tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41728732371978194602024-03-12T16:12:47.487-07:00Ciao {Down} BellaJust an American girl eating her way through Italy.Kassandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12429572118378782452noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4172873237197819460.post-85518084595823084342012-04-25T09:36:00.001-07:002012-04-25T09:45:18.483-07:00A Hello & GoodbyeCiao in Italian is both a greeting and goodbye. It seems only fitting. With every closed door is a new opportunity. I thought my experiences abroad would be the pinnacle of my year. I thought coming home would mean returning to the daily grind and a time filled with adjusting lows. Oh, how I misunderstood the growth abroad brought!My time abroad was just the beginning of an adventure. An adventure to understand myself, my desires, my passion, and my sources of strength.<br />
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Unfortunately, the daily grind has captured my schedule (don't worry...I'm beyond happy and fulfilled). But...this blog is now an archive of some of the best four months of my life so use it to kickstart your own and breathe all that travel has to offer. I just caution you that returning home can be just as amazing of a journey!<br />
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Ciao, ciao bella.<br />
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Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21</div>Kassandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12429572118378782452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4172873237197819460.post-58263158581509031462012-01-06T10:45:00.000-08:002012-01-06T12:19:39.811-08:00Winter Weekends {Brugges, Belgium & Germania}Jetlag is officially conquered! I've spent the last few days visiting with friends and stopping to catch up in the veggie aisle of the grocery store! America feels surprisingly good but I forgot how fast paced life is here! I'm trying to hold onto my relaxing pace for as long as possible! To reminisce on relaxation, I'll tell you how I welcomed winter with two weekends of travel to two unexpectedly beautiful countries. Neither made my travel to-do list before I went but I can't imagine my semester without!<br />
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On a tip from a friend, I kicked off my crisp winter weekends with girlfriends in Bruges, Belgium! Bruges is a beautiful Belgian town just an hour outside of Brussels known for its UNESCO World Heritage sights, waffles, and chocolate. Kait, Hannah, and I stayed in a private apartment {<a href="http://home.scarlet.be/~et038254/engels%20welkom.html">Huyze Anna</a>} near the city center, owned by lovely hosts Erik & Charlotte. The apartment had three bedrooms and while I love my wonderful roommate, a whole attic and terrace to myself was quite the treat!<br />
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Refreshed and ready to go after a good night's rest and six mile run my pasta-fed body was not ready for, we set out merely to explore and breathe in the unique architecture & mingle with friendly locals. We wandered for hours on end, stopping only for lunch, chocolate, and WAFFLES! We tried our first at one of Brugges' best-<a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g188671-d1944725-Reviews-Bittersweet-Bruges_West_Flanders.html">Bittersweet</a>, a charming cafe owned by a welcoming Belgian couple. The unique Hot Chocolate {steaming milk + chocolate shavings!} and chai tea lattes were also quite a treat.<br />
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I'll let my pictures tell the rest of the story as wandering through aimlessly is really the best way to breathe in Belgium {click on the collage to go to my <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ciaodownbella/">Flickr</a> album}...<br />
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The following weekend was a weekend of little rest! I jumped on a quick flight to Frankfurt via RyanAir that turned into a delayed nightmare. I arrived too late to catch the bus to Mannheim so I took a bus to Frankfurt to catch a train to Mannheim. I arrived in the small town just in time to meet my friend Johnny & join his international group of friends for a traditional Thanksgiving. How fun it was to share an American tradition with Norwegians, Germans, & a few Swiss too! A taste of home is always nice too!</div>
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After staying up for football games & getting the dishes done, it was nearly 3 am so getting up for an early train to tour all of Germany the next day wasn't in the picture. We instead slept in and got the train to beautiful, historic Heidelberg! </div>
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I warmed up with Gluhwein & enjoyed traditional German christmas markets! I couldn't bring myself to stomach a sausage after the gluttony of the night before so no, I failed at being part of German Christmas Tradition! <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 16px;"><em style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;"></em></span></div>
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We toured the old castle on the hill in Heidelberg which had breathtaking views that captured a typical Germany town. I had such an industrialized view of Germany that the beauty truly took my breath away!</div>
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After a train back, nap, we set out again to waste away precious sleeping time but enjoyed a night of dancing before I caught the bus back for an early flight back home!</div>
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Thanks Johnny for hosting, translating, cooking, and playing tour guide! It was nice to just enjoy for a change!</div>
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<br />Kassandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12429572118378782452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4172873237197819460.post-63995283026275904162012-01-01T22:55:00.000-08:002012-04-25T09:28:20.846-07:00New Year, New Adventure<div style="text-align: center;">
Happy New Year! </div>
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I'm still not sure what time zone I belong to but I do know I'm back on U.S. soil. I've spent the last week turning off my phone & computer to spend some quality time with my family showing them "my world" in Italy and exploring some new places too! I'm quickly jumping back into reality here though...from driving on the sixteen lane Cali freeway to spending my remaining savings to replace my fried laptop & phone but I can't complain! Home feels good, just a bit different & A LOT warmer. Maybe it's because I'm different {and used to wearing layers}...<br />
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The past four months were an incredible journey I will not forget but I know my travels are just the beginning of a new adventure. I can't wait to return my heart to Italy someday and until then, explore new corners of the world. Join me won't you? I hope I've inspired you to taste, see, feel, and breathe God's gorgeous creation. Life is SO worth living to the fullest! You've inspired me to share & explore. I truly thank you for being part of this adventure. All your comments, posts, tips, and thoughts truly guided and comforted me along the way.</div>
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Ciao {Down} Bella is a part of me I'm not ready to let go. Travel is now ingrained in me and being a foodie with an outlet is an addiction I'm not ready to tackle yet! So, a little resolution is leading me to continue! I hope you're excited as I am! How's that sound? Explore with me...</div>
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Here's to a new year & so many more new adventures!</div>
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</div>Kassandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12429572118378782452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4172873237197819460.post-50120131944089833882011-12-10T15:10:00.001-08:002011-12-10T16:22:57.752-08:00Sunny & Nice {French Riviera}<div style="text-align: center;">
Forgive me {again} for taking a mini vacation from the blog but I truly have been on an endless vacation the past few weeks. Following fall break, I've traveled to a new country {yes, country} every weekend! As I <a href="http://bit.ly/v1CY1l" target="_blank">tweeted</a> the other day, I've lived more out of a suitcase this month than out of my closet. Oh, and the airport body scanners that used to make me nervous now seem as normal as brushing my teeth! I am BLESSED!</div>
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Let's rewind and finish the story of my time in France! After the rendezvous through Paris, Katie, Kait, and I hopped on an <a href="http://www.easyjet.com/EN" target="_blank">EasyJet</a> plane to Nice. While it's still a no frills airline, the flight was a bit more enjoyable than Ryanair so the mid-size price tag was well worth the upgrade. As thankful as I am for Ryanair for giving me the opportunity to travel, I'm just as thankful to be back to normal airlines!</div>
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We left at the crack of dawn so by the time we made it to the <a href="http://bit.ly/vIetvN" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;" target="_blank">Meyerbeer Beach</a> hostel we needed a nap and shower ASAP. We arrived a bit too early for check-in but the friendly receptionist let us store our bags, use a shower, and gave us the name of a nearby cafe to wait for our room to be ready. After a tasty cappuccino we ventured through the quiet streets of Nice, soaking in the picturesque beach and pastel architecture. </div>
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The room was ready soon after so we napped and freshened up before taking in the sunset at the benches along the beach and setting out to find a restaurant Katie and Kait enjoyed four years prior. I had high expectations as they raved about dripping pizza and the freshest pesto gnocchi you could find. <a href="http://bit.ly/vXKrt8" target="_blank">La Pizza</a> didn't disappoint! </div>
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The next day we got an early start and after a quick breakfast, wandered through the designer shopping district. I was simply just browsing but finally found THE pair of leather boots. My heart was set on buying them in Italy but after months of not finding the right pair, the shoe just fit. I splurged and haven't looked back! </div>
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We dropped our bags back off at the hostel and caught the bus to Monaco. Add another country to the list! The ride along the coast was BEAUTIFUL! I took in all the true Riviera scenes and promised myself that one day I'd return to stay in a little villa on the coast.</div>
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Starting at the castle, we wandered through the impeccable streets, stepping to the sidewalk as Porsches and Lamborghinis flew down the street! A pit stop for a forgettable lunch and onto the Monte Carlo we went! </div>
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Having never been to a casino before, Kait & Katie encouraged me to go see just why the Monte Carlo was so renowned. I cashed in 5 Euro and we tried our hand at the penny slots. Big spenders! I won twenty cents here or there but nothing close to paying for my boots! Oh well, I'm lucky enough as it is & to say I tried my hand first at the Monte Carlo will suffice...</div>
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After venturing around the hotel's beautiful grounds, people watching as high society came and went we went in search from some of France's famous macaroons. <a href="http://www.laduree.fr/" target="_blank">Laduree</a> was closed in Paris due to a neighborhood fire so we stopped into the one at Monaco's mall and purchased a few of one of the only things we could afford! I tried Rose & Salted Caramel. Both were delicious but still left with a bad taste in my mouth from Zurich's <a href="http://bit.ly/vGYCwr">Vermicelli</a>, I let the girls polish them off. </div>
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We caught the bus back and relaxed for the evening before heading back to Florence the next day. Oh, and to keep it cheap, we flew from Nice back to Paris, bused to Beavauis then flew to Pisa before taking the train back to Florence. Talk about a travel day!</div>
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A big thank you & shout-out to <a href="http://bit.ly/vIetvN">Meyerbeer</a> beach for having one of the friendliest staffs around...from bus directions to evening snacks, you truly topped the list for one of the best hostel stays!</div>
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<br /></div>Kassandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12429572118378782452noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4172873237197819460.post-66213584581152722722011-11-15T07:49:00.001-08:002011-11-15T08:54:56.170-08:00A Day in Paris<div style="text-align: center;">
