our swimming suits and jumped in. The water was cold, I will admit, but I've definitely been in colder. The water was really clear and blue, and, once again, it was just beautiful. It was very cold once we got out of the water, but I was still glad I did it. That was the highlight so far of this trip!
Today we go to Pompeii, which lies inland in the shadow of Mt. Vesuvius. It 79 A.D. Mt. Vesuvius blew up, and the lava covered Pompeii. The houses and buildings were preserved exactly how they were in that time. Later archaeologists discovered the city, and now you can go on tours of the old buildings. I hadn't really heard too much about Pompeii before this trip, but the more I hear about it, the more excited I get about it.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Pictures!
I just put up some pics from my birthday. If you'd like to see them, go to: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2025711&id=173301949&l=88b64cbf2a
Update
Since it's been so long since I've had Internet, it's hard to know where to start with this post. Tomorrow I leave for one last weekend trip, this time to the Amalfi Coast, Capri, and Pompeii. This is another Florence for Fun trip, so it will be like the one I took to Interlaken. The part I am most excited to see is Capri, which is an island off the coast of Italy. I've heard that it is just beautiful. I am just hoping for good weather, as the forecast calls for rain.
After I get back from my weekend excursion, I will only have two more nights at Villa Bonelli, then the whole group heads out next Tuesday for Follonica, Orvieto, and Rome. During this time Bob will administer our finals to us, but we will not have classes other than that.
On April 2nd I am completely done with my study abroad program, and Eldon and I have finally got all of our necessary train and plane tickets and reserved hostels for each night. It all seems like quite the whirlwind right now, so I am looking forward to having this weekend just to relax and get away.
After I get back from my weekend excursion, I will only have two more nights at Villa Bonelli, then the whole group heads out next Tuesday for Follonica, Orvieto, and Rome. During this time Bob will administer our finals to us, but we will not have classes other than that.
On April 2nd I am completely done with my study abroad program, and Eldon and I have finally got all of our necessary train and plane tickets and reserved hostels for each night. It all seems like quite the whirlwind right now, so I am looking forward to having this weekend just to relax and get away.
Last Italy Editorial
This is this month's editorial for the Cardinal:
It’s hard to believe that it has been another month in Italy, and soon my time here will draw to an end. It will definitely be hard to leave, even though I really do love Minnesota. As I reflect on the time I’ve spent in Europe, I cannot help but come to the conclusion that everyone should study or travel abroad at some point. Not only have I had some of the best experiences of my life in Italy, I have also learned so much about being a citizen in today’s globalized world. My time in Italy has been a series of many “live and learn” moments, and each of these moments has given me confidence.
Before travelling to Italy, I had never been outside of the United States. I will admit that I was pretty scared and lost when I first arrived at the Minneapolis airport. I now feel confident finding my way through airports and train stations, and I know I can go into a foreign city where I don’t speak the language and find my way around. If I had not had the opportunity to study abroad, I don’t know how I would have gained this confidence.
It has recently come to my attention that Saint Mary’s intends to significantly change the Florence study abroad program to allow students to study a greater variety of subjects with a more diverse group of students and to live more independently while studying abroad. I agree that these changes will improve the SMU Florence program as a whole.
However, along with these positive changes comes a negative side. Since SMU will no longer operate its own program in Florence, students will only be able to apply $2,000 of their SMU scholarships to studying abroad in Florence. Previously, students wishing to apply their scholarship of more than $2,000 to study abroad could choose between the SMU programs in Florence and London. Now it appears that the only choice for these students will be London.
Studying abroad would not have been possible for me if I had not been able to use my full scholarship from SMU. It saddens me that other SMU students may miss out on this valuable experience because of monetary issues. I sincerely hope that the university will continue to realize the value of studying abroad and make this opportunity available to as many qualified students as possible.
It’s hard to believe that it has been another month in Italy, and soon my time here will draw to an end. It will definitely be hard to leave, even though I really do love Minnesota. As I reflect on the time I’ve spent in Europe, I cannot help but come to the conclusion that everyone should study or travel abroad at some point. Not only have I had some of the best experiences of my life in Italy, I have also learned so much about being a citizen in today’s globalized world. My time in Italy has been a series of many “live and learn” moments, and each of these moments has given me confidence.
Before travelling to Italy, I had never been outside of the United States. I will admit that I was pretty scared and lost when I first arrived at the Minneapolis airport. I now feel confident finding my way through airports and train stations, and I know I can go into a foreign city where I don’t speak the language and find my way around. If I had not had the opportunity to study abroad, I don’t know how I would have gained this confidence.
It has recently come to my attention that Saint Mary’s intends to significantly change the Florence study abroad program to allow students to study a greater variety of subjects with a more diverse group of students and to live more independently while studying abroad. I agree that these changes will improve the SMU Florence program as a whole.
However, along with these positive changes comes a negative side. Since SMU will no longer operate its own program in Florence, students will only be able to apply $2,000 of their SMU scholarships to studying abroad in Florence. Previously, students wishing to apply their scholarship of more than $2,000 to study abroad could choose between the SMU programs in Florence and London. Now it appears that the only choice for these students will be London.
Studying abroad would not have been possible for me if I had not been able to use my full scholarship from SMU. It saddens me that other SMU students may miss out on this valuable experience because of monetary issues. I sincerely hope that the university will continue to realize the value of studying abroad and make this opportunity available to as many qualified students as possible.
Cinque Terre
My Internet finally works again, allelulia! When everyone found out that the wireless was on, it honestly sounded like midnight on New Year's Eve out in the lounge. Anyway, here is what I had to say about Cinque Terre:
03/15/2009
People always seem to ask, “Was this your best birthday ever?” And usually out of politeness, I respond yes. But after this weekend, I can say with all honesty that my 21st birthday was my best birthday ever! Cinque Terre was beautiful, the weather was amazing, and my friends put a lot of work into making it a great celebration.
I will begin with Friday the 13th, the day before my birthday, which, in some ways, lived up to its unlucky reputation. The unlucky part came in the morning when we were headed down to the train station. Eldon and I had left before the rest of our group so that we could obtain our train tickets for Munich. When we were on the bus it was stopped by a police officer who told the driver that he could not take his usual route passing the Duomo. I’m not sure if there was an accident or a special event or what, but a ride that usually takes about a half hour took almost an hour, so I was very worried about the rest of our group missing the train to Cinque Terre. When we got the train station I called Villa Bonelli right away to warn the group, and I found that they had already left for the bus. What a relief! And that was the end of the unluckiness for Friday the 13th, because from there on out the day was fabulous!
It was about a three hour train ride to Cinque Terre, so it was around 4:00 p.m. when we arrived in Monterossa, the town we were staying in. Our first mission was to find Manuel’s Guesthouse, where we would be staying for the next two nights. I had directions that the guesthouse had emailed me, so I guided the group. I was pleasantly surprised when a man outside a wine bar asked us what we were looking for. When I told him we were looking for Manuel’s Guesthouse, he shook my hand and said, “I am Manuel,” then he directed us up the stairs. Manuel is an artist, and he paints outside in the plaza outside the wine bar in Monterossa. He lives in the guesthouse he runs and rents out his extra rooms for guests. Talk about living the dream! The guesthouse was a very authentic place, almost like living in an Italian home. We had to climb over 100 steps to get up the house, then Lorenzo, Manuel’s employee, showed us to our rooms. The rooms were nothing fancy, but they did their job. Just as the website promised, there was indeed a terrace that overlooked the sea, and on that terrace there was indeed a bar and grill. It was kind of strange because there was rarely anybody around, so we just had free range of the place. It ended up being the perfect place for our group, and I would definitely stay there again.
