A Rock Concert

Last night was quite the experience...

Apparantly, the Eagles (you know, the band) are hosting their European farewell tour! One of their stopping places --- Verona, the Arena! So, it is an open-air arena and we had the great idea to go sit outside and take in the music for free. Stefanie, Scott and I went and sat outside the arena, where a man tried to talk the security guards into letting us in becuase, "their american and poor!" It didn't work... but later we went to the other side of the arena where the acoustics were much more in our favor!

We were sitting on a cool night, outside of an ancient arena, listening to possibly one of the greatest classic rock bands ever! Part way through, Christine and I started worrying Hotel California would not be played... but it was their FAREWELL tour, so it HAD to be!!! It was ... but no Desparado....

BUT WAIT! Desparado was played! That's right ... my two favorite Eagles songs, live, and for free! It was the encore song, the finale, the best!

Basically, what more could a girl ask for? Free, live music outside an Italian open-air arena... apparantly Metallica will be here in a couple of weeks, too! Hmm... we'll see about that one...

Outside the Arena Listening to "Hotel California"

The Weekend

Wow... so I have the internet for today! This means what? More pointless blogging by me!

This weekend was an interesting one - kind of. On Friday after class, Stefanie and Scott and I went to the train station to make reservations for our Eurrail tickets and our upcoming 3 day trip to Austria. The original plan was to go to Lake Garda but instead we decided to stick around Friday night. Aldo took us out for a beer and we enjoyed fully (only one, but the beer here is so good you don't drink it to get drunk really!) But because adults are reading this, I'm now changing the subject ....

Saturday Scott and Stefanie went with a few of the others to Lake Garda but I decided to have my lazy weekend. (No, not Lazy Sunday ... although Stef and Scott fully enjoyed my ITunes video of this!). I woke up, eh approximately 12:00 and then wasted an hour just lounging around in bed. I had a cream cheese sandwich for breakfast with a glass of milk and then decided to do something with myself --- something useful. So I showered in our smelly bathroom (we cannot quite figure out WHERE the smell is coming from, but it smells). I got myself all dolled up and went for a stroll on the streets of Verona. I saw nothing new as I strolled the same streets I always stroll .... but I was on a mission! Charge my phone with minutes!!! It took three places, but I finally succeeded, and then I stopped by a pay phone (I know, silly right? I walked all over to charge a cell phone - telefono cellulare - and then I use a pay phone and old fashioned phone card!). Lets just say it is much cheaper to use the pay phones! So anyway, I called my daddy and he was shopping at Lowe's buying railings for the new deck I'll have when I make my return! THEN I called Dustin ... now I have a bone to pick!

First of all, imagine this! He told me that he was probably coming to visit at the end of our trip so I could travel with him while Scott and Stefanie travelled together. I've been super psyched, right? Well I called to confirm his plans and found out the following:

HE'S PROBABLY NOT COMING!!!!

Well, of course I was sad so I went home and napped off my sadness. Needless to say, I'll live. But it was sad.

Sunday was new day and a new adventure. I sat on the bus next to Joe ( a really cool guy with a girlfriend he misses greatly --- we have something in common!). We talked about the situation from Saturday and he understood my sadness, but we both decided to just have fun! We soon arrived at our destination: Mantua! Here are few pictures of i palazzi (palaces) the town center and of a chiesa (church in l'italiano):

In Order:

• The Secret Garden at Palazzo Te
• Facade of Palazzo Ducale
• Basilica di S. Andrea
  

So these are just three of the pictures. I'd love to showcase the amazing art we saw inside of each palazzo but no photographs were allowed to be taken. Most of the amazing artwork dates back to the Renaissance Period. My favorite room was the room of the giants in Palazzo Te. It was a room where the artist (Giulio Romano) painted a picture of Jupiter (Zeus) and his rage towards the Titans who had dared to climb to the top of Mount Olympus. It was absolutely breathtaking with the entire wall covered in the fresco. The room curved in the corners and if two people stood in each corner and one person in the middle of the room, the two in the corners could conversate without the person in the middle hearing!!!! Palazzo Ducale was impressively large, but not nearly as beautiful as Te in my opinion. Ducale took over an hour to visit and our guide was not nearly as nice as the Te guide (perhaps because of a few of the guys had taken it upon themselves to become wasted during lunch with wine!).

So here ends my weekend. If you are perhaps wondering about the last photo, it is simply a picture of a beautful dome and of a fountain that I liked. We ate pizza at a small restaurant with that view, so the picture was therefore taken! Anyway! This is long and probably boring to most!

Ciao!

Napping

Here in Verona, the days are long and the nights short. The sun comes up bright and early and the day is started at 9:00AM. I have breakfast (bread with cream cheese and fruit), fill my water bottle up (34oz), and head off to class around 9:10AM. It is a 20 minute walk from here to class, and luckily I pass the time away walking with Stefanie and Scott. We soon arrive and full Italian immersion after that... NO INGLESE (as Rita says!).