While I love experiencing seasons {for the first time thanks to the SoCal 70}, all I want to do {and usually do} these days is curl up in bed with a steaming cappuccino! I've re-emerged though to share the second half of my incredible Fall Break ...</div>
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After a night back in Florence in our {eerily quiet} apartment, Kait and I jetted off again...this time to Paris! Being the cynical tourist I am, I expected to find a packed and dirty city with an over-hyped tower, unwelcoming locals, and overpriced meals. </div>
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Of course, Paris instead charmed me. I found a city full of trendy people, incredible public transport, and delectable food! Kait intentionally booked only two nights here to avoid what we expected {and what she had experienced four years before} but after the visit, both of us would return!</div>
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We arrived in the evening and Kait's high school best friend, Katie, met us at the metro. We got there just in time for a mediocre late night crepe and grocery run before settling in at the <a href="http://bit.ly/rp3m5g" target="_blank">Perfect Hostel</a> and preparing for our marathon tour of Paris. After an early, complimentary Parisian breakfast {coffee, pastries, & jam}, our trio set out to conquer the city in a day. </div>
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We walked up the steps of <a href="http://bit.ly/vf1iOQ" target="_blank">Sacre-Coeur</a>...</div>
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...took a quick <a href="http://www.parismetro.com/" target="_blank">Metro</a> ride and hopped off at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C3%B4tel_de_Ville,_Paris" target="_blank">Hotel DeVille</a>, taking photos at a nondescript bridge to recreate Kait & Katie's shot from four years before! I created a memory or two...</div>
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Then onto <a href="http://bit.ly/tT6OCG" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;" target="_blank">Notre Dame</a> {no gargoyles in sight}...</div>
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...and into <a href="http://bit.ly/rqVUQn" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;" target="_blank">Sainte Chapelle</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">, which stole my breath away {great tip from my Art Professor}!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span></div>
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A quick lunch & Starbucks run for Kait before walking through the<span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span><a href="http://bit.ly/vJVdxn" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Louvre</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">{mall & courtyard, no time or interest to stand in the entrance line}...</span></div>
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...and wandering through the stores along the way to <a href="http://bit.ly/toapHR">Arc de Triomphe</a></div>
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We saved the best for last! Nothing like a Nutella & Bananas Crepe...</div>
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& making it all the way to the top of the <a href="http://bit.ly/tdlDDC">Eiffel Tower</a>...</div>
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...making it down just in time for the first sparkle of the night! </div>
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In line for the tower we met another "K", an incredibly sweet South African girl enjoying her gap year working in England! "K" was touring Paris all by herself {bravo for <span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">bravery</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">} so she joined us for dinner! We wandered from the tower and finally into <a href="http://bit.ly/vhht0t" target="_blank">Le Petit Cler</a> for the most incredible {and affordable} flank steaks!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> A mouth-watering and a Parisian must!</span></div>
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What a day, what a day! </div>
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Thanks Kait for as always being the best navigator and Katie for always knowing which metro direction to take! Can't wait for the trio to take Budapest by storm...</div>Kassandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12429572118378782452noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4172873237197819460.post-49812134395232220822011-11-04T16:54:00.000-07:002011-11-04T16:56:17.700-07:00A Taste of Fall {Vienna & Zurich}This post is long overdue but traveling for ten days takes it out of you! Kait & I started off celebrating finishing midterms by indulging in a true taste of true fall in Vienna & Zurich. The California girl in me just wanted to run & frolic in the leaves {this is one of the first falls I've seen the leaves turn}!<br />
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<b>{WIEN, AUSTRIA}</b></div>
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We enjoyed the luxury of flying a <i>real</i> airline {<a href="http://www.lufthansa.com/">Lufthansa</a>} to Vienna Thursday night via Munich! Not only do they offer free bags, but when we boarded the flight they handed out hot towels and offered endless refreshments! Flying first class {unfortunately, we weren't} & they pick you up at the plane to chauffeur you to your next gate...in a Porsche Cayenne. But the luxuries aren't just for first class. When you make it to the terminal, have yourself a merry little {free} coffee drink, hot chocolate, or tea! Friends from home studying in Vienna met us at the airport & after taking a VERY expensive taxi ride back to their place we settled in for the night.<br />
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The next morning we woke up & set off to tour the city. We started with wandering around the grounds of <a href="http://www.schoenbrunn.at/en/">Schonbrunn Palace</a>, breathing in the bits of fall & marveling at the old world charm.<br />
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From there we took the S-Bahn {I think...my lack of German led me to just follow wherever my friends took me} and walked around the city center venturing from church to church, past Freud's favorite cafe, and past the winter palace {the former was <i>just</i> the summer palace}.<br />
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Prior to going to Austria, I researched art to see. Kait researched where Starbucks was. I know, I know...what an American thing to do but when they don't exist in Italy and my thumb is bigger than a cappuccino, a girl's got to indulge in home now and then...so indulge we did. A vanilla latte never tasted better!<br />
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That night we enjoyed a traditional Viennese dinner {something to the likes of Macaroni with Bacon for me} and enjoyed sitting there for a few hours just catching up!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: left;">When you reserve a table, it's yours for the night so eating together is a social affair not a grab & go.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: left;"> I love this cultural difference in Europe! </span><br />
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The next morning it was off again to browse through the Saturday flea market that made me wish I had an apartment to decorate and then to sip a tasty cappuccino at Hitler's former favorite Cafe {<a href="http://www.cafesperl.at/" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Sperl</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">}. One of my favorite things about Wien was that it's completely acceptable and expected to pay separately. No struggling over splitting a bill!</span></div>
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I was bursting with excitement for the next stop! Vienna is home {my favorite artist} Gustav Klimt's work! <a href="http://www.belvedere.at/en">The Belvedere Castle</a> hosts a WHOLE room of his work & my absolute favorite piece, The Kiss. I ran through the whole museum just to make it to this room.<br />
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Sitting on the bench, I just took it in for five minutes and decided I'd start saving now to one day own one of the sunflower pieces! Pictures weren't allowed but the rebel in me was able to sneak a picture of a Vincent van Gogh using the sleeve of my cape coat...<br />
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After a quick rest back at the boy's place, we ran out again to the permanent carnival. It was FREEZING cold but my smile couldn't of been bigger riding sky in the high swings that provided quite the view of one of the most old world, charming cities...<br />
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Another typical Viennese meal {potato soup this time} and off to bed to rise early for our early train ride to Zurich! Thanks Tim, James, Chris, Matt, Connor, & Andrew for being awesome hosts, tour guide, S-bahn aficionados, & german "translators"!<br />
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<b>{ZURICH, SWITZERLAND}</b></div>
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A few people called us crazy for not taking the night train to Zurich but I wouldn't trade anything in the world for the an eight hour view of the Alps. The train stopped all over Austria and Switzerland, had lots of leg room, and the Bistro cart actually had decent curry chicken so I was plenty happy to nap, finish my book, and take in the splendid endless views...<br />
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My mom's best friend from middle school studied abroad in Zurich & never came back so we were quickly welcomed and immersed into the true Swiss life. We arrived close to dinner so after a bit of freshening up Kait & I were treated to a traditional Swiss dinner of one of my favorites...fondue! Needless to say <a href="http://bit.ly/sGpYGx">Swiss Chuchi</a> served me some of the best fondue I've ever had. It also introduced me to the expensive lifestyle the Swiss lead {thank you Suz for generously cushioning the weekend}.<br />
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We spent the next day just walking around the city, browsing in shops, and playing in the leaves! Zurich is a gorgeous, clean city that mixes modern and old...I was instantly charmed.<br />
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One of our side street turns dropped us in front of the most adorable cupcake shop we'd ever seen! Kait and I couldn't resist so we stopped in & were delighted to be greeted by a Swiss girl who had studied abroad in Oklahoma during her Senior year and was delighted to practice her English! After picking two mini cupcakes out, the baker encouraged us to take two more free of charge. The owner of <a href="http://www.cupcake-affair.ch/en/">Cupcake Affair</a> travled the world before opening Zurich's first cupcake shop and she had truly perfected the recipes! They were so moist and would give even Sprinkles a run for their money...<br />
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We ended the day after another hour or two walking to enjoy cheese and crackers at Lake Zurich with a backdrop of the Alps. The views were breathtaking...if it was just a tad bit closer to home I might join Suz and never come back! How amazingly relaxing...<br />
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Our last day we spent wandering again but this time stopping for a few purchases along Bahnhofstrasse, eating giant pretzels, and sampling the famous Luxemburgerli macaroons & vermicelli. The macaroons were to-die-for but I'll let the pictures do the talking for the traditional chestnut paste {worm looking} dessert...<br />
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Swiss air safely dropped us back in Florence, serving Swiss chocolate at take-off. Again, my kind of airline!<br />
Suzanne, your hospitality & generosity will forever leave an impression on me & bring a smile to my face when I think of my visit to Zurich!Kassandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12429572118378782452noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4172873237197819460.post-56411646947291442692011-10-16T03:46:00.000-07:002011-10-16T03:48:10.401-07:00Cioccolato Crazed<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"What you see before you, my friend, is the result of a lifetime of chocolate."</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">-Katherine Hepburn</span></b></div>
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For those of you who know me well, you know that I'm a chocoholic {who am I kidding, everyone knows this}. I come from a long line of chocoholics who are not afraid to indulge in their addiction. So this weekend, I did!<br />
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Each year thousands from around the world gather for the annual Eurochocolate festival in Perugia, a town Southeast of Florence most recently known for being the home of Amanda Knox. A quick train ride {21.50 Euro round-trip} and bus {3 Euro round-trip} up the hill drops you at a cavern where hoards of chocolate enthusiasts alike meander their way up into the open air festival.</div>
