Ancient City with my Momma!

March 17th
Saint Patrick’s Day! We had a wonderful green lunch to celebrate the Irish holiday here in Italy. All of the food is so good here, but I especially love the pesto! For our green lunch we had: pesto pasta, broccoli, spinach, some meat and some delicious panna cotta with kiwi. It was very yummy! We all wore green and it was as if we were back home.
My mom and Suzanne had left to go to Florence on the 16th. After my art history test I left to meet my mom and Suzanne. This was the first time I was traveling completely alone. I got to the bus station in time to catch my bus to Arezzo and then the train to Florence. I stood at the bus stop and waited; 5 minutes after the bus should have come I realized something was wrong. An old man was staring at me; I looked at him and then looked away, then looked back a couple of times and I saw that he was still staring at me. After a couple of awkward stares he said something to me in Italian. I had no idea what he was saying. Apparently he was trying to tell me that the bus was not going to come to that particular stop because Sansepolcro was having a festival over the weekend and there was a tractor blocking the bus route. A nice Indian man who spoke a little English walked me up the street to the next bus stop where I anxiously waited for an hour to see if the bus would come.
It would not have been that big a deal if a bus was late or in a different location if I was at least traveling with someone, but since I was alone and it was getting dark I was freaking out when the next bus was 3 minutes late. Thankfully it came. The driver ended up driving a completely different windy and dimly lit route to Arezzo, that I had never been on, and then after a couple of stops I was the only person on the bus. He was a pleasant man; he talked to me about the music and helped me get me my heavy suitcase of the bus.
Since I had missed my first bus I only had 9 minutes to get off the bus, buy my ticket, and get on the train. I used the self serve train ticket machine for the first time. Everything ended up working out, I got on the train, made it to Florence and saw my momma!
March 18th
This was my second trip to Florence, which was good because there were things that I still really wanted to see. My first stop was something I had already done. If you have previously read, I had really enjoyed seeing Michelangelo’s David last time I was in Florence. So in the morning I excited walked to the Accademia to see David again! He was just as amazing seen for the second time. I was still in awe of Michelangelo and his spectacular talent.
The next stop was the Museo Nazionale del Bargello( Bargello Museum) which is home to two different David sculptures created by Donatello. One was a large piece in marble, the other a bronze piece in which David is depicted as feminine and childish. It was an interesting comparison to Michelangelo’s David.
After lunch we went to the Palazzo Pitti (Pitti Palace). This place is huge, and we could have easily spent the entire day there. It was very exhausting walking around because there are so many rooms and so much to see. I enjoyed being able to see the rooms which the Medics actually lived in. Everything in the rooms was so nice, from the carpets, to the paintings hanging on the wall, the chairs, and the frescoes on the ceiling. It was incredible.
March 19th
My mom was making her rounds in Italy, and her next and final stop was Rome. After arriving and putting our bags in the bed and breakfast we went to the Pantheon. I enjoyed walking inside and looking up into the skylight of the dome. The floors were cool with different types of marble and designs.

We decided to sit down in the Piazza where the Pantheon is located. It was good place for people watching. I always think it is fun to look at people and try to guess where they are from, or listen to the language they speak.
We went on a night walk (that Rick Steves recommends) from the Campo di Fori, to the Trevi Fountain, Piazza Novena and the Spanish steps.

The walk was so much fun. We were able to see the city at night for the first time and all lit up. The Piazza Novana had musicians, magicians, artists, and jugglers. In the middle of the Piazza is a huge fountain in which Bernini depicted four river gods. It was under restoration when I was there so I was not able to see it in all its glory.
March 20th
My mom woke me up bright and early, we had reservations to go to the Museo Vaticano (Vatican Museum) at 8 AM. Luckily we had reservations, because even at 8 AM the line was very long. We spent about 3 hours in the Museum looking at the Sistien Chapel, the browsing through the Egyptian room, the map room, and Stanze di Raffaello (Raphael’s rooms).


My favorite room was the Capella Sistina (Sistine Chapel). I sat down on the benches and looked up to see Michelangelo’s work. I was thinking how hard and how long it must have been for him to paint such a detailed meticulous work, and upside down!

