2. Londra

    So the weekend before finals (the last weekend to travel) we planned from the beginning of the semester to go to London. London was not on my top list of places to travel but I was enticed by the opening of the Harry Potter movie set and all of my friends were going. I was SO wrong! London was one of the highlights of my trip. I loved the city so much! Even with cruddy weather, it almost made it more enchanting. 

    The best part of the trip was staying with Megan’s family Mike and Kate. They live in Wheybridge which is a suburb just a 30 min train away from the heart of London. They have two boys, Patrick 9 and Jack 12, although I only got to meet Patrick because Jack is at that age when he sleeps all day. Kate was the most amazing hostess! When we rolled into her house exhuasted from only seeping from 4-7 that night and a bit overwhelmed by the commute, she made us a giant pot of (AMERICAN) coffee and we made PB&J and had fresh fruit and veggies, and we were introduced to the amazing, Crumpet! After being revived by Kate we went to Harry Potter!

    The HP set was very very cool. Maybe even cooler than HP World. Everything was expertly done  from the Starbucks and gift shop to the actual set tour. It was so cool to see how they made everything and to see the costumes and props. I have more picture than I know what to do with! That night we got yummy yummy Indian food and went home to freshly baked cookies :)

    Saturday we slept in a bit (Kate made oatmeal!) and then went into the rainy city for a Red Bus Tour. The tour kept getting detoured and the rain really made for not the best experience BUT we got to see everything. We got off the bus somewhat miserable at the buckingham palace and found an AMAZING pub to eat lunch in. It was like a gourmet version of a british pub (The Phenix), perfect for any tourist at the palace around lunch time. After seeing the palace we walked by Westminister Abbey, and Big Ben, and then caught the underground to go to St. Pauls. At St. Pauls we did some souvenier shopping and there was a giant topshop! Then we went for a trendy tea at Bea’s of Bloomsbury. Everything was very good (especially the jams and scones), but there were too many sweets. If this day wasn’t perfect enough we left tea to go to Les Mis for the night. By far the best thing I’ve ever seen on any stage. 

    Sunday morning we woke up to eggs this time and left with all of our stuff to go to the British Museum. I got to see the Elgin Marbles (perfect before my Connelly class this fall) and we ate a very traditional lunch at a pub (i had aged cheddar and pickle, very good!) 

    London was a great trip!

  3. Andiamo a Genova 

    The Saturday after Pisa, my Culture of the City professor, Davide Lombardo, took the class to Genova. Genova is an old port town that developed without the pressure of tourism into an industrial center. The city is along the same coast as ancient le Cinqueterre but it is a charming combination of modern, 19th century, renaissance, and medieval. It is also the birthplace of PESTO! Prof took us around the whole city and told us about the history. For lunch Catherine, Marah and I stopped for yummy pesto. I really like Genova. I can’t really recommend it as a tourist destination because there are so many other places to see, but as a student I would recommend making a trip to see this interesting city. It really is a unique combination of all Italian history and culture. 

  4. I do not like this picture…but it’s all I have On Friday my History of Italian Fashion Professor, Sara Piccolo-Paci, took the class to Pisa for a trip. I was bummed to waste a Friday (or a weekend for travel), but I would have gone to Pisa anyways..I guess.. and this was I got a free bus ride. We started by stoping at an old Villa outside of the city. In the villa was a display of old costumes all made by this same company. Most of the dresses were for the opera and all of them were very tacky and historically inaccurate. Then we went into town and saw the tower. The weather was sunny but cold so instead of walking around we sook shelter in a cafe (seems to be a common theme). After lunch we went to Palazzo Reale, the Medici palace in Pisa. Cosimo spent half of his time of the year in Pisa and left Eleanora to govern Florence. This palace holds the most intact example of Eleanora’s dresses (a beautiful red one with gold thread) and a few others. I really did not like the choices that the museum has made in display and preservation of the palace. Palazzo Vecchio is much better done. After another coffee break we saw a small Vasari exhibit and came home early. One of the beauties of having a lazy professor :)

    I do not like this picture…but it’s all I have

    On Friday my History of Italian Fashion Professor, Sara Piccolo-Paci, took the class to Pisa for a trip. I was bummed to waste a Friday (or a weekend for travel), but I would have gone to Pisa anyways..I guess.. and this was I got a free bus ride. We started by stoping at an old Villa outside of the city. In the villa was a display of old costumes all made by this same company. Most of the dresses were for the opera and all of them were very tacky and historically inaccurate. Then we went into town and saw the tower. The weather was sunny but cold so instead of walking around we sook shelter in a cafe (seems to be a common theme). After lunch we went to Palazzo Reale, the Medici palace in Pisa. Cosimo spent half of his time of the year in Pisa and left Eleanora to govern Florence. This palace holds the most intact example of Eleanora’s dresses (a beautiful red one with gold thread) and a few others. I really did not like the choices that the museum has made in display and preservation of the palace. Palazzo Vecchio is much better done. After another coffee break we saw a small Vasari exhibit and came home early. One of the beauties of having a lazy professor :)

  5. Pioggia

    All trips have a downside….. Florence in April SUCKS… all it does is rain

    The weather has been too bad to do anything besides homework. 

  6. La Famiglia e Andata in Italia

    So for my brother’s spring break my parents and he came over to see me in Italy! We spent Saturday- Thursday in Florence and then left Thursday night for two nights in Rome.

