Skiing the Apennines

Skiing. All week I looked forward to my upcoming travel plans.

Apennines

On wednesday I mailed letters! (get excited America, mail from Italia is coming your way)

Also, someone super duper special decided to spend the day in Florence with me. Will had class in Florence on Wednesday and I got a call from him at 1:30 (right when I finished writing my letters in the Duomo).

"Hey! I'm in Florence and I'm done with class. Where are you?!!"

Yes, please! I think every girl wants to hear those words mid week! (Even though I was seeing him the next day)

So Will and I spent the afternoon in Florence. aka I made him lunch. He helped me study for my italian quiz. He took a nap while I was taking my Italian quiz. I made him supper. And he took the train back to Arezzo. 

Thursday I met up with him and half of our skiing group at the train station. We caught a train to Pistoia then took a bus from Pistoia to the skiing town of Abitone.

But, that's not exactly how it worked out.

As you may have noticed from my past travels this semester, things do not go according to plan. 

We made it to Pistoia and went to buy the bus ticket to Abitone. Except, the last bus to our destination happened an hour earlier. The other half of our group (already in Abitone at the condo) forgot to check the bus schedule when they went through to see when the last bus out was.

We tried everything. The group in Abitone found wifi and found us a hostel to stay in.. which ended up being 25 kilometers away. No thanks. We tried getting a taxi up the mountain. None of the taxi drivers had enough guts to take us up at night. 

Eventually. We paid for the 4 euro train ticket back to Florence. Back where we started.

Staying the night in Florence, the four of us woke up early to catch the 6am train to Pistoia. Time to try again.

We caught the first bus out to Abitone and met the rest of the group for breakfast. Threw our stuff in the condo. Rented skis. And hit the mountain. 

Did I mention we basically had the mountain to ourselves both days?! Ya..... Best. Ever.

Will and I on top of the Apennines

Europe has this whole skiing thing figured out. Not only was it the cheapest skiing ever. But, it was the best skiing ever. Fresh powder on the whole mountain. Up to my knees in some places. 

Sadly, I've never experienced fresh powder skiing. And now, it's all I ever want to ski. 

Also, I spent a total of 200 euros this weekend on travel, skiing, eating, lodging, the works. Seriously?! 2 full days of skiing plus ski rentals. Take that New Mexico and Colorado. I'll take the Apennines any day over skiing in America. 

This picture shows the beautiful Apennines. And David. A Sergeant in the United States Military. His sister is studying in Arezzo with Will and he is based in Italy. He boarded with us this weekend. His first weekend back from 10 months in Afghanistan. 

I fell a lot. I'm a good skier. But I blade. I've used blades probably the past 5 or 6 years and skiing in Italia, in the powder, I chose long skis. Not only did I have to re-learn to control the long sticks attached to the bottom of my feet, but they were usually under an inch or two of powder. Thus, the falling. 

Will brought his gopro and I plan on editing a video entirely of me falling on my face. 

The first day I had the most epic falls. 

I literally turned into a snowball rolling down the freshly powdered mountain. It apparently looked like a slow motion tumble of limbs, skis, and poles. I think I rolled 4 or 5 times. 

Towards the end of the day, three of us decided to jump off the ski lift. I've never jumped off a ski lift and there was plenty of powder. We found a low place and went for it. I jumped thinking I would be knee deep in powder. Instead I had insta-pain in my ankles and shins from my skis popping off when I hit the two inches of snow on top of the rock I jumped on to. My face. It met the mountain with a solid smack. I looked up and saw Will standing on top of the hill of snow. He jumped out and landed standing perfectly up. Awesome. I'm so graceful.

The last fall of the day. I go off a jump, wearing the go pro. I go up. I come down. Catching myself on my face and sliding on it until I come to a stop. I roll over and Will is asking if I got his 180 jump. Um. Sorry. My face was a little preoccupied getting acquainted with the ground. While Will couldn't comprehend how I couldv'e possibly missed his perfect 180 jump, I laid on the ground laughing at myself for a full 5 minutes. It was hysterical. I also have the battle wounds to prove it. Sometimes, when you catch yourself with your face, your goggles cut into your skin on your nose and cheek.

Day two of falling... I mean skiing. I got hit in the head with a ski lift while I was getting off of it. Praise the Lord I rented a helmet, or else I know I would've had a concussion, if I was even still alive.... Can't really remember any epic falls from day two besides the ski lift incident. oops. Maybe I did get a concussion.

