Wow... I honestly never thought that I would be returning to this blog and that it would slowly disappear as my travels (and I suppose life in general) moved forward. But rather than starting yet another blog, I decided that if my adventures in Florence were to continue, that I would simply rename this and continue my story here.
A couple of weeks ago I sent in my application for a TA position at SACI, the school I went to while I lived in Italy. Basically, I would have Libby's job (for those of you who've read this and know who Libby is). I'm desperately hoping, wishing, and dreaming that I get this job as it would give me the opportunity to go back and live in Florence for a whole year. Not only this, but I would also be working with one of the coolest professors I've ever studied under.
I don't think I'll find out the result of my application until May, but I have put aside some aspirations of mine while I wait for the response. If I do go back over in August, I'll start posting here again... although I think it'll be a little bit different from my previous posts from 2009.
So here's to the wait and the possibility to live abroad again. Let's see what comes of it!
09 March, 2011
19 May, 2009
Alright… Back Over The Pond – 27 April, 2009
Well, it came and it went… really quickly. I went from Firenze to Munich, from Munich to New York City, from New York City to Rochester all in one day. Somehow. That’s a really long time to be on a plane!
Now that I’m back in the states, I do feel a bit of “culture shock,” but it’s not “I can’t handle this” culture shock, it’s the “I’m really gonna miss that place” culture shock.
The first thing I noticed aside from the whole Italian vs. English thing was the different sound of sirens. Yes, the sirens are annoying, but they’re so different in both countries!
I also miss my daily coffees with Davide e Angelo – they made the perfect caffè lattes.
But mostly I’m gonna miss my photo peeps. We were all so incredibly different from one another but we were always able to help each other out with anything.
I am so incredibly happy that I rediscovered that little secret passion of black and white photography – and I’m so happy I rediscovered it in a place that I can definitely go back to no matter what.
Italia is an incredible place, but you need more than a week to see it. There’s the tourist Italy and there’s the real Italy where people don’t speak English but are still able to understand you. And even after living there for four months, there still is SO much to see over there!!!
Now that I’m back in the states, I do feel a bit of “culture shock,” but it’s not “I can’t handle this” culture shock, it’s the “I’m really gonna miss that place” culture shock.
The first thing I noticed aside from the whole Italian vs. English thing was the different sound of sirens. Yes, the sirens are annoying, but they’re so different in both countries!
I also miss my daily coffees with Davide e Angelo – they made the perfect caffè lattes.
But mostly I’m gonna miss my photo peeps. We were all so incredibly different from one another but we were always able to help each other out with anything.
I am so incredibly happy that I rediscovered that little secret passion of black and white photography – and I’m so happy I rediscovered it in a place that I can definitely go back to no matter what.
Italia is an incredible place, but you need more than a week to see it. There’s the tourist Italy and there’s the real Italy where people don’t speak English but are still able to understand you. And even after living there for four months, there still is SO much to see over there!!!
The End? What? Really? – 26 April, 2009
I don’t think I could’ve asked for a better day as my last day in Firenze con Libby. It was a bit chilly and overcast outside, but no matter… we couldn’t have had a better time!
We woke up and ventured out into the world quite early for a Sunday morning – no one was out yet… or they were in church.
Libby showed me this awesome little stall that sold fabulous shoes for only €10… um – GREAT STEAL! Yeah, so I got a great pair of wedges. And we continued to wander through the market after Libby got her pair of shoes in search for a few last-minute gifts. I really do like that market despite the fact that it’s a huge tourist trap.
We got a cup of coffee then went back to the alumni center since everything was closing up for the afternoon siesta. Aside from checking e-mails, we watched the fantastic Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix until 16:00. By this time, Libby showed me some fantastic, old-school paper and pen shops where I finally found a “DH” seal and sealing wax – wow – I love these sorts of stores, they make me so happy.
By this time it had started to rain a little bit, but the sudden appearance of Firenze’s entire troops of La Polizia and I Carabineri sparked a funny little conversation between Libby and me. It’s true, though! About 90% of the law enforcement in Italy is so bloody attractive it’s not even funny. Apparently they’re supposed to be so they represent the classic honor of being a cop or soldier… or something like that. I can’t remember EXACTLY what Libby said.
Somehow, it magically happened to be 20:00, so Libby and I went back to her place for the night where she made exquisite pasta and we talked for a good two hours.
I think that’s what I’ll miss a great deal of when I go back to the states – being able to sit down to a great dinner with great friends and just spending time eating and talking – that’s the way it should be!
Wow, what a great day! I can’t believe it’s actually the last day… SO weird! But I do have to get up at 5:00 tomorrow morning, so it’s time to get to bed after a fantastic day of walking everywhere.