We also went into the Basilica di San Pietro (Saint Peters Church). The Cathedral was huge, and is home to Michelangelo’s Pieta, as well as Bernini’s Baldacchino. There were lots of different little sections of the church, one was only for prayer, one was only for confessions, and one mass was currently being held. Saint Peters is the largest that I have been in. After going and seeing the entire church, all the great art work, and detail in the building, it only seems appropriate that it is in the Vatican City.

After our morning in the Musei Vaticani and the Basilica di San Pietro we had lunch at the Fontana di Trevi and then went to see the Colosseo!

The building of the Colosseo (Coliseum) was started in 72 AD by Jewish slaves. In its original life it was filled with marble seats, and sculptures under each arch. Shows and fights were put on with animals and gladiators for the citizens enjoyment.
We also walked to the Foro Romano (Roman Forum). Though there is not much of it left it was still interesting to imagine how it was.

If I were able to go back in time for a day I would love to be able to go and see the Colosseum , and the Roman Forum, as they originally were.
After a long and tiring day we enjoyed dinner by the Spanish steps, and I had some delicious gelato!
March 21st
After having a few busy days we slept in till 9 and left the bed and breakfast around 10 AM. I wanted to go to Porta Portese for the flea market that they were having. As we were walking we saw a marathon with hundreds of runners. There were people lined up on the streets and bands cheering the athletes on.

The flea market was an interesting experience, and different from that back in Raleigh. Porta Portese’s flea market is one single long road. On each side of the road are tall buildings, giving you a slight claustrophobic feel. Here the shops sell some jewelry, clothes, and shoes, but most of the shops all had the same things. The difference is that back in Raleigh the flea market is spread out in a large open space with different items being sold. In North Carolina the shops range from clothes, to music, to food and to antiques.
After the flea market we went back to the Piazza Novana because we wanted to see it in daylight. We walked around and looked at some of the art that people were selling. My mom and I had bought some art work from people painting in Venice and Florence, but in Rome we didn’t see anyone painting to sell their work. We saw people selling artwork but it was all replicas of the same things.
We walked around the shops by the Spanish steps. There were lots of nice designer stores like Prada, Gucci, Dolce and Gabbanna, and Stuart Weitzman. When I was in Verona I had decided to slide down a cement wall and ripped my pants so my momma wanted to buy me some, I got a new pair of pants from a store called Zara.
I had really been looking forward to my momma coming to visit me and I am so happy that she came. We had a wonderful time touring Italy together, and it is one that I will always remember.

My mom came to visit!

March 10th
I was sleeping and I had a dream; I was speaking in Italian and trying to order a bus ticket for my mom. I had said “biglietto per favore” (ticket please).My dream was realistic, because I in fact needed to get a bus ticket for my mom who was coming to see me this week! I got her a bus ticket to come back to Sansepolcro from the Arezzo train station, and then back to Arezzo to take a train to Florence.
March 12th
My mom came! She flew into Rome and took a train to Venice. Jess and I took a train to meet her in Venice. After arriving around 6:30 we decided to drop our stuff of at the albergo (hotel). My mom and her friend Suzanne decided they would lead the way and that it would be nice to just stroll around rather than to look at the maps which I had previously printed. We ended up getting a little lost, you can imagine at this point, and with a heavy bag on my back, I was saying “we should have looked at the map I printed!” A sweet old woman was walking behind us and heard where we were trying to go. She ended up walking us directly to where we needed to go. Jess and I thought that it was funny, two weeks in a row an elderly person has helped us to get to where we need to be.
We went to a seafood restaurant for dinner. I ordered sea food pasta. It had calamari, muscles, shrimp and scallops. It was very good. My mom and her friend Suzanne ordered a sea bass. The pesce (fish) came on a plate, eyes, tail, bones and all. The waiter peeled of the skin, cut the head and tail off then deboned the fish. I had never seen the process of doing this to the fish. It was something new for me, and it was good too!
March 13th
My mom, Suzanne, Jess and I woke up ate breakfast and headed out to the streets of Venice! Our first stop was The Doge’s Palace. It was filled with beautiful paintings, grand council chambers, dark cold prison cells, and antique weapons. The Doge’s Palace served home to the doge, the head of state in the Venetian Republic, as well as the center of political and administrative life for the legislator. The palace has lots of rooms each with its own purpose and design; my favorite was the map room it had two huge globes and frescoes of maps on the wall. I was able to find Italy and Arezzo on the map.

