Entry 10: December 11, 2011
The end. A day that none of us thought it would come to. 99 days sounds like such a long time, that how could it possibly fly by as fast as it did? Somehow, through the height of the excitement, adventure, studying, and learning, twelve Meredith College women shared an experience that will continue to link us together for the rest of our lives.

On our last excursion we rented a bus and headed to Ravenna, a beautiful, small town about two hours away from Sansepolcro. Ravenna is known for its Byzantine mosaics, and it didn’t disappoint. The Basilica di San Vitale had mosaics of Justinian and Theodora, floor mosaics, high ceilings that seemed to stretch on forever. Right outside of the Basilica is the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia. Inside, are the most astounding mosaics I have ever seen. In a deep blue that glittered in the light, the night sky is portrayed on the ceiling, and the walls are covered in designs and scenes in the same vibrant colors. Next, was the Sant’Apollinare Nuovo which was a large church, whose aisles are now empty, has mosaics with 13 panels on each wall, depicting Christ’s miracles and parables on the left wall, and the Passion and Resurrection on the right wall. We also went into the Battistero Neoniano, yet another place with Byzantine mosaics.

While walking around Ravenna, we even found a school where they teach people how to make mosaics. We were able to talk to a girl who was working there that had been studying mosaics, and how to restore them, for eight years. Last of all, we explored a couple of other museums that had relics from many different centuries which was very interesting to look at.

The following Thursday was Thanksgiving, a holiday I was so happy to be able to celebrate with all of my new friends and my family, who had flown in on Wednesday. It was one I will always remember! We had so much delicious food and there was so much talking and laughing and crying that the evening seemed to fly by. We sang a song, made hand turkeys, and read to the Italians why Thanksgiving was so important to America. Both of the teachers I have been working with for the Service Learning project were able to attend as well as the family Katy Kingsbury and I had had dinner with. I was thrilled that not only was I able to show my family the entire town, but I was able to introduce them to all of the wonderful people I had met. The next morning, my family and I got up and headed to Florence for the weekend. I still remembered where most things were and have traveled enough that I was confident in leading my family around the city. We climbed the Duomo (so many steps!), explored the Palazzo Vecchio, crossed the Ponte Vecchio, shopped in the San Lorenzo market, and went to the Uffizi, the Pitti Palace, and the Santa Croce Basilica. Most importantly, we ate lots and lots of gelato! I had such a great time exploring Florence again; this time through the eyes of my parents. Last time I was in Florence, I had only been in Italy for three weeks and it was my first traveling experience so it was wonderful to get to go back; especially as my last trip!

This last week has been a roller-coaster of emotions. It is so difficult to say goodbye to my life in Sansepolcro, to leave such a beautiful place. I will miss how easy it was to travel anywhere and everywhere every weekend. However, as my time here draws to a close, another chapter of my life will begin. I am looking forward to getting home, sharing my experience with others, seeing friends and family, and eating all that American food I have been missing. I have learned and grown so much this semester and will never forget the lessons my time here has taught me. I am so thankful for the opportunities I have been given. I will treasure all of the memories I have made. However, I know that this will not be my last time in Europe; I will come back to Sansepolcro one day!

 

Entry 9:  11/21/11

BARCELONA

It seems like we had just arrived back in Sansepolcro from our last trip when we were packing up our stuff to go to Barcelona, Spain. For me, Spain was the first country I had been to out of Italy, and only the third country I had ever stepped foot into. Shorter than many flights between states in the U.S., the flight from Rome to Barcelona was only an hour and half, which only reaffirmed how easily one can travel between countries in Europe.

While we were checking into our hostel, we noticed a sign for a guided tour car. With the “GoCar,” we would be able to drive around Barcelona (two people per car) and see everything before deciding what to go back to. So, we spent our Friday afternoon driving these tiny little scooter-cars seeing the amazing sites that Barcelona has to offer. We drove past the Sagrada Familia, the Christopher Columbus statue, the ocean, which we were able to stop and put our hands into, and through winding streets that have a mysterious charm that the United States is simply not old enough to have.