After getting settled into the hotel, we all went down to have a look around town, and we all ended up at the beach. I was just going to wade, but I ended up going in up to my hips and getting my jeans soaking wet. That wasn’t nearly as bad as what happened to Lorenzo, a member of the SMU group. He was standing in the water, about up to his knees, and I came up behind him. I was just going to push him a little to scare him a bit, but he ended up going in all the way. Luckily nothing in his pockets was ruined, and he decided to go for a swim after that anyway, so I didn’t feel so bad.
Our group decided to go out for a fancier dinner on Friday night, then grill out on my birthday. So we found a nice restaurant with an ocean view and went there. I had a caprese salad, a swordfish steak, and some great white wine. Many people in our group had seafood, which was served in some interesting ways. Ania and Ashley had fresh cod, and it came as a whole fish, head, skin and all. The waiter filleted them right there at the table. Allyson and some others had shrimp that came with the shell and antennas still on. Some people were a bit grossed out by this, but I guess its all part of the experience.
After dinner we all just went up to the hotel and sat on the terrace for a while with some wine. A group of us ended up going back down to the beach around 10:00 p.m. We climbed way up on a rock that looked over the sea and just sat there for a long time. We ended up ringing in my birthday on the beach when it turned midnight…what a way to start the celebration.
On my birthday we all got up fairly early to get started with our hiking, and we received some disappointing news from some others staying at the guesthouse. They went hiking the day before, and they said the majority of the trails were closed for maintenance. The ironic thing was that it was also one of the girls’ 21st birthday in their group on Saturday as well. But, anyway, we decided to try the hiking and see what we found. We bought our train and hiking pass at the train station, and we found that the trails were truly closed. The only stretch that was opened was from the first town to the second, a section called “Via di Amore,” or “Lover’s Lane.” So I reconciled myself to an easy hike and decided to just take things slowly.
I think it actually worked out better that most of the trail was closed, because it would have been difficult for our whole group to stay together given the size, and this way we could just sort of relax and take it all in. We stopped frequently to go down to the ocean and dip our feet in. At one point there was a bar along the trail, and Ania bought me my first drink of the day, a Pina Colada, which was very good, I must say. After we got to the end of the open section of trail, we took the train to the next town and walked around there for a while. All of the towns in Cinque Terre are just adorable. They are painted in pink, yellow, and salmon colored stucco, and they are all built right into the sea cliffs. There was one town we did not get to because it was getting late, and we were all ready to go back and grill. I would like to come back to Cinque Terre sometime when the trail is open, as I think it would be a very nice way to experience the towns.
After we got back to Monterossa, we all went to purchase our meat and other food. To buy the steak we went to this local butcher shop, and the owner working behind the counter did not speak English. There was basically a whole side of a cow lying behind the counter, and we weren’t quite sure how to ask for seven steaks. We finally figured it out, after we pointed to the wrong type of meat, and the owner made pig noises, indicating that the meat was pork, not beef.
When we got back to Manuel’s we discovered that using the grill, which also doubled as a stove, would be a bit more difficult than we intended. Plus, we wanted to ask permission first, but no one was around to ask. Manuel finally came home and helped us out, and the cooking began. Ania and Allyson prepared a pasta and vegetable dish for the entire group, and it was delicious! Lorenzo did all the grilling, and the steak was tender, juicy, and rare, just the way I now like it. It was the best birthday meal that I could have asked for. Everyone ate out on the terrace, and after we were done Ania, Allyson, and Bailey brought out a slice of birthday cake with candles on it. They also got me a beach ball and water wings, which, unfortunately I haven’t used yet. Hopefully next weekend…more about that later. I also received a couple of other gifts which were very suitable for a 21st birthday…I’ll leave that up to your imagination. Needless to say, we had quite the celebration.
We went down to the beach later that night, and I saw my birthday out the same way I brought it in, on the beach. I could not have asked for a more perfect weekend, and I am very thankful for everyone who helped to make it so great for me. I hope to go back to Cinque Terre again sometime when the trails are open. In fact, I have already decided that I am bringing my mom and brother there, although they may not know it yet. For anyone who ever plans to travel to Italy, I would definitely recommend putting Cinque Terre at the top of your list of places to see. It is just a very authentic Italian experience, and the natural beauty of the area cannot be compared to anything else.
03/15/2009
People always seem to ask, “Was this your best birthday ever?” And usually out of politeness, I respond yes. But after this weekend, I can say with all honesty that my 21st birthday was my best birthday ever! Cinque Terre was beautiful, the weather was amazing, and my friends put a lot of work into making it a great celebration.
I will begin with Friday the 13th, the day before my birthday, which, in some ways, lived up to its unlucky reputation. The unlucky part came in the morning when we were headed down to the train station. Eldon and I had left before the rest of our group so that we could obtain our train tickets for Munich. When we were on the bus it was stopped by a police officer who told the driver that he could not take his usual route passing the Duomo. I’m not sure if there was an accident or a special event or what, but a ride that usually takes about a half hour took almost an hour, so I was very worried about the rest of our group missing the train to Cinque Terre. When we got the train station I called Villa Bonelli right away to warn the group, and I found that they had already left for the bus. What a relief! And that was the end of the unluckiness for Friday the 13th, because from there on out the day was fabulous!
It was about a three hour train ride to Cinque Terre, so it was around 4:00 p.m. when we arrived in Monterossa, the town we were staying in. Our first mission was to find Manuel’s Guesthouse, where we would be staying for the next two nights. I had directions that the guesthouse had emailed me, so I guided the group. I was pleasantly surprised when a man outside a wine bar asked us what we were looking for. When I told him we were looking for Manuel’s Guesthouse, he shook my hand and said, “I am Manuel,” then he directed us up the stairs. Manuel is an artist, and he paints outside in the plaza outside the wine bar in Monterossa. He lives in the guesthouse he runs and rents out his extra rooms for guests. Talk about living the dream! The guesthouse was a very authentic place, almost like living in an Italian home. We had to climb over 100 steps to get up the house, then Lorenzo, Manuel’s employee, showed us to our rooms. The rooms were nothing fancy, but they did their job. Just as the website promised, there was indeed a terrace that overlooked the sea, and on that terrace there was indeed a bar and grill. It was kind of strange because there was rarely anybody around, so we just had free range of the place. It ended up being the perfect place for our group, and I would definitely stay there again.
After getting settled into the hotel, we all went down to have a look around town, and we all ended up at the beach. I was just going to wade, but I ended up going in up to my hips and getting my jeans soaking wet. That wasn’t nearly as bad as what happened to Lorenzo, a member of the SMU group. He was standing in the water, about up to his knees, and I came up behind him. I was just going to push him a little to scare him a bit, but he ended up going in all the way. Luckily nothing in his pockets was ruined, and he decided to go for a swim after that anyway, so I didn’t feel so bad.
Our group decided to go out for a fancier dinner on Friday night, then grill out on my birthday. So we found a nice restaurant with an ocean view and went there. I had a caprese salad, a swordfish steak, and some great white wine. Many people in our group had seafood, which was served in some interesting ways. Ania and Ashley had fresh cod, and it came as a whole fish, head, skin and all. The waiter filleted them right there at the table. Allyson and some others had shrimp that came with the shell and antennas still on. Some people were a bit grossed out by this, but I guess its all part of the experience.
