Pre-Spring Break Update

I haven't written anything in awhile because things have gotten SO much busier that sitting here for half a day waiting for my pictures to upload to blogspot just wasn't going to work out anymore. Our internet at the apartment is PAINFULLY slow, where even connecting to the internet gets so choppy that loading facebook takes 3 minutes. For now on, this blog will be written posts only and picture can be seen on facebook. Sound good? Anyways, after my Italian class today, it was so beautiful out that I decided I wanted to take a walk around the city. During this time I realized how little i've been blogging so here it goes.

It's funny now because I have been living in Florence for 2 months now, and I've realized that I consider it home now. It's "my" city. I know my way around, can navigate, speak to locals, etc. People even think I am European, which is kind of cool. Usually Americans stick out like a sore thumb, but today while walking I had 2 people come up to me. The first was two American girls who were trying to speak really rough italian for directions. The other was a guy who asked if I was Albanian. I don't know why.

One of the reasons I'm sure Italians don't pick me out as American anymore is that my style has completely changed! People dress so differently here,  and the first month we were here was the primetime sale season, soooo..... new wardrobe? Kinda. Speaking of what I wear, its a necessity to COVER UP. I as well as the rest of my roommates dress considerably modest for a really good reason. You show anything, legs, chest, whatever, you will be "hounded", followed, and really, really annoyed by the Italian men with their constant cat calls every 15 feet. I wish it wasn't true but it is. I know that this is a different culture with different customs, so it has been something to get used to. What I am still trying to figure out, though, is whether it is worse for girls who are foreign or if they do that to every woman they see. I'll update when I know.

When I was on a walk I stopped in small little store and ended up buying a few things, and had a talk with the cashier. She was a small little Indian lady (she told me), because we ended up having a conversation about where we are from and whatnot. She seemed happy to be practicing her english. That's how it is in Florence, there are so many tourists that it's been difficult to become more fluent in Italian. The Italians here WANT to practice their english with you, so even if you speak Italian to them, they will respond in your language.

My spring break starts in 2 days! Thursday night I will leave for Berlin, followed by Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris and Barcelona. WOO!!

Cioccolato

Last weekend my roommates and I went to Venice for the day. It was about a 3 hour bus ride to get there and it was an AMAZING day. We knew it was going to be cold, so we bundled up with two layers of pants and socks, and four layers of jackets each but little did we know we would still be freeeeezing. Venice was amazingly beautiful (It is one of the top most beautiful places I have ever been to. I can't get over it) but we had to stop in random cafes and get something to eat just to warm up because of the frigid wind and cold air.

Venice is surrounded by water and filled with little rivers and has ton of bridges. There are no cars, no roads, and the way to get around is to walk through these small little sidewalks with cute littles cafes and shops lining the sides. No only were we able to see this city and walk around but during the whole month of February the Venice Carnival was going on, so everyone was wearing masks, people were walking around in crazy costumes and there were parades and events going on EVERYWHERE.

Also, the piazza around the corner from our apartment has been having a chocolate festival for the past few days and it looks SO delicious. They have everything chocolate you can imagine in tons of little stands and booths with chocolate iphones, cameras, wrenches, cheese graters, winnie the poohs, everything.

Carnevale de Venezia

We booked a trip to Venice, Italy for the day. More on this in a later post, but heres some pictures.