    This was the original schedule:

    Sat- I’ll take you around Florence, like a walking tour and we can get

    > whatever kind of lunch you guys are hungary for. The big thing for

    > that day can be the Uffizi. That night we can go to Gusto pizza

    >

    > Sunday- (morning) Siena (I did some research and everything there is

    > open on Sunday, unlike Florence, so this is definitely the best day to

    > go!). Siena is only a half day! So we can get back to Florence around

    > 2:00 and that would be a good afternoon to do the David. Then that

    > night La giostra!

    >

    > Monday- In the morning we can climb the Duomo! It’s gorgous! Then I’ll

    > go to class and meet up with you guys in the afternoon. In the mean

    > time you guys can go to the Bargello (do Bargello before lunch because

    > closes at 1:50) and Palazzo Vecchio. In the afternoon we can go

    > through the leather market and shop a bit. Then this night I think

    > that we should go to Coquinarius (I’ve heard amazing things) unless

    > you’ve heard really great things about the other place.

    >

    > Tuesday- Wine tour (book fast)! Since I’m going to class monday I can

    > skip Tuesday and come with you guys for this. Its pretty much an all

    > day thing, you get back around 4:30. If we have the energy, I could do

    > the Medici Riccardi (quick) tour when we get back. On the tour he

    > stops and lets you see Piazza le Michalangelo, one of my favorite

    > spots! Il Latini for dinner!

    >

    > Wednesday- In the morning I would go to Palazzo Pitti and enjoy the

    > museum (it’s grown on me) and the gardens. Then I would go over to

    > Pietra Dure (right by my house, but be careful, the ticket office

    > closes at 1:30) Then I was recommended by my pilates teacher(from

    > Atlanta) for you guys to eat lunch at Cafe Accademia (San Marco right

    > up the street from the museum). San Marco is where you catch the bus

    > to come up to campus. The bus comes every 20 min begining on the hour,

    > so you guys can play it by ear but I would get the one that comes as

    > soon as you are done with lunch. Then come up to the villa for a 3:30

    > tour! I get out of class at 2:45 so I can take you guys around before

    > and after to see the rest of the property. You’ll also probably get to

    > meet my professor that complimented my midterm! Ora D’Aria

    >

    > Thursday- By this time you’ve done all of the essentials!!! haha.

    > Nothing needs to be planned this day, you guys can play it by ear. I

    > will be done with class and back at your hotel around 3:30. Let’s plan

    > on taking a 4:00 train to Rome? When we finalize that I’ll get the

    > tickets, but no rush. If you guys are sick of Florence (hard but

    > possible haha) this would be a nice day to go to Fiesole. Fiesole is

    > reachable by the public bus and is only about a 2hr total venture, and

    > the food and views are to die for!

    Basically I learned a lot about traveling in Florence from them. 

    1. Relax

    2. Buy tickets of Uffizi and Accademia ahead of time but don’t worry about sticking to the assigned time. They can be bought at any public museum

    3. Siena makes a great day trip!

    4. Italy and Wine is only good if owner, Victoro, is giving the tour!!!

    5. Restaurants:

         A. La Giostra- Very good food and fun night but very touristy

         B. Coquanarious- Laid back, great pasta, some unique things, cheaper

         C. Il Latini- Terrible, never go back

         D. Osteria d’aria- amazing, unique tuscan food, pricy, fancy, authentic 

    6. Even though La Pietra is beautiful, I should have gone up there with them instead of having them meet me. 

  7. The Saturday after spring break I spent the day in San Gimignano with Emily. We had a great time! 

    San Gimignano is a small Tuscan Medieval town that is unique because it is perfectly preserved as it was before the Renaissance. Even the Medieval towers are still intact! 

    We had a very nice lunch, but I would recommend eating at a so-so restaurant next time to enjoy sitting outside more. After lunch we went and saw the beautiful fresco’s in the main church. Then we climbed up to the fortress to get a beautiful view of the city. There is a wine museum/bar there where I wanted to try their famous white wine, but a gaggle of old men was sitting outside. They reminded me so much of my big bear gang. I can handle those guys easy, but in Italian….my skills might not be as good. haha

    Afterwards we went back to the main square and tried the award winning gelato shop! It really was heavenly. Then I finally got to try the local wine and we sat in another little place with a great view (there is a road sign to point you to the ponte vista). 

    The train takes you to Pongibonsi, and from there you must take a bus up to San Gimignano. The bus never came when we were ready to leave and we had to wait a whole hour with some very frustrated english women haha.

    Anyways..by the time I got to San Gimignano I was a bit weary of Medieval towns, but I think that this one was my favorite so far!

  8. Yuck

    The weather sucks— 50 degrees and raining

    Weekend trip to Sardinia canceled. I’ll post updates soon

  9. popculturebrain: Set Photo: Hugh Jackman as Val Jean in Les Miserables | Collider

    popculturebrain:

    Set Photo: Hugh Jackman as Val Jean in Les Miserables | Collider

  10. womensweardaily: Backstage at Alexander McQueen Fall 2012

    womensweardaily:

    Backstage at Alexander McQueen Fall 2012

About me

"In bocca al lupo” is an Italian phrase that is used to wish students luck the night before their exams and means “good luck!”. My Italian professoressa wished the class “in bocca al lupo” before our final and I haven’t been able to forget the odd Italian phrase. Especially as I get ready to leave for my own adventure in Firenze. I have the same butterflies in my stomach that I did before finals.

I am a sophomore at NYU majoring in Art History and am taking the trip of a lifetime to NYU Florence. This blog is to document my adventures with friends, new and old, in Florence and where ever else I can find a cheap flight to!

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