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I prepared myself for the cold and crowds {both would be overwhelming if I didn't} so I truly enjoyed slowly making my way through the streets filled with tents upon tents with anything and everything chocolate. I can't say anything I saw surprised me {no chocolate covered bacon like the American summer fairs} but my mouth watered over almost everything. I did think the chocolate Kebabs called for the most creative concoction...</div>
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I started with a chocolate dipped banana {2.50 Euro, thankfully not frozen}, which turned out to be my favorite item of the day {not my favorite picture though, windblown didn't suit me well}!<br />
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Soon after came chocolate dipped oranges which reminded me of Christmas at home {2 Euro}...<br />
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...followed by a {free} sample of the mini Baci, the newest creation of Perugia's own, Baccio chocolate factory.<br />
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Then it was time for a lunch break at a back street Pizzeria {<a href="http://bit.ly/nVnbYJ">La Pasteria</a>}, which we had quickly made reservations for after talking with the friendly owner! I split the "Perugia" pizza with Kait. The Margherita pizza topped with their signature sausage turned out to be delicious! Thanks to the generous owner, the meal was one of the cheapest {5.50 Euro}!<br />
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I spent the last hour making my way to the other end of the festival but felt like I had seen it all so I made my final purchases for the day, a nut & chocolate covered candy apple {2 Euro} and a little over 200 grams of different kind of chocolates {9 Euro}! The beautiful sights of Perugia & great friends weren't a bad way to end the day either...<br />
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Amazingly, chocolate actually made it off the train with me so I will be able to savor my day at the festival while studying for midterms this week!<br />
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<b>Transportation: 25 Euro</b></div>
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<b>Culinary Delights: 22 Euro</b></div>
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<b>Day full of Chocolate: Priceless</b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Thanks "M" of <a href="http://bit.ly/r4bKtK">A Room with a View</a> for helping me fill in some of the photographic holes!</span></div>Kassandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12429572118378782452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4172873237197819460.post-67583819291136298392011-10-12T03:12:00.000-07:002011-10-12T03:13:27.839-07:00Where Art Thou?Verona never topped my day trip list so when I tagged along with a group of friends to the city known for being the setting of Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet I had little expectations. What I found will forever ingrain my memory as one of the most beautiful cities in Italy!<br />
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We caught the tram to Firenze Campo di Marte, taking the 10:26 fast train to Verona {35 Euro + 1.40 Euro tram ticket}. Once in Verona, we decided the day would be jam packed with seeing the sights so we all stopped to buy the 10 Euro Verona card that covers the entrances to all the main stops and free bus rides.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qelGjF1gJZs/TpVjHIG826I/AAAAAAAAAQ8/IQU16AYUwZ4/s1600/P1060500.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qelGjF1gJZs/TpVjHIG826I/AAAAAAAAAQ8/IQU16AYUwZ4/s200/P1060500.JPG" width="150" /></a>We hopped off the bus near the Colosseum dei Verona and wandered the streets looking for a quick bite to eat. A promising side street revealed <a href="http://gowalla.com/spots/6791649">Urban Cafe</a> where I had one of the simplest and most delicious salami sandwiches of my life!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1X_zQbrviiA/TpVjKk9hjmI/AAAAAAAAARE/d68i66b8fbo/s1600/P1060502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1X_zQbrviiA/TpVjKk9hjmI/AAAAAAAAARE/d68i66b8fbo/s200/P1060502.JPG" width="200" /></a>The Colosseum was amazing! Who knew a simple piling of marble could be so thought provoking and refreshing? We made up the history <a href="http://bit.ly/pp6MKK">Rick</a> left out, laughing on steps people had gathered on for hundreds of years. Did you know you can see Alaska from the Colosseum dei Verona? {B.S. Tours taught us that one, ask for Sarah P.}<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FGpgppn4gY8/TpVjWm3cuKI/AAAAAAAAARM/Gfb1WjznbXQ/s1600/P1060508.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FGpgppn4gY8/TpVjWm3cuKI/AAAAAAAAARM/Gfb1WjznbXQ/s200/P1060508.JPG" width="200" /></a>Next stop on our self guided tour was Casa di Giulietta. After marveling at the wall scribbled with love notes {the clean walls where tourists post letters is only in the movies}, I gasped at the hoards of tourists grabbing the boobs of Juliet's statue. An American woman nearby filled me in that it brings "the luck of love". Looks like I may be single for a little while longer...<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EhwHTKlGExA/TpVjkhpV-CI/AAAAAAAAARk/gDZeK_84lkE/s1600/P1060515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EhwHTKlGExA/TpVjkhpV-CI/AAAAAAAAARk/gDZeK_84lkE/s200/P1060515.JPG" width="150" /></a>After wandering through the house and hearing all the versions of Shakespeare's tale, I stopped into a little shop in the courtyard where a few guys {!!} sat at sewing machines embroidering everything you could think of. One demonstrated his talent, embroidering my name onto a piece of paper for free...which of course enticed me to buy a serving pad embroidered with a family saying that someone special will receive for Christmas!<br />
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I didn't find my Romeo but down the street I enjoyed a cup of fresh fruit that I certainly could pledge my love to for the day! Through the market we trekked to the river where we took in the breathtaking sights of such a well preserved city. Many of my frustrations with Italy lie in the lack of sanitation that is ruining the historical corridors filled with years of stories so the cleanliness and preservation of Verona impressed me beyond measures.<br />
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Once across the river we trekked up the steps of the Archaeological Museum and napped in the courtyard before again gasping at the beautiful view of the city!<br />
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Down we went and off to the {unfinished} Duomo where we sat for a minute in the pews before mass started. Last stop was meandering through the castle {which actually had a mote} to enjoy a fresh <i>cornetta con cioccolato</i> before pizza in the park for dinner.<br />
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We took the slow regional train home {which made for a four hour trip} playing mindless silly games that kept our delirious tired selves laughing all the way back. Once home, I quickly kicked off my boots from my tired feet and fell fast asleep.<br />
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As you can tell, it truly was quite the packed, quick day-trip that I hope to turn into a relaxing three day weekend soon!<br />
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<a name='more'></a>After enjoying dinner and dancing at <a href="http://www.yab.it/">YAB</a>, my friends and I set out a little past two a.m. in search of Pasticceria Vinci & Bongini. Set in the heart of Florence's bar district off Via dei Benci, this well-known secret bakery receives quite the diverse crowd. When you turn into the quiet neighborhood surrounding Piazza Peruzzi, you'll follow the smell into the dimly-lit side streets until you reach Via del Canto Rivolto, 2. We found a small group crowded around a sliding glass door with a simple sign that read "Please be quiet". Contrary to most stories, the baker smiled at my broken Italian, letting me change the group's order three times before retreating back into the bakery for ten minutes to fill two fresh <i>canoli</i> shells and stuff two steaming nutella <i>cornette</i>.<br />
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Four euros later and we were on our way! My <i>cornetta</i> oozed melted nutella down my hands. We unanimously agreed the nutella <i>cornette</i> hit the spot and while the <i>canoli</i> is delicious, Florentines simply aren't known for their <i>canoli</i>.<br />
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On a sugar high, we excitedly decided the bakery on the corner near our house must hold it's own secret bakery and started wandering back in search of more tantalizing aromas. As we headed down Via dei Pepi from Santa Croce the smell resurfaced. We turned left, it disappeared. We reversed our direction and stumbled upon another side street with a huddled group of Italians around a brightly lit open door. Yep, we smelled our way to a truly secret bakery! My nose guided but I think we were somewhere off of Via del Fico.<br />
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No Americans in sight, the Italians ushered us up the steps to the door so we could watch the bakers produce their craft. This bakery offered five mini pizzas for 1.50 Euro but we chose to devour {HUGE} <i>cornette con cioccolati</i> over conversation about more unpublished secret bakeries. What a night! Snug in my bed {a little past 3:30 am}, visions of sugarplums danced in my head...<br />
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Florence's Secret Bakeries:<br />
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<li><b>Pasticceria Vinci & Bongini {Santa Croce}</b>-Walk down Via dei Benci towards the river, making a right onto Pizza Peluzzi. Quiet down as you make the first left then first right onto Via del Canto Rivalto. You'll know you arrived when you see the post-bar crowd crowded around a sliding glass door that reads "Please be quiet". If you're the first one there knock softly on the door until a {most likely gruff} baker appears and order in Italian {try a <i>Cornetta con Nutella</i>}.</li>
<li><b>Laboratoria di Pasticceria Arrighi {Pizza dell'Indipendenza/SMN Train Station}</b>-On the corner of via delle Ruote and via San Gallo. Read the review on <a href="http://bit.ly/o4QhW5">Studentsville</a>.</li>
<li><b>Il Re della Foresta {Piazza Giorgini}</b>-Outside the city center, this hole in the wall supposedly serves up some of the best <i>bombolone</i> in Florence. Read the review on <a href="http://bit.ly/o4QhW5">Studentsville</a>.</li>
<li><b>The {Truly Secret} Bakery {Santa Croce}</b>-Facing the Santa Croce, take the street directly to the left of the church and make the first left onto Via delle Pinzochere. The bakery will be on your right but be extremely quiet and respectful or they will not serve you.</li>
<li><b>The {Truly Secret} Family Bakery {Santa Croce}</b>- Facing Santa Croce, take the street directly to the left of the church and make the third left onto Via de' Macci. The bakery will be on your left and the door is covered by caged bars. You can see into the back where they bake and after a wave or two they'll come open the door. Again be extremely quiet and respectful or they won't serve you.</li>
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Photos Courtesy of <a href="http://bit.ly/r4bKtK">A Room with a View</a></div>
Kassandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12429572118378782452noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4172873237197819460.post-65602076956313450962011-10-03T10:39:00.000-07:002011-10-03T10:40:51.474-07:00Cooking in the Countryside<br />
Another busy week leaves so much to say & little time to do it {or little motivation to acutally do so}. In fact, just before I posted this my computer charger caught on fire and my battery is on the verge of dying thanks to a power outage while my laptop was plugged in. But now that my rant is over, yesterday's excursion deserves a bit of unrestricted space so brace yourself, I wrote like my autobiography is being published tomorrow...<br />
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From the time planning began last year, cooking in the countryside topped my Italian adventure wishlist. Naturally, the chance to cook with esteemed Tuscan food blogger,Giulia Scarpaleggia of <a href="http://en.julskitchen.com/">Jul's Kitchen</a> would be the cherry on top. Giulia's blog introduced me to the joys of Italian cooking so I was ecstatic when she graciously extended a welcome to come cook with her! Giulia recently started offering <a href="http://bit.ly/mVr7Zm">private cooking lessons</a> in her family's {BEAUTIFUL} restored villa, <a href="http://bit.ly/r6JSMz">I Tigli</a>, in Colle di Val D'Elsa, a medieval town that is everything you dreamed the Tuscan countryside would be.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>The day started off taking my first Italian bus trip. After hearing horror stories of people falling asleep and missing their stop or the bus never arriving, my anxiety rose to an all time high. Fortunately, Kait, {new friend} Hannah, and I made it to Colle without a hitch! We took the quick jaunt to the countryside via <a href="http://sitabus.it/">SITA</a> for only 5 Euro! Warning: Trying to find the current schedules online {even with an extensive Google search} produces little so ask an Italian when it comes to buses.<br />