That evening, we went to the Magic Fountain to see its show. We didn’t know what to expect from it, but we certainly weren’t expecting the magnificent display that we were mesmerized by for almost an hour. The water would shoot up at least two stories and there were changing lights and background music. I felt like I was in Disney World with the amount of excitement in the air. It felt even more like it since it was so much warmer than it is in Sansepolcro. After the Magic Fountain, we went to a Spanish restaurant where we had an exquisite meal of chicken, and potatoes, and paella.

On Saturday, we were able to experience the market. It was interesting to compare it to the ones we have been to in Italy. In Barcelona, it seemed like almost every booth had handcrafted jewelry, belts, purses, etc. Needless to say, we enjoyed it! After shopping, we went to the statue of Christopher Columbus where we were able to ride an elevator to the top. From there, we had a bird’s eye view of all of Barcelona. When we got back to the ground, we realized that there wasn’t enough time for us to do everything we wanted to. So, we decided what we wanted to see most, and split off to do so.

Katy and I had become intrigued by the architect Gaudi and spent the afternoon traveling from one “Gaudi site” to the next. We were able to see the park he created, where the world’s longest bench is, his house, and another house he designed. It was all so unrealistic. His creations are completely out of this world and look more like they belong in a Dr. Seuss book. Many of the sculptures, and the even the bench, were covered in mosaics. At one end of the park was Gaudi’s home, which has a striking resemblance to a gingerbread house. On the inside, the house is electric blue. In another part of the city is the house that Gaudi designed, which stands out as you are walking down the street. However, it’s not until you get inside that you get the full effect of the genius of Gaudi. There are no straight lines anywhere which makes the rhythm of the ocean theme that much more distinguishable. What makes the building even more amazing is that there was no blueprint for it, only a model. Last of all, Gaudi was a very forward thinker in that he knew how to capture light and allow air flow throughout the entire building. So, the house is not only unique in looks, but also in function.

In the evening, we went to another Spanish restaurant before experiencing a little bit of the famous Barcelona night life. We met people in our hostel from all over the world and even met some from close to home, good old UNC Chapel Hill. One of my favorite experiences of traveling is getting to meet new people and hear their stories. The more I travel, the more I realize just how small the world is and how people are really not that different, no matter what country. And the effect of all that is that it just makes me want to travel that much more!

Entry 8: November 14, 2011

The Amalfi Coast

The South of Italy is seems like a different country than the Center and North. The streets are lined with palm trees, the ocean is a couple minute walk away and in the distance, you can see the Alps. On our travel break, we went to Sorrento, Capri, and Pompeii; three of the most well-known cities on the Amalfi Coast.

Sorrento is a small, beautiful town located on the Amalfi coast about an hour and a half drive from Naples, which we found out the hard way since there was a train strike. So, instead of taking the train as planned, we had to take a taxi through the dangerous streets of Naples. The driving was like nothing I have ever experienced before; people, scooters, and cars all squeezing across and down streets that in America, would be considered one-way. Thankfully, we made it to Sorrento in one piece!

Soon after we arrived in Sorrento, we decided that that afternoon would be the best time to visit Capri, a beautiful island that many V.I.P.s go to for vacation. The panorama of the cliffs and the mountains against the water was simply breathtaking. We took the bus all around the island and explored and shopped all afternoon. Unfortunately, the cave that people take boats into was already closed so we were not able to do it. However, we did have fresh lemonade and a snack at a tiny café on the side of the cliff near the cave. While I enjoyed the scenery and the town immensely, if I ever have a chance to go back, I will make sure to go a month or two earlier so that all of the neat activities the island offers will be open.

On Saturday morning we got up bright and early and headed to Mt. Vesuvius. We were able to get a trolley ride half way up and then we had to hike the rest of the way to the crater. From the top, we could see for miles and miles. We could walk half way around the crater, which looked like someone took a giant shovel and simply took a chunk out of the top. It really hit me that it was a volcano when I saw that part of the crater’s wall was smoking. There were also a couple of small gift shops that sold jewelry and small statues made out of lava rock along the trail where I was able to buy some keepsakes.