After the Doge’s Palace we went into the Basilica San Marco. The mosaics were incredible. The entire cathedral was covered in small tiles; they were of every color and the back ground to each piece was thousands of small gold tiles. The mosaics above my head were so detailed and breathtaking, and there were also really cool mosaics on the floor. The mosaics above were of Jesus and his apostles. The mosaics on the floor geometrical design.
Venice has a clock tower, and Jess and I decided we must climb it! We were very excited to climb to the top of the tower; we paid our 8 euro entrance fee got in line and then realized there were no stairs for us to climb, since they were off limits for some reason. We got in a crowded ascensore(elevator) and rode to the top. I was upset that we were not able to climb the tower, because the climbing is part of the experience. The view was pretty, but If you enjoy the journey of getting to the top of the tower, I would not recommend “climbing, or riding” to the top of the Venice bell tower. I felt that paying for the elevator ride and getting up to the top within a minute was very anti climatic.

Later in the day we walked over to the Rialto Bridge. Il ponte ( the bridge) is very long and wide with stairs and shops on both sides. We went into one shop and learned how the cameos were made. A man showed us antique cameos from his grandfather and portraits of people which he has made. He showed the sea shells which they are made on and the process he does to carve them. My mom bought me a beautiful blue ring. The ring is a side profile for the goddess of beauty. I love it!

We went to Leone Bianco, which translates as white lion for dinner. I got some lasagna and it was some of the best I have ever had. We sat in the restaurant for about two hours. Jess and I always laugh and say we feel like real Italians when we stay in a restaurant for hours at a time.
March 14th
Our hotel served the typical Italian breakfast: bread, croissants, dry cereal, juice, tea and coffee. As we were eating our breakfast we heard some people talking. They were speaking English but had an accent. We were trying to figure out if they were British, Scottish, or Irish. After a while of listening we decided to ask them where they were from. They told us they were from Winsor. John Rose is from Bath and we asked one of the women if she had ever been. She told she has a friend there and had just visited.

We took a water taxi from our hotel to the train station. Jess and I stood on the outside portion of the boat and were able to take some nice pictures of the Grand Canal. We saw some buildings that we assumed had to be vacant because of the water damage. The bottom of the door was under the water level. Jess told me that supposedly Venice goes further underwater oggi giorno (every day).


When we bought out train tickets to go back to Arezzo we realized that Jess was sitting in a different cabin than my mom, Suzanne, and me. We thought maybe we could get lucky and the extra seats around us would not fill up and that she could stay. They ended up filling up and we squeezed together so she would not have to switch cabins. Because we were squeezing together I had decided to stand. One boy that was sitting in our section realized that I was standing and got out of his seat so that I could sit. His name was Giovanni and he was from Sicily, studying in Perugia to become a doctor. He was such a gentiluomini (gentlemen)! After our train ride from Venice to Arezzo I showed my mom how the buses and biglietti (tickets) work and we got on the bus to go back to Sansepolcro!
I gave my mom a quick tour of the Palazzo and we went to dinner. We ate at the Ristorante Fiorentina. If you are ever in Sansepolcro, you must make it a point to eat here. The whole dinner and experience was great! The owner is friendly old man who takes great pride in telling you about the choices and how each dish is made. The atmosphere was great. I ordered Ravioli with meat inside and got a pink sauce which had tomatoes and cheese. We split some pork loins and grilled vegetables which were delicious. Ristorante Fiorentina made pane fresco (fresh bread) and brought it to the table nice and hot! Though the food was excellent my favorite part was the kart of homemade dessert. We were able to sample different ones, and my mom and I got 4. It was a great way to end the an awesome weekend with my mom!