After dinner we all just went up to the hotel and sat on the terrace for a while with some wine. A group of us ended up going back down to the beach around 10:00 p.m. We climbed way up on a rock that looked over the sea and just sat there for a long time. We ended up ringing in my birthday on the beach when it turned midnight…what a way to start the celebration.
On my birthday we all got up fairly early to get started with our hiking, and we received some disappointing news from some others staying at the guesthouse. They went hiking the day before, and they said the majority of the trails were closed for maintenance. The ironic thing was that it was also one of the girls’ 21st birthday in their group on Saturday as well. But, anyway, we decided to try the hiking and see what we found. We bought our train and hiking pass at the train station, and we found that the trails were truly closed. The only stretch that was opened was from the first town to the second, a section called “Via di Amore,” or “Lover’s Lane.” So I reconciled myself to an easy hike and decided to just take things slowly.
I think it actually worked out better that most of the trail was closed, because it would have been difficult for our whole group to stay together given the size, and this way we could just sort of relax and take it all in. We stopped frequently to go down to the ocean and dip our feet in. At one point there was a bar along the trail, and Ania bought me my first drink of the day, a Pina Colada, which was very good, I must say. After we got to the end of the open section of trail, we took the train to the next town and walked around there for a while. All of the towns in Cinque Terre are just adorable. They are painted in pink, yellow, and salmon colored stucco, and they are all built right into the sea cliffs. There was one town we did not get to because it was getting late, and we were all ready to go back and grill. I would like to come back to Cinque Terre sometime when the trail is open, as I think it would be a very nice way to experience the towns.
After we got back to Monterossa, we all went to purchase our meat and other food. To buy the steak we went to this local butcher shop, and the owner working behind the counter did not speak English. There was basically a whole side of a cow lying behind the counter, and we weren’t quite sure how to ask for seven steaks. We finally figured it out, after we pointed to the wrong type of meat, and the owner made pig noises, indicating that the meat was pork, not beef.
When we got back to Manuel’s we discovered that using the grill, which also doubled as a stove, would be a bit more difficult than we intended. Plus, we wanted to ask permission first, but no one was around to ask. Manuel finally came home and helped us out, and the cooking began. Ania and Allyson prepared a pasta and vegetable dish for the entire group, and it was delicious! Lorenzo did all the grilling, and the steak was tender, juicy, and rare, just the way I now like it. It was the best birthday meal that I could have asked for. Everyone ate out on the terrace, and after we were done Ania, Allyson, and Bailey brought out a slice of birthday cake with candles on it. They also got me a beach ball and water wings, which, unfortunately I haven’t used yet. Hopefully next weekend…more about that later. I also received a couple of other gifts which were very suitable for a 21st birthday…I’ll leave that up to your imagination. Needless to say, we had quite the celebration.
We went down to the beach later that night, and I saw my birthday out the same way I brought it in, on the beach. I could not have asked for a more perfect weekend, and I am very thankful for everyone who helped to make it so great for me. I hope to go back to Cinque Terre again sometime when the trails are open. In fact, I have already decided that I am bringing my mom and brother there, although they may not know it yet. For anyone who ever plans to travel to Italy, I would definitely recommend putting Cinque Terre at the top of your list of places to see. It is just a very authentic Italian experience, and the natural beauty of the area cannot be compared to anything else.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Internet Down
The wireless internet router exploded at my hotel, so that's why I haven't published anything about Cinque Terre yet. I'll tell you now that it was a wonderful weekend and the best birthday of my life! Hopefully I'll be able to get my post up soon.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
It's been a while
Dear faithful readers, I am sorry it has been so long since I have last posted a blog. I know there is not a valid excuse for such an action, but, to my defense, I have been pretty busy during the past couple weeks. As I mentioned last week, I am in the process of making travel plans for April, and I am glad that I have so much free time here, because it is taking more time to plan all this than I expected. Now I see why people still hire travel agents. But I am slowly getting everything figured out, and I'm sure it will all come together. I guess my main goal right now is to secure transportation from point-to-point for the eleven days that I'll be travelling before my mom and brother arrive in Florence.
Aside from all that, I have also spent a portion of the week planning the last minute details of my birthday weekend in Cinque Terre. We leave tomorrow and will not be back until Sunday, so, once again, you won't hear from me for a few days. The weather is supposed to be just beautiful in Cinque: 57 degrees and sunny all three days!
The weather is another reason for my not writing the past few days. Suddenly spring has hit northern Italy full force! The days have been sunny and warm, flowers are in full bloom, and everything is even more green than it was when we arrived! I have been going on some long runs and just trying to soak it all in. Sorry to make all of you back in Minnesota jealous, but I'm loving all this sun in March! I don't even have to worry about snow on my birthday, and that's the first time in my life that's happened.
Other than just enjoying the weather, I've done a couple other interesting things this week. One was for history class we went to the Medici chapels and to a museum that featured the inlaid marble art that is common for this area. I really like looking at the inlaid marble because it emmulates reality so well. You wouldn't think that you could make a realistic picture by piecing together marble, but often times the marble version of a scene looks even more realistic than a painting of the same scene. It is such an intricate art, and it is so strange to think that they did it all before the days of laser cutters and computer technology. It was all just painstaking work, and the results are beautiful.
Today for art class I finally got to see Michelangelo's real David. This is something that I have been looking forward to since I got here, and it was really a neat experience. I learned a bit about Michelangelo's, Donatello's, and Verocchio's Davids in honors class last semester, and now I have seen them all in person. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Florentine Davids, they are sculpures of the Biblical character from the David and Goliath story. The reason why there are so many Davids in Florence is that they are a symbol of the Republic. I really can't describe Michelangelo's David, and looking at pictures of it doesn't do it justice. I keep having experiences like this, and I just want to be able to communicate them. But really you cannot know until you've been to the Accademia and stood in the presence of David what I am really talking about. To begin with, David is a huge statue, bigger than I ever expected it to be from the pictures I saw. He is probably at least ten times as big as a normal human being, so he just towers over everything. Michelangelo carved him out of a single block of marble that had been discarded by other artists. He is the first David to be depicted before the act of killing Goliath, so you can see that he is in deep thought and poised for action. Michelangelo chose to represent David in this moment in order to emphasize his intellectual capacity and it's influence on his physical actions. It is just amazing to be in the presence of such a meaningful and famous work of art.
Anyway, I'm sure I'll have lots of stories and pictures to post after this weekend. And I'll try to be a good blogger and keep my writing habit up!
Aside from all that, I have also spent a portion of the week planning the last minute details of my birthday weekend in Cinque Terre. We leave tomorrow and will not be back until Sunday, so, once again, you won't hear from me for a few days. The weather is supposed to be just beautiful in Cinque: 57 degrees and sunny all three days!
The weather is another reason for my not writing the past few days. Suddenly spring has hit northern Italy full force! The days have been sunny and warm, flowers are in full bloom, and everything is even more green than it was when we arrived! I have been going on some long runs and just trying to soak it all in. Sorry to make all of you back in Minnesota jealous, but I'm loving all this sun in March! I don't even have to worry about snow on my birthday, and that's the first time in my life that's happened.
