Amanda Bitler
Entry 9: June 22, 2008
Well now that I am figuring out the whole getting my pictures on my e-mail without erasing them, or just putting them on the computer (it's not mine) I am able to post some!
Photo information:
1st- Venice one of the many canals we had to cross when we WALKED to St. Mark's.
2nd- Venice at night, from the bridge over the main canal by our hotel, I could live here, no cars, but there are boats (I have always wanted a boat!). Of course I wanted mine for leisure and not as my form of transportation (hahah), but I think I could live with a boat just in general.
3rd- Me at San Michele, the cemetery island off the coast of Venice, it was a very interesting place to go visit, it makes me wonder it I will ever be remembered as many Italians are.
They were all from our last travel break in Italy, and it was a relaxing one at that, checking off some of our journal requirements, and still being able to relax a little, of course I didn't get to everything. I needed to leave some things for another time, that way I really do have a reason to need to come back to Italy, and Venice especially.
As I work to get my pictures up look for others... I promise they are coming. Soon I will be in Switzerland and then leaving in both my journals and my pictures so you get a better idea about what I have done!
Thanks for keeping up with what we have been doing I know I enjoy talking about our adventures (not just mine but everyone).
Entry 8: June 22, 2008
Sunday June 22nd, and the end is in sight before we leave Lugano, again a place I have come to love and appreciate, walking the streets (and running them at night). Meeting new people, locals, and some that are not, and being welcomed into a place even though I am not able to fully communicate with them 100%, a place I didn't know before, has again become a home for me.
I feel like the I was on Amazing Race Europe, and had to go to, see, and write about everything I did in a very short amount of time, and now to win I have completed 99.9% of my school work and such that comes with the race. As my race is about to end, I am getting prepared so that I don't miss the friends I have come to know better and the places I have come to call home. I know, I will "be home", but someone once said home is where the heart is so we can all be home when we want to, we just need to make the choice. So I choose to be happy, and appreciate what I have gained from my experience, and the knowledge I've gained as well, not only have I learned many life lessons, others have taught me a lot about myself too.
I will only miss them for a little while but we will always not be far from each other, and those that I have come to be great friends with will hopefully keep in touch. The final leg is upon me, and I am looking ahead to what adventures I will have to come!
Looking back soon, will be pictures, and more stories of fun and learning next time I write. I can't believe I have been gone for so long it seems like just yesterday I called home to say I had safely arrived in Rome, and soon I will be home again.
Entry 7: June 17, 2008
So who ever thought it would snow in June and you could have a snowball fight!?
Well, not me (being a Raleigh girl and all) but I did enjoy a snow ball fight (not in Raleigh) in the Alps (after climbing up to the snow line). It was a very nice day to be outside after my long travel day the day before, (FRESH AIR, who knew even in the rain I would love it).
We woke up to a cloudy, foggy and rainy morning on Friday, June 13, a little cold but it was nice since we were on the adventure of a lifetime! Whoever told me it was a stroll was a little off.... it was a mountain hike/climb! I should be in great shape when I get home! It will just be a matter of staying in great shape when I get back, because I will have my car, and won't have to walk everywhere. Maybe I should start a new trend of no more driving (let's see how long that would last, I bet not very long). We sang in Gimmelwald (and made Dr. O cry- that means we did splendidly) and then headed up the mountain to the next town (Muren). There we were able to get gifts and Swiss Army knives and get them engraved too, then hike up the mountain till there was no end.
We stopped at a little place for lunch, and our waitress yodeled for us, it was really a pretty exciting experience. (I had only really ever heard the Sound of Music Yodeling before). Then some of us continued up to the snow line for a snowball fight! Others turned and headed back down so that they could take their time; it was also a nice hike so they have made a good decision if they didn't want to have so far to go. It was fun because in Raleigh I have not seen "real" snow in a long time, and one of our teachers John Rose joined in and he was wearing shorts! My pictures (which I will get up soon) attest to him wearing shorts while playing in the snow with us.