After Vesuvius, we went to the ruins in Pompeii. It was incredible to see what is left of the once thriving, great city. Andie and I were able to wander around and take pictures of what used to be houses, markets, baths, shops, etc. What is left is just portions of walls and a few columns. It’s hard to imagine the beautiful frescos and vibrant life that inhabited Pompeii such a long time ago. It was a chance of a lifetime to get to visit it!

Visiting Sorrento, Capri, and Pompeii was an eye-opening, amazing experience. The South has such a different atmosphere than Tuscany. The beauty of the dropping cliffs, the crystal clear water, and the looming mountain range can only be diminished by the crowded, run-down, and sometimes dirty, cities that are located in their midst And yet, they all come together to create something  magic in a way that only Italy can do. Just like Cornhuskin, it is something you just have to experience!

 

 

 

 

Entry 7: November 7, 2011
Goodbye October… Hello November!

October came and went even faster than September did. Once we fell into the pattern of our daily life in Tuscany, the weeks began flying by at an alarming rate. Already, I have had experiences that I will remember the rest of my life. Every Monday I teach in an elementary school, and this weekend I ate dinner with a local family, visited Anghiari, and went to Siena, and had a fantastic Halloween.

As a part of our Italy Today course, we do a service learning project where we work every Monday for a couple hours in English classes. I work in an elementary school with second and third graders. Both classes are very well behaved and love the English language. Also, both teachers are wonderful women that speak English very well. The third graders are working on the alphabet and spelling, while the second graders are working on classroom objects, colors, and numbers. We have done two weeks of Halloween activities that the children all love. The second graders even learned the script to a short Halloween dialogue. To be able to learn about the Italian school system by actively participating in it is an incredible opportunity that I am glad I am getting to take advantage of.

Another opportunity that we have been given this semester is to be able to eat a couple of dinners with local family. This past Friday was our first one. Katy Kingsbury and I ate with a very nice family that had a daughter in seventh grade, and a son in sixth grade. The whole family spoke a little bit of English and Katy and I were able to practice our Italian. Although, it got tricky when the topic changed to movies since we didn’t know the Italian titles and they didn’t know the English titles. However, after a bit of charades we were able to get our messages across!

On Friday afternoon we were able to take a bus for the afternoon up to Anghiari, a small walled city on the side of a mountain about fifteen minutes away from Sansepolcro. We wandered around the town and visited its garden on the edge of town that had the best view of the valley as well as mountains in the distance. On our way out of town, a lady stopped us and asked us if we liked chocolate, which of course we answered yes, so she took us to her shop where she made all types of chocolate from scratch. It was delicious!

On Saturday, Andie’s parents drove her and me to Siena for the day. Siena was absolutely gorgeous. We visited its main piazza, the Piazza del Campo, which is semi-circle shaped for a reason that is still debated today. Some say it is shaped like the protecting cloak of the Virgin. On the far end of the piazza is the Torre del Mangia which has five hundred steps to the top. Unfortunately, it was sold out so we weren’t able to climb it. After the piazza, we went to the Duomo and its museum. We were able to climb to the top of a lookout point which was almost as high as the tower. The view was absolutely beautiful as we could see for miles and miles. Once we got back down, we entered into the cathedral, which is made of inlaid white, black, green, and pink marble. The columns were all striped and the floor was covered in intricate scenes and designs.

October 31we hosted a Halloween party in the palazzo. We decorated the entire top floor with spider webs, streamers, and balloons. We had arts and crafts, cornhole, musical chairs, and lots of refreshments. Many children from our classes came dressed up and we all had a fantastic time!

 

 

Entry 6: November 1, 2011
Living in Italy for two months has already begun to change and help me grow as an individual. I have experienced things in the past couple of months that very few can say they have in a lifetime. When I first decided to join this program I thought only of how cool it would be to live in Italy and see all of the famous artwork and cities I had heard, learned, and dreamed about. Living here, I’ve learned that it is much more than that. Instead of feeling like a traveler with an extended stay, I have come to love and cherish Sansepolcro as a second home.