Other than just enjoying the weather, I've done a couple other interesting things this week. One was for history class we went to the Medici chapels and to a museum that featured the inlaid marble art that is common for this area. I really like looking at the inlaid marble because it emmulates reality so well. You wouldn't think that you could make a realistic picture by piecing together marble, but often times the marble version of a scene looks even more realistic than a painting of the same scene. It is such an intricate art, and it is so strange to think that they did it all before the days of laser cutters and computer technology. It was all just painstaking work, and the results are beautiful.
Today for art class I finally got to see Michelangelo's real David. This is something that I have been looking forward to since I got here, and it was really a neat experience. I learned a bit about Michelangelo's, Donatello's, and Verocchio's Davids in honors class last semester, and now I have seen them all in person. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Florentine Davids, they are sculpures of the Biblical character from the David and Goliath story. The reason why there are so many Davids in Florence is that they are a symbol of the Republic. I really can't describe Michelangelo's David, and looking at pictures of it doesn't do it justice. I keep having experiences like this, and I just want to be able to communicate them. But really you cannot know until you've been to the Accademia and stood in the presence of David what I am really talking about. To begin with, David is a huge statue, bigger than I ever expected it to be from the pictures I saw. He is probably at least ten times as big as a normal human being, so he just towers over everything. Michelangelo carved him out of a single block of marble that had been discarded by other artists. He is the first David to be depicted before the act of killing Goliath, so you can see that he is in deep thought and poised for action. Michelangelo chose to represent David in this moment in order to emphasize his intellectual capacity and it's influence on his physical actions. It is just amazing to be in the presence of such a meaningful and famous work of art.
Anyway, I'm sure I'll have lots of stories and pictures to post after this weekend. And I'll try to be a good blogger and keep my writing habit up!
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Wishing I was still in Venice
As I mentioned in my post last Thursday, I went to Venice for the weekend with Ania and Allyson. We stayed there on Friday and Saturday night and returned to Florence on Sunday afternoon. It was a very relaxing trip, and we had beautiful sunny weather the whole weekend. Venice is one of the most unique and beautiful places I have ever seen in my life. To begin with, of course, the streets are canals, so this means that we did not see a car once we entered the city. There are boats instead of cars or trucks for everything--we saw a police boat, a mail boat, and garbage boat, bus boats, and taxi boats, not to mention many gondolas. The city is actually built on a series of islands, so if you walk to the periphery, you can see the sea. There were many tourists there this weekend, and it is easy to understand why. If you'd like to see some pictures, here is the link: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2025484&id=173301949&l=ab233. I will write a bit about each day to give you a better picture of my time there:
03/06/2009
Today I traveled to Venice with Ania and Allyson. We are going to stay here for two nights. I found a cheap one star hotel (75 euros per night) right in central Venice. We were a little bit worried about what we’d be getting, but it turned out to be great! It took us a long time to find our hotel because when you're walking on the streets rather than riding a boat you come to many dead ends. While we were walking, we paused on a bridge to look at a map and see where we were. This is when we saw a lone Asian woman going for a gondola ride. We were looking at her, wondering why she would go alone, and the gondola driver caught us looking. He yelled up to us, "You know Pokeman?" We said yes, then he pointed to the woman and said "Pikachu!" The woman had no idea what was going on, and we were just laughing so hard. His comment may have been a bit inappropriate, and it just makes me wonder what they say about us in Italian. After that little adventure and a quick stop for gelato, we finally found our hotel. When we entered the room the towels were folded like hearts on the beds! We had a small room with three beds that overlooked a canal. When I first opened the window there were some men outside unloading a boat, and they started calling to us and whistling. After we got settled in the room we walked around the city for a while. Venice just has such a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere. Aside from the sheer charm and beauty of the canals, people everywhere are friendly and happy, probably because they are on vacation. Today was just sort of our day to get adjusted to the city. We did some shopping at the many blown glass shops and markets then ended up sitting by the seaside for a while. Tomorrow we plan to go on a gondola ride and see the St. Mark’s Basilica. We saw St. Mark’s from the outside today, and I’m pretty excited to go in. St. Mark, the one who wrote the Gospel of Mark, is buried there, which to me is just amazing. Actually knowing where the bodies of the saints are just makes them seem so much more real. The gondola ride should be pretty sweet too…there are some pretty cute gondola drivers in their striped shirts and straw hats.
03/07/2009
Since today was our only full day in Venice, we had a lot to accomplish. I woke up early and read from a guide book that I had borrowed from Bob. I learned all about the city, and picked out the sites that are most important to see. Our first mission of the day was to tour St. Mark's Basilica. The basilica's construction began around 800 A.D., and, although it was sacked and rebuilt a couple times, it has still been around for almost 1,000 years! It is made in the Italo-Byzantine style, which basically means that it uses tons of gold, mosaics, and traditional iconography of the saints. The overall effect is just staggering! You walk in, and you are completely surrounded by gold! It is hard to know where to focus because the whole is just so magnificent. If you look closely at the mosaics, they tell stories of Christ and the Apostles. I also found out today that no one is really certain where St. Mark's body is. His tomb is under the main altar, but during the destruction of the church in it's early years, his remains were lost in the rubble. It is said that a prayer service for the recovery of St. Mark's remains was said during the early days of the new basilica. During this service, it is said that a cracking sound came from a pillar in the back of the church, and St. Mark's entire body came out of the pillar. Who knows, I guess anything is possible with miracles. After we were done touring the basilica we went to have a picnic in the Garden Reali. This is a place that I discovered from Bob's guide book, and I'm really glad I found it. It was a nice relaxing place to take in some greenery and be away from the masses of tourists. There were also these cute little nuthatches that ate bread crumbs out of our hands! After our picnic we went to see the Arsenale, which for many years was the largest harbor in the world. Then, after that, we went to the Piazza Margherita, which was highly recommended by the author of the guidebook. It was not all that he made it out to be, and it was a very long walk to get there. But we did get to see a lot of the city along the way. Oh well, live and learn. After that walk, we were all feeling pretty tired, so we went back to the hotel to rest up for the evening. In the evening we went for a gondola ride, which was amazing! It was quite expensive, but worth it. We went just at dusk, so the moon and stars were visible, but it was not quite dark yet. It was a really neat way to take in the city, and we enjoyed a bottle of wine along the way. Overall, I'd say this evening is an evening that I want to remember forever. Good friends, good wine, and a gondola ride in Venice, what more can a girl ask for?
03/07/2009
Today Ania and I went to Mass in the morning at a church near to our hotel. It was a very strange Mass that did not completely follow the parts of the Mass that I am used to, and there were only about 10 people there, all of them over 65. It was a huge church, but the Mass was held in a side chapel. There are 107 churches in Venice, so I guess they all can't be filled. Plus, during communion there was no choir, so the priest played a song from a tape recorder. Can you say tacky? We should have gone to one of the bigger churches, but oh well. If there's a next time, I'll know where not to go. Other than that, we did a little more shopping, had lunch, then headed back to the train station for our journey home. The train ride home was a bit interesting, as there was an Italian man, probably about 30 years old, across the aisle from me who stared at me for about two hours straight. I was reading a book, and every time I looked up, his eyes were just locked on mine. Finally, I wrote a note to Allyson that said I was going to get up to go to the bathroom, then move into the seat next to her, which faced away from the man. When I got up to go to the bathroom, he turned completely to stare at me as I walked down the train aisle. So creepy! I hate it when this kind of thing happens on a train or bus and I can't get away from the person. At first it was funny, but now it's just getting annoying. I think I'm going to figure out how to say in Italian, "Take a picture, it will last longer!"