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Giulia generously met us at the Colle stop as the villa is out of reach from public transport and told us about the picturesque town she grew up in as we wove up to the villa on the hillside. After taking the villa in, we made it into the kitchen and got to work!<br />
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A girl after my own heart, Giulia started us on dessert! While I'm not a <a href="http://bit.ly/q3pofH">Tiramisu</a> in the states, I can't eat enough in Italy {I even order Tiramisu gelato on most nights}. Tiramisu needs to set in the fridge for a few hours so we whipped egg whites to a peak, churned marscapone {an Italian cheese that sets the Italian tiramisu apart}, and dipped lady fingers in coffee. There certainly is no need to lift weights after that arm workout! After layering the cups to perfection, off to the fridge the Tiramisu went with my cravings running right behind it.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">{For a similar recipe: Jul's <a href="http://bit.ly/q3pofH">Black Tea Tiramisu</a>, sub. black tea for espresso}</span></div>
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Next we began the savory main course, Roasted Turkey with Sage & Almonds. Layering turkey, prosciutto, sage omlette, and roasted almonds promised the perfect dish. How could they flavors not make your mouth water? The roasted turkey was easy prep {roll, tie off, and roast} so onto fresh pasta we went while its aromas filled the kitchen...<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">{Watch out for the recipe this week at<a href="http://en.julskitchen.com/"> Jul's Kitchen</a>}</span></div>
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While I'd appreciated fresh pasta over the years, I'd never set out to make it so past making proved to be quite the fun challenge! Starting with a volcano, my mound was the first to leak but Giulia helped me rebuild like volcanoes erupting is a daily occurance. While I still kneaded the dough, Kait & Hannah produced gluten {to give myself a little credit, I was the only pasta newbie}but with a lot of patience my mound came out just fine!<br />
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As the mounds were left to grow,we {literally} slurped Olive Oil from two regions of Italy to learn the differences in quality and taste. Did you know you shouldn't judge olive oil by the color? Leaves are often used to dye it green & professional tasters use blue glasses to avoid judging on color. Another secret: swirl the cup between your palms to warm it to room temperature to bring out the proper aromas and taste. I preferred the Tuscan to the Sicilian {the other two chose the Southern} for the southern oil bit my tongue with a spicy tomato aftertaste while the Tuscan oil left a heavier but less strong taste at the back of my tongue.<br />
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Our pasta was ready to be folded and stretched when the tasting was done. Giulia brought out her grandmother's pasta press for the occasion, allowing us to hand churn every noodle until the end. We hand cut a thicker noodle and made a thinner linguine with the press. The pasta was sooo fun to play with!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">{Check out a few <a href="http://bit.ly/mUguWs">Fresh Pasta</a> recipes}</span></div>
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Done with the main preparation, we put together two crostinis {Baked sausage & anchiove} for an appetizer, cut fresh vegetables to roast, and Giulia prepared a simple <a href="http://bit.ly/mXhrUP">tomato sauce</a> & sage butter for the pastas. When the finishing touches came together, we toasted the three hour lesson and dived into the first course!<br />
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The meal was one of my favorite parts. The four of us enjoyed the fruits of our labor over great conversation exchanging travel stories and cultural questions while enjoying some of the most incredible flavors I've experienced since arriving! <br />
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Thanks Giulia for an experience I will not forget! I only hope others can share in the rich cooking traditions of I Tigli that you so graciously shared with me!<br />
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For more information on cooking with Jul's Kitchen, visit <a href="http://bit.ly/mVr7Zm">here</a>!<br />
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A review on a few Firenze restaurants, a video of the Mokaflor roasting plant, and my mid-week adventures are on there way....just must conquer this Blogger's block & finding a solution to my little computer fire...oh the joys of living abroad!Kassandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12429572118378782452noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4172873237197819460.post-44893858317997259622011-09-26T04:21:00.000-07:002011-09-26T11:02:46.186-07:00Old World CharmWhat a week it's been! It's gotten to the point where I have so much to share & dwindling time to tell so I hope romanticizing about my weekend in Venice will do!<br />
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Kait and I decided a few weeks back we wanted to spend some time in Venice. I actually didn't expect to take this trip as many friends & family warned of the busy squares and dirty streets but Bami {my grandmother} sharing her memories of Venice and a few other nudges intrigued me to see the city but stay for more than a day. I found myself as entranced as my grandparents had been.<br />
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On Friday morning we trekked through Firenze with our carry-ons to the train station, expecting to buy tickets for the 10:30 train. The trains were booked until 12:30 so we quickly booked some seats {and our return ticket back}, going with the flow and enjoying people watching in the station's cafe over juice & a croissant. The train ride was a breeze {or maybe my book was too engrossing} and we arrived at the island's Santa Lucia station in just under 2 hours.<br />
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Immediately I gasped at the sites across the water-old world Venetian architecture left untouched. The station was busy as can be {kept my eyes out for pickpockets} and the vaporetto line was a bit long for my liking but the $6.50 fare to Saint Marc's square was a lot nicer than hiring a water taxi {starts at 45 Euro no matter how many people you have}. We docked at a stop one before the square and I noticed immediately how well heeled the tourists were. Kait and I will our carryons on our back did stand out but hey, we can indulge in the expensive city too!<br />
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Indulged we were! We were blessed by Kait's parents to stay at the <a href="http://www.starwoodhotels.com/westin/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=75">Westin Europa & Regina</a> {thanks to their Starwood Points} which sits on the Grand Canal on a quiet street about 5 minutes from the square. We were proud to not get lost getting to the hotel {you try and figure out the Venetian districts} and shedding our bags in the gorgeous room. I forgot how <a href="http://bit.ly/nwD43I">heavenly</a> a bed could feel....<br />
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We left the hotel to maximize the number of daylight hours, wandering through the alleys and crowded streets of Venezia. It doesn't hit you that there really are no cars and this city truly functions on water until you cross the beautiful white marble bridges {or as the Gondola men tell you that you are the spice girls and need a ride}. Around St. Mark's square there were HOARDS of tourists which I imagine is where a lot of people write off Venice. I made up my mind there that the more you let yourself get lost {knowing you can prob find yourself again by walking towards the canal} the more you will find Venice & escape the crowds that have taken over.<br />
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We were tired from a long week at school {hey, three days is a lot for an Italian girl} and travel so we ate an early dinner at <a href="http://bit.ly/oGI9YF">Barbanera</a>, a forgettable restaurant, behind the square. For 13 Euro each we were able to enjoy spaghetti bolognese, chicken, salad, and potatoes {and after begging for the famously pure Venetian tap water, the waiter gave us a liter of mineral water for free}. The spaghetti was good and I appreciated not forking over my life savings for a meal as I expected but I probably wouldn't go back. It's also a sign that you're in a tourist filled city when you're complemented for using "vore" {followed by some English-Italian mumbo jumbo} to order...<br />
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I should of took being tired as a sign though...I woke up in the middle of the night with my sinuses aching. The cold that had been filtering through my friends had hit me. Kait was so gracious allowing me to set the pace for the next morning. Tourists were the last thing I wanted to be surrounded by so we wandered to the end of the grand canal ports for some fresh air. We sat and watched a cruise ship fit through the canals and come into port then wandered around the outskirts of the island.<br />
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Wow, the neighborhoods are enchanting! Buildings where the restoration {or lack there of} brings out the true beauty of Venetian architecture and the streets wind along the small canals. Each turn held new discoveries from a beautiful flower shop to a row of cafes with Venetian men and women a like enjoying their afternoon drink or pastry. Of course, we tried a pastry too {more on that in a bit}.<br />
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We spent the late afternoon relaxing in the room and talking about further trip possibilities which allowed me to gain some energy back. I promised myself that every site I was missing was too crowded anyways and I'd go in December with my family when the tourists had left.<br />
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After retracing our steps from mid day, we stopped at a tratorria for dinner {I can't remember or find the name but it was something with Johnny}. I was able to enjoy an Aperol Spritz {at the recommendation of <a href="http://bit.ly/o4NZsg">Emiko</a>}, splitting a three course pasta dinner and pizza with Kait. The atmosphere of the place was a bit more authentic-with the waiter's family coming in to visit and the owner greeting his fellow Venetians as they strolled down the street. Again the food met the expectations of the prices but it's all this girl could do on her college budget!<br />
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The night wouldn't be complete without wandering back to the little pastry shop for a treat {or two}. The place had no sign with a name so I'll leave you to wander and find your own...<br />
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Our last morning we took the complimentary Westin water taxi to the beautiful <a href="http://excelsior.hotelinvenice.com/">Exclesior Hotel</a> on Lido island. It was amazing to see Venice from afar on the way over to Lido. Lido is a beachy island known for it's casino and had an air of elegance {with a price}.<br />
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We skipped the Westin's hefty priced breakfast buffet in search of an open cafe. Being Sunday, all we could find was a bar with no food and creepy men in speedos so we rushed a quick, fresh juice and wandered around the hotel instead.<br />
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Planning everything to the minute, we arrived back at the train station just in time for our train and enjoyed the ride home speaking Spanglish {Kait only realizing we weren't speaking Italian halfway through} with an Argentian couple who was enjoying a two week European rendezvous. It was the perfect way to end such an enchanting weekend! I can't wait to take my family back to Venice in December and enjoy what my cold didn't let me but for until then I'll bask in encapsulating old world charm of Venezia...<br />
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<b>{Tips} to truly see Venice:</b><br />
-Book your train tickets in advance. Trains fill up fast so if you want the best rate and ideal time go a day ahead of time to buy your tickets.<br />
-Bring a carry-on bag that's easy to travel with {aka with wheels}. Why? Unless you plan on paying for a water taxi, you will have to walk and a bag on your back isn't too fun!<br />
-Stay overnight so you can enjoy the sites after everyone has left {go up to the bell tower just before it rings at 5 and by the time you get down the droves will be gone in the square}.<br />
