L'arte dell'improvvisazone

It happened. I had my first bad day (well, morning) in Florence. It was just one of those everything-is-going-wrong-i miss-my-Mom-so-much-I-want-to-cry kind of mornings. About time too, I was beginning to think this day would never come, and how realistic would that be? Florence is home now; I've settled in, memorized my favorite pathways, seen all of the top tourists sites, decided on a favorite gilato flavor (yogurt and Nutella is the best!!), and at home you have good days and bad days and thats just the way it goes...

Long story short my roommate and I signed up to go on a Best of Tuscany wine and cheese tasting tour today. We made it to the train station 10 minutes too late and the group was no where to be found. Trying very hard to stay positive through the situation, we decided to get breakfast at The Diner, which serves classic American dishes like pancakes and burgers (whenever something goes wrong it's comforting to cling to something familiar). The Diner supposedly opens at 9 every morning but, in true Italian fashion, when we got there the opener said to try back in an hour because the cooks were still sleeping. In Florence, hours of operation are more like approximate suggestions. At that point I was pretty disappointing in the direction the day had gone, and all before 9:30 in the morning!!

In yet another attempt to stay positive, my roommate Astrid and I grabbed coffee and croissants and sat at the Loggia dei Lanzi in the Piazza della Signoria, and that is where our luck began to change. It began with the cutest little old Italian couple you could ever meet. The pair was so sweet and witty and still so visibly in love. The couple lifted our spirits and gave us hope in more than just the rest of our day. The adorable couple led to great discussions of love, family, the past, the unforeseen future, and the decision to attend mass at the Duomo. During mass, which was centered around Christ as the bread of life, it hit me- I am exactly where I am supposed to be. It's easy to get caught up in the fast-paced lifestyle of the city and the so-much-to-see-so-little-time mentality that comes with traveling abroad. With so many things biding for my attention it's easy to get distracted. Everything we have comes from Him, and every now and then I need to be reminded of that.

"Io sono il pane vivo, discenso dal cielo. Se uno mangia di questo pane vivra in eterna" -John 6:51

Today was a good practice in an ancient Florentine pastime, L'arte dell'improvvisazone (the art of improvisation).  Going with the flow, making lemonade, practicing patience- all acts Florentines are especially skilled in. Luckily, this city has so much to offer that when plans go awry there is always another train you can catch, another cafe to eat at, another museum to see. Instead of touring the country side I spent the day bonding with my roommate, dwelling in the presence of the Lord, staring at Botticelli's Birth of Venus, and wandering around this beautiful, spontaneous city.

A city of paradox and contradiction

In the short time I have been in Italy I have witnessed several political protests. All are peaceful and most are actually quite playful. In Italy it seems as though protests are quite common. Unlike in the States, counter protests are not widely practiced. In the U.S., if there is a pro-choice protest on one side of the street, you will most likely find a group of pro-lifers on the other side of the street. This is not the case in Italy, at least not that I have seen. It seems as though the right to protest is more respected, and even encouraged, here in Italy.

Just yesterday I was people-watching on the Ponte Vecchio when I suddenly found myself in the middle of a flash mob, Florentines love their flash mobs- apparently  they are very trendy at the moment. At the sound of a whistle, blown by a skinny older gentleman with long grey hair dressed in neon pink pants and a skin-tight black tank top (stylin!), about thirty high schoolers all laid down at the same time and held up signs. From what I gathered they were preaching peace and nonconformity. It was interesting to see young teens gathered together on a Sunday for such a matter. It is my observation that youth are more politically conscious than in the United States. Which makes sense in a country where governments collapsing out of nowhere is a common occurrence. One must always be on guard. After lying on the ground for a few minutes chanting the crowd rose and began to dance in a circle as someone played "Don't worry, be happy." I believe the chant began "Il pueblo murido..." and then continued. Something about a Dead village? Possibly about Florence losing the essence of a small town and selling out to be more "Italian" for all of the tourists? Maybe, but I'll never know. Whatever the reason, the location choice was notably peculiar as the Ponte Vecchio is a known tourist spot and the point of the protest was ultimately lost in translation. 

A much more structured form of protest occurred while I was in Rome. We happened to have traveled to the Eternal City on the weekend of the Euro Pride Parade, Europe's largest gay pride event. Streets were shut down and filled to the brim with party floats and party people. Of course Gaga was there in all of her glory. From the outside looking in, I could not help but notice the irony of the whole situation. Drag queens dressed in Egyptian costumes dancing to "Born this Way" just 20ft from the already controversial Pope John Paul II sculpture next to Romes Termini train station. Churches, crosses, and Christian sculptors provide the backdrop to people holding anti-Pope signs and penis balloons. Italy is truly a land of "paradox and contradiction."