03/06/2009
Today I traveled to Venice with Ania and Allyson. We are going to stay here for two nights. I found a cheap one star hotel (75 euros per night) right in central Venice. We were a little bit worried about what we’d be getting, but it turned out to be great! It took us a long time to find our hotel because when you're walking on the streets rather than riding a boat you come to many dead ends. While we were walking, we paused on a bridge to look at a map and see where we were. This is when we saw a lone Asian woman going for a gondola ride. We were looking at her, wondering why she would go alone, and the gondola driver caught us looking. He yelled up to us, "You know Pokeman?" We said yes, then he pointed to the woman and said "Pikachu!" The woman had no idea what was going on, and we were just laughing so hard. His comment may have been a bit inappropriate, and it just makes me wonder what they say about us in Italian. After that little adventure and a quick stop for gelato, we finally found our hotel. When we entered the room the towels were folded like hearts on the beds! We had a small room with three beds that overlooked a canal. When I first opened the window there were some men outside unloading a boat, and they started calling to us and whistling. After we got settled in the room we walked around the city for a while. Venice just has such a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere. Aside from the sheer charm and beauty of the canals, people everywhere are friendly and happy, probably because they are on vacation. Today was just sort of our day to get adjusted to the city. We did some shopping at the many blown glass shops and markets then ended up sitting by the seaside for a while. Tomorrow we plan to go on a gondola ride and see the St. Mark’s Basilica. We saw St. Mark’s from the outside today, and I’m pretty excited to go in. St. Mark, the one who wrote the Gospel of Mark, is buried there, which to me is just amazing. Actually knowing where the bodies of the saints are just makes them seem so much more real. The gondola ride should be pretty sweet too…there are some pretty cute gondola drivers in their striped shirts and straw hats.
03/07/2009
Since today was our only full day in Venice, we had a lot to accomplish. I woke up early and read from a guide book that I had borrowed from Bob. I learned all about the city, and picked out the sites that are most important to see. Our first mission of the day was to tour St. Mark's Basilica. The basilica's construction began around 800 A.D., and, although it was sacked and rebuilt a couple times, it has still been around for almost 1,000 years! It is made in the Italo-Byzantine style, which basically means that it uses tons of gold, mosaics, and traditional iconography of the saints. The overall effect is just staggering! You walk in, and you are completely surrounded by gold! It is hard to know where to focus because the whole is just so magnificent. If you look closely at the mosaics, they tell stories of Christ and the Apostles. I also found out today that no one is really certain where St. Mark's body is. His tomb is under the main altar, but during the destruction of the church in it's early years, his remains were lost in the rubble. It is said that a prayer service for the recovery of St. Mark's remains was said during the early days of the new basilica. During this service, it is said that a cracking sound came from a pillar in the back of the church, and St. Mark's entire body came out of the pillar. Who knows, I guess anything is possible with miracles. After we were done touring the basilica we went to have a picnic in the Garden Reali. This is a place that I discovered from Bob's guide book, and I'm really glad I found it. It was a nice relaxing place to take in some greenery and be away from the masses of tourists. There were also these cute little nuthatches that ate bread crumbs out of our hands! After our picnic we went to see the Arsenale, which for many years was the largest harbor in the world. Then, after that, we went to the Piazza Margherita, which was highly recommended by the author of the guidebook. It was not all that he made it out to be, and it was a very long walk to get there. But we did get to see a lot of the city along the way. Oh well, live and learn. After that walk, we were all feeling pretty tired, so we went back to the hotel to rest up for the evening. In the evening we went for a gondola ride, which was amazing! It was quite expensive, but worth it. We went just at dusk, so the moon and stars were visible, but it was not quite dark yet. It was a really neat way to take in the city, and we enjoyed a bottle of wine along the way. Overall, I'd say this evening is an evening that I want to remember forever. Good friends, good wine, and a gondola ride in Venice, what more can a girl ask for?
03/07/2009
Today Ania and I went to Mass in the morning at a church near to our hotel. It was a very strange Mass that did not completely follow the parts of the Mass that I am used to, and there were only about 10 people there, all of them over 65. It was a huge church, but the Mass was held in a side chapel. There are 107 churches in Venice, so I guess they all can't be filled. Plus, during communion there was no choir, so the priest played a song from a tape recorder. Can you say tacky? We should have gone to one of the bigger churches, but oh well. If there's a next time, I'll know where not to go. Other than that, we did a little more shopping, had lunch, then headed back to the train station for our journey home. The train ride home was a bit interesting, as there was an Italian man, probably about 30 years old, across the aisle from me who stared at me for about two hours straight. I was reading a book, and every time I looked up, his eyes were just locked on mine. Finally, I wrote a note to Allyson that said I was going to get up to go to the bathroom, then move into the seat next to her, which faced away from the man. When I got up to go to the bathroom, he turned completely to stare at me as I walked down the train aisle. So creepy! I hate it when this kind of thing happens on a train or bus and I can't get away from the person. At first it was funny, but now it's just getting annoying. I think I'm going to figure out how to say in Italian, "Take a picture, it will last longer!"
Planning, and now off to Venice!
I haven't written too much this week because I have spent the majority of my time making travel plans for the 20 days I will be in Europe after my program ends, not to mentions some plans for this weekend. You'd be surprised at how much time is effort is needed in order to make sure your travel goes smoothly, and then sometimes it still doesn't. Beginning April 3 I will be completely on my own for providing food, lodging, and transportation for myself. At first that was kind of scary to think about, but the more plans I make, the better I feel about it. I will spend the first ten days travelling with Eldon and perhaps a few others. We will go to Paris, visit a mutual friend in Ireland, stay in London for a night, then head to Munich and stay there until Easter. After Munich we will part ways, and I will head for Florence, as my mom and brother Matt are coming to visit. They will be here for ten days, and I will essentially be their tour guide. We will mostly visit places where I have already been, so I will know how to get around. I'm looking forward to both of these adventures, and I have been doing a lot of searching for decent hotels and hostels. You'd be surprised how much more difficult it is to book hotels in Europe than in the U.S. Everything is privately run, so there are no Motel 6's or Super 8's or Holiday Inns where you know exactly what to expect and what you'll be paying. The hotels are rated on a five star system, but there is not standard way of deciding how many stars a hotel should receive, so some one star hotels are more like three stars and some 3 stars should be one stars. The prices are also a lot higher here for what you are actually getting. The cheapest hotel I could find in Florence was about 60 euros per night for a triple, which is about $80, depending on the exchange rate. In the U.S. you'd probably be able to get a fairly decent room for that. Here you get the most basic room you can imagine: three beds, that's it, no decorations on the walls, nothing. There is a sink and a shower in the corner, and they toilet is located in the hallway for sharing. Now I don't mind getting by cheaply, as long as the place is safe and clean, but it takes so much research just to find a place that will be suitable. In order to book our hotel in Florence I spent hours checking online rates and reviews, then I went into town to visit the hotel. I guess I could always just go with the blind date method and just hope for the best, but I just prefer having some idea of what I am getting.
On another note, I will leave for Venice tomorrow morning, and I am staying two nights there with Ania and Allyson. I booked a cheap hotel for us near the center of the city, so hopefully it's decent. I'm really looking forward to seeing Venice, as I've heard that it is beautiful. You probably won't hear from me until Sunday, then I'll tell you all about it.