Vonderful Verona

March 4th
Our first independent travel break! My roommates and I decided to go to Verona; home of Romeo and Juliet. Verona is in Northern Italy located in the Provence of Vento and is close to the famous Venice. The journey there was an interesting one, and the experience in Verona was one of the best.
Here’s how our journey began….. giovedì (Thursday) after our literature class we got on a bus to Arezzo, and then a train to Bologna. Once in Bologna Jess, Megan, Kim and I looked at the train times to figure out what binaro or lane connecting train we would be leaving from; under the departures we found our train and saw that it was in binaro 7. Once we got to the location where our train was leaving from we realized that it was headed to Roma! We were very confused because the board had said we would be departing from binaro 7. We went back to look at the board and realized that we were in the 7th binaro ovest (west). We ran over to the ovest side of the transition and saw that we missed our connecting train. So we had to wait two hours for the next train.
Here is the good news; I had been craving an “American cheeseburger” for some time, and there just so happened to be a McDonald’s right next to the train station. I ordered a Big Mac, and it was one of the best I’ve ever had. After our delicious dinner we headed back to the train station and boarded our train to Verona.

We finally arrived in Verona at 11 pm. I had printed MapQuest directions from the train station to the Bed and Breakfast Divina so that we could easily get there. But when we got to Verona the MapQuest directions were nowhere to be found; we decided we could just try to figure it out. We started on our dark and rainy walk on a 4 lane high way. We crossed over the highway 2 different times so we would not have to walk past some suspicious looking men. We also saw a man stop and pick up a prostitute right in front of us. We thought it would be a good idea to stop and ask for directions, but because it was now 11:30 on a Thursday night, most places were closed. Luckily we found a café with two older gentlemen and a woman. We tried to ask them where we were but they did not speak any English. After a couple of minutes of trying to figure things out, the gentlemen told us that he would take us two at a time to our Bed and Breakfast. So Kim and I gratefully, yet a little hesitantly got in his car. He drove us to our street and then we waited for Megan and Jess to get there ride. We finally all made it to the bed and breakfast at 12:00. After about an hour of walking in the rain!
When we arrived the man from the Bed and Breakfast showed us to our room and the kitchen. He then got a map and showed us the most popular places to go. While looking at the map we saw where we had been before getting our ride, it was on the opposite side of town! After the long night we headed to bed!
March 5th
I woke up, got ready and headed straight to the Castlevechio. It is an old castle that now has a museum inside. I was able to see frescoes, sculptures, jewelry, weapons and paintings. One that I particularly liked was called Deposizione dalla Croce by Liberale Da Verona . It was a very moving piece to me. The expressions that Liberale Da Verona was able to create on the face of Jesus and his followers was incredible. Looking at the painting you are able to feel the pain and sadness expressed in the painting.

After the Castlevechio we got some lunch and went to Juliet’s house. Walking into the corridor there were lettere (letters) of different sizes and colors pinned on every space of the wall. Each letter was wishing for Juliet to help with love. Some said, “ Help me to find my Romeo” while others had initials a couples and wrote “forever.” I wrote my letter and pinned it to the wall! There was a statue of Juliet; people believe that touching her breast brings good luck to your love life, so I touched it, hopefully my good luck will come!

After Juliet’s house we stopped at a candy store. I felt as if I was half my age, as my excitement took over while I picked out one or two of just about every candy. We enjoyed eating our candy; some pieces were much better than others. I particularly liked the candy spider and a set of vampire teeth.
With our ”zucchero (sugar) high” we walked over to the Roman Arena. It was built in 30 AD and was able to seat 30,000 people. I loved it; it might have been one of my favorite things in Verona. Megan and I decided that we should run around the stadium. As we were running around the top row of the arena we were able to look down and see the city of Verona! These days the arena is used for Opera shows and plays. We were lucky for, there was hardly anyone there. It was as if we had the Arena all to ourselves!


We went to a nice Italian restaurant decorated with children movie and book characters. An Italian copy of Little Red Riding Hood was on our table. I ordered pasta with sundried pomodori (tomatoes), cheese and some meat for my first course and it was delicious. For my second course I ordered some bistecca (steak) cooked in soy and ginger. I ate every last bite of each of my courses, and I was stuffed. After dinner we went to go get a drink. There was a place that we had seen the night before on the same street as our bed and breakfast so we decided to go there. Once we walked in we realized that it was a German restaurant, but we decided to stay and get a drink. We figured since we were in a German restaurant it would be appropriate to get a beer, I got a Kulmacher. I saw a soft pretzel and chocolate fondue on the menu and even though I was still stuffed from my first two course meal I got both and stuffed myself even more. The combination of fruit and my pretzel dipped in chocolate was delectable!
March 6th
Sabbato (Saturday) morning we woke up ate colazione (breakfast) and headed off to find the Duomo of Verona. The Duomo was beautiful. I get awestruck walking into these cathedrals and seeing such detailed frescoes and paintings. I say it every time, but it’s true, the attention to detail is surprising.
After going into the Duomo we walked to the Pietra Bridge. The views were incredible. The green hills and buildings we saw from the bridge were beautiful. After standing and looking down over the bridge we went to sit beside the river. The sun was shining and we lay down and took in the scenery.

