Firenze Sotto la Pioggia

When Spring Break started in Bologna (after Lago di Como and my family left) it literally turned into Carlisle and rained for 5 days. Needless to say, my original plan (well third or fourth original plan) was to go to Lecce with two girls on the program but due to money, rain, and lack of days I choose to stay in Bologna. I met up with some friends and spent some time unwinding and de-stressing. I caught up on much needed sleep and various applications and whatnot and then decided to go to Florence to do all the touristy stuff. I choose the right day. For a week, all the city museums were free entry. I think I paid a total of 8 euro for three museums because I had to buy a reservation or whatever. I got to go to the Accademia, the Museo de Palazzo Vecchio, and the Uffizi. Besides my massive dislike of crowds, the day was pretty cool. All by myself, I was able to see everything in a few hours. I saw the Birth of Venus as well as David (where the wait to get in was at least an hour) and many other incredible works. I even snuck a picture :P 

Win :)

Freezing Time

Lago di Como. The place is a fairytale, a mythical place, a fantasy. Seriously it can't exist. I'm not going to do my usual play by play but rather try to help you experience what I did. Yeah Andrej and I rented a car, drove to Lago di Como (which is by Switzerland), walked along the lake, and climbed a mountain before heading back to Bologna but that literally explains the day. What I want to remember and convey is the feeling of absolute bliss while being next to the lake just sitting and soaking it in and then being on top of the mountain looking down on that same area from a whole new perspective.

By the lake... it was soo chilly. Three layers wasn't enough. But in the sun, you were just balanced enough to feel completely at ease, completely comfortable. That combined with the breeze and the sound of the water lapping up against the concrete of the city was enough to make you want to just not move for hours. I seriously could have napped. It is an interesting contrast though, the peaceful qualities of the lake with a view that was indescribable. A lake, with cities/towns on the shore, with mountains behind them, and even higher the Alps snow capped. It was literally like being in Lord of the Rings or something. Those kind of places don't exist. Or do they? Then, when you remove yourself from the direct coastline of the lake (coastline? shoreline? lakeline? I don't know...) it is a cute little town with people going about their daily routines as if that fantastic view didn't exist. It's like living at a resort. On a much bigger scale, combined with a Mediterranean feel, it sort of reminded me of Camp in the Adirondacks, but at the same time so completely 180 degrees opposite. Okay, imagine this. Mediterranean style houses and people on a very big lake (so the water is fresh water and more affected by slight changes in the weather) surrounded by cliffs that are surrounded by the Alps. What? Yeah imagine that.

On top of the mountain... after much steep climbing, some sneak views, and taking off those layers that were so necessary by the water, we stopped at a point supposedly 20 minutes from the Refuge we were climbing to. That is where the first awe inspiring view occurred (currently my profile picture). We both needed some energy (aka water and food as we hadn't eaten in a while) so we had some water and both grabbed an apple (prepared we were!). Then we took a nice little nap, on a mountain, looking down on that same little town we had been a few hours earlier, but whenever we opened our eyes, we were looking down on the entire valley, lake, and surrounding area. It looked almost like a painting. If you want a slight feeling of looking down on the world like a bird listen to this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PA376MhE2PI) while you continue reading. It kind of does the job especially since the next part is at the Refuge looking down and trying to explain the feeling that created.

From the Refuge at the top... Imagine looking down on everything you know to be moving and bursting with life and seeing it come to a complete stop. Literally, no movement, not even a breath. Everything is silent, frozen in a moment, a moment that you don't want to end. Then look around. It looks like a painting except more beautiful. Like a picture except even more vivid. Look down the steep path you just climbed for two hours. Look down at the church on the hill that was another recommended hike (less advanced and shorter) and see that it is now smaller than your picky finger when your arm is completely outstretched from your body. Then look a little to the right and see boats trying to cross the lake, seemingly frozen. You can see where the lake splits into two different sections and you can even see the end of the far section (some reference of the lake: https://maps.google.it/maps?hl=it we were in Menaggio). Oh but wait. That's just looking down. Look out and see the Alps more clearly, a passage to a hidden village behind one of the mountains, and villages hit up the cliffs around the lake. How did someone build a house so high up? Turn around. See the Refuge, a small hut for hikers to rest at. The little water fountain out of a rock. The small balcony to just soak in the view. See that you aren't even at the highest point. That behind you raise up cliffs more steep and jagged than the ones you already ascended. One day. Now that is just what you see. Listen. Silence. The slight breeze. Maybe a bird, but even the birds aren't so present this high up. Take a deep breath. Inhale the purest air you have ever experienced. Fill your lungs. Feel how it soothes your entire body. All your tiredness completely disappears. Feel the sun start to set behind you, although you know you have at least two hours before the town below says goodnight to the sun. Close your eyes and just think, "This must be what God felt like when He was creating the Universe" Except He saw the whole world, not just a lake in the mountains. Can you imagine? I am sorry I didn't do justice to the incredible creation that He made in explaining it to you. Guess you just have to go climb that mountain and see for yourself.

FAMILYYYYYYYY

My dad, mom, and sister all came to Italy for a week. It was unreal (ok I feel like I say this a lot but seriously, everything feels so surreal!). They spent the first three days in Bologna, went to Florence for two days, spent a night in Bologna, then we all went to Venice for two days, and spent the last day in Bologna. I guess I will do this day by day!

Saturday- They arrived around 3, but were super delayed because their bags were put on a later flight (I know because I surprised them at the airport with flowers). We grabbed a taxi and took it straight to their hotel that was approximately 150 meters from my apartment... good planning dad :) After getting them settled in and realizing that it was already almost 5pm, we headed out to tour some of Bologna. We hit the huge street market, I gave them a tour of the big sites like Piazza Maggiore, Neptune, and the two towers. For dinner we went to Spacca Napoli the awesome pizza place. My family loved it. We also got gelato, as my mom insisted we get it everyday they are in Italy because they can't get it at home. Then we all headed to bed for some much needed sleep.