On another note, I will leave for Venice tomorrow morning, and I am staying two nights there with Ania and Allyson. I booked a cheap hotel for us near the center of the city, so hopefully it's decent. I'm really looking forward to seeing Venice, as I've heard that it is beautiful. You probably won't hear from me until Sunday, then I'll tell you all about it.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Ayuto...help...I don't know
I seem to have a knack for coming across elderly people who need help. There was the one old lady I encountered last month who needed help with opening her door, and today I had a bit more extreme experience. I was out on a walk just to get some fresh air, as it had been raining all day today and most of the day yesterday. I walked up the hill to the Franciscan monastery, and I entered the park that is on the monastery grounds. Shortly after entering the park, I saw an old man, probably about 80 from the looks of it, on his hands and knees crawling up the hill. At first I wasn't quite sure if I should say anything. I didn't know what he was doing, and I thought maybe he was a homeless person, as there are a few who frequent the monastery. Upon careful examination, I realized that he was quite nicely dressed in a knee-length wool coat and beret, and his umbrella, journal, and handkerchief were scattered on the ground in front of him. This is when I realized he must of fallen off the approximately two foot embankment on the side of the path. In the most comprehensive Italo-Spanglish I could manage, I asked him if he needed help. We were having some trouble communicating, so I just went down there, and he motioned for me to grab his arm and lift him up. Once I got him up I realized that his injury was more severe than I anticipated. He was not able to put any weight at all on one of his feet, and I could tell he was in a lot of pain. There was no way that I was going to get him over the embankment, so I sat him on the edge and tried to explain to him that I was going to get help and would be back. I didn't want him to think I was just leaving him, but it was so difficult to say what I wanted. I did understand him when he told me to go to the Franciscan brothers though, so that is what I did. The only thing was, I wasn't quite sure where the brothers actually lived. I tried to ask a homeless man who was sitting by the church, but I don't think he understood be because he asked me if I could give him some money for coffee. So I went and rang the nearest doorbell that I could find, and I figured it was the brothers' house because there was a religious crest over the door. Once again, I had to try out my Italian while speaking over the intercom, trying to explain the situation. Finally, a cook came to the door, and he came with me to find the hurt man. When we found the man, the cook started talking to him like they knew each other, so I assume they did. We helped the old man up, each taking an arm. That's when two British tourists came by and asked if we wanted more help. I let the British man take over my position at the old man's arm, and we worked our way back to the brothers' house. There they had a wheelchair, which they put the old man in, and I assume everything will work out fine now. I talked with the British people a little more, then came back to Villa Bonelli and told my friends about my unexpected encounter on my walk. It was kind of a scary experience, but I'm glad I could help the man out and that things worked out in the end.
Monday, March 2, 2009
A Dream Come True
Let me just preface this by saying that Switzerland was amazing, and no matter how hard I try, words and pictures just won't do it justice. I've said I wanted to ski in the Swiss Alps for years, and I've imagined many possible scenarios of doing so, but I have to say that the actual experience was better than I ever could have imagined. I would go back in a heartbeat, and I know I will someday. In fact, I would consider living in Switzerland if given the chance. I felt so much more at home there than I ever have in Italy. Most people that we encountered there spoke German as their main language and French and English as other languages. Most people were pretty fluent in English once you started to talking to them, which was very nice for a change. Many people there are of German nationality, and I felt very at home. I know it may sound like I'm exaggerating, but I never realized how much my German heritage really has shaped who I am. You would think that it would all just be neutralized after generations in the United States, but I noticed many similarities between the German people and myself and my family. Their intonation and mannerisms are very similar to what I am used to. Unlike Italians, who use flamboyant gestures and sound like they're having a heated argument not matter what they're saying, Germans tend to use lower, softer tones and be more reserved in public. Another similarity is their looks. For the first time since being in Europe, I felt like I blended in. My dishwater-blond hair and hazel eyes did not draw attention at all amongst the Germans. People in Interlaken were also a lot more friendly than they are in Florence. I've heard that the unfriendliness of the Florentines is not common to all Italians, but it sure gets to be annoying after a while. Nobody says "excuse me" when they bump into you, and nobody smiles or says "hi" when they pass you on the street. In Interlaken people greeted us on the street and the store clerks were friendly. Now I know this may not be true for all of Switzerland, but it sure did make for an enjoyable weekend getaway. Interlaken is pretty touristy, since it is one of the biggest adventure sports destinations in the world, so this may be one reason why so many people speak English and such. I kept a journal while I was in Interlaken, and those are the two entries below this one. If you would like to see pictures from my weekend, you can go to: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2025381&id=173301949&l=8c543
02/27/2009
After arriving at our hostel around 4:00 a.m. last night, I woke up at 7:00 a.m. to grab a quick breakfast of bread and jam at the hostel and go rent skis. I must admit, I wasn't too psyched to begin my first day skiing on only three hours of sleep. But I've survived on less before, so I just told myself I wasn't tired, and by the time I hit the slopes I was so amazed by everything I saw that I forgot all about my fatigue. Ever since sixth grade, when I started skiing, I have been reading ski magazines about Switzerland, and in high school I used to go online and look up Swiss ski vacations. Skiing in the Swiss Alps has been my dream for almost as long as I can remember, and today it came true.
Today I skied with a guy named Mike who was also with the Florence for Fun tour group. He is from New Jersey and studying in Florence for the semester as well. We men on the bus to Interlaken, and when we found out that we were both skiing, we decided to meet up in the morning. Our day go off to a bit of a rocky start because Mike could not find his wallet which had his credit card, debit card, and all of his money in it. He thought that it may have fallen out of his pocket on the bus, but the bus driver was sleeping and could not be woken until afternoon. So Mike borrow our tour guide Fabio's credit card in order to rent his skis and buy his lift ticket. The rental skis were very nice--I got a brand new pair of Solomon women's boots and Solomon skis, which are probably the best I've ever ridden.
Actually getting onto the slopes was an experience in itself. We rode a bus to a village just up the mountain from Interlaken, then we rode a train up the mountain to another little village where we changed trains to get up to one of the highest points in the ski area. I really wasn't expected to ride trains while skiing, but this is just the way the Swiss do it. You could "hike" all over the Swiss Alps without doing much walking at all, you could just hop on a series of trains and be at a peak. I will admit that it was confusing where to go at first, as everything is so big that maps can't possible give much detail. We pretty much just played it by ear most of the time, looking for slopes that looked fun and trying them. The design of the slopes is also a lot different than those in the U.S. There is a lot more open space that has not been converted to groomed slopes, and everything is very spread out. Also, one company does not own the entire area. I'm not quite sure how the land ownership works, but there are many private bars that sell beverages and food on the slopes. There are also many ski villages scattered throughout the mountains, and you can ski right through them on your way down. Some people must live in these villages year-round, because on our way down we saw a herd of sheep exiting a barn!
The snow conditions toward the top of the mountain were just amazing! It took me a while to realize that I didn't have to carve as hard here as I do on the icy slopes of Minnesota. it's a good thing I realized this because my legs were about to give out by the end of the day even with my gentler carving. I could literally ski down for miles without stopping if I wanted to, but my legs would get so tired on the way down that I'd have to stop. Throughout the day I just kept wishing that my family and certain friends could be here to experience this with me because I know they'd all love it so much. If I ever have the funds to pay for a group ski vacation to Switzerland, it will definitely be top priority. There is something for every level of skier here too--from miles of never-ending easy runs that snake through pine forests and beautiful vistas to off-piste skiing for the more adventurous.