To be able to travel on the weekends is one of my favorite parts of studying abroad. This past weekend was an especially great opportunity because Andie’s parents visited and were renting a car. On Saturday they drove Andie, Katy, and me to Lucca and then to Pisa. Lucca was a beautiful walled city that sits between the mountains and reminded me a lot of Sansepolcro but was a bit larger and had an extensive grassy area around the wall. We were able to explore the town, go to its market, and eat at a delicious restaurant. We also saw Lucca’s clock tower, which is still its original height, the San Michele Cathedral, and the Duomo di San Martino. Both of the churches were beautifully decorated with green, gray, and white marble in a Romanesque style. There is also a stream that runs through a channel in the center of the city.

After Lucca, we kept driving on up to Pisa. We went straight to the Campo dei Miracoli where the Duomo, the Battistero, and the Leaning Tower are located. The famous three marble structures are even more majestic in real life than they are in pictures. All of our pictures of us “pushing” the Leaning tower look like we are simply standing in front of a backdrop instead of standing in front of the real thing. Since we hadn’t booked climbing Leaning Tower ahead of time, we did not think we would be able to. However, Mr. Stuber would not take no for an answer so he went and found someone to ask about getting tickets. Luckily, there were still tickets available so Andie, Mr. Stuber, and I got to climb to the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. It was a crazy experience because as soon as you began to climb, you began to feel the tilt of the building. By the time we reached the top we felt like we were leaning sideways. We managed to get there right at sunset so we were able to take gorgeous pictures. The view was absolutely breathtaking! It was an experience I will never forget.

On Sunday, we were able to go the Chocolate Festival in Perugia. The city is up on a hill so we had to climb a lot of stairs as well as take multiple flights of escalators to get up to it. On the way up, there was a little turn off that led to the most amazing view of Tuscany. Since we were high up on the mountain you could see a panorama of the valley. When we finally reached the top, the Chocolate Festival was waiting to greet us. It was the last day it was open so we had to take advantage of such a great opportunity! However, it seemed like all of Tuscany had gotten that idea since the streets were so packed it was hard to move from one booth to the next at some points. We were able to try many different types of chocolate, ranging from chocolate in ice cream cones to chocolate that can only be compared to hot pudding. There were even chocolate dog treats!

After experiencing all things chocolate in Perugia, we then headed to Assisi. Before reaching the walled part of the city, which is even higher up on the mountain, there is the Basilica di San Angeli which is a stunning, extremely large, church that has a holy gold statue at the top. Inside, the walls are covered in frescos and paintings. Like all other churches, it was breathtaking and moving. Next, we drove up to the main portion of the city. Since we were all so tired from all of our traveling, we stayed in our car, and accidentally, drove through all of the narrow, winding streets at dusk. Up on an even higher hill, the remnants of a castle were visible. Assisi is a small town that has a lot of history, like every other city in Italy, and has undergone many trials. It has withstood the test of time, including earthquakes. It was such a great experience to get to see it!

Overall, we have done a wonderful amount of traveling the past two months. I have now gone to almost every major city in Italy and multiple small cities. I have learned how to use the public transportation and how to find my way around a foreign city. To be able to say that I have done all of those things and so much more is such a great accomplishment to me. I know that I will remember, be thankful, and carry these experiences with me for the rest of my life.

Entry 5
Venice and Verona
At 4:30 a.m. we began our journey to Venice, one of the most beautiful, romantic cities in Italy. Unfortunately, due to some unexpected delays, we did not reach the “floating city” until almost 2:00 p.m. Our first view when we stepped out of the train station was of the sparkling Grand Canal teeming with waterbuses, personal boats, and gondolas. It was magical.

After checking into our hostel, which used to be a palace that Casanova visited, we decided to explore Venice. It isn’t as big as many of the other main cities such as Rome and Florence and is much more like a maze than a grid. There are canals that wind throughout the city that it seems only locals know about. Boats are the only mode of transportation; they are even used for collecting trash. Many of the houses were right on the water with their front doors opening literally into the canal. With all of these aspects, it is easy to see that Venice is an extremely unique city.