Heading back down, (which was much harder on the knees than going up) we got to the Gondola station that we then took back down to Stechelberg to get some work done, and enjoy dinner. Dinner was followed by game night, and then a good nights sleep cause we were off again to a new location on Saturday! My new location directly to Lugano where I had to be on Sunday, more will be coming soon!Entry 6: June 14, 2008
Well on Thursday, June 12, I needed to get from Arba, Italy to Stechelberg, Switzerland, arriving no later than 4 or 5 p.m. Having woken up to leave at 5:45 (probably the earliest I have woken up in a long time). I was off on my travel adventure from Arba to Pordenone (where the train station is), then my first train was to Venice and then I was to go to Milan to get my train to Switzerland. However on this fine day the ball was not in my court, it was very far away and the disaster that can be was here. On my train from Venice to Milan I was told I was not allowed to be on it, and they tried to make me get off even though I knew my ticket was valid and I could be on this train! (I stuck up for myself, wow) I was traveling alone and didn't have another to help me against the odds, (that were not in my favor). The train then had to change in the small town of Pordova (about halfway between Venice and Milan) but the next train through was not for another hour or so. Now my plans were quickly changing, and the train to Milan was over an hour late, so I am at this point almost three hours late getting into Milan (a whole story from the train station alone) and going to be very late getting to Switzerland.
In Milan, I missed my connection train and was going to have to reserve another seat on the next train out (which was not for another 2 hours) and already had a reserved seat on the one I missed (not my fault). I was able to get them to give me another seat so I was able to relax a bit that I was on the right track now to getting to where I needed to be. My impression of Milan from the train station and nearby buildings is not the best, but I would like to go back there sometime.
When I got off the train a guy that was in my car warned me about the kids, he said they are the ones that pick-pocket you and to be careful. He was very nice and helpful. I listened to him and never put my stuff down or left it alone, making it very hard to do much with my two back packs, and everything else. I decided to explore the "outside" a little since I had time to spare, and go to the post office to send out my last Italy stamps, and an Italian guy came up and asked me to marry him! Now I was worried, I am alone, have tons of stuff, and this creep is following me and wants to marry me. What's next I thought, so I got rid of him for a little while, until it was time to get on my train. He followed me and tried to sit with me but thanks to reserved tickets he couldn't. I met some nice Italians that knew some English and watched out for me until they had to get off.
Somehow this guy (and his friend) who made it seem like they were illegal immigrants got across to Switzerland and off the train looking for me. I saw him with the Swiss guards and then saw a guy in a Duke shirt (I thought he had to be American or know some English). I got off with him and his two friends and they did in fact know English and let me hang out with them. I was a little lonely today when I had to wait between trains so I would find the others that had big backpacks and go talk to them, just to hear some English. (haha)
The three of them were going to Interlaken, which was where I needed to go to get the small train to my final destination, and we traveled together until we had to go our separate ways. I was then lucky enough to meet two other American boys who were going past my hotel, and offered to help me get there, they were really nice I was lucky to meet them.
This is just the nutshell version of my adventure but I plan to write a novel about it someday hahahah, a 13 + hour travel day!
Now to climb the Alps, and sing "Sound of Music" since the hills are alive with the sound of music!
Entry 5: June 11, 2008
So we have now officially said our goodbyes to my "new" home away from home Sansepolcro, and our heading to the Alps. I am traveling on my own, and went to see some family friends in Arba, which is an hour north of Venice near the Dolomites Mountains, which are beautiful, but not what I am used to from home. It is a small town about like Sansepolcro, not nearly as old though with "real" streets and I have gotten to ride in a car and ride a bike around to get to know the sleepy little town. It is amazing how differently you get to know a place when you are walking everywhere, or driving. I see different things each time noticing something new.
On Sunday night we had our last family dinner with entertainment and all, then we really had to leave our host families that I had come so attached to over the past couple weeks. I will returnI said it is not an attempt but a promise to come back some day (when I save up enough money).
Then on Monday, the 9th, we all headed out. It was quite a sight to see with the group and all their belongings on their backs, as we headed up to the train station and couldn't imagine having to walk too much farther with all the things we had bought to take home and our clothes. All of us were on the same bus to Arezzo and then the groups split as to what train we had to take, I thought I would be alone the whole time but I was with a group that had to go to Milan to catch another train, but I had to get off at Bologna (the train was late). I then waited an extra hour to catch the next train to Venice and then on to my final destination, where I was greeted by the Cicuto family all were there to pick me up it was nice to see a familiar face after a long afternoon of traveling.