We've been sons of confort, but we will not be parents of conformity.

Flash mob protest on the Ponte Vecchio

Gay pride parade- Rome

Roman Holiday

Confession: I have been avoiding the blogosphere because I am simply so overwhelmed with thoughts and ideas and memories worth sharing that the task of actually putting them into words has become a very daunting thought. But if I put this off any longer I might just explode, so here goes nothing....
Lets start with Rome, the eternal city, simple enough right? Wrong! I am beyond words when it comes to describing how I felt in this city, but I promise I will give it a good try.

Megan and I at the Trevi Fountain

Jordi and I in front of the Colosseum

Dinner at Dolce Vita

Meeting up with my beautiful friend! We've been with each other in 2 foreign countries. Where to next Megs?

Can you see him???

Our journey into the city actually began in a different country, Vatican City. We toured the Vatican in a big tourist group complete with a tour guide and headsets. Yes, the same kind of group I try desperately to avoid in Florence but secretly eavesdrop on to get bits of historical information. But, since I don't live in Rome, I figured who cares about walking around with a big "I'm not from her!" stamp on my forehead? It was actually quite fun playing the shameless tourist role for a bit, and very informative as well. The Sistine Chapel was an experience all its own. Inside the Chapel there is no talking and photography is prohibited. I'm not quite sure what the motives are behind these rules; is it out of respect for God? to protect the art? to ensure you get the full spiritual experience? Whatever the reason, silence in a room packed with hundreds of people surrounded by some of the most famous art in the world, all of which centers on God was...was...awesome, for lack of a better word. St. Peter's Basilica was grand and the gorgeous day was the perfect backdrop when looking back at the Vatican from the Piazza San Pietro.
The highlight of my first day in Rome was spending a few precious hours with my friend Megan from back home. She had been in Rome with family for about seven days and was very excited to be with me while I saw some of Rome's biggest attractions for the first time. Together we crossed the Tyber river and passed by the Pantheon on our way to our first destination, the Piazza Navona. We ate brucheta, carbonara (a pasta dish made with bacon and eggs that Rome is known for-delicious!) and drank red wine at an outdoor restaurant called Dolce Vita. Basically, we were in a typical "Roman Holiday"-like movie scene atmosphere for about two hours. We talked about Italy, home, Jesus, and everything in between. It was so comforting to see a familiar face. And what did we do next you ask? Oh we just got some gilato and strolled over to the Trevi Fountain where we ate, talked, sat in awe, and, of course, through a coin in. Traditionally, you are supposed to throw in 3 coins, one to ensure a return to Rome, a second to find your true love, and a third for marriage. I threw in one. I don't want to be greedy, I just want to come back some day....
My first day in Rome is vivid; clear as day. The next two, however, are a bit blurry. The Colosseum, the Spanish Steps, Roman ruins, The Ecstasy of St. Theresa,  mass outside the Vatican on Sunday morning, listening to the Pope address and bless the people, riding with my friends around the most beautiful park, drinking as much of Rome's refreshing water as possible. It was bliss. I really, really hope that coin was lucky.

This City

I can't believe I have only been in Florence for 4 days. It feels like I have been here for a couple weeks at least. In the past four days I have moved into an apartment much larger than I had anticipated, attended my first week of classes (and managed to be on time only once), I ate gelato, enjoyed my first Italian 4-course meal, tried gnocchi for the first time, saw the Duomo and the Boboli Gardens, I've spoken English, Italian, and even Russian, and have gladly enjoyed Italian wine. The adventures have only just begun....there is so much more of Florence and Italy to see. Much of this week was spent planning and budgeting, as is necessary for us college students. The planning and sight-seeing is great, but I find that I am most content when I am just sitting, usually people-watching, relishing in how at home I feel.
Before I left for Italy I had a lot of reluctance towards the concept of blogging. I felt that sharing intimate details of my experience would somehow make it less genuine. Now I realize that this is all just too much for one ragazza to keep to herself. I want to share my thoughts, my feeling, my pictures! I want to shout it from the rooftops (the terrace on the 5th floor will do) just how amazing this city is!

The Arno River- I cross it every day on my way to school.

The view from my window on the 4th floor. Vespas, accordion music, and passersby can be heard at any time of the day or night.

Our first real adventure, The Boboli Gardens in the Pitti Palace. They provide so much more than greenery! Lovers lie closely on the grass, artists find the perfect place to sketch, and everyone enjoys a breath-taking view of the city.