We woke up and ventured out into the world quite early for a Sunday morning – no one was out yet… or they were in church.
Libby showed me this awesome little stall that sold fabulous shoes for only €10… um – GREAT STEAL! Yeah, so I got a great pair of wedges. And we continued to wander through the market after Libby got her pair of shoes in search for a few last-minute gifts. I really do like that market despite the fact that it’s a huge tourist trap.
We got a cup of coffee then went back to the alumni center since everything was closing up for the afternoon siesta. Aside from checking e-mails, we watched the fantastic Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix until 16:00. By this time, Libby showed me some fantastic, old-school paper and pen shops where I finally found a “DH” seal and sealing wax – wow – I love these sorts of stores, they make me so happy.
By this time it had started to rain a little bit, but the sudden appearance of Firenze’s entire troops of La Polizia and I Carabineri sparked a funny little conversation between Libby and me. It’s true, though! About 90% of the law enforcement in Italy is so bloody attractive it’s not even funny. Apparently they’re supposed to be so they represent the classic honor of being a cop or soldier… or something like that. I can’t remember EXACTLY what Libby said.
Somehow, it magically happened to be 20:00, so Libby and I went back to her place for the night where she made exquisite pasta and we talked for a good two hours.
I think that’s what I’ll miss a great deal of when I go back to the states – being able to sit down to a great dinner with great friends and just spending time eating and talking – that’s the way it should be!
Wow, what a great day! I can’t believe it’s actually the last day… SO weird! But I do have to get up at 5:00 tomorrow morning, so it’s time to get to bed after a fantastic day of walking everywhere.
From Edinburgh Back to Firenze – 25 April, 2009
This last morning in Edinburgh was quite relaxed and very chill – which is just the way I like to depart a place. Breakfast was super nice and everything got packed away so I could take an empty suitcase back to Firenze.
Got to Edinburgh Airport a bit before noon and made my way to the gate. And thank god I brought my book with me ‘cause that plane ride would’ve felt way too long otherwise.
I forgot how silly and almost tacky Ryan Air was – but they do have good service that you have to pay for if you so desire it. They also sell special-made Ryan Air scratch cards so you can play the lotto while you’re waiting for the plane to land.
We finally got into Pisa at 17:00-ish and I still had to take an hour-long train ride back to Firenze.
When I got back and put my bag away, Libby and I went out and had a fantastic dinner at a little restaurant that I never knew existed. It was incredible – best four-cheese gnocchi ever! Yeah… by the time we were done, we figured we’d go back to Libby’s place to read and crash – everything would be done tomorrow when shops and stuff were open.
Got to Edinburgh Airport a bit before noon and made my way to the gate. And thank god I brought my book with me ‘cause that plane ride would’ve felt way too long otherwise.
I forgot how silly and almost tacky Ryan Air was – but they do have good service that you have to pay for if you so desire it. They also sell special-made Ryan Air scratch cards so you can play the lotto while you’re waiting for the plane to land.
We finally got into Pisa at 17:00-ish and I still had to take an hour-long train ride back to Firenze.
When I got back and put my bag away, Libby and I went out and had a fantastic dinner at a little restaurant that I never knew existed. It was incredible – best four-cheese gnocchi ever! Yeah… by the time we were done, we figured we’d go back to Libby’s place to read and crash – everything would be done tomorrow when shops and stuff were open.
A Fantastic Twelve Hours – 24 April, 2009
I remember the lights turning on this morning at 4:45. It’s funny… I’ve been complaining about getting up at 7:30 or whatever… but before five, that’s really tough. Anyway – we all sort of fumbled around in early morning tiredness and made it through to the bus station at 8:00. Our bus left at 8:15.
For serious, this tour was something incredibly awesome and I’m not a big fan for going on group tours. Of course, we left from Edinburgh and drove up to a little area called Doune – we didn’t really go through a true town, but everything that was there was absolutely gorgeous. After an hour and a half we stopped at a place in Doune that was mostly a sheep farm but also had a little caffè and a huge antique/gift shop. There were so many little lambs out in the pastures my mom and I almost had a heart attack and for sure I got loads of pictures of them running around.
From here we all swapped buses – a group from Glasgow had joined us here – and we continued on up towards a town called Callendar. This is where Sir Walter Scott was from and described it a lot in his writings. Of course, this made it quite touristy but whatever – what made me excited was the transition up into the Highlands. Right outside of Callendar there was a windy road that suddenly climbed these mountains. What was even more bizarre was that we passed this invisible line that marked an immediate transition from the lowlands to the highlands – everything changed: the trees, the rocks, the weather, the people. In fact, just was we crossed this border, a local totally flipped us off as we passed his driveway. Haha… oh, highlanders.
