Arrivederci Firenze! Ti amero per sempre!

Wow, what a trip this has been!!! Words cannot describe the emotions I am feeling as I pack all my stuff to return to good ole’ California. I have been absolutely blessed with such an incredible opportunity here in Florence. I wish I could describe all the wonderful memories I have made in Florence and I wish I could lend you my eyes so that you too could see the incredible sights I have seen these past four months, but no stories or pictures will ever do it justice. I will try anyways...

Top of the Duomo!

 So many moments have made this trip truly unforgettable. And although my time here has been absolutely incredible, not all of it has been so easy peasy. I’ve had my moments of insecurity and exclusion as an American and young woman, but I have embraced those moments and faced them as a challenge to culture myself. I’ve felt angry and frustrated at the way I was treated just because I couldn’t always say what I wanted to. I’ve felt embarrassed and exasperated when I didn’t know how to say something or demeaned for my attempts at speaking Italian. I’ve balanced busy school schedules and endless trip planning (tough life I know)….”what time is our flight?...how much time do I have to get there?...what train do I take? Where the hell is platform 9???....Did I remember to print my ticket out?...What shuttle do I take again???”...But with that said, I’ve felt more happiness and joy in both my struggles and feats than I’ve ever felt before. I have grown a lot from this experience, and I am the better for it.

I will never love any other city in Europe like I have loved Florence because it was my home for the past 4 months and I have truly had the time of my life here. When I read my journal from August 27^th, the day I arrived in this beautiful city, I really didn’t know what to expect. Looking back on that day, I can say full-heartedly that my trip here has exceeded any expectations or notions I had before I arrived. It feels so wonderful to say that…to think back on everything I have seen and done these past 4 months and feel great love and happiness. I must admit I have cried a few times here or there (ok, maybe a lot) over the past week.  And as depressing as that sounds, I embrace it because I know that I am crying because of how overwhelmingly happy I have been here! I truly couldn’t have asked for a better experience here. I gained a new family of 15 students and friends in my Italian class as well as many other very good friends in my program! I was a part of an amazing program and had an angel of a teacher, Cinzia, who kept her patience when we were being deviant students!I finally unlocked a curiosity in myself that has been budding since I was young, and with the opportunities I was given here, I have nurtured that curiosity to the fullest! I have learned so many things about the world… of history and of the Italians. I have learned a language that was relatively foreign to me four months ago and I have learned it to the best of my ability. I have built friendships with some of the most incredible people I know and feel so blessed to have them in my life now! Everything has been beyond amazing!

Ponte Vecchio!

Wow. That’s all I can say. Here’s to the many incredible memories I will forever remember about my time abroad and to the opportunities I was given that have changed my life! I am so thankful for having had a chance to live in such a beautiful city and I will forever be grateful for my family and friends who encouraged me to fulfill my dream of studying abroad. Special thanks to my wonderful mom and dad for being so supportive of my travel and truly giving me the world! Words cannot describe the incredible experience I have had year, nor will anything every top it. There is nothing like calling a city like Florence your home, and although I wont be able to say that again once I leave, it will always be my home at heart.

As for the next couple days, I’m going take a break from blogging (I will finish it all soon I promise!) and fully absorb my last couple days in Italy! Off to Rome for the weekend! Ciao tutti! See you all in California on Monday! :)

Bonjour!

Parlez-vous français?? The answer to that would be no, but I got some good practice while I was in Paris two weekends ago! French is such a beautiful language but unfortunately for me (and the people who had to listen to me) I can’t speak the language very well. But, I didn’t have to speak much because I got the opportunity to stay with one of my beautiful best friends from school, Eileen, who is studying abroad in Paris for the semester. I’ve been so lucky so far because almost everywhere I have visited I have gotten to stay with or visit someone I know from home…..makes for good times and lots of money saving! But I arrived in Paris pretty late on Thursday night so I met up with Eileen, got a yummy kebab down the street, and we went to bed so we could get a good night sleep for the next day! One of the coolest things about my trip to Paris was that I got to go around with Eileen’s program and get tours on the museums they were visiting for free! The instructors on her program were SO NICE to me! They let me tag along with them to Versailles which included an all expenses paid  3 course lunch beforehand and a free (& quick) entry in Versailles! But I’ll talk all about that when I get to it :)

On Friday morning, I went with Eileen and her program to Musee Carnavalet, a history museum that chronicles the history of Paris from its origins to today. It houses collections from pre-historical times to the reign of Louis XVI, and from the French Revolution until today. It was really cool getting to explore this museum because I didn’t know much about the history of France. Also I got to follow the tour given by Eileen’s extremely interesting and knowledgeable teacher :) 

Musee Carnavalet

A lock of Marie Antoinette's hair!

Lucky me! After we left that area, also known as the latin area, Eileen took me to the Opera House. It was so beautiful! We were super hungry after that so, with the intention of being the ultimate tourist, we went to a restaurant and good ole’ French onion soup :) It really was amazing...plus I love that soup at home so saying I got to eat it IN FRANCE, was pretty cool!

Opera House!