Today (Tuesday June 10th) was gorgeous, and we went to Barcis to a mountain town with a gorgeous lake, and view of the Dolomites for a picnic, and some relaxation. On our way back we stopped by what used to be a town that flooded when part of a mountain fell into the river and the water went over the dam, there was a monument there on the side of the road. There are monuments all over the place, that we have passed some of which we weren't able to tell what they were for.
Passing by each town and the small cemeteries there tomorrow we are going to go visit the Arba cemetery where Mr. Cicuto’s relatives are buried, it is so interesting to see so many family members in the same location, and the mausoleums as well.
Entry 4: June 7, 2008
The final days in Sansepolcro have finally come and I don't want to leave.... Today (Saturday, June 7 marks three weeks until I return to Raleigh). You could have asked me three weeks ago if I wanted to go home and I may have said yes, but now I don't want to at all! I told Eliza (in my host family) that I will gladly stay and she can go home for me, I would only have to learn a little more Italian so that I could communicate better in order to get around on my own.
From here on out we don't have very much class time left but lots of work, you can say that again especially with the travel breaks and keeping up with my school work it was hard to manage but I have come to grips and tamed the beast that is my study abroad experience.
We have our family dinner tomorrow evening (about 70 people at the Servi) and get to entertain them all as well. Last night at my family dinner we had the best Italian American food I have had since I have been here. One of my friends made them an "American" dinner last year, and they made it for us (thanks Whitney Parker). We had so much food, it just kept coming, and was delicious so it was hard to resist eating more.
1st corso: Cheese and honey (which I tried), some quiche, and really good breadsticks
2nd corso: Spinach filled Ravioli with homemade sauce it was fantastic!
3rd corso: Homemade mashed potatoes, and homemade fried chicken (they were like chicken tenders) amazingly delicious! I ate so much, and enjoyed every bite, I wish I could cook like this at home
4th corso: DESSERT! Pastries from the best shop here in town, and "American" Ice Cream with strawberries and whip cream.
It is amazing how fresh everything is here in Italy, and is nothing like what we eat at home, I have heard tale that its like we are going back to Belk when we arrive in Lugano. It will be like a true welcoming home, cafeteria food to get us ready to head back to school a little earlier than usual.
Only two more nights left here in Sansepolcro so I am trying to enjoy them and continue to get all my work done, so I must get back to the grindstone and will writer more later. Ciao!Entry 4: June 6, 2008
Wow another week has already gone by! And it's time to give the Venice in a nutshell tales.... Well we left on Monday after classes in the early afternoon, and arrived around 4:30 or so and then headed out our separate ways to get to our hotels. I was in a group with Teri (our lovely 23 plus student), and Annelise (the baby of the group) and we had a great time (at least as far as I could tell).
We combed the city "streets" on foot and got lost as Rick Steves says to do, on our way to St. Mark's and then to some other little churches and dinner.
Then Tuesday we Island hopped with the nicest couple we met from Australia. They have been out traveling for the last two months, and said they travel about three months out of the year! “When can I do that?”, I thought to myself, and we had a great time with them and even went on a Gondola ride when we got back that evening.
We went to San Michele, the cemetery island, and then on to Murano to see the glass being blown it was pretty cool (well hot too).
Wednesday I headed out to Vincenza to see the first proscenium arch theatre, and had a great time I couldn't believe the stage and the perspective the "set" had. Now it is Thursday June 6, and I leave my new home, Sansepolcro, on Monday and leave for the states in 22 days! Time really has started to fly, and I don't want it to anymore.
So Venice by canal and street was fun, but the vaporetti can be hard to navigate at first, and things close either much later or earlier than their hours say.... I will give more details later but must run for now!
I hope the shell is not going to crack! It will be more than a short story next time. Ciao!
Entry 3: May 29, 2008
Well, what can I say about Rome that is less than a novel..... AMAZING!
I tried to conquer Rome (or at least what I could) in just a few short days. After arriving Monday evening, it was off to the hotel from the train station to check in and get a jump start on the sights. Getting our Roma passes, (a nice tourist thing, with access to public transportation) it was off to dinner and to find the Spanish steps and Trevi fountain. On foot it seemed like forever (however one group walked all the way across town to the Vatican, so I can’t complain). Then Tuesday rolled around and it was off to the races again!