Classe Italiana lasts until 1:00pm and then the day is done... what now? Well, I'll tell you what! Lamb meat! Yes, Dustin, lamb meat. I know I said I would never ever eat a baby lamb (haha), but when Doner Kababs are right there on the way home and only 3 euros, it's a perfect combination. Today, I had Fanta orange drink too - also a delight. But now it is only 1:30 or 2:00 at the latest! I have until at least 11 or 12 at night to use hours away! Yesterday was an attempt at NO NAPS! But that was too tiring and today we tried NAPS!

Needless to say, I was me and I took a 3 hour nap. It was great, I feel rested, and now it's 5pm. Yet, I still don't know what to do now... study Italian - I suppose that would work. Being much like spanish right now though, I'm really not in the mood to study old material (however, it is different and I should... so I probably will!).

I still have pictures to take ... but knowing that I'll be living here for 2 months it's silly to go do that right away. Much like window shopping, I'm window "scenering." There is so much beauty and so much time to take it in, that I'm trying to find the perfect VERONA pictures. Piazza Bra and Erbe will be a must of course, along with Juliets tomb and a picture of me rubbing her boob. If you know anything about Verona, it's that it is the site of where a balcony that "could" be where Romeo cried his famous lines. But in all reality, there are some real references in Verona to Shakespeare's story. No, Romeo and Juliet were not actual people, but the families they were based off of, are thought to ahve inhabited ancient Verona. Whoever goes to visit Juliet, will see her statue is much rubbed on the right breast - good luck of course! Another hot spot, a little restaurant in "Romeo's House." This is where I tried the meats of animals I would never try in the Stati Uniti (duck, veal, horse). The arena is only 5 minutes from here and that will be photographed as well...

Needless to say, there is much left to do - but why do it all so soon! Nap I must!

Internet!!!

Okay, so I guess I've had the internet the whole time I've been in Verona... oops...

Imagine this:

I now live in an apartment with due rooms (2 rooms) and due banos (2 bathrooms). It is abosultely gorgeous in Italy, with three-four story buildings and many many flowers. It is hard not to talk in a pretend accent and the ice cream (gelato) is to die for.

a view from my window (it's better in person!)

The other night we went out to dinner with Claudio and his girlfriend. She speaks Spanish and I actually was able to translate and talk to her. But the real story lies somewhere else - in the FOOD. So many people probably think of Italy as PASTA PASTA PASTA. Yes, the pasta is everywhere and it is good. But what about HORSE? That's right. I ate horse... I did know it was horse, and even though it would never ever be my first choice I gave it a shot. It was O.K. I was not impressed and I will not order caballo again. However, I will now give veal much more credit (as I will lamb as well ---- okay, Dustin. I will eat at Gyros with you when I return). Nonetheless, it was an interesting night filled with many different kinds of meat and food (except pasta whihc we only had two kinds of).

After the many meats, we all went out for drinks. The bar was something you would imagine to see on E or in a magazine. Blacklights, colorful backgrouds, lit bars... it was incredible - as were the prices of drinks. While waiting in line, one noticed a man holding quite the fruity looking drink ... who would have known the name was as difficult as caiprosca alla frogola? But it was (basically something with strawberries - i think Vodka, as I saw the bartender pour much vodka.). I decided this sounded -- actually looked --- good and ordered it for Stef and I. As I stood at the bar I watched as the drink was made and the bartender took a blue bottle from the shelf --- SKYY Vodka. He started to pour... he looked away.... he talked ... he stopped pouring 3-4 shots later. He shook this with FRESH strawberries and crushed ice and away I drank. It was good, but a bit too much vodka. Soon after drinking Stef and I made a comment about the lack of hissing from local Italian men, to which Scott replied, "I could kick all the Italians' asses if they hissed at you." ... Yay, we have our token man!!!

What a trip ... more to come soon!

Wow... so I've just got on the internet for the first time! For those of you who were actually checking this thing, sorry about that. It's been quite the interesting trip for sure... So where to start???


LONDON: Missed my flight and had no idea what to do. The lady at the Lufthansa desk, however, was extremely nice and helped me get the next flight out of of Heathrow to Frankfurt. But before that, I was mistakenly told to go down to customs and therefore missed said flight. But while there, I was called "Love." The passport lady was really nice and directed me back ACROSS the airport. I eventually made my new flight and I was on my way.

FRANKFURT: I thought Heathrow was bad, right? Well, try and get through Frankfurt after you've missed yet another flight. I knew I wouldn't make it, but thought it was worth a shot. No, it wasn't. My flight was gone, and then it was to hoping I coudl catch a quick flight out to Geneva. After much misunderstanding and talking, I was finally able to talk to a nice lady who said, "No problem! It's easy!" She put me on a flight and directed me to a gate. When I got to the gate, however, they told me to leave and that I was in the wrong place and had to wait -- my flight didn't have an assignment yet, and I was unable to SIT in the terminal! FINALLY! I was on a plane however, and I quickly took a nap. I woke up to GERMAN and had no idea what was going on. We were still midflight and I asked, "What?" To which I was answered by a glass of wine ... I took the glass, drowsily took a gulp and coughed all over the people next to me (in my sleepy state, I forgot I do not like red wine). Oh well, we landed soon and I went to baggage claim!