 After that we went to Notre Dame Cathedral. The Notre Dame Cathedral is considered one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture in France and in Europe and is the Archdiocese of Paris: that is, it is the church that contains the cathedra (official chair) of the Archbishop of Paris, currently André Vingt-Trois. It is a very beautiful church, and in my opinion, one of the most beautiful churches I have seen in Europe thus far! And to top it off, Notre Dame was holding a service when I got there so I got to see a real life service! Che Magnifia! After Notre Dame, Eileen and I went to a famous bookstore just down the street called Shakespeare and Co. This bookstore was started in 1951 and is famous because artists such as Ernest Hemingway, Ezra Pound, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Gertrude Stein, George Antheil and Man Ray spent a great deal of time at this bookstore. I have to say it was pretty cool getting to hang out where Hemingway and Fitzgerald did! AFter that, having felt quite accomplished for the day, we decided to get some drinks at a local bar Eileen knew of where they serve drinks with little fireworks in them and the waiters and waitresses all wear masquerade masks!

Notre Dame Cathedral!

The next day was my favorite day in Paris for sure! Eileen’s program had planned a visit to Versailles that day so I wasn’t sure if they were gonna let me go, but we tried anyways! When I met her program leader, this tall crazy-haired lady, she simply handed me train tickets and tickets to Versailles, and asked me if I could fill out my preferences for the 3 course meal we were gonna have before Versailles. Say what!? I was absolutely ASTONISHED! Not only were they being so nice to me, but I got a free 3 course meal!?! Now this may not seem like a priority to you as the reader, however, you should know by now after having read a couple of my blogs that I LOVE LOVE LOVE food :) So anyways, we took the train for about and hour and arrived at this wonderful French restaurant where I got  a salad with a honey Dijon mustard dressing, a savory crepe filled with egg, ham, and cheese, and lastly, a sweet crepe filled with Nutella :) Everything was so delicious!

After we left the restaurant we walked for about 10 minutes until we reached the Palace of Versailles. Here's a little bit of history for you. Louis XIV, had a great interest in Versailles. He settled on the royal hunting lodge at Versailles and over the following decades had it expanded into one of the largest palaces in the world. Wanting to escape the busy life in Paris, and to keep the nobility under his control, Louis XIV built this chateau in which he set up home and installed the government. Versailles, which is capable of holding up to 20,000 people, has 700 rooms, more than 2,000 windows, 1,250 chimneys, and 67 staircases (thanks Wikipedia). The palace was eventually stormed during the French Revolution because the French people were tired of their money being used to sustain the palace. The people also just wanted their King to return to the city, and not rule them from a secluded area like Versailles. Now for a description of the Palace! The outside of it slightly resembles a ratty old shack with weeds growing everywhere and cats running around….right? Let me correct myself. The outside of Versailles is one of the most incredible sights I have seen in Europe thus far! How’s that for a description! The gate surrounding this beautiful palace is what appears to be pure gold that simply shimmers when the sun hits it. Its beauty and regality are enough to take your breathe away, and that’s just the view from the front! The statues, the golden gate, the gorgeous building, were all just a glimpse of the amazing beauty that lay inside the house and in the backyard (and by backyard I mean something similar to a national park!). I literally had no idea what was in store for me within the Palace, but let me tell you, the French Royal Family had a bit of money! Every wall of EVERY room was fully decorated (not a empty spot to be seen) with beautiful paintings, wall papers, GOLD, and various other decorative ornaments! It was quite lavish to say the least, maybe a bit ostentatious, however it was beautiful to explore!

Gates to Versailles!

Eileen, Claire, and I!

A typical bedroom!

 After touring throughout the house and seeing it in all its splendor, we walked outside to an even better view! The “backyard” of Versailles is simply breathtaking! The statues lining the large pond, and the gardens upon gardens were a perfect touch to the already beautiful palace. And this wonderful day doesn’t end here….I got to join Eileen and her program as they got free entry in the world renown restaurant Angelina inside of Versailles. Angelina is a famous tea room and is known all over the world for its celebrated hot chocolate called “Mont Blanc.” It truly was as delicious as they say considering it has the consistency of melted chocolate and is made with only the best chocolate in France. So yummy!

 I'm glad I can say this though: My trip to Versailles was not the only amazing part of that Saturday….After leaving Versailles, Eileen, her friend Claire, and I, went and bought baguettes and a bottle of wine and sat below the one and only Eiffel Tower!! Words cannot describe how incredible the Eiffel Tower truly is! At night, the tower is all light up, and unbeknownst to me, has thousands of tiny lights that sparkle for 5 minutes at the beginning of every hour! I literally got there while it was just lit up, looked away to reach into my pocket for my camera, and then looked back to see the entire Eiffel Tower sparkling!! I thought I was imagining it or that France knew I was coming!! Haha but it honestly was one of the most beautiful things I had seen. We eventually found a spot on the grass by the tower in which we proceeded to enjoy our goodies and just stare at the Eiffel Tower’s beauty.

IT'S SPARKLING!

The next day, Eileen and I got up really early and went to the Lourve! The Lourve, if you guys don’t already know, is one of the world’s largest art museums (I can attest to that) as well as the most visited art museum in the world! Nearly 35,000 objects from prehistory to the 19th century are exhibited over an area of 60,600 square meters (652,300 square feet), including the famous Mona Lisa painted by Leonardo Da Vinci! It was really cool exploring the Lourve although it would take days to go through the entire museum! Unfortunately my flight was later that day, so we decided to buy some crepes (banana and Nutella!), sit by the river, and enjoy the last couple hours I had in France.

Being that it was my first time to Paris, and France for that matter, I had such an amazing time getting acquainted with the beautiful city. I learned a lot about the history and people of Paris, and got to spend some quality time with one of my best friends! I hope to continue learning about French history because I was very intrigued by what I learned there! Au revior!

Lourve Pyramid!

Can you spot the Eiffel Tower??