The off-piste skiing was something Mike and I tried today, and I must say that it was the best part of the day, but also one of the most scary experiences of my life. While riding the lift up, we saw a guy skiing down an are that looked like it was covered in fresh powder. there were a few tracks, but not many. This was because no lifts went to the slope, but it looked so nice, we decided we had to try it. In order to get to the area where we wanted to ski we had to walk uphill from the top of a lift. It didn't look too far from where we began, but when we started climbing it sure felt far. After all, we were wearing ski boots and lugging skis and poles up the hill. When we got the the top we both just collapsed into the deep snow and started eating it, then just laid there taking in the scenery for a while. It was really beautiful up there, and the sun had just burned through the clouds, so we could see far. When we finally got up and got our skis on we realized that the slope was a lot steeper than it looked from the lift. The snow was powder, but it was not fresh, so it had some crust on top, which made it hard to maneuver through. Skiing in this type of snow also uses an entirely different skill-set than skiing on ice or even groomed slopes. We got about half-way down the slope, and we realized that it got even steeper. At one point I fell with my body going down hill from my skis, which were pointed across the hill, and I wasn't sure I had the strength to force my body to the uphill side of my skis where I needed to be in order to stand up. I just laid there for a while, not moving. I could tell Mike was a bit concerned, but I knew all along that I would find a way to work things out and get down the hill, because that is just what I do. Finally we got past the steepest part, and things were going better. I decided to let my speed go a bit, and I totally ate snow. I didn't get hurt at all, but one of my skis did come off, which make that the worst wipe out I've had in quite a while.
At the end of that fun I was just shaking from the physical exertion and the adrenaline. Mike was pretty shook up too, so we decided it was time for a break and went to one of the nearby on-piste bars. I was planning on getting water before I did the off-piste run, but after that I decided that a beer would be much better. So that's how we ended up sitting in lounge chairs overlooking the Alps and drinking Swiss beer. This is just what I imagined Switzerland being, skiing and relaxation all rolled into one nice package. I really think today was one of the best days of my life, and I think I've already said that a few times during this trip. I just never thought all those years when I was reading about the Swiss Alps that I would actually get there. Now I am here, and it is just so majestic that I can't describe it!
02/28/2009
Today I got a little bit later start to my skiing than I would have liked to. Mike and I had planned to meet at 10:00 a.m. and go together again, but I saw him at breakfast, and he was debating between skydiving and skiing. He had already renewed his ski rental for the day, but I told him not to let our plans prevent him from skydiving. After all, I am pretty used to navigating ski slopes on my own. So he decided to takes his rentals back and go skydiving. One of the Florence for Fun guides named Alison was going skiing today, and she invited me to join her for the day. She is originally from Australia and has travelled all over the world, so she had many great stories. We also met a girl named Melissa at the bus stop who was from Chicago and is studying in Rome this semester, and she was by herself, so we invited her to join us as well.
We planned our route fro the day and decided to work our way up to the highest peak in the area. This peak is featured in the Jame's Bond movie, Her Majesty's Secret Service, which was made is 1969 with George Lazenby as James Bond. This is the trailer for the movie, and it actually gives you a pretty good feel for the Alps:
At the top of the mountain there is a circular restaurant that is surrounded by windows, and the seating area slowly spins as you eat, so you take in the whole view. This restaurant is where the women in the film trailer are eating.
Today was a beautiful day in Interlaken, so lots of people were making their way to the top. I heard a couple of locals say this is the best weather they've seen in a month. There was literally not a cloud in the sky, and it was around 50 degrees Fahrenheit even near the top of the mountain. It was a bit warm for skiing, and the snow conditions weren't too great, but it was perfect for taking in the scenery.
We decided to do a bit of skiing as we worked our way up the mountain, and I realized that Alison and Melissa did not ski at the same level as me, as they stuck to mostly the easiest runs and snowplowed most of the way down. So we worked out a plan in which I did two or three harder runs while they did one run, then we met at the bottom of the lift. I was okay with taking it a bit easier today because I could definitely feel my legs after yesterday. If I had my choice, I would stay in Switzerland longer and allow for a day of recovery after each day of skiing.
We finally made it to the top peak around 2:00 p.m., after two bus rides, two trains, and three cable cars. People were just flocking to the top because of the nice weather, and the cable cars especially were packed shoulder to shoulder. At the top we walked around the terrace of the restaurant and took lots of pictures. Then we had dessert inside the spinning restaurant. After that Alison and Melissa were both done skiing for the day, but I definitely was not. The only way down from the peak without taking the cable car was a black, so the most difficult, and I knew I would beat myself up later if I didn't at least try it. We had been looking at it on our way up, and it really didn't look that bad. This turned out to be another of those live-and-learn moments that I keep having. The hill didn't look so bad from the lift, but once again it ended up being much longer and steeper than I thought it was. Imagine the toughest double black diamond with moguls you've ever seen in Minnesota, and multiply the distance by about 20, then subtract the ice and add some powder, and the result is this slope. I did almost the whole hill on the edges of my skis, inching my way down bit-by-bit sideways. You see, I have this irrational fear of letting my speed or control go even a little bit on steep long hills, and this fear is derived from my experiences on the icy slopes of Minnesota. Skiers of less ability than me were taking the hill just fine. Yes, it was steep, and yes, there were lots of moguls, but the snow was very soft, so it would have been easy to regain control. My mind just won't let me go though, and this can get very frustrating at times, especially when four-year-olds are whizzing by me. It took me about an hour to get down that entire hill, and once I go to the bottom, the lifts were beginning to close, as it was after 4:00 p.m. My energy was completely drained, and I still had to work my way to the bottom using the buses, trains, and cable cars. Everyone was heading down at the same time, so, once again, things were completely packed.
As I headed back to the hostel, I couldn't help but wish that I had more time here. I know I will come back someday. This may sound like something I just say but will never do, but I really mean it. I don't care what it takes, I am going to ski in the Swiss Alps again. Honestly, this weekend has been like a dream come true!
02/27/2009
After arriving at our hostel around 4:00 a.m. last night, I woke up at 7:00 a.m. to grab a quick breakfast of bread and jam at the hostel and go rent skis. I must admit, I wasn't too psyched to begin my first day skiing on only three hours of sleep. But I've survived on less before, so I just told myself I wasn't tired, and by the time I hit the slopes I was so amazed by everything I saw that I forgot all about my fatigue. Ever since sixth grade, when I started skiing, I have been reading ski magazines about Switzerland, and in high school I used to go online and look up Swiss ski vacations. Skiing in the Swiss Alps has been my dream for almost as long as I can remember, and today it came true.
Today I skied with a guy named Mike who was also with the Florence for Fun tour group. He is from New Jersey and studying in Florence for the semester as well. We men on the bus to Interlaken, and when we found out that we were both skiing, we decided to meet up in the morning. Our day go off to a bit of a rocky start because Mike could not find his wallet which had his credit card, debit card, and all of his money in it. He thought that it may have fallen out of his pocket on the bus, but the bus driver was sleeping and could not be woken until afternoon. So Mike borrow our tour guide Fabio's credit card in order to rent his skis and buy his lift ticket. The rental skis were very nice--I got a brand new pair of Solomon women's boots and Solomon skis, which are probably the best I've ever ridden.