We went to the Piazza San Marco, which is the main square in Venice where the main market, Basilicadi San Marco, and the Palazzo Ducale are. The Basilica di San Marco was beautiful and was completely decorated with Byzantine style mosaics. Therefore, there was a lot of gold! The Palazzo Ducale was huge and ornately decorated. There were vast rooms that reminded me of the cartoon Anastasia movie from my childhood.

We began our Saturday with a gondola ride through the Grand Canal and backstreets of Venice. We saw Marco Polo’s house, Casanova’s house, where they filmed The Italian Job, and Casino Royale. It was a beautiful, but very cold ride and was an experience that I will remember for the rest of my life. Afterwards, we headed to the Peggy Guggenheim Museum which is full of modern art that Peggy Guggenheim had collected throughout her life. In the afternoon we took a waterbus over to the island of Murano; the home of glass making. It was a quaint island full of glass shops with everything from chandeliers to earrings. Overall, Venice was one of the most gorgeous, peaceful, romantic cities I have ever seen.

Early Sunday morning, we took a train to Verona, the home of Romeo and Juliet. We got to Juliet’s house soon after it opened, so there was no crowd. There is a statue of Juliet under the balcony that can be seen from the gateway. As you walk through the tunnel into the courtyard, there is graffiti all over the walls with lovers names scribbled in every available spot. Unfortunately, this is no longer permitted. It was also disappointing to find out that the Juliet’s house that was used in Letters to Juliet is not the actual house that you can visit in Verona. In the movie, people are able to write letters to Juliet and stick them to the wall. In reality, you can do that in the house, but not in the courtyard. The rest of the day we just wandered around Verona and saw many of its other well-known structures, such as the Roman Arena. It was a beautiful, small, romantic city. It was such a great experience to be able to walk around the two most romantic, ancient cities in Italy in one weekend.

With the statue of Juliet in Verona

All of us in the gondola on the Grand Canal

Sunset near San Marco's square on the Grand Canal

Entry 4
As of October 12, we have been living in Sansepolcro for 44 days. In five days we will be halfway through our study abroad experience. To sum up everything I have learned so far would be impossible to do. However, I can give a small glimpse of how drastically my life has changed since arriving in Tuscany.

In my first travel journal, I described how similar Italy seemed to be to America. On the surface, Italy gives a false since of familiarity to Americans, but as time goes on, subtle differences begin to appear. First, in stores and restaurants it is not part of the workers’ jobs to greet, help, or simply be courteous. Instead, waiters and store clerks will ignore you for an extended period of time. When they do come to help or take your order, they are blunt and expect you to be ready. For example, when Andie, Katy, and I went to a restaurant in Rome, it took our waiter fifteen minutes to come to our table. When he finally did, he immediately asked for our order. Waiters do not “check” on the table while you are eating and will come by again only once you signal that you are ready for the check. In addition, you don’t tip in restaurants. You pay a “coperto” or a tax for sitting at the table.

Another difference is how Italians spend their free time as well as their “hours of operation.” The favorite past-time of Italians of all ages seems to be walking up and down the main street. There, they find friends, talk, and walk until the late hours of the night. Monday night is the only night that they abandon the streets. The reason for this is a mystery to me. Also, every afternoon between (approximately) 1-4pm, the main street closes down for a “siesta.”

In America, pedestrians have the “right of way.” That is not so in Italy. Cars will zip through the narrow streets and around corners. At a crosswalk, it is not a guarantee that cars will stop. However, I have noticed that Italians will be much bolder than I am and will simply walk out in front of cars making them stop or weave around them. The streets are a risky guessing game about when to cross the road and whether or not the drivers will follow the road signs.
In class and through our service learning project we are learning about the Italian school system. Generally, schools will go from around 8 or 9am to between 1 and 2pm Monday through Saturday. High school is five years long and there are different schools with specific focuses. There is an art, a science, a “classic,” and a business high school. Once in the chosen school, there is no flexibility of class choices. At the end of the five years there is a final examination held in the summer that tests them on all, usually thirteen, subjects. Once that is passed, they can choose whether or not to go to a university.