The next stop was the Giardino Giusti. The garden was nice, but because it’s winter the garden was not at its prime.

What caught my eye the most was the way the shrubbery seemed to be designed around the sculptures. Most of the sculptures couldn’t be fully appreciated since they were being covered for the winter. We were also able to climb the terrace of the garden and over look some of Verona.
After lunch we went to climb the Torre dei Lamberti, which is located in the Piazza Erbe. After 368 steps we reached the top.

Now I have climbed the Duomo in Florence, and the tower in Siena and Verona. I would love to make climbing to the highest possible thing in each city we visit a tradition. Though I enjoyed climbing the torre (tower) this experience was not my favorite. The area at the top was small, and there was a HUGE group of Asians literally running and screaming at the top. I felt as if at any moment I could get hit and get knocked over and fall!
After researching things to do in Verona we found that the night life is very popular. We headed to the Piazza Erbe after eating dinner to get a drink. The Piazza was surprisingly full considering that it was very cold outside. I found a spot next to a fire, sat down and did some people watching. It was a good end to another great day in Verona.

Verona was actually the favorite place that I have visited so far. Getting there was a little difficult, but we laugh about how our poor parents would have felt so helpless if we were to call them while we were: lost in the rain at 11:30 at night walking on the highway, seeing prostitutes, and getting a ride from a man who does not even speak our language. After getting there everything was perfect and so much fun! The city was quaint, yet touristy. It was the perfect mix and I would highly recommend traveling to Verona!

Siena Adventures

February 26th
On venerdì (Friday) some of the girls and I went to the police station to get our finger prints done for our permesso di soggiorno(permit of stay). We needed to give the police a couple passport pictures as well. I had gone to a photo shop the day before and gotten my picture taken. It truly looked like a mug shot and I felt like such a criminal as I stood in the police station getting each and every one of my ten fingers scanned. After going to the police station Bekah led us into a pet shop outside the Sansepolcro walls. Inside the store there were some adorable cucciolo (puppies) jumping up and down in the window. Being obsessed with dogs, I really wanted to buy one and bring it back to the Palazzo. Friday night we stayed in and watched Romeo and Juliet for our art history class. I went to bed early so I could get a full night of sleep and be well rested for the adventure that was in store for me the next day.
February 27th
Sabato (Saturday) morning I woke up at 6:30; the group and I were going to Siena and were catching a bus that left Sansepolcro at 7:15. Siena is a beautiful medieval walled city located in Tuscany that is about a 2 hour bus ride from Sansepolcro. After getting off our connecting bus from Arezzo, Bekah showed us the post where the bus times could be found. We were extremely lucky because the sun was shining and it was relatively warm. She then led us to the information station and I bought a 50 centesimi map. Acting as our tour guide for the beginning part of our Siena adventure, Bekah lead us into the San Domenico where Saint Catherine, the female patron saint of Italy, saw visions of Christ. There is a whole cappella (chapel) dedicated to the saint, in which her holy face is located. Next Bekah led us to the Duomo.

Surprisingly I learned that the word Duomo does not actually mean Dome. It means grand cathedral. There are many cathedrals in each city, but the grandest and largest is the Duomo. It just so happens that many of the Duomo’s actually have a dome. Bekah informed the group that at one time Siena was a very large and powerful city. Siena had planned to have the largest Duomo, which would have been bigger than the one in Florence. In 1348 the black plague came from fleas in China and killed 3/5 of the population. After the plague the people of Siena no longer had the people, power or money to construct a Duomo larger than the one in Florence.
The Cathedral was very pretty; it had three main peaks at doors. There were many sculptures and reliefs on top of the cathedral. At the very top were three peaks or pilasters that had different paintings and depictions of Jesus.
The next stop on our tour of Siena was the Piazza del Campo. Bekah told us that it is a very popular place for people to sit for lunch, after work and on the weekends. We saw couples enjoying a drink, children chasing after pigeons and some people sleeping.