Actually getting onto the slopes was an experience in itself. We rode a bus to a village just up the mountain from Interlaken, then we rode a train up the mountain to another little village where we changed trains to get up to one of the highest points in the ski area. I really wasn't expected to ride trains while skiing, but this is just the way the Swiss do it. You could "hike" all over the Swiss Alps without doing much walking at all, you could just hop on a series of trains and be at a peak. I will admit that it was confusing where to go at first, as everything is so big that maps can't possible give much detail. We pretty much just played it by ear most of the time, looking for slopes that looked fun and trying them. The design of the slopes is also a lot different than those in the U.S. There is a lot more open space that has not been converted to groomed slopes, and everything is very spread out. Also, one company does not own the entire area. I'm not quite sure how the land ownership works, but there are many private bars that sell beverages and food on the slopes. There are also many ski villages scattered throughout the mountains, and you can ski right through them on your way down. Some people must live in these villages year-round, because on our way down we saw a herd of sheep exiting a barn!
The snow conditions toward the top of the mountain were just amazing! It took me a while to realize that I didn't have to carve as hard here as I do on the icy slopes of Minnesota. it's a good thing I realized this because my legs were about to give out by the end of the day even with my gentler carving. I could literally ski down for miles without stopping if I wanted to, but my legs would get so tired on the way down that I'd have to stop. Throughout the day I just kept wishing that my family and certain friends could be here to experience this with me because I know they'd all love it so much. If I ever have the funds to pay for a group ski vacation to Switzerland, it will definitely be top priority. There is something for every level of skier here too--from miles of never-ending easy runs that snake through pine forests and beautiful vistas to off-piste skiing for the more adventurous.
The off-piste skiing was something Mike and I tried today, and I must say that it was the best part of the day, but also one of the most scary experiences of my life. While riding the lift up, we saw a guy skiing down an are that looked like it was covered in fresh powder. there were a few tracks, but not many. This was because no lifts went to the slope, but it looked so nice, we decided we had to try it. In order to get to the area where we wanted to ski we had to walk uphill from the top of a lift. It didn't look too far from where we began, but when we started climbing it sure felt far. After all, we were wearing ski boots and lugging skis and poles up the hill. When we got the the top we both just collapsed into the deep snow and started eating it, then just laid there taking in the scenery for a while. It was really beautiful up there, and the sun had just burned through the clouds, so we could see far. When we finally got up and got our skis on we realized that the slope was a lot steeper than it looked from the lift. The snow was powder, but it was not fresh, so it had some crust on top, which made it hard to maneuver through. Skiing in this type of snow also uses an entirely different skill-set than skiing on ice or even groomed slopes. We got about half-way down the slope, and we realized that it got even steeper. At one point I fell with my body going down hill from my skis, which were pointed across the hill, and I wasn't sure I had the strength to force my body to the uphill side of my skis where I needed to be in order to stand up. I just laid there for a while, not moving. I could tell Mike was a bit concerned, but I knew all along that I would find a way to work things out and get down the hill, because that is just what I do. Finally we got past the steepest part, and things were going better. I decided to let my speed go a bit, and I totally ate snow. I didn't get hurt at all, but one of my skis did come off, which make that the worst wipe out I've had in quite a while.
At the end of that fun I was just shaking from the physical exertion and the adrenaline. Mike was pretty shook up too, so we decided it was time for a break and went to one of the nearby on-piste bars. I was planning on getting water before I did the off-piste run, but after that I decided that a beer would be much better. So that's how we ended up sitting in lounge chairs overlooking the Alps and drinking Swiss beer. This is just what I imagined Switzerland being, skiing and relaxation all rolled into one nice package. I really think today was one of the best days of my life, and I think I've already said that a few times during this trip. I just never thought all those years when I was reading about the Swiss Alps that I would actually get there. Now I am here, and it is just so majestic that I can't describe it!
02/28/2009
Today I got a little bit later start to my skiing than I would have liked to. Mike and I had planned to meet at 10:00 a.m. and go together again, but I saw him at breakfast, and he was debating between skydiving and skiing. He had already renewed his ski rental for the day, but I told him not to let our plans prevent him from skydiving. After all, I am pretty used to navigating ski slopes on my own. So he decided to takes his rentals back and go skydiving. One of the Florence for Fun guides named Alison was going skiing today, and she invited me to join her for the day. She is originally from Australia and has travelled all over the world, so she had many great stories. We also met a girl named Melissa at the bus stop who was from Chicago and is studying in Rome this semester, and she was by herself, so we invited her to join us as well.
We planned our route fro the day and decided to work our way up to the highest peak in the area. This peak is featured in the Jame's Bond movie, Her Majesty's Secret Service, which was made is 1969 with George Lazenby as James Bond. This is the trailer for the movie, and it actually gives you a pretty good feel for the Alps:
At the top of the mountain there is a circular restaurant that is surrounded by windows, and the seating area slowly spins as you eat, so you take in the whole view. This restaurant is where the women in the film trailer are eating.
Today was a beautiful day in Interlaken, so lots of people were making their way to the top. I heard a couple of locals say this is the best weather they've seen in a month. There was literally not a cloud in the sky, and it was around 50 degrees Fahrenheit even near the top of the mountain. It was a bit warm for skiing, and the snow conditions weren't too great, but it was perfect for taking in the scenery.
We decided to do a bit of skiing as we worked our way up the mountain, and I realized that Alison and Melissa did not ski at the same level as me, as they stuck to mostly the easiest runs and snowplowed most of the way down. So we worked out a plan in which I did two or three harder runs while they did one run, then we met at the bottom of the lift. I was okay with taking it a bit easier today because I could definitely feel my legs after yesterday. If I had my choice, I would stay in Switzerland longer and allow for a day of recovery after each day of skiing.
We finally made it to the top peak around 2:00 p.m., after two bus rides, two trains, and three cable cars. People were just flocking to the top because of the nice weather, and the cable cars especially were packed shoulder to shoulder. At the top we walked around the terrace of the restaurant and took lots of pictures. Then we had dessert inside the spinning restaurant. After that Alison and Melissa were both done skiing for the day, but I definitely was not. The only way down from the peak without taking the cable car was a black, so the most difficult, and I knew I would beat myself up later if I didn't at least try it. We had been looking at it on our way up, and it really didn't look that bad. This turned out to be another of those live-and-learn moments that I keep having. The hill didn't look so bad from the lift, but once again it ended up being much longer and steeper than I thought it was. Imagine the toughest double black diamond with moguls you've ever seen in Minnesota, and multiply the distance by about 20, then subtract the ice and add some powder, and the result is this slope. I did almost the whole hill on the edges of my skis, inching my way down bit-by-bit sideways. You see, I have this irrational fear of letting my speed or control go even a little bit on steep long hills, and this fear is derived from my experiences on the icy slopes of Minnesota. Skiers of less ability than me were taking the hill just fine. Yes, it was steep, and yes, there were lots of moguls, but the snow was very soft, so it would have been easy to regain control. My mind just won't let me go though, and this can get very frustrating at times, especially when four-year-olds are whizzing by me. It took me about an hour to get down that entire hill, and once I go to the bottom, the lifts were beginning to close, as it was after 4:00 p.m. My energy was completely drained, and I still had to work my way to the bottom using the buses, trains, and cable cars. Everyone was heading down at the same time, so, once again, things were completely packed.
As I headed back to the hostel, I couldn't help but wish that I had more time here. I know I will come back someday. This may sound like something I just say but will never do, but I really mean it. I don't care what it takes, I am going to ski in the Swiss Alps again. Honestly, this weekend has been like a dream come true!
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