I lasted about another two hours watching the land go by. I can not tell you how dramatically this country changes in just an hour’s drive! We entered the highlands, and yes there were hills and mountains. When we got to Rannoch Moore – oh my god. I will have to go back and get a rent-a-car because this place was too gorgeous to not photograph. With much shame, I couldn’t keep my eyes open and fell asleep for about an hour. And when I woke up I saw the most incredible scenery! Lucky for me, the bus pulled over and let us check everything out for about fifteen minutes.
Now was when we would drive through Glen Coe and start seeing a million and a half lochs – amazing!
Fort William was a nice place, but Loch Ness was a bazillion times better. I really never thought that I would be standing at Urquhart Castle gazing over age-old castle railings across Loch Ness. Maybe it’s because we actually took a boat across the loch, but Loch Ness really is a little bit creepy in a cool sort of way. I mean, the water is legitimately black… lakes typically don’t have BLACK water.
From Loch Ness we went up to Inverness and spent an hour wandering around, grabbing a bite to eat, and taking in a small portion of the city. I really wish, though, that we had more time there.
Now was the time to start heading back down to Edinburgh… and we only had one stop between there and Inverness in a place called Perthshire just north of Perth. I’m glad we got to stretch our legs and we also got some shortbread biscuits and fudge – both locally made. After we bough this, my mum and I found a pasture two steps down the road and made friends with an absolutely adorable sorrel horse who we named Rusty. He tried one of our biscuits and didn’t like it too much but still enjoyed scratches and pats on the face.
I think we rolled into the bus station around 20:30-20:45 – that’s twelve hours of driving, well… riding, around the country! And I’m so glad we went on that tour – we wouldn’t have seen that much of the country if we hadn’t gone.
At least I don’t have to get up at the crack of dawn tomorrow… my flight doesn’t leave ‘till 1:15 – YAY!
For serious, this tour was something incredibly awesome and I’m not a big fan for going on group tours. Of course, we left from Edinburgh and drove up to a little area called Doune – we didn’t really go through a true town, but everything that was there was absolutely gorgeous. After an hour and a half we stopped at a place in Doune that was mostly a sheep farm but also had a little caffè and a huge antique/gift shop. There were so many little lambs out in the pastures my mom and I almost had a heart attack and for sure I got loads of pictures of them running around.
From here we all swapped buses – a group from Glasgow had joined us here – and we continued on up towards a town called Callendar. This is where Sir Walter Scott was from and described it a lot in his writings. Of course, this made it quite touristy but whatever – what made me excited was the transition up into the Highlands. Right outside of Callendar there was a windy road that suddenly climbed these mountains. What was even more bizarre was that we passed this invisible line that marked an immediate transition from the lowlands to the highlands – everything changed: the trees, the rocks, the weather, the people. In fact, just was we crossed this border, a local totally flipped us off as we passed his driveway. Haha… oh, highlanders.
I lasted about another two hours watching the land go by. I can not tell you how dramatically this country changes in just an hour’s drive! We entered the highlands, and yes there were hills and mountains. When we got to Rannoch Moore – oh my god. I will have to go back and get a rent-a-car because this place was too gorgeous to not photograph. With much shame, I couldn’t keep my eyes open and fell asleep for about an hour. And when I woke up I saw the most incredible scenery! Lucky for me, the bus pulled over and let us check everything out for about fifteen minutes.
Now was when we would drive through Glen Coe and start seeing a million and a half lochs – amazing!
Fort William was a nice place, but Loch Ness was a bazillion times better. I really never thought that I would be standing at Urquhart Castle gazing over age-old castle railings across Loch Ness. Maybe it’s because we actually took a boat across the loch, but Loch Ness really is a little bit creepy in a cool sort of way. I mean, the water is legitimately black… lakes typically don’t have BLACK water.
From Loch Ness we went up to Inverness and spent an hour wandering around, grabbing a bite to eat, and taking in a small portion of the city. I really wish, though, that we had more time there.
Now was the time to start heading back down to Edinburgh… and we only had one stop between there and Inverness in a place called Perthshire just north of Perth. I’m glad we got to stretch our legs and we also got some shortbread biscuits and fudge – both locally made. After we bough this, my mum and I found a pasture two steps down the road and made friends with an absolutely adorable sorrel horse who we named Rusty. He tried one of our biscuits and didn’t like it too much but still enjoyed scratches and pats on the face.
I think we rolled into the bus station around 20:30-20:45 – that’s twelve hours of driving, well… riding, around the country! And I’m so glad we went on that tour – we wouldn’t have seen that much of the country if we hadn’t gone.
At least I don’t have to get up at the crack of dawn tomorrow… my flight doesn’t leave ‘till 1:15 – YAY!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)