I'm on a BUS!

Now I am back in America. I'm not super happy about it, but New York is really cool. I only walked around looking for Penn Station for a few hours, but it makes a nice transition. Outside my bus window I see statue performers, vendors selling bags, and KEBABS (but of the shish variety). I'm also lovin' this MegaBus. $20 to Boston, plugs for charging, and free wifi. I MegaLove MegaBus.My last night in Florence was so amazing. I went out with a bang. I had to catch a cab at 5 am for my flight, so Hannah, Hillary, and I pulled an all-nighter. As the cab was driving through the empty streets of Florence I got a little teary. I have to go back to that city. Excuse the mush, but I haven't really slept in well over 24 hours. Also, I keep saying "Scusi" and feeling like a loser.

Also last night, I was told by 2 different people that I looked like this Italian popstar named "Elisa". I googled her today and I don't really see the resemblance.

Elisa Even if I don't look like her at all, let's pretend I do. And my life is basically the Lizzie McGuire the movie. So then Elisa was being a diva or something, I had to go on stage as her!!! OMG it was so scary but so fun! The entire Piazza della Signoria was filled with people cheering for me as I sang and wore crazy outfits. Montages were involved. Then my Italian love interest whisked me away on his moped, but I realized I had really been in love with my deceptively old little Jewish friend the entire time.

I think I ran with joke a little too long. Eh, I'm leaving it.

My first American meal was a soft pretzel. I see a disgustingly large portion of sushi in my near future.

My Creepy Sunday

I didn't travel anywhere this weekend. On Saturday, I went to Pitti Palace, which was the palace of the Medici family. The Medici's ruled most of Tuscany at some point. Their palace is actually connected to the The Uffizi, which was like an office?, through a special bridge over Ponte Vecchio. Now Uffizi is the huge art museum where I saw Bottecelli's Venus. And Pitti Palace is also a museum now. And the Boboli Gardens I went to earlier are in the Medici's backyard. I was really excited for the Gallery of Modern Art at Pitti, because I'm a little renaissanced-out. However, the modern art was from 1700-1920. Everything here is so old, that the 1700s are considered "modern." America is such a baby country. I also ate my daily kebab on Saturday.Also on Saturday, we had an impromptu photoshoot. It was pretty silly. I used everything Tyra taught me like, "Act like one body part is in pain, but pretty" and "Smile with your eyes." Prepare yourself for secondhand embarrassment.

On Sunday I slept too much, for no good reason. However, when I finally awoke, I decided to go to La Specola. I had read about it in some guidebooks, and it was one of the few things I HAD to do while I was here. Really, my list was 1. Cinque Terre 2. La Specola. Here is how Wikipedia, in its infinite wisdom, describes La Specola: "Today the museum spans 34 rooms and contains not only zoological subjects, such as a stuffed hippopotamus (a 17th-century Medici pet, which once lived in the Boboli Gardens), but also a collection of anatomical waxes, an art developed in Florence in the 17th century for the purpose of teaching medicine. This collection is very famous worldwide for the incredible accuracy and realism of the details, copied from real corpses."

It was the creepiest thing ever. I loved it, but I expect nightmares in my future. Basically it was a Museum of Natural History, that they haven't touched since the 1700s. Picture all these tall glass cases framed in old wood, filled with taxidermied animals. And taxidermied animals that look kind of mangy and a lot of the fur has been rubbed off. Then add 300 year old wax anatomy figures, also in glass cases, that are displayed on stained satin beds. But wait, I have illegal pictures! They said don't take pictures, so I used my phone.

Beach Beach Oh La La!

Hi there. This post is for Nicole Zub, queen of all, and demander of dedications. Class is going well, la la la. I'm kind of bored of going to class, but I think that's pretty typical of anywhere. I went to Cinque Terre this weekend! First train ride ever! (The T does not count). It was like Harry Potter, we had compartments and everything. So then we got to Cinque Terre. It was so beautiful. Cinque Terre is five villages along Italian cliffs. I got a little burnt and will probably peel, but nothing that interesting. So my friends and I were sunnin' on the beach and this conversation occurred.

Liz- I am so happy right now. I cannot think of anything to make this day better. Hannah- Puppies. Liz- I want 3000 puppies on this beach right now, crawling all over me. Hannah- And they're all ready to play! Liz- No! I want some sleepy ones too that I can pick up and bother. Kathryn- I want Nutella jars strapped to the puppies backs. Liz and Hannah- YES! YES!

(all photos compliments of Kathryn Bondi)

On Sunday I went to Siena. It was, once again, quite lovely. The had a piazza that was shaped like a giant bowl and I wanted to roll down it. It was really hot though, so I basically ate gelato and stuck to the shadows. It was good gelato though. Meh. Italy is spoiling me with it's beauty. I'm too accustomed to it.