Sunday- BEST DAY EVER. We got up and went to Palm Sunday service in San Petronio, the main massive church on Piazza Maggiore, and even though it was in Italian, it was so powerful and the Priest did one of the most passionate readings I have ever heard of the Easter story. Truly an incredible experience. From there, we bought flowers and wine and headed to my Italian family's house for an early lunch. As usual, Paula made an incredible meal. We talked about a lot of things and it went a lot better than I thought it would. I mean my family speaks no Italian and Paula is the only one who really speaks English fluently. Stefano did a good job of communicating with my parents anyway. I wish Vittoria and Enrico had been less shy though. My sister and I tried to convince them to talk in English but I think they were afraid that they would mess up or something. Oh well. I will keep working with them :) From there we headed to the Bologna-Palermo soccer game. (Stefano and Enrico went too) My parents really enjoyed the game, as did Sarah and I (boyfriend?!) even though Bologna lost. It was a lot of fun. From there we took the 2 km hike up San Luca (the church on the hill) and of course Sarah and I won :P Not that we were actually racing. That took about two hours but was so worth it. After that, we went to the train station to look at ticket prices and to the outdoor book market. My mom even got some Italian books for her preschoolers :) Then we went to dinner at Belfiore (literally next to my apartment) and I made them try Tagliatelle al Ragu (aka thick noodles and meat sauce); a specialty of Bologna. And of course we then got gelato.

Monday- Monday was an interesting day because we spent so much time wandering around seeing if Museums were open (which I forgot all close on Mondays... oops) but at least we had Osteria del Orsa for lunch, amazing gelato, and Mariposa for dinner which was amazing. Other than that we kind of just hung out all day and explored the city. For some reason I cannot remember anything else concerning Monday... guess if I do I will just add it.

Tuesday/Wednesday- My family was in Florence so I just went to classes and had a pasta making lesson through Dickinson. That was the most worthwhile trip I think we have been on. We learned how to make tagliatelle and even made our own tortellini! It was so fun and very delicious.

Thursday- We got up early and headed off to Venice! After arriving in Venice we found our hotel where Andrej's dad, his dad's wife, and two kids were waiting for us. My parents were so excited to see them and I was thrilled to meet them as well. After dropping our stuff off we decided to get some pizza at a local place. It was really good. After eating we then decided to head to St. Marks Square to walk along the water where we stopped and got gelato (yes we literally got it everyday, mom was thrilled, and so were the rest of us). After sitting around by the water for a while talking and eating gelato we walked back towards the main square and said our goodbyes as our friends had to head back to Croatia. After some more wandering and such we decided to get dinner at a local place where I had this amazing smoked salmon and pasta dish and my mom got cuddlefish ink pasta... weird and black but really tasty. Then we hit the hay for some much needed rest.

Friday- We got up nice and early and went to the beginning of the Boat Bus route so that we could ride the length of the Grand Canal while listening to Rick Steve's audio tour. It was really cool to hear because he told us about all these buildings along the canal and he is sort of funny as well. After getting off at St. Mark's Square we entered the Doge's Palace and toured the entire thing. From the dungeons and Bridge of Sighs (named supposed because the prisoners all sighed at their last look at light and the water) to the apartments and courtyard. Their was the gold covered stairways and the armory. It was a pretty neat place and I would know as I got to spend an extra hour and a half walking around it looking for my lost mother who was actually at the hotel... awkward. Anyway after much searching, waiting, and involving people in foreign countries.... I found her and then my dad and Sarah who had found Andrej's mom and husband! After meeting up with them we headed back to St. Mark's Square to do the Basilica and the balcony above it. After that Sarah and I went to pick up/meet up with Andrej! Then we went back to the hotel to drop off his stuff and we all congregated on the roof of the hotel (our new hotel because we switched hotels). Then it was time for them to head to Bologna where we were going to meet up the next day. From there Mom, Dad, Sarah, and I headed to Alex, the Gondolier we had talked to all day and my mom finally got her Gondola ride through Venice. It was unbelievable. Quiet. Beautiful. Magical. And Alex knew so much about the city and really did fantastic job. Then we got dinner, which again was yummy, and passed out.

Saturday- Dad and I headed over to another church that was off the beaten track and Mom and Sarah went shopping. The Church was so incredibly cool. There were some of the most intricate and life like statues I have ever seen. And their were these two tombs that were for two famous artists... what their names were I forget but they are famous! After that, guided by Rick Steve's Audio Guide, we grabbed a train back to Bologna where we got lunch at Osteria Del' Orsa and met up with Andrej, his mom, and her husband. From there we wandered more of Bologna, stopped in a church, got some gelato and hung out in my apartment talking and catching up. Then we got dinner at Nicolas' and said our goodbyes. My parents, Sarah, and I headed to their apartment to pack up everything because they had to leave at 4 am the next morning. Andrej's parents were leaving around 10. I got up to say goodbye to my parents at 4 and then passed out until Andrej called me around 12 to bring his stuff up to my apartment as he was staying with me the next couple of days.

Overall, the week was amazing. Sometimes stressful because I wanted to share everything with them but couldn't but on the whole it was perfect anyway.

Oh, and both sets of families that visited us brought us these amazing gifts from Croatia. My parents were so heart warmed and hope to come back and visit them in Croatia. Oh and today Andrej left to visit America... and in a week he will be with my family in New Jersey. After 18 years we all choose the same month to be in opposite places. Unreal.

I guess that is it for the family visit. It was so nice to see them and I had so much fun. Love you guys. <3