-Get lost. Just know the direction of the Grand Canal or the Rialto bridge and where your hotel is in relation to it. Accept that it's hard to find places so if you're not good with Google maps beforehand you may just have to wander until you find what you want. The back streets of Venice are so much prettier and authentic...<br />
-Venice is expensive. It's a tourist city with high demand, little to yield so you can't avoid it but you can work with it. Value meals aren't going to be memorable but they are good enough and if you're on a budget, promise yourself a better meal somewhere else in Italy. <br />
<br />Kassandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12429572118378782452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4172873237197819460.post-15815960482802946572011-09-20T04:22:00.000-07:002011-09-26T11:03:08.442-07:00Finding Firenze<br />
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<center><b>"That’s a part that I didn’t quite expect before I came here— the presence of ordinary in an extraordinary place."<br />-Claire Shalinsky, <a href="http://claireacrossthepond.tumblr.com/">Claire Across the Pond</a> </b></center><br />
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The more I deepen my ties here, the more I realize just what living abroad means. I'll never be a Florentine & I'm still in a state of enchantment as I see the Duomo on my walk to school, but I can see the difference between me & the dazed tourists as I walk down the street. I no longer hold a map and I turn corners without thinking twice. Yet, there is still a whole side of Florence I do not know and will only meet with time.<br />
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It doesn't hurt to make the introduction so this week I sought to meet Firenze a bit more formally. On Monday I met up with <a href="http://www.emikodavies.com/">Emiko Davies</a>, a lifelong expat with an Austrailian accent, Chinese upbringing, American education, and Italian marriage! Emiko moved to Florence ten years ago to study {her <a href="http://bit.ly/nF9sFE">first apartment</a> happens to be a few doors down from mine} and after moving away for a short bit, decided to return. Seven years later and she's built an incredible life here, deepening her passion for photography and cooking! Emiko and I had exchanged a few emails prior to my departure about general living tips so I was thrilled when she generously offered to meet for coffee and show me a bit of the city from her eyes.<br />
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We met at the bookstore at the back of the Uffizi {that houses some wonderful Italian cookbooks} and wandered towards the city center so she could open my eyes to the secrets of the city that I would otherwise pass-by. From a traditional apocotherary to a tiny restaurant with a promising menu, Emiko pointed out her favorites while I took a snapshot of each in my mind to return to during my time here.<br />
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We stopped in <a href="http://www.verrazzano.com/en/the-place/">Cantinetta dei Verrazzano</a>, owned by the Cappellini family {established Florentine family}, who keep the wine bar and bakery traditional to the culinary tastes of Firenze. It was there Emiko introduced me to Scracciata all'uva {foccacia bread filled with the seasonal sweet red grapes} and cecina {chickpea foccacia}. The sweet grape pastry is only available in September {when the grapes are in season} so my roommates & I went back the following night to try it! It was wonderful & completely different from what my palate anticipated! As Americans, you have to get used to the crunchy seeds of the grapes but it was such a refreshing dessert & certainly something I wouldn't be able to try anywhere else! I can't wait to go back to sample the cecina...<br />
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Across the street was <a href="http://www.percheno.firenze.it/">Perchè No</a>, a well known gelateria artgianale that year after year wins awards from Slow Food. I tried <i>un cono piccolo di pistachio e rosa</i> {yes made from roses}. It was incredible! I'm still partial to making myself walk across the Arno for my gelato but when I'm weak, this will certainly be my go to. The flavors change daily so if you are ever in there and see the rose flavor, try it because you won't know when it will appear again!<br />
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After a bit we ventured across the Ponte Vecchio and down one of the main tourist streets before turning down a medieval alleyway for the promise of an amazing cafe. After peeking our heads into an artisan shop along the way, we sat down at a cute corner cafe in the quiet piazza. I ordered fresh peach juice & had never tasted something more delicious. It was nice to know I was a street away from all the action enjoying calamity in a beautiful, hidden piazza.</div>
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Unfortunately, I went back Thursday afternoon with Kait and the waitress overcharged us {I'm guessing due to our lack of Italian} so I have a bit of a sour taste in my mouth. Emiko, as sweet as she is, promised to leave a word with the owner the next time she was in & helped me better understand how to ask for the list of prices so it can't happen again! I'm disheartened places would take advantage of two students simply trying to enjoy an afternoon but I see how many tourists take advantage of Firenze and I wonder which is worse? I guess this serves as a reminder to deepen my understanding of Italy so I can give the little that I have and receive back in full what I seek.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><br /><br />Thursday morning I woke up a bit earlier and wandered across the Arno again into a new neighborhood south of the Ponte Vecchio to meet with Jonnell from <a href="http://cupoflocalsugar.com/Cup_of_Local_Sugar/welcome.html">Cup of Local Sugar</a>. Jonnell is an American woman who studied in Firenze and after falling in love, began her life here in Italy. She's now married with two bilingual boys and an independent travel consultant specializing in destination weddings and honeymoons. I arranged to meet with Jonnell through a new start-up, <a href="http://cupoflocalsugar.com/Cup_of_Local_Sugar/welcome.html">Cup of Local Sugar</a>, which unites unite curious travellers with knowledgeable locals eager to share their address book and regional knowledge to deepen the travel experience. She wrote me a list of her favorite culinary spots while we sipped fresh squeezed orange juice {and I quietly observed the Italian women interacting around me}. I enjoyed listening {and asking question after question} about Jonnell's experience moving to Italy and developing life here. Jonnell still has the twinkle in her eye when she describes the extraordinary in her ordinary.<br /><br />My ordinary in the extraordinary this week hit me when I watched the couple selling fresh tomatoes in the market shuffle around, dancing in the stall to give out bags and ring up customers. I see it in my deepening appreciation for multiple cappuccinos</span><span class="Apple-style-span"> {and coffee highs}. Ordinary extraordinary juxtaposes itself here everyday-I can't imagine Florence without it.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span">Thank you Emiko & Jonnell for deepening my roots in Firenze & sharing your beginnings with me as I seek to experience my new life here to the fullest! Can't wait to share what's to come!</span></div>
Kassandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12429572118378782452noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4172873237197819460.post-4981880485097818782011-09-12T11:13:00.000-07:002011-09-26T11:03:29.937-07:00Tuscan Archipelago & Cinque TerreWell, life has truly started! Classes started last Monday {Tuesday for me} so just as I thought I was getting settled I added a whole new layer to my adventure. I'm really looking forward to the discussions and global perspectives I'll encounter while studying Italian, Art History, Ethics, and International Management! I cooked a bit more this week, ate lunch on the steps on Santa Croce, and wandered around the city to take in the sites! <br />
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Friday morning I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to take a yacht cruise to the breathtaking islands of the Tuscan Archipelago. It meant waking up at 4:30 am, walking twenty minutes in the empty streets {not the wisest decision as the bars had just let out}, and taking a 2.5 hour bus ride but I would do it over and over again {and call a taxi next time}! We arrived at a dock in a typical Tuscan hillside town and boarded the boat for a day of exploration. I didn't know much about where I was other than that the Tuscan coast lies on the Tyrrhenian Sea and is home to a group of small islands, many of which are still natural preserves.As you can tell, little english was spoken on the excursion that day...<br />
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It felt so good to inhale salty air, feel the wind whip my hair everywhere, and just see the vast ocean before us as we cruised over to the first island. I sat on the upper level reading, glancing out the windows now and then to take in the view. Shortly after, we docked at a small rocky island & found ourselves in a preserve with a small beach only accessible by boat. The island was untouched with trails leading to the beach and cliffs to dive into the ocean. It was BEAUTIFUL!<br />
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I quickly made my way down to the beach, dropped my bag, and dove in! The water was crystal clear, just the right temperature, and much to my amazement I floated without trying! Apparently this side of the coast is a lot saltier than home! After swimming to the cove, a few new friends and I made our way to a rock cliff that many Italians were diving off of. I followed their lead, not looking twice and just diving in! So fun! After laying out for a bit we made our way back to the boat and cruised to the next island.<br />
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I spent the next hour of the cruise on the top deck conversing with my new friends & keeping my eyes glued on the beautiful blue sea below. As we drew near to the small harbor, my mouthed dropped at the picteresque scene. Isola del Giglio is the Tuscan Coast you see in the movies. A town with only one street curled around a harbor with a vast array of colorful villas on the hillside behind! There's part of me that wants to keep it just to myself {you find out why later in this post}. <br />
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I wandered the streets musing at the different houses before setting my towel out on the rocks and diving into the ocean again. After a swim, I settled in for the afternoon reading, talking, laughing, and just plain soaking up the sun! Before I had to board again I made a quick stop into a back alley gelateria where I asked the shopkeepers what their favorite flavors were-they each had different ones but settled on almond. I quickly ordered a scoop {with some nutella of course} and to my amazement they mixed in the almond-nutella right before my eyes. Now that is <i>gelato artigianale</i>! It was a perfect way to end the cruise...<br />
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The next day I did it again-waking up early to fast walk to the train station heading to Cinque Terre with three of my roomates. Due to the confusing nature of the trains {we ran to three platforms}, we missed the first connection but made it to Pisa where we paid an extra seven Euro to board the faster, more direct train to La Spezia {thanks to the nice Australian couple that translated for us}. In La Spezia we purchased the Cinque Terre card which allowed for entrance to the park, bypassing the lines, and riding the train in between the five towns.<br />
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We arrived in Riomaggiore and began walking across Via del Amore {Lover's Walk} that extends between the first and second town. It was beautiful to walk along a path on the cliff of a coast & see the locks of the couples who had walked before us, throwing the key to their heart deep into the ocean. The hike was closed from the second to the third town due to a rock slide so we hopped on the train again and arrived in Corniglia. Corniglia is one of the smallest of the five towns and sparsely populated. On the trek up the hill we met a couple from Denmark who told us that they're were only five restaurants in the particular town. We were starving so we whipped out a copy of an old Rick Steves guide and found Cicio, a small restaurant on the hill that served the region's signature Pesto.<br />
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It was nice to escape the crowds for a bit and enjoy lunch, punctuated by the argument going on between the passionate Italian couple in the back. Although the water was severly overpriced {3 Euro each}, the pesto spaghetti was <i>delicioso</i>! After the meal we hiked down the endless stairs to hop on a train to Monterosso as we only had a few hours left and wanted to enjoy the sun.