For our service learning project, we spend a couple of hours helping in two grades, two English classes, at a local school once a week. I am working with second and third graders. This past week I played alphabet bingo with the third graders and worked on colors, school supplies, and numbers with the second graders. The children in both classes were very well behaved and were so much fun. They asked me lots of questions and would try to use the bits of English that they knew. One major difference I noticed between American schools and the Italian schools was how much freedom the children had. They would sometimes walk out of the classroom without telling the teacher where they were going and would sometimes just wander around the classroom. However, on the whole, the elementary school experience was very similar to what you would experience in America.
Throughout the month that we have been here, I have slowly learned more about the culture and customs and began to embrace them. All of these differences that I have mentioned are things that feel unnatural to Americans’ especially at first. It took some time getting used to the changes and while I now accept them and don’t really think about them, I miss “the American way” of doing things. However, through it all I have come to love the laid back, casual attitude all Italians seem to have about life.

Journal 3:

As a group, we took a bus to Montecasale and Urbino for a day excursion that was beautiful, educational, and fun. Montecasale is a humble convent founded by St. Francis that is situated on the edge of a mountain. On the peak across from the convent there are three crosses. Before there were crosses there, there was a castle of a local wealthy family. After it was burned down, at the Medici’s request, it became a hideout for bandits. The legend goes that three bandits came to the convent begging for food and one of the monks turned them away. When St. Francis heard, he sent the monk after the men with bread and wine. The bandits were so amazed that they returned to the convent an asked to join. In St. Francis’ observatory there are relics and the skulls of two of the bandits. The convent is made out of stone, with a small chapel, choir room, and the cells where the monks stayed. There is also a large dining area mostly used by pilgrims that are traveling through. It is a beautiful place where many have stopped on their journey of following St. Francis.

After Montecasale, we then traveled up to Urbino, the birth place of the painter, Raphael.  It is a small town that is so high up on a hill that we took an elevator to get into the city. We were able to explore and take some pictures before touring the Ducal Palace where the Duke of Urbino lived. In its prime, the palace was extravagant, with an extensive library and artwork. There is still some art, one Raphael painting, but all the books are gone. After that, we went to Raphael’s house. I was surprised to find how comfortably he lived. Especially for an artist, he was considered well off.

The following weekend, Andie, Katy and I went to Rome. We learned how to work the metro first thing and were then able to easily navigate the city the rest of the trip. We were able to go to the Coliseum, the Palentine Hill, and the Forum in one package tour as soon as we got to Rome. Later on, we went on a walking tour where we saw the house of Victor Emmanuelle II, the first king of Italy, the window where Mussolini made speeches, and the building where Napoleon Bonaparte’s mother lived for four years. We saw the Pantheon, where Raphael and Victor Emmanuelle II are buried. At the Trevi fountain we learned the right way to throw a coin in, and ate gelato at the oldest gelato store in Rome. We then went to the Piazza Navona which has my favorite fountain. We ended the night at the Spanish steps, looking out over the city.

The next day we were able to tour the Vatican and see the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica.  It was absolutely breathtaking to see Michelangelo’s work. That evening, Andie and I went to Castel Sant’Angelo. Little did we know that the view from the terrace at sunset would be the best view of the city.