Liz Rides a Bike

So I've quite a few little adventures this week.  And this post is dedicated to Lori Wood, ciao, your motherland is beautiful!  On Wednesday I went to this abandoned insane asylum for Photo, ooh aah.  It was kind of creepy, but not one a level of America's Most Haunted or anything like that.  It was actually a bunch of buildings together, and only two of them were abandoned and all the others just had normal offices in them.  Minus creepy.  Then, the two abandoned ones were locked, so you didn't even get to see any rusty beds or handcuffs chained to the wall.  Minus creepy.  But today someone found X-Rays over there.  Plus creepy.  Sadly, I forgot my digital camera, so you have to wait until I make some contact sheets from my black and white.Then on Friday I went to Boboli Gardens, which is the gardens of the Medici family.  They ruled Florence and most of Tuscany and the gardens were basically the backyard of their palace.  It was sweet.  Once again, no digital camera, so you have to wait until I make contact sheets tomorrow.  Here's a pretty picture from Google Images though, to hold you over:

Then Saturday was museum day for me!  Seriously, Florence and I really bonded this week.  We're almost BFFs.  My friends and I went to Uffizi, which is the big art museum.  It was pretty cool.  We also went over to The Academia to see David in all his nudey glory.  And they had a Robert Mapplethorpe exhibit, which was AWESOME.  They compared Mapplethorpe's  emphasis on form to Michaelango.  SO. COOL. YES. PLEASE.

I saw this.

Yeah, I really just took the picture to "fight the power." Sorry it's half-assed (har har)!

Oh, and the people at the museum are rude about taking photos, so everyone feels strangely compelled to try to take illegal photos.  I have yet to find someone that did not take an illegal photo of David. 

Then today I went to Pisa and Lucca with my school.  I do not like Pisa, sorry Pisa.  The only place anyone ever goes there is the little area with the Leaning Tower and the cathedral and the baptistry.  Now these are incredibly cool, but that's all.  Then there is about 4 blocks of stupid souvenirs and various knick-knacks I will never need.  But you know who was excited?

TOM! 

After biding "arrivederci" to stupid Pisa, it was off to Lucca!  Lucca was lovely.  It was also lovely because we had so much free time.  I would really like to go back there, because I missed Saint Zita, who is preserved in a glass case there, mummy style.  However, my friends and I rented bikes and biked around the city walls for an hour.  It was so beautiful and so was the weather.  Best $3.49 USD I ever spent (I did the conversion).

Lucca

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I love gelato.

Volterra, Vampires, and Tom Hanks

Hello again.  Well, it's been a week, but not a whole lot has happened.  Eh, that's kind of a lie.  I started classes: printmaking and photography.  They're both looking pretty good.  For printmaking, we went to Piazza Signora and etched (aka scratched) into copper plates.  Then you take those plates and ink them and make prints.  La la la.  My prints are looking pretty good, I'll take a photo of one of them.  Give me your address and maybe I'll send you one of my mess ups as a postcard!  This week we're doing a different process that involves ACID (I think this makes printmaking sound a great deal more badass than it is).Photo is photo.  I'm in good shape technically from taking photography in high school, but the creative aspect will be something I can work on.  Our final objective to realize our "voice".  Sounds like a bunch of liberal phooey to me, but maybe I'll surprise myself.  My current idea I'm working on is the contrast of Florence, an ancient city, in modern times.  Prints to come as well.

Two friends from Ohio came to visit (hey there Fran and Cassie).  I think they had a nice time, I certainly enjoyed their company.  They're funny girls.  I like them very much.

Today I went to Volterra and San Gimignano.  Anyway, Cassie informed me that Volterra is the headquarters of the vampire council in Twilight.  I try very hard to keep Twilight out of my life, but I do think it is hilarious.  So basically, I was completely distracted by looking for any dazzling vampires and kind of missed the historical significance.  For example, our tour guide would say, "Here is a 13th century family tower" and I could only think, "Yeah, a vampire family."    I also would mumble things like, "How long have you been 17?" and "I know what you are."  It definitely amused me.  AND the whole town was very cloudy, aka prime VampireLand.  It was really pretty though, very medieval.

Vampire Garden

Vampires like to run across these rooftops. 