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Unfortunately when we arrived, so had everyone else. Even at the end of August {and the tourist season} the resorts had bought every square of sand, charging for an umbrella and chair. The two public squares were tiny and full so we waded in the water for a bit to cool off then sat on the side of the road at a gelateria. I tried a Lemon italian ice to get in my regional lemon squeeze for the day!<br />
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I was so blessed to see two beautiful coasts in two days but I secretly preferred the hidden escape of the Tuscan islands. Hopefully they'll remained as preserved as when I left them for another visit someday...<br />
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P.S. A special thanks to Mouna, Mary, and Stacey for helping me capture some of my time at the coast! Without you, I'd have nothing to cherish my time there but the memories!Kassandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12429572118378782452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4172873237197819460.post-19674724523501961632011-09-05T12:20:00.000-07:002011-09-26T11:03:46.162-07:00Gusta GnocchiThe more I settle, the more I want to explore! Unfortunately it was a bit rainy this weekend which forced me to learn to do laundry {they do things a little different in Italy} & fight with my gas stove top that wouldn't light. I wasn't able to figure out the stove and my clothes ended up soaking wet, even after I had watched two YouTube videos & used Google translate to translate all the knob. <br />
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Let down by my American ways, I left the apartment {after it stopped raining} and ventured across the Arno for the promise of good pizza {thanks Allyson for the tip!}. It was a beautiful night and had cooled down to the high 70's. Walking from the city center where I live to the bridges that cross the Arno is quite the shift. On the other side of the Arno things are a bit more peaceful and trees fill the hillsides. I {LOVE} being in the center of the city and having everything at my fingertips {including listening to the bells of Santa Croce ring as I type} but sometimes escaping across the water is a nice change. <br />
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After crossing the bridge to the west of Ponte Vecchio, we found <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g187895-d1155597-Reviews-Gusta_Pizza-Florence_Tuscany.html">Gusta Pizza</a>, a small pizzeria run by two Italians who have built a reputation for having some of the best pizza in Firenze. Their shop is unassuming but line out the door tells you to stop in. We arrived 15 minutes after they opened {19:30} and the place was packed! I ordered a whole Magherita pizza and spent a grand total of five euros. <br />
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We were able to find a table as a family left and sat down silently devouring the dripping Mozarella and fresh tomato sauce. I'm convinced that was the best pizza that ever existed. We stacked our leftovers into a box and I intended to finish it for lunch today but naturally I ate the last piece later that night. I can't wait to go back! Next time though, I'll order off the specials menu that is written on a chalkboard just inside the door! While I don't think it could get any better, it's worth a shot...<br />
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And of course on the way home, we stopped off at my favorite gelato shop, <a href="http://www.cantinadelgelato.it/">Cantina del Gelato</a>, where I ordered in Italian and ventured to try a new flavor that tasted like Snickers but was made with vanilla, chocolate bits, and sesame seeds. <br />
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This morning a woman from the school came by to teach us how to turn on the stove {we had been doing it right, just turning the gas knob the wrong way} & also showed us how to work our washer {the button I had been pushing to make it spin actually turned off the spin}. I did my second load which came out perfect & is now hang drying. And I cooked my first meal... <br />
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Kait & I bought fresh gnocchi, fruit, and veggies at the market on Saturday. After a little research, Kait found out the fresh gnocchi only lasts for a few day so we were eager to cook it! <br />
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The gnocchi cooked quickly & began to float to the top so I began sauteing the green beans in olive oil with diced garlic. My plum had ripened to perfection so I balanced out the plate with some fruit and buon appetito! The meal was delicious-what a difference fresh makes! The best part is the entire meal cost about 5 euros. <br />
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For those of you that are beginning to grow concerned about my eating habits, don't worry! My school just opened a beautiful gym with {FREE} yoga, pilates, zumba, and more. I ran on the treadmill today and will begin Yoga tomorrow....bring on the gelato!Kassandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12429572118378782452noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4172873237197819460.post-52663557074406923132011-09-03T14:14:00.000-07:002011-09-26T04:23:24.059-07:00First Days in FirenzeHas it already been four days? Well my life abroad has officially begun and I love it.I've already been stretched & challenged but in ways only studying abroad can provide for. There's sooo much I could tell you but I'll try & keep it to the highlights!
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I checked-in Wednesday and was promptly dropped at the apartment, bags and all, with the van driving off the second the door closed. Thankfully I had Kait with me! We spent the day adjusting, meeting our roommates, and settling in our apartment.
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The apartment is beautiful! We're in the heart of the city, 5 minutes from the Duomo & 3 minutes from Santa Croce. The rooms are spacious and I found the comforts of home in the ice machine! I thought I'd be drinking room temperature water for four months {phew}...
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One of my roommates has traveled here twice so she took us to one of her favorite's <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.acquaal2.it">Acquaa Al 2</a> for dinner. I was delighted to see their second restaurant is in <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.acquaal2.com">San Diego</a> of all places! Kait & I split the salad sampler and pasta sampler so we could try a few different pastas and salads. We ate every bite!
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We spent the next two days in orientation for the program and the school, learning the customs of living in Italy and our way around. Did you know ambulances are free and that when in the market it is considered unsanitary to touch the produce without gloves? The only thing I've yet to pick up on is how to turn on my stove-top. I'm hoping the pilot light is out as I feel like a bit of an idiot! After trying a few times we gave up and went to the <a href="http://www.lapentoladelloro.it/"> Osteria La Pentola dell'Oro</a>{neighborhood eatery} down the street where I learned how to ask for the bill & tried the typical Crostini di Fegato {chicken liver}, finding out what it was only after taking a bite.
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Each night we enjoyed welcome dinners in beautiful spaces that introduced us to the food of Florence. The pasta and bruschetta is {better} than they said! Last night we crossed the Arno via Ponte Vecchio {sooo beautiful at night} & found the best gelato shop-<a href="http://www.cantinadelgelato.it/">Cantina del Gelato</a>. It's off the tourist path, homemade, & after going tonight, we've become regulars. I think I've mastered ordering gelato in Italian after two lessons! As you can tell, I'm an eager student.
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Speaking of Italian, I managed to buy all my produce & fresh gnocchi this morning with very little English! Many of the vendors liked me trying to learn how to say it all and we ended up with a free onion, tomato, extra green beans, and a big smile from the pasta lady. I've tried to observe how the Italians order, carry themselves, and eat so I can be a respectful participant in the culture. It's still very clear I'm an American but by trying I've been very accepted here.
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What's made being here so easy is the ability to check-in at home. I can call & get a clear line or skype my parents from anywhere. I even was able to skype my Grandpa tonight. These small comforts allow me to enjoy Firenze in the fullest. Can't wait to see what's next!
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Tomorrow we're doing a little more exploring of the city & going to Ikea to purchase a few items to make the apartment home. We've begun planning trips to Cinque Terre, Paris, Nice, Zurich, & Morocco so send any recommendations you have my way!
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Buona notte from Firenze-I'll check in soon!Kassandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12429572118378782452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4172873237197819460.post-56674160021491942082011-09-01T05:19:00.000-07:002011-09-26T04:23:47.947-07:00Last Bliss in IrelandThe last few days in Ireland were pure bliss! I've only been in Firenze for a day but already it seems like a week ago! Let me see what I can recall...
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We spent our last day in Skerries exploring <a href="http://ardgillanskerries.com/">Ardgillan Castle</a> which was a 2 mile {walk} from the B&B. Along the way we enjoyed the beautiful coastline of the Irish sea & laughing as drivers glanced confused at the American girls in their fancy winter coats walking along the side of the road on a summer day.
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a7C9DoVti8g/Tl-FUt-MTEI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/EmwOuYSrABk/s1600/P1030292.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647379048730217538" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a7C9DoVti8g/Tl-FUt-MTEI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/EmwOuYSrABk/s320/P1030292.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a>
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Joe {owner of <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.thewhitecottages.com/index.html">White Cottages</a>} recommended we walk up the back way to the castle which led us through lush greenery opening into full fields with a modern castle atop. Claire immediately ran to frolic in the fields {her one wish for Ireland come true}.
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oyQJL205pzY/Tl-HB-HbKZI/AAAAAAAAAKM/QdpnmU60JOQ/s1600/P1000428.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647380925669648786" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oyQJL205pzY/Tl-HB-HbKZI/AAAAAAAAAKM/QdpnmU60JOQ/s320/P1000428.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a>
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The grounds kept getting more beautiful from there with endless rose gardens & an old farmhouse. The castle wasn't as authentic as what you see in the deeper countryside and the main mansion was closed for the day but spending the day meandering through the grounds fit the bill. I took over 200 pictures on the grounds...