Today it is Thursday the 29th of May and I feel like a whole week passed in Rome, I tried to cover so much in just a few short days (or long). The highlight might have been going to the Vatican twice, cause we had to go on Tuesday to get our tickets for Wednesday to see the Pope in person. I got to talk to the Swiss guards (the “secret” ticket holders) and then went to the museum and through everything there. We then returned on Wednesday morning to sit out in the hot sun to see the Pope, what might have been the most amazing experience ever! It was amazing to see how many people from all over came to one place with something in common, wanting to see Pope Benedict, and be blessed by him.
The Vatican was just a highlight, I also saw the Colosseum, the Pantheon, and the Roman Forum amongst others. There is so much history and it is amazing how well some of it is preserved, and it is not like this at home in the US. Even though we are a younger country, it seems like we have destroyed so much and Italy has done so much to preserve what they find and as they can. I went in a house that had beautiful frescoes that is said to be closing soon, never to be seen again by the public. It was at the back of the Ruins, kind of off the beaten path, it was so old you had to go in small groups of 5 or 6. Seeing so many things in such a little time was fun but at the same time exhausting, I can’t imagine not having seen what I did in the amount of time, on the train there on Monday. Back in Sansepolcro for a few days, then its back off to Venice, I am starting to wonder about where my time in Italy is going.
I will write more later, but my other school work calls!Entry 2: May 22, 2008
Well it is 12:01 a.m. here in Italy as I sat down to write this, and today we are taking the bus and then the train to Florence for the day Our first appointment is at the Uffizi. Yesterday Wednesday the 21st was beautiful in the morning and the morning group went to the best Gelato place in Italy, unfortunately they were not open (and at 7:30 in the morning I don't think I would eat much Gelato). So after getting there on the "highway" we came back on the back roads just in time for breakfast. A full day of school and homework was fun for me, but it had to get done some time and tomorrow I can relax in the big city of Florence.
The next couple days are full of work and fun, we have classes on Friday, then on Saturday we go to Arrezo and Sunday we have church here at the local Cathedral for the kids First Holy Communion. A big step for them in their religion, and I am excited to be a part of it especially in Italy. We are all picking up on the Italian a bit and able to have little conversations, I feel as if I can understand bits and pieces of what the locals are saying sometimes.
Well it’s off to bed so I don't miss the train, (or lose anymore sleep).Entry 1: May 21, 2008
As it is now very early on Wednesday morning here in the beautiful Sansepolcro, Italy, I have seen so much, and really enjoyed the small Tuscan town. From our arrival here last Friday morning to late nights and being able to legally taste the Italian wines with teachers and have them recommend their favorites! There have been many ups and downs for some of the women on this trip, and we have all grown from their or our own experiences. I feel as if at this point I have really been able to learn more and enjoy what I am learning outside of the classrooms than in class, but I know there is much more to come.
The ride up from Rome when we arrived was gorgeous unlike what I am used to seeing in North Carolina, we rode through farm lands and rolling hills to make our way to our new home while we are in Italy. Then to stay awake and survive the jet lag, we hit the ground running, well not literally just a nice walk to some of the local Catholic churches, and historical sights in the town especially those that have come in handy to us. Right up the street is one of the best Gellato places, and well you guessed I think we have all tried some and enjoyed it and then gone back for more. Then just a bit farther of a walk is a local pizza place called Yummys, and our first visit there there was a rather good looking Italian boy working that could in fact speak English. What a surprise, and a nice one at that, on my visit there I met a family from about 25 minutes outside the city that could also speak English. I along with some others really enjoyed talking to them, and loved their accents (I wish my American accent were a little prettier), our conversation was ended when it began to rain and we parted ways.
This was the first of many rains since we have been here it has rained every day, and after checking the weather it seems that it will for practically another week!
So without the rain, I have run out to make it to wonderful places, and see new and exciting things, such as the Casa Buitoni (which I am sure many others have written about), to the Museo Civico (the community museum here in Sansepolcro), and early morning walks. I hope this rain will go away soon, so that I really can go out to play, and then I will have much more to say.
The date today is Wednesday May 21st, and we have a regular day ahead of us, let’s hope this rain will stop this afternoon so we can enjoy some time outside.