Vampire Tower

San Gimignano was similarly medieval, but more open.  It was raining really hard though, so I sat in a cafe and had tea and  Nutella.  I admit it was a total waste of an experience, but I looked like a miserable wet dog and believe me, San Gimignano would not have wanted me in their churches anyway.  The Nutella was good though.  When the sun finally came out, I was able to emerge and take photos of the town square, complete with WISHING WELL.  I made a wish.  And it wasn't a wish about vampires. Also, I should introduce the love of my life to this blog.  His name is Tom Hanks.  Not that Tom Hanks, but close.  One day (Friday) I was sitting at my kitchen table with a People magazine and a bowl full of corks from all the previous tenants.  Inspiration struck and I cut out a little Rob Pattinson picture and stuck it in a cork.  Then I cut out Bea Arthur and stuck her in a cork.

Then we found a gem: Tom Hanks.  And his face is brilliant.  He quickly surpassed the other so-called-cork-dolls to become everyone's favorite.  I think it's his attitude.  He's such an optimistic go-getter.  Anyway, as you obviously see from the excitement on his face, he's up for anything.  So my friends and I like to take him on adventures with us, and then comment the whole time about how excited he is.  We're currently analyzing why it is so incredibly funny.  Anyway, look for more photos of him out and about in Tuscany.  He was really excited to go to Voltera and San Gimignano today.  We laminated him because he was getting a little beat up.  We have plans to dress him up in appropriate costumes; he seems really excited about the prospect.

I woke up and this sight was waiting for me as I opened the door. Tom Hanks was really excited to see me.

He loves bus rides. He can’t wait until we get to Volterra!

VOLTERRA!

We were all afraid the bad weather may dampen Tom Hanks’ spirits, but nope! He was just so excited to get some Nutella. Tom Hanks loves Nutella, it is his favorite food.

I’m sorry. I just can’t stop.

Fiesole

First, I will say that yesterday was double plus good. I found a supermarket, so I now I have food in my apartment and I won't go broke eating at restaurants all the time. I also got wireless, and we ate dinner right over the river. It is was so pretty. I also got some Italian cookies called "Pan di Stelle" and I have no idea what that means. Hold on, I will eat one now. It tastes like a chocolate teddy gram. nom nom nom

The view from dinner over the Arno Then today I went to Fiesole, a little town about 20 minutes outside of Florence in the hills. So beautiful. It was very Hollywood, just because it was so perfect and exactly what you picture "Tuscany". We went to see Estrucan and Roman ruins, then we climbed a big hill to see amazing views. There was a little wine garden halfway up where we stopped to get some lunch. I had caprese, tomatoes and mozzarella, for the third time since I got here. I love it so I do not care. Then we went and got some gelato. I am idiot and decided to try the one flavor that we had no idea what it was. It was called "Specialitze de Cointeau," and apparently "Cointreau" is a brand of liquor that I probably should have heard of. Anyway, it tasted okay, but I will not be getting that again. Here are a bunch of photos of Fiesole!

Despite what my people-less photos may suggest, I do have some friends here. Kathryn and Hannah are in one of the photos with me, they live next door. My roommates are all really nice as well. I think we're going to do a little potluck tonight and I'm bringing prosciutto and melon. And classes start to tomorrow!

ARRIVAL

Okay, bloggo numero uno.  None of that was even remotely Italian.  Okay, I wrote this on Thursday, but I haven't been able to post it until today.  Well I am here and I am safe.  It took me a solid 40 minutes to figure out how to get into my room, but I'm past that.  Okay, first the trip.  It was long, duh.  I've slept maybe 40 minutes since yesterday.  I love Luftansa, they gave us hot towels and the plane was enormous.  I took a picture of my tiny Diet Coke, which would make a good Christmas ornament.     Frankfurt airport was fun.  Nothing was terribly difficult, travel-wise.  And basically I sat on planes for 10 hours, which is boring, so I'm moving on.  Oh yeah, and a picture of Italy from the plane.I am so overwhelmingly excited about being here.  I'm giddy.  I think people are getting annoyed with my enthusiasm.  I do not care.  I have to resist my urge to read everything in a Mario voice.  I feel like an Olsen twin in Holiday in the Sun.  The whole time I was in the cab I was looking out the window with a dumb look on my face, and Olsen theme music playing in my head.  I also took out my camera to take some video, and I think my cab driver was annoyed because he said something.  However he said it in Italian, so I'm not sure.  My room is also amazing.

I do think I live in former slave quarters, and I will pretend to be Cinderella throughout my stay here.  SACI (the school) is really far away, but I'm optimistic it will just force me to learn the city.  I've already talked to my one roommate who is here about getting wireless.  So we're going to look into that.  And some fans.

Tomorrow is orientation!  Also, I've been drinking tap water, is that a problem?  I'm not terribly concerned.  I could use some more antibodies.  And I'm withholding any judgement on my roommates.  Stay tuned.