We went into the Palazzo Pubblico which had beautiful art. Each room of the museum was decorated from head to toe. The ceilings were filled with detailed frescoes. I stood with my head facing the ceiling admiring the fine attention to detail, and wondering how long it would have taken to complete such a remarkable work of art. I saw Ambrogio Lorenzetti’s Allegory of a Good and Bad Government among many others.
Kim, Megan, Jess, and I went to Alfieri, a nice sandwich shop for lunch. I got a ham, cheese and tomato sandwich on delicious thick bread. After lunch we walked around; we had to let our food settle because we were going to climb and conquer the tower! After climbing the Duomo in Florence we wanted to climb this one too so we could see the city of Siena and the rolling green hills. The climb was long and tiring just like the hike of the Florence Duomo was. This time the hallways and staircases were so small and skinny that some points were hard to walk and we had to duck. I’m not sure if this top of the tower seemed higher, or what, but I was scared at the top. Once I got adjusted I was able to look at the amazing views. I took a lot of pictures, but unfortunately the pictures do not do the breathtaking views justice.

On the tower is a (campana) bell that rings every thirty minuets, and we were right under; we stayed on top of the tower for about 35 minutes, so it rang twice, and each time we jumped and screamed.
After our climb to view the Siena we went and found Bekah. She was resting and reading a book in the Piazza del Campo . Exhausted I joined her, took of my scarpe (shoes) and lay down to rest! I enjoyed the atmosphere and people watching.
The rest of the group met up with us and we all went to get gelato! Bekah had previously studied abroad in Siena so she knew the place to get the very best gelato. She took us to Kopa Kabana Gelateria. I picked one that looked pretty and got it, I can’t remember what the name was, but it tasted like almonds with raspberries on it. I liked it, and ate every last bite.
Kim, Jess and I went to the Museo Opera del Duomo which was the Museum for the Duomo in Siena. Unfourtnealty they were closing within 30 minutes, so we were practically forced to run through. We saw some really cool cloaks that the priests would have wore. They were embroidered different colors.
On the way back to the bus stop we stopped in a paper store. Some of the girls had gone in a paper store in Florence and loved it. They had been able to see the process of hand dying paper, and came back to the Palazzo Alberti with some. I stopped in and looked around and got some pens that were covered in the hand dyed paper.
Once again, we were very pleased and felt accomplished when me managed to get on the right bus, as well as the connecting bus and safely made it back to Sansepolcro. We had wanted to go out that night, but after waking up at 6:30 and walking around all day we were exhausted! I was in bed at about 11:00, and got some much needed sleep!

February 28th
Domenica (Sunday) morning I woke up and did some school work. Bekah had the idea to go on a walk so we could get some vitamin D. She took us around to some of the different churches in Sansepolcro. Though the sun was not shining it was a nice day and I was happy to be out. As we were walking from one church to another we past a park and I saw a couple making out. After visiting another church and walking passed the park again the same couple was still making out! I found it very disturbing such a public display of affection. I have never seen anything like that back in the United States and it was grossing me out. After saying “get a room” Bekah informed me that most families live in small houses together, so there really is no place to “ get a room”, so most couples will just go to public places. She also informed us that most families live in buildings that house anywhere from 2 to 4 families. This is much different than most of the neighbor hoods where I am from which are single family homes.
I love pasta and could eat it every day, but I have been craving a nice juicy cheeseburger. I made it my mission to find a good cheeseburger. I was told to go to Compass Rose which is an Irish pub here in Sansepolcro. I was so excited to go and get my much desired burger, but I was very disappointed when I found out that it was closed for the day. Jess, Kelsey and I remembered seeing a sign for cheeseburger over by the bus stop so we walked over there to get one. I ordered it and was very excited to get back to the Palazzo and eat it. I am pretty sure that I was not eating a regular cheeseburger; I think that it might have been a lamb-cheeseburger. It was not good, and it was a major let down. Hopefully next time I go to Compass Rose it will be open and my craving can be fulfilled. I will keep you posted on my mission for a good cheeseburger!