On Sunday, we went to the church of St. Peter in Chains. It was magnificent with frescos covering the wall behind the alter. Michelangelo’s sculpture of Moses is housed there and sits in a massive sculpted wall with four other figures. Moses looks so realistic that our camera’s registered him as a person. Afterwards, we hopped on a metro and found the Protestant Cemetery where John Keats and Percy Shelley are buried. It was the most peaceful, beautiful place. Interestingly though, there was a thirty foot pyramid right in front of the cemetery.
My favorite part of the trip was the Castel Sant’Angelo on Saturday afternoon. Andie and I took the metro to the closest stop and then had a picturesque walk to the castle. It is situated right next to the river and about a five minute walk from the Vatican (which we didn’t realize until later). We walked by what had once been the moat before reaching the entrance. Once inside, we had to walk up a spiraling tunnel before reaching the actual castle. We knew little about the castle or what its purpose even was when we went to it. Mainly, we just wanted to visit a castle and look around. Inside it, it was pretty bare. Most everything had been removed at some point in time. There were a few rooms that still had beautiful frescos all over the walls. The castle had a wrap-around covered walkway that had amazing views of the parks below and the river. We stumbled upon a quad in the center that had cannon balls and some other weapons. We found out later that that area was where executions were held. While wandering around, we all of the sudden emerged onto a terrace. From there, you could see the entire city in all directions. By chance, we caught it right as the sun was setting and we were able to take gorgeous photos. Humorously, we did not realize we were taking pictures of St Peter’s Basilica until after the sun set behind it. We then left the castle and took more pictures with the river and the Vatican in the background. It was surreal, how charming the entire evening was! Part of what made it so great was the fact that it was a surprise. We had no idea that we would enjoy Castel Sant’Angelo as much as we did.

Entry 2: September 26, 2011

FLORENCE

We arrived in Florence on Friday afternoon, September 16, after an hour bus ride and an hour train ride. It came as a surprise to me how nice and comfortable both the bus and train were. It was evident that public transportation is more regularly used and therefore much better kept and organized then it is in America. Once there, we took the scenic route to our hotel. We walked through the market, passed the Duomo and Uffizi, and crossed the Ponte Vecchio, a bridge that has so many stores on it that you forget you are on a bridge.

After dropping off our luggage we went back to the San Lorenzo Market to shop before it closed. It spread out for multiple blocks, which resulted in a sensory overload. As we shopped, we quickly learned that you have to barter and be confident in your talking skills in order to not get ripped off. What was also interesting to hear was how many languages the venders could speak. Almost all spoke English and then a few spoke Spanish as well. It does not cease to amaze me how many European citizens speak multiple languages.

Saturday morning was a learning experience in multiple ways. The first lesson being to set multiple alarms and check to make sure they all work. Fortunately, or rather unfortunately, our room was not the only one to learn that lesson. Thankfully, we still all made it to the Pitti Palace on time after some rushing around. The Pitti Palace was the home of the Medici family and other famous residents. It houses hundreds of pieces of artwork, not to mention how elaborately decorated the rooms themselves were. It was hard to imagine someone actually living in a place of that size and grandeur. What a different lifestyle!

In the afternoon we visited the Boboli Gardens that are located directly behind the Pitti Palace. Unlike the today’s gardens that have an abundance of flowers, the gardens are mazes of gravel paths leading to different statues and sculptures. Afterwards, we visited the Santa Croce Cathedral. There is a statue of Dante in front of the building as a memorial, since he is buried inside. Unfortunately, we got there thirty minutes after it had closed so we were not able to go inside. Our next stop was the Piazza Michelangelo. I had been advised by a friend to go around 7pm to be able to watch the sunset. It is a long hike there, but once at the top there is a replica of the statue of David along with the best view of the city. To be able to sit and watch the sunset over Florence was a breathtaking experience.

On Sunday, we had planned a full day, beginning with climbing the Duomo. However, we were not able to because we had not realized it is closed on Sundays. Instead, we went to the Uffizi gallery. We did not have reservations so we waited for an hour and half to get in which was considered a relatively short wait. The amount of artwork was unbelievable. The Uffizi differed from the Pitti Palace in that the rooms that housed the artwork were not elaborately decorated; they were plain which allowed the artwork to speak for itself. We were able to see Botticelli’s Primavera and Birth of Venus, Piero della Francesca’s Duke of Urbino, and paintings by Titian, Raphael, Michelangelo, Canaletto, and so many more. After having studied many of these in Humanities in high school and now in Art History, it was amazing to see the real thing.

