This morning I allowed myself to sleep in. I knew that I would need it, and even when I did wake up, I didn't want to get up! However, I could see that it was a BEAUTIFUL day outside and I didn't want to waste it! I got up, got dressed, got all of my stuff together (big camera, other lens, map, little camera, etc.), and then I went to eat breakfast before I left. Thank goodness all I ate this morning was one of those weird yogurts and a small piece of packaged toast with some strawberry jelly on it. I also had some tea with it. Then I made sure I had everything I would need for the day and I was off. Granted this was at like 10:30, but oh well. I was draaaaaaaagging this morning. Also, on the table this morning they had Special K. They offered me some, but I was already eating the yogurt...I mean how much do they think I can squeeze in my stomach?!? However, the yogurt is growing on me!
After all of that, I left. Of course, I went the WRONG way, which turned out to be okay because I "ran" back upstairs (4 very looong flights of marble stairs) to get my other knee thing, juuuust in case I needed it. Then, I went back and went the RIGHT way this time. I began walking, but stopped in the park near the apartment that has a pond like thing and talked to my momma who had called me on the crazy cell phone that had been telling me I had no credits, when I had done nothing to spend them. I was going to walk the path to school to make sure I could get there tomorrow, but after I navigated the hard part, I just veered from my path and started exploring.
The first thing I went and saw was Piazza San Marco. The BEST part of this was walking into Basilica della Santissima Annunziata. It was breathtaking...and most of the other people were taking pictures, so I did too (without flash of course).
As I was taking a few pictures outside, all of the sudden my camera didn't work. I was having a MINOR...ok major heart attack. Then I saw the error message that the memory card was full. So, seeing as how I had not anticipated this, I did not have another memory card and I really wanted to use my fancy camera. So, I did something I NEVER do. I deleted some pictures from the memory card!! However, after that I was on my way and ready to see and do more things. I started walking towards il duomo and I walked into the coolest stores. I went into two stationary type stores. One was okay, but the second had the marbleized (sp??) stationary that I looked at online the other day. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL!!!! They had stationary, journals, little drawer thingys, notebooks, binders, and they even had pens that you have to dip in the ink (I almost died). They also had the stamps that seal your letters with wax. The Jane Austen era freak inside me was dying for one of these pens and one of the stamps...to go along with some fancy stationary so that I could write letters; something I truly love to do, but do not get to do often enough. However, I noted the name of the store and I remember that it was next to the duomo, so if I decide that before I leave, I truly need any of these things, I know where to get them.After this, I went to the phone store to buy more minutes and see if I could get some questions answered. Unfortunately, it was a female...and NOT a nice one!! Thankfully an Italian man that was in there doing something for his phone was kind enough to speak English to me and Italian to her so that she would help me. So, I purchased some more minutes, found out my phone number, and then I was able to call home and my momma's cell phone.
Then I was on my way again. By this time though it was like 12:30 or so and I was hungry. This morning I threw one of my lunch vouchers in my purse just in case the place they are valid was open. I figured this would save me some spending money! Plus, it was new to me. I went there and had a very real "Eat, Pray, Love moment". I dont mind eating by myself, but this was a little weird. It reminded me of the scene from the movie where she sits down at the table with the spaghetti and paper; if only I'd had the paper, but should I ever need to eat alone again, I will bring a newspaper with me. Anyway, so the lunch voucher is good for a an appetizer (antipasti) and first OR second course. So, I chose the grilled vegetables as my antipasti and the gnocchi con pomodoro for my "main" food. Turns out that the vegetables were very thinly sliced eggplan, zucchini, half of a tomato, and some onion. I ate all of the eggplant, zucchini, and some of the tomato (which was done with oil and stuff...very good). The gnocchi was good too! I ate about half of it. I dont know how any Italians are thing...they must have the most amazing metabolisms in the world. However, I ate what I felt was a reasonable amount, and then moved on. Now, at this point I wanted to use their bathroom since it is permissible as a customer. This was going to be my first "real" experience with a public bathroom (the ones at the school were nice). This one was clean though and did not smell bad. However, there was no real toilet seat. I also used my own toilet paper (Charmin to go) because the toilet paper looked bad...though I did take a piece of it to feel...dont laugh at me...it was rough. Even the toilet paper here at the apartment is rough...I dont know how Itailans do that!!!! If I ever moved here for any reason, I'd have American toilet paper shipped to me.
Yes, I took a picture...are any of you reeeeeeally surprised!?!?!?
Next on my list was to go back to the Ponte Vecchio area and walk around the water and explore the other side of the river. I took some pictures of the Ponte Vecchio and walked along the water. The weather has been simply AMAZING!!!! It has been just under 70 degrees, but with so much gorgeous sunshine and only a light breeze that keeps you from sweating in your coat. Walking and exploring a city alone never bothered me (for those who knew me while I was in NYC, you already know this), and it doesn't bother me here either except that there is no one to take my picture in front of things. I love pictures of the things themselves, but sometimes I want to be in the picture. However, I am hopeful that Fiona can fill this role for me at some point. I spent a good amount of time just walking and looking at the beautiful buildings and taking some pictures. Then, I decided to stop and try my first real Italian gelato at a place that Fiona recommended. I got the smallest one and you could get two flavors, so I got caffe and panna cotta (Panna cotta (from Italian cooked cream) is an Italian dessert made by simmering together cream, milk and sugar, mixing this with gelatin, and letting it cool until set. It is generally from the Northern Italian region of Piemonte, although it is eaten all over Italy, where it is served with wild berries, caramel, chocolate sauce or fruit coulis. After years this treat evolved into what is now a gelatin dessert, flavored with vanilla and topped with fruit or spices, and served chilled). I sat on a window sill and ate it so that I didn't walk into anyone while trying to eat and navigate these streets. The gelato was SOOOOOO good! It was very creamy, but not too heavy! It was nice that I had been walking all day and therefore, I didn't feel too unhealthy eating it.