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BQND_Pqg1Ts/Tl-HBrfC1yI/AAAAAAAAAKE/LMe082A7ucE/s1600/P1030439.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647380920668444450" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BQND_Pqg1Ts/Tl-HBrfC1yI/AAAAAAAAAKE/LMe082A7ucE/s320/P1030439.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>
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Needless to say we were tired from being on our feet & called a taxi back. Our taxi driver gave us directions to a cheap but tasty pizzeria* on the way back where we enjoyed our final meal in Skerries. The bruschetta made me crave Italy. We then walked back through the town to the B&B and enjoyed our last night talking to a mother & son pair from Switzerland over tea in the kitchen. I'll take this mention of the B&B to include a few more pictures {as promised}...
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We left Skerries {wishing we weren't} to spend our last day & night back in Dublin. We stayed in Smithfield Square which was a quick & cheap LUAS Red Line {tram} ride from Connolly station. <a href="http://www.generatorhostels.com/en/dublin/">The Generator Hostel</a> revived my faith in hostels! It has just opened a few weeks before so the modern decor was inviting and the staff was as friendly as ever!
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We dropped our bags and walked to the Guinness Storehouse for a tour. I hate to say it, but the factory completely underwhelmed me. I'm not a beer drinker but I figured touring the factory and learning the process would be a cool experience! Rather I found a winding, modern tourist attraction with videos and impressive fountains. You don't actually see the beer being made!
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The one part I did enjoy was the top floor of the Storehose which is a glass bar with an impressive 360 view of Dublin. Claire & I turned in our tickets for a free beer and goggled at the fact that they let the foam rise for two minutes before finally filling the glass to let the brew mix. The brewmaster put a four leaf clover in my froth! I had no intention of actually drinking the beer & after 2 sips, I decided it wasn't for me {sorry to the beer enthusiasts out there}. Claire made it a bit farther to about 7 sips...
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--vfRjk_ENAg/Tl-LCnBkd7I/AAAAAAAAAKc/mWCQBYyfih4/s1600/GuinessEww.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647385334697457586" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--vfRjk_ENAg/Tl-LCnBkd7I/AAAAAAAAAKc/mWCQBYyfih4/s320/GuinessEww.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>
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Lukas from the Generator arranged a ride for Claire & I that night with Bryan, an Irish taxi driver who told us the great tale of his life in a ten minute ride {in his Mercedes Bus that Tiger Woods had formally been shuttled in}. If you ever go to Dublin, let me know so I can search high and low to arrange a ride with Bryan!
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Claire and I then began a literary pub crawl led by two actors who re-enacted scenes from Joyce, Beckett, and the like while walking us through some famous Dublin literary sites & temple bar pubs. We met two science teachers/grad students from Los Angeles whom we compared notes with, instilling the bug in me to travel again to Ireland to see more of the west coast another day.
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Kait and I woke up the next morning bright and early for our flights to Florence! I had a bit of a stress breakdown when they asked to check my carry-on because we had a tight connection and the traveling caught up with me. Thankfully, letting it all out eased what I had let build up & I was able to enjoy the flights!
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We sat next to a businessman from Milan on the first leg who told us all about the North of Italy {and that Naples would not be safe for two American girls meandering through} and gave us his card in case we ever wanted to ask him if any Italians we're trying to rip us off!
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When we arrived in London City {a small commuter airport} we had twenty minutes to get off the plane, get my carry-on, go back through security, and make it onto the next leg. My anxiety level completely dissipated through when the Air France attendant met us at the gate and walked us through every step of the way, alerting our gate every 5 minutes where we were. Our baggage wasn't due to make the flight but the gate attendants saw the worry in our eyes and literally held the plane for our bags. I've NEVER been so impressed by an airline or gate crew! I proceeded to enjoy the travel, spending the entire leg talking to a woman from England who frequently travels to Tuscany for business, adding onto my list of reccommended places to see & stay!
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Finally we made it and the journey of the next four months began! I'll leave you here for next time but I have to get my own bearings in this city first...
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*<a href="http://www.pastapizza.ie/">Pasta Pizza</a>, SkerriesKassandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12429572118378782452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4172873237197819460.post-18762106268400836672011-08-29T07:57:00.001-07:002011-09-26T04:24:08.957-07:00Hidden EmeraldYesterday, the three of us {happily} left our hostel in Dublin for a quaint fishing village just north of Dublin known as Skerries. Standing on the platform with a group of locals holding two full suitcases & a carryon made for quite the scene. I struggled to "mind the gap" boarding the train and thankfully, a nun quickly helped me lift my final bag before the doors closed. 30 minutes later the DART dropped us into rolling hills & roaming sheep.
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When we got off, there were two cars in the parking lot and no taxis in sight. Three girls, an empty platform, and an array of luggage- it was a scene straight from Leap Year. After reaching two dead numbers the train attendant said he knew of no more cabs and that there was nothing more he could do for us. Claire requested the phone, calling the B&B owners who quickly sent a cab that {RACED} over to get us.
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The taxi driver was quite surprised to find us {and all the luggage} but made a joke of it and we piled {with suitcases on our laps} into his Mercedes sedan. In a thick accent he quickly told us Dublin was "a shithole" and about how he'd been living in the town for 50 years and is still referred to as a "blown in".
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P2-H4DVLI-8/Tlu0oEdj-rI/AAAAAAAAAI8/c6jjMzauAbM/s1600/DSCN0621.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646305158324550322" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P2-H4DVLI-8/Tlu0oEdj-rI/AAAAAAAAAI8/c6jjMzauAbM/s320/DSCN0621.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>
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Minutes later we arrived at <a href="http://www.thewhitecottages.com/">the White Cottages</a> which was even more stunning than the pictures! Jackie, the owner, quickly ushered us inside where our mouths dropped at the charm of the B&B. Within minutes we all agreed another night in Dublin could wait & booked an extra night at the cottage.
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Our room wasn't ready so Jackie directed us to the Harbor which was a 1/2 mile walk. It started pouring on our way & with only one umbrella, we were so thankful when an elderly gentleman opened the door from the sailing club and ushered us inside. We waited out the quick downpour then finished the walk to <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g551518-i10270-k2157855-Joe_Mays_Pub-Skerries_County_Dublin.html">Joe Mays</a> where we enjoyed lattes {to shake off the night of no sleep} while waiting for a table at <a href="http://www.stoopyourhead.ie/guide.html">Stoop Your Head</a>.
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Yj15z8BC_20/Tlu2EocPa7I/AAAAAAAAAJM/3QsAICvKab8/s1600/P1030255.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646306748530650034" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Yj15z8BC_20/Tlu2EocPa7I/AAAAAAAAAJM/3QsAICvKab8/s320/P1030255.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>
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Kait and I split {incredible} garlic bread & goat cheese foccacia while Claire ventured out trying an open prawn sandwich {but wasn't a fan of all the mayonaise}. We took our time meandering home enjoying the views of the harbor & the locals as they honked at each other to say hello.
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ndVEiHDxz0I/Tlu1iyOsDtI/AAAAAAAAAJE/R7txI87OUXs/s1600/P1030256.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646306167042608850" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ndVEiHDxz0I/Tlu1iyOsDtI/AAAAAAAAAJE/R7txI87OUXs/s320/P1030256.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 202px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>
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We took the afternoon to relax in our room, the Crow's Nest, before freshening up and heading back out to the Blue Grill upon Joe {the owner's} suggestion. My baked mushrooms {stuffed with shrimp & garlic} revived my jet-lagged appetite and I enjoyed the stroll through Skerries.
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At the end of the meal we asked the couple next to us what would be an appropriate tip which led into a thirty minute conversation about their world travels and learning more about what was ahead for us. They were two of the nicest people I've ever encountered, imprinting my memory with their kindness.
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After all the travel we enjoyed crawling into the awaiting beds & finally got a sound night of rest!
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Skerries is quickly becoming one of my favorite spots in the world and elevated Ireland to one of my favorite countries in the world...can't wait to share a few more pictures tomorrow!
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A {BIG} thank you to Ashley of <a href="http://www.hitherandthither.net/">Hither & Thither</a> {my favorite travel blogger by far} for recommending posting questions to the <a href="http://www.fodors.com/community/">Fodor's forums</a> to find the best trips off the beaten path. Her suggestion lead me to this breathtaking fishing village that will forever be a great memory!Kassandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12429572118378782452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4172873237197819460.post-65295768620657310332011-08-28T08:09:00.000-07:002011-09-26T04:24:27.925-07:00Snapshot: Dublin & Skerries, Ireland<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vNRPm5_P7mo/TmDLiVpSmYI/AAAAAAAAALE/z1-HCbxT4nk/s1600/DSCN0598.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647737723508922754" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vNRPm5_P7mo/TmDLiVpSmYI/AAAAAAAAALE/z1-HCbxT4nk/s320/DSCN0598.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">{Where} I went</span>: Dublin & Skerries, Ireland
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">{Who} I went with</span>: Kait {College Friend & Study Abroad Mate} & Claire {High School Friend}
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">{Where} I stayed</span>:
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-<a href="http://www.isaacs.ie/jacobs-inn-dublin/home.aspx">Jacobs Inn</a> near Connolly Station in Dublin, $72 Euro Private Quad/Night {includes small breakfast}: Clean & modern but forgettable. It was close to all the transit stations but a far walk from the sights and LOUD at night with drunk students coming in & a train just outside. I would recommend staying closer to Temple Bar to be in the action.
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-<a href="http://www.thewhitecottages.com/index.html">The White Cottages</a> in Skerries, $40 Euro per Person/Night {includes full Breakfast}: AMAZING in every way. Beautifully decorated cottage on the water walking distance from the town. Incredibly friendly & hospitable owners who will give you directions, an umbrella, or whatever you need. We stayed in the Triple Crows Nest upstairs.