After the Uffizi we had planned to go to the Bargello, the Palazzo Vecchio, and then finish at the market. Unfortunately, there was a train strike going on that affected our schedule. To make sure that we all returned home safely, without huge taxi costs, we all convened at the train station much earlier than originally planned. We then waited for an hour and half for a train that would stop in Arezzo. Once we got there, we missed the bus back to Sansepolcro by two minutes. As a result, we had to wait four hours for the next bus. It was a relief when we finally reached Sansepolcro after such a long day of traveling.

The lessons I learned from this were valuable and will assist me in future travels. First off, do not validate a ticket until you are sure your train is coming. Second, if your train is cancelled, then look at the board for one that will stop where you want to go. Third, run to the bus stop if you are unsure of the bus times in order to avoid waiting for four hours! Last of all, check and double check the opening and closing times of everywhere you want to go so that you don’t miss anything!

Photos:
1) Me in front of the Ponte Vecchio
2) street art in Florence
3) a picture of the Duomo from the Piazza Michelangelo

Entry 1: September 19, 2011

After hours of preparing and even more hours on the plane, we finally set foot in Italy. While I was expecting to step into another universe, I found I was stepping into just another airport. Yes, everyone was speaking a different language, but there was no culture shock. I was amazed at how similar it was to America. There were the same gift shops and vending machines on the way out, the same rental and help desks, and the same crowd of people waiting for their loved ones at the exit. The real changes began once we crossed through the doors and out onto the street.

As soon as we hit the highway the differences started to appear. Instead of miles, it was kilometers that marked the speed limit and the distance we had to travel. Not only that, but also all of the drivers seemed unaware and unconcerned with the speed limit and the lines on the road. The landscape that we drove through was beautiful. There were rolling hills with old stone buildings and towns in the distance. There are no forests or even vegetation like North Carolina. Instead, there were sparse trees and fields of what were bright sunflowers only a month or two ago. We unloaded the bus at the entrance to Sansepolcro. The city is surrounded by walls that make it impossible for anything other than small cars to get in and around the tight streets. With that said, we quickly learned that the cars have the right away, not pedestrians.

The first thing we did as soon as we got settled in was to learn our way around the city. We were shown where the best supermarket is, the shop with the best meat sauce for pasta, and of course, gelato; all things that will be crucial in the three months to come. Two more important places that we went to were the bus station and train station. Although we haven’t used either yet, I am confident I will be using both regularly very soon.

On the second weekend in September, Sansepolcro always hosts “Le Feste del Palio della Balestra.” It is a crossbow competition between Sansepolcro and Gubbio. Before the actual competition there is a week of different celebrations and parades to prepare for the actual competition. Meredith College was invited to participate in two nights of the ceremony: both Saturday, September 3 and September 10. All twelve girls were dressed in beautiful Renaissance costumes as we processed around town before and after performances in the town square, the Piazza Torre Di Berta. The different festivities included a drum line, flag wavers, formal Renaissance dancing, gypsies, comedy acts, and belly dancers. It was an incredible experience seeing the entire town come together to celebrate a festival that is centuries old. The band and the flag men, called the sbandieratori, of Sansepolcro take pride in being one of the best in the world. After seeing them perform multiple times I can defend that statement with confidence. Also, there were many honored guests at the different ceremonies including people from Holland, the mayor and an astronaut. When Sansepolcro swept the cross-bow competition winning first, second, and third place, it seemed like the entire city went wild. It was a proud moment to be in Sansepolcro.

Another delightful and educational experience was getting to meet the mayor of Sansepolcro. Dr. Webb, Dr. Bailey, John Rose, and Sara took us to the city council chamber where we sat while the mayor greeted us. She is a wonderful, kind woman who embraces the city along with Meredith College. It was a great honor to have her personally welcome us.

On a daily basis we are able to walk about the city and enjoy and experience Italian culture. We have already made some friends and we attempt to better our Italian every chance we get: with our friends, at restaurants, stores, and of course, in class. It is an entirely different experience using it in the street on a daily basis then twice a week in a classroom. Having already learned so much, I am excited to see how much I can learn and grow in the three months ahead!

Picture#1 - Andie Stuber, Katy Clary, and me getting ready for the Balestra.
Picture#2 - The second picture is of the backside of the street where we live in Sansepolcro!