The last run of the day we went up to the top of the mountain and were met with gusting winds and snow. White out conditions. Blizzard. As Will and Jordan were freezing and focused on getting straight down the mountain, I felt like I was in an action movie. Don't worry, I was wearing the go pro so you can hear all of my narrating. Singing the James Bond theme song. Randomly screaming "THEY'RE RIGHT BEHIND US!!!" "HURRY!!! WE HAVE TO SECURE THE PACKAGE" "THEY ARE IN THE TREES" and "THEY ARE IN WHITE CAMO. YOU CAN'T SEE THEM!!!!" I think Jordan and Will thought me to be insane. But, we made it down safely and it was probably the best run of the day (for me at least).

Even though I feel like I was in a car wreck, and then ran over by that same car, this weekend was so amazing! Every single muscle in my body is sore, but I wouldn't trade it for anything.

The skiing was fabulous. The weather was perfect. The snow was beautiful. The mountain was ours.

This weekend put a lot in perspective for me, just like every other time I'm in the mountains. I love being in the mountains. My God is so big and powerful. His creation is majestic, and one place I find evidence of this so clearly is in the mountains. 

I don't know how someone can look at this and not believe in a Divine Creator

Classes, Valentines, and Romans

I went to the amazing city of Rome again this weekend! I don't think I will ever get enough of that city.

But. Before Rome, I have class updates! I know. Everyone LOVES hearing about school. Despite what you may think, I am actually here to study as well.

My historical painting class is freaking awesome! We made our own gesso this week! Which, if I had to describe it, is kind of like a primer you put on before you start painting. We also ground pigments!!!

Mixing pigment with water for the first step of making egg tempera

Who knew that all those years of making delicious pie dough with my mom would pay off when mixing paints. Just keep adding water little by little and mix the pigment in. I was the only one not to add too much water! Winning in the little things.

My Palaces of Florence class is also rocking my socks off (which is a great segway for a later topic).

Palazzo Devanzati. Original frescos. Dying.

Literally went to a palazzo for class. WHAT?! Is this for real? Every single wall in basically every room was painted intricately in this fashion.

Also, I dropped my sculpture class (thanks for talking me into it mom). And picked up Museology! Which I think is going to be really awesome!

As for my other classes... Beginning Italian is scary and my Ancient Rome class sucks because of the professor.

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Allora, onto Valentine's day.

Where do I even start? Will is so amazing. He caught a train after his last class of the week and came to Florence to take me on a date out to dinner! He's so thoughtful. (Thank you Europe for providing cheap, fast public transportation)

And what a dinner. It was my first candlelight dinner. Super fancy right? And before we even got there he took to me the chocolate festival! 

My super handsome man. What a great Valentine he is!

I thought Will had no idea where this restaurant was he found online. He took me down a random tiny street off of the Arno and all of a sudden, there it was. He is so great with maps. Never once has he steered me wrong. He knows Florence better than I do. I know, It's a sad sad thing.

So this restaurant right? It was all locals and no one really spoke much English. So you know it has to be good. 

Best. Food. Ever. 

It's the best food I've had in Italy. And Will thought so too. Both of our dishes were phenomenal. Too bad I don't know where the place is or what it's called. Oops.

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Roma. 

There are no words. 

I think everyone has a different opinion of what Heaven will be. What Heaven is in my mind is experiencing whatever historical period you want. Viewing the culture and walking the streets and seeing the people. That's what my heart desires to see with the Roman Empire. 

What amazing builders and architects and artists and everything! 

Also we all thought it was pretty cool that we went to Rome the same week the Pope resigned! Obviously a big deal!

I left with API for the Rome excursion Friday at 7am! So. Early.

Me and my roommate Katie sleeping on the early morning bus ride

4 hours later (I wish I could've taken the train) we were in the Eternal City!

The view from the top of the Castel Sant'angelo

The Colosseum

One of my favorite views of Rome from the Colosseum

Roomies at the Spanish Steps

Classic

And.... winning.

At the front of the tour group like a boss

Enjoying wifi at the hotel. Bet you can't guess who I'm talking to!

Our hotel had carpet. GOD IS SO GOOD! My feet were in Heaven!

roomies at the top of the Castel Sant'angelo. With Vatican City behind us.

Drinking water like a pro!

Capitoline Hill

Colosseum

Jenn, Katie, and I went to look at churches Sunday morning (not the best idea) and passed the cutest clothing store ever. We ended up all buying the same blazer in a different color! Perfect!

Colosseum in our matching blazers!

Saw this beauty. And a lot of other Churches this weekend. We would pass by a random church and if the door was open, we walked in. Each and every one absolutely blew my mind and were so breathtakingly gorgeous!

St. Teresa in Ecstasy. Walked 30 minutes to see her. Walked in 5 minutes before Mass started. We have great timing!

Fun fact about this weekend to Rome. Will and his group came the same weekend! What are the odds?!  His cousin, Claire, studies in Rome and he came to see her on the same weekend I came with API. So, on Saturday during our free time I went and hung out with them. 