Once I had finished I started walking again. I saw some beautiful things. I saw piazza s. spirito where there was a beautiful church. Then i just happen to come upon Piazza De Pitti, where I saw the most beautiful building, which is a museum (so hopefully I will go back soon). There was this huge area out in front that people were sitting and children were running around and playing. It was so cool...and the perfect day to enjoy it. I sat down for a few minutes, but at this point I was starting to make my way back to the apartment because I wanted to use a clean bathroom (and it would be close to 4:30 before I got back). As I walked I saw some stores that I definitely want to go back and explore. They had an "Italian Apparel" just like our American Apparel. There were some other stores, but I know right where they are and I will definitely be going back tomorrow or Thursday. I essentially power walked from the Ponte Vecchio to the apartment, which was not easy in the crowded streets. However, I enjoyed it. It's kind of like walking in New York; everywhere you look there is something to look at and enjoy as you walk.
When I got back, I relaxed for a few minutes, wrote a few emails, and let me feet rest. Gabriella made me some tea and brought it to me on a tray and everything. It was such a beautiful presentation. However, I decided that I did not just want to sit in the apartment. Soooo I went back to the park close to the house with the pond. I took my books and my bible study. I decided to start my bible study, Chase the Lion, that I am doing with Erin. While at the park I saw the most disgusting make out session ever...I was seriously just glad that they still had their clothes on. However, it was a beautiful evening to be sitting on the park bench studying about how God wants me to take risks in life for Him and using the gifts that He has given me. As it got later, it got colder. So I came to a stopping point in the chapter and walked back to the apartment. Oh, while I was at the park I saw my first firetruck...they are soooo tiny!!! They make that same noise as the ambulances, but they are sooo short!!!! It was funny to see it!!
Now that I am back, I have just been writing my blog, and looking at facebook. Oh, and I also finished the first chapter of the Bible study (Erin, it is soo good and is going to be PERFECT for us). There are a lot of people for dinner from the sound of things going on in the apartment. The thing I hate the most is that one of the men was smoking down near the kitchen. I thought I had been smelling some smoke over the past few days, but I thought, "surely not because the school told me that this was a non-smoking situation." SMOKING MAKES ME SICK!!! It makes my chest hurt, and I am pretty sure that's why I woke up with a weird feeling throat/chest this morning. If Italians want to kill themselves with smoking, fine. I DO NOT WANT TO BREATHE IN YOUR NASTY SMOKE...however, I should say that my VERY strong feelings do not apply to just the Italians...they apply to every smoker I have ever known! Did you ever stop to think about others feel when they have to breathe in your nasty cigarette smoke?!?!? WE HATE IT!!
Okay, I am getting off my soapbox, for now! I am nervous about dinner. It makes me nervous that I cannot communicate very well. I get so nervous and the perfectionist side of me takes over and says, "if you cannot speak well, dont speak at all." How do I make this go away?!? I am hoping that once I am back in class and being reminded of what I do know, that it will make dinner time with the family go a lot better. I feel like an idiot and I feel like they think I am an idiot. Am I being too hard on myself?!?!?!? I so desperately want to communicate. I suppose that I will leave off here and go study a few words/phrases and pick up the rest of the blog after dinner. This should be interesting...I hear more and more voices!!!
Well, so far, tonight's dinner was the weirdest. It was like fondu...but just the meat! I had a very small piece of chicken and a very small piece of meat that I think was steak. Oh and it started off with pasta and tomato sauce...dont they know that is a meal enough for me!?!? I only ate a few noodles; enough to satisfy them, though really I dont think they would be satisfied unless I ate the whole thing. Then there was potatoes with waht I think was a weird zucchini. They were cooked and so soft...so yummy! Then there was....well I had a nectarine (I think). THe dessert was GROSS!!! I already forgot the name, but it had raisins and pine nuts...YUCK...whatever else was in it made it taste horrible!! Dinner was all three sisters (Guenda...the daugher that lives here, Guia, and the other one whose name I am unsure of, but she has the precious little girl, Matilde), then there was Lorenzo (who judging by the fact that he came out of Guenda's room this morning is probably her boyfriend...at least now I know), and the other sister's husband, Stefano, and me and Gabriella (the mom/nonna). It was good, but I just cannot handle all of this food! I'm so surprised that at almost 11 o'clock, that Matilde (who is not 2 years old yet) is still awake and running the hallways.
So, now I've eaten (too much), prayed (bible study...and other times of the day), and I've loved Italy!!
Right before dinner I took this beautiful picture from my window:
Tomrrow is the first official day of class. WISH ME LUCK...though by the time most of you read this, I will have already been to class and gotten out! :)
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