SWITZERLAND: The best, easiest place of the trip and this is where my bags were no where to be found! AH! Luckily, however, Daniele was there (She is Mrs. Ames old friend). She talked to the baggage tracing people and we figured out that my bags would be in by morning and off we went. Soon we were at a great restaurant with Daniele, her two sons (one of which used to be great friends with Dustin when they were small!) and their two girlfriends! We had fish, wine, and fun. Kissing on the cheek is how you say hi and bye, and we did. I loved the restaurant and the great food --- although I couldn't eat all of it! We then were in a very small hotel, with a bunkbed and a shower door IN the room. While Scott was taking a shower, I felt the need to stay on one side of the room because as I passed the shower the first time I saw his outline too easily! No worries though, I saw nothing! JUST an outline! Needless to say, showers were taken with care! After sleeping, we got up to a rainy day in Geneva. We still went out and got soaked while taking in the sights.

I'm now in Verona and we've had a great weekend. Today was the first day of class, and I can't wait to learn more Italian. I will have more stories as time progresses, but I must say arriverderci now! Soon, I will be adding more colorful, interesting posts with pictures and such. But just to be on here was a gift in itself!

Ciao!

Addicted to Blogging

I'm really bored, so what better way to waste time than to blog! I could probably do something like, you know, pack - but that's not fun, so I choose this instead.

I had a pretty good day, spent with my two sisters and their families. I have quite possibly the cutest neices and nephews and what better combination than that of two girls and two boys? Libby and Kaden were quite jealous of their grandma and that was about the cutest thing in the world (they met for the first time today!).

I also got some wonderful news from Dustin ---- he is most likely joining me, Stef, and Scott for our last 10-12 days! This is the best thing I could have been told. Now my only worry (for now) is my shopping list:

1. Blouses
2. Camis
3. Backpack
4. Black Belt
5. Alarm Clock (of a travel size)
6. Little Pillow (the neck kind)
7. Basic First Aid stuff (bandaids, etc)
8. Makeup
9. Fragrance! (haha - what I like to call smelly-good-stuff)
10. Bra/Underwear (???)
11. Travel Size Poo/Conditioner/Toothpaste (for the carry-on)

AND... I think that's it. Any suggestions are welcome, of course, however!

Mother's Day

It's Mother's Day! My mom is great and I love her dearly. She helps me through and with everything - she's wonderful. Anyway, still anxious - it's even closer to the day of departure now. But! I get to go shopping so it helps.

This is me being a badass and I am one! (sorry that this picture has NOTHING to do with my post, but I had to put this picture somewhere!)

I even get to go with BOTH sisters I think. This is exciting as that has never happened. I'm glad to have them both in my life now, with four wonderful neices and nephews (although it costs much more money at holidays now! haha). Of course, however, I will be out of the country for the first summer that Cheri and her girls are in my life which is very sad.

BUT! I keep telling myself - I will be back, it's not forever!

Anxious

So here's the deal - how does one prepare for their first overseas flight? How do they navigate the two largest airports in Europe when they have never navigated airports in their own country before? How do they communicate in languages they've never even really heard? Well, they don't do that - but they do learn how to navigate by having common sense I suppose. I will be able to do it, but while sitting comfortably at home in the kitchen it seems too hard. I don't want to do it.

I'm scared and I won't have anyone I know with me in these very large, populated places. If I don't make my flight - then what? I will make my flight that is all there is to it! If children can do it - as I've heard they have before - then I, 22 year old Stefine, can do it. Don't you think? I'm pretty sure it is possible; I like to believe I am a semi-intelligent being with enough brains to read gate letters/numbers and whatever else I need to decipher.

I will be doing this in less than a week now and I still have to shop. I'm not packed! Do I have luggage to pack in? That there is a good question to ask, too. I don't think I do but maybe I can find some or buy some with the money I don't have because I spent that on plane and train tickets and program fees.

But after talking to Dustin, I know that I will survive. He guarantees it - and he doesn't do that very often, guarantee things. I will miss him the most probably - I love my parents to death, but I'm used to being away from them for a month or so at a time. Dustin and I, however, are NEVER apart. That's not an exaggeration. So being away for even a few days will be hard - I already just can't wait to get back and see his face down the way waiting for me (although this time I will most likely not be wearing a white jumpsuit and face mask!)

With that, I leave to go to bed. I will pray that I can do this and have fun. I will miss everyone here at home very much so and I expect a party people. A big party upon my return - understand?