Actually, I might've skipped the tour of the Vatican. But, I just saw it 3 weeks ago. I ended up surprising Will at the train station, thanks to some help from his awesome roommate Jordan. So the Vatican is on the opposite side of Rome from Termini (the train station). I left the group and found/rode the metro all by myself to Termini. (Praise the Lord my dad and I came to Rome and rode the metro). Didn't get lost. Didn't get pick pocketed. Didn't buy a super cute leather backpack I saw on the way there. I'd say it was a success. And Will had no idea I was going to be there. So. Great.

We met up with Claire and had lunch and she took us around the city. It was so fun to meet her finally! And so great to have a guide who knew the city.

Colosseum

Trevi Fountain

Gelato. No words. 

Also. Something fun I learned about my new cheap boots. (insert segway here)

New cheap boots.

They wear holes in my socks. Every. Day. I ruined every pair of socks I wore this weekend. Even the double socks. I wore through both layers!

My toes. Playing peek-a-boo.

So. I guess I was excited when I bought a new pair of cheap, cute boots. But, now I will need to buy some new socks soon! Awesome.

Better news. As I have mentioned before. Fish Pub. The bar we live over that plays music from 10pm-2:30am. We were told today that we can call the police if it is too loud or gets too bothersome or plays too late at night (so basically we will be calling the police every night). We can also physically go to the police and file a report/compliant. 

Our new goal of the semester is to shut down Fish Pub due to noise. I'm all for it. So watch out Fish Pub. These Americans don't mess around. It's on like Donkey Kong.

Fish Pub. Consider yourself warned.

This weekend in Rome was amazing. Next weekend I'm going skiing in the Alps... WHAT?!!! My mind can not comprehend that one yet. Still working on it.

Ciao Ciao for now!

Venezia

So. I went to Venice this weekend!

My favorite church in Venice. This is unfortunately as close as I got to it. 

You might have heard of the carnival there.

But, before Venice, I went to Arezzo for the afternoon to hang out with Will! We had a self defense lesson in Florence at 12 and there was train to Arezzo at 2:10 and 3:10. Naturally, I wanted to make the earlier train.

After the lesson we booked it back to the apartment... But I might have stopped along the way to buy a pair of boots. Sorry Will, a girl and her shoes.

Then I sprinted through Florence to the train station. I made the train and had a new pair of boots to face the weekend with!

New boots on the train!

As I have mentioned before. I absolutely love riding trains. I had a window seat, new shoes, music, and beautiful clear skies to accompany me to Arezzo.

Tuscany from the train.

Tuscany from the train.

And, if you don't already know, I'm the biggest romantic around. Running through the streets of Italy, sitting on a train through the country side, and seeing my handsome man waiting for me at the platform literally made my heart melt.

Will took me around the town and we also picked up groceries for supper. Went to the supermaket and the butcher. Even got a piadina to snack on.

We walked up the hill Arezzo is built on and marveled at God's creation.

View from the top of Arezzo

Will cooked dinner for me (and his roommates). But still, come on! He's so amazing! Veal, eggs, and potatoes. Yum!

He's so cute cooking supper!

So... Venice.

Ya.

It was insane.

There were so many people.

Eight of us traveled to Venice via train.

Sunrise on the train from Arezzo to Bologna

The train from Bologna to Venice was jam packed. Will and I sat on the floor in an isle of the train car for 2 hours. It was ridiculous and a crazy experience. Some of the group stood the whole two hours!

Venice consisted of walking through ridiculously crowded streets and shopping at awesome mask shops! Basically, every other store sold masks. And there were some absolutely phenomenal masks!

We rocked our awesome carnivale masks! (Both of them ended up breaking, but hey, we are college students traveling on a cheap budget! And they were fun either way)

I love Venice because every single building is different. It is so beautiful. But, other than that, the water is sewage.. which is what the city is built on. 

This is our hostel.. That little crooked door at the end of this tiny street (a choice word) was the entrance. It was awesome!

Some carnevale enthusiasts at San Marco

San Marco. Didn't get the chance to tour it, I guess that's what I get going to Venice during carnevale.

The Grand Canal

Will and I on a bridge over the Grand Canal

We had an awesome, short stay in Venice. So crazy that I am able to travel to Venice for a day! Will spent the evening with me in Florence tonight when we got back. Which, is hosting the chocolate festival for the next 10 days... WHAT?!! I know. Awesomeness. 

chocolate covered strawberries and hot chocolate for the win.

We also completed a super market run, pasta for supper, and gelato for dessert! So yummy! Thanks for spending the evening with me Will!

Had a good weekend. Bought new boots, experienced carnevale, went to the chocolate festival and even made it back to Florence with my keys! 

Success.