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-<a href="http://www.google.ie/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCEQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.generatorhostels.com%2Fen%2Fdublin%2F&ei=4slgTpq-F8iVOoC3kUg&usg=AFQjCNF3N7jxPOM2pNBLqKwmaPN7pQWXjA">The Generator</a> in Smithfield Square Dublin, $75 Euro Private Triple/Night: Brand new & very modern decor {cool!} in a quiet part of Dublin. A block away from the LUAS Red Line, next to the Jameson Distillery, & a short walk to the Guiness Storehouse. The rooms aren't too big but are not small either. Each bed has two outlets & a reading light {BIG plus} and the bathrooms were glistening. Staff is extremely friendly {especially Lukas} and request Bryan as a taxi driver {drives Tiger Woods old Mercedes Bus!}
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">{Where} I ate:</span>
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-<a href="http://www.google.ie/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CBkQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cafeenseine.ie%2F&ei=X5NfTv-ALY-WOvP9tNQC&usg=AFQjCNEQ5hloQOqAU_kQ0Xc3ktESzI4yEg">Cafe en Seine</a> near St.Stephens Green: Cute old-world cafe lined with gold walls. Ate scrumptious Tomato Red Pepper soup & a "Full Fat" mocha {nope, no Starbucks skinny lattes here & yes, they refer to whole milk bluntly}. Under $12 Euro for lunch.
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-<a href="http://www.google.ie/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CBYQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.stoopyourhead.ie%2Findex.html&ei=epNfTqujCYaEOqGGteEC&usg=AFQjCNHmfgGtVv_J-T40s34Hm1NU93WwbA">Stoop Your Head</a> in Skerries Harbor: Great spot for any meal. Right on the harbor, very popular so expect a wait! I split garlic bread & foccacia for lunch, spending under $10 Euro. Both were excellent!
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-<a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Joe-Mays-Pub/229569371194">Joe Mays</a> in Skerries Harbor: We waited for our table at SYH here as they have the same owners. Enjoyed a GREAT latte, made to perfection. Around $3 Euros.
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-<a href="http://www.google.ie/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CBkQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bluebar.ie%2F&ei=rZNfTpTODceBOp23vdgC&usg=AFQjCNGAhPj3iihSw5sJOREAMeRIrPEcYA">Blue Bar</a> in Skerries Harbor: Yummy {but expensive} drinks & a diverse menu. I wasn't too hungry so I ordered the baked mushrooms appetizer stuffed with shrimp & garlic which was absolutely excellent!
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">{Sights} I saw:</span>
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*<span style="font-weight: bold;">Bolded</span> I'd recommend
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Dublin...
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-<span style="font-weight: bold;">St. Stephens Green</span> {via <a href="http://www.dublinsightseeing.ie/">Hop on Hop off</a>, 12 Euro for students for 2 days}
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-<span style="font-weight: bold;">Christchurch Cathedral</span>, 3 Euro for students {via <a href="http://www.dublinsightseeing.ie/">Hop on Hop off</a>}
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-<span style="font-weight: bold;">Trinity College</span> {via <a href="http://www.dublinsightseeing.ie/">Hop on Hop off</a>}
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-Guiness Storehouse, 10 Euro for students
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-<a href="http://www.dublinpubcrawl.com/">Literary Pub Crawl</a>, 11 Euro with Rick Steves or 10 Euro with student ID
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<br />{Details} I loved:</span>
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-<span style="font-weight: bold;">Georgian Crown Molding surrounding Brightly Colored Doors</span>. Gorgeous architecture that is warm & inviting.
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-<span style="font-weight: bold;">"Full Fat" Milk.</span> No, I'm not actually embracing whole milk here but I love the varied expressions & accents. When I ordered a latte at the cafe yesterday and asked for non-fat milk I thought the waiter was making fun of my American ways when he said they only had "full fat" milk. You can bet we roared with laughter when we realized he was serious.
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-<span style="font-weight: bold;">How pleasant the people are.</span> Not one person I stopped to ask the typical American tourist question has disregarded me or seemed put off, instead asking me where I was traveling to & wishing me a merry way!
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-<span style="font-weight: bold;">The Transit System</span>. Cheap & easy to navigate-got to love that!
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For more questions on my Dublin & Skerries Trip, email CiaoDownBella@gmail.com at any time!Kassandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12429572118378782452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4172873237197819460.post-25796204374903065192011-08-27T12:09:00.000-07:002011-09-26T04:24:50.855-07:00Green is for Go!I'm finally here! After delay after delay {not one part of our journey didn't face a delay, including landing in Dublin with no gate to park at} Kait & I made it to Dublin. Customs was quick as could be and we found our bus within 5 minutes of walking out of the terminal. Regardless of the delays, we made it & nothing felt better than hugging my friend Claire who was here for two days waiting for our arrival!
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Kait & I quickly dropped our bags in the hostel room & decided to turn around and go to make up for the time we missed. We purchased a Hop On-Hop Off pass to Dublin's bus line which allowed us to hit all the main stops with unlimited rides for $14 Euros. This was the best way to go!
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We stopped first at Trinity College to walk around the breathtaking grounds! It was lightly raining and made the greenery glisten. The campus fits my idealistic picture of a college-gothic architecture, endless brick, & a center courtyard where students gather to socialize. After walking around most of the {42 acre} campus, we hopped back onto the bus and got off a few stops later at St. Stephens Green.
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We asked the bus attendant for a cafe reccommendation and she described a "charming gold walled cafe down the street". We followed her directions and found ourselves at the most quintessential old world cafe you could imagine, <a href="http://www.cafeenseine.ie/">Cafe en Seine</a>. It was great to escape the rain. Not sure if plane food had made me hungry for anything real, but the tomato red pepper soup was some of the best soup I've ever tasted. The mocha was less sweet than Starbucks {which I LOVED} & we three sat at the cafe for an hour just taking in the changes. We may of also lingered to goggle over our British waiter's accent as he explained the rules of rugby to us.
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After filling up, my energy levels returned as we meandered towards St. Stephens Greens. Again the green made my mouth drop. From ponds fulls of swans & ducks to quintessential cute houses, it was fun to wander aimlessly and just breathe in fresh air. A few times we had to huddle under the umbrella of the trees to wait out the rain but it made the stroll all the more fun.
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On our way out, we got some traditional Irish street music and Irish folk dancers performing for charity. So fun! We hopped on the bus once more and last minute decided to get off at Christ Church cathedral & I'm SO glad we did! The gothic architecture and history behind the cathedral characterized the history of Ireland's oppression and revival. We aimlessly took in each mosaic window, tiled floor, archway glancing occasionally at the priest as he set up for the 5 o'clock prayer. My favorite part of the cathedral was the crypt {where former priests are buried}for it's winding dimly lit corriders promised years of rich stories. As we wandered back up, the 5 o'clock prayer was beginning so we sat down to absorb a little catholic ritual before making our way back to the bus.
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c7F5trAPYGM/TllJWIyY6pI/AAAAAAAAAIs/dPRAQcmviZ4/s1600/christchurch.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645624252550408850" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c7F5trAPYGM/TllJWIyY6pI/AAAAAAAAAIs/dPRAQcmviZ4/s320/christchurch.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a>
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After the cathedral, we were exhuasted & jumped on the bus one last time to head back to the hostel. My initial impression of Dublin exceeds every expectation. The city is gorgeously green, the people are some of the friendliest I've met, and it's easy to navigate.
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Much needed rest ahead & 3 more full days of exploring this beautiful country to go!Kassandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12429572118378782452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4172873237197819460.post-80642041889067282762011-08-25T17:20:00.001-07:002011-09-26T04:25:08.684-07:00Dublin DelaysWell, it looks like my growth and lessons in patience have already begun!
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I knew it would be an interesting morning when I walked up to the American Airlines ticketing counter and local news stations were sitting hungry outside the terminal waiting for discouraged passengers. Aware that my flight was already 2 hours delayed I calmly waited in line promising myself not to give the ticket clerk a hard time as flight delays we're out of their control. By the time I made it to the counter, my flight was three hours delayed meaning I'd miss my connection to Dublin...
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Twenty minutes later I held a ticket to the earliest flight out tomorrow, heading back to relax with some friends. I guess the Lord knew I needed another day to detox from my intensive summer before heading out!
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After using every possible method of communication I got ahold of my friend who had just arrived in Dublin to explain the delays {FB & Skype were the means that finally succeeded} and am now I'm rollin' with the punches.
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I guess Dublin will still be there tomorrow...Until then, my thoughts are with the families that are preparing for Hurricane Irene and the exhausted ticket clerks that are working around the clock to make sure girls like me get to enjoy the adventure of a lifetime!
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**UPDATE: After waking up at 3:30 AM to get in the security lines at LAX & sitting on the tarmac for an hour due to mechanical delays, finally made it to Chicago! 6 Hour layover & a half hour delay for our next connection but finally headed in the right direction. {Almost} to Ireland!Kassandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12429572118378782452noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4172873237197819460.post-20870248532064542072011-08-17T16:13:00.001-07:002011-09-26T04:25:23.059-07:00Presently PackingIn just a week, I'll be waking up bright and early to make the drive to LAX to head off to Ireland for a few days. Pinching myself that it doesn't end there as I'll be off to Florence for a few months! I love telling people I'm headed to live in Italy for a few months. Everyone has a story to share with me about their Italian fantasies...including the Nordstrom shoes salesman who wrote down a leather shop behind Santa Croce that apparently has the world's best leather. You can bet I'll find it!
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As for my final Ireland plans, my girlfriends and I decided on 3 days in Dublin and 2 days in Skerries (a fishing town North of Dublin I stumbled upon thanks to Trip Advisor). More to come on this adventure...
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Presently, I've begun to tackle packing. If you know me well, you know I'm a big "what if" girl. That usually makes it into my suitcases. I bring anything and everything so I'm ready for whatever occasion. I knew I'd need help with packing for Italy. Taking my entire closet would cost a fortune and toting multiple large suitcases through Ireland prior to Italy would be a nightmare.
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After scouring different packing lists, I wasn't finding something that would work for me so I made an extravagant investment to hire a stylist! Yes, it sounds a bit over indulgent but my logic is clear.
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Jessie of <a href="http://www.styleandpepper.com/">Style & Pepper</a> {who also runs one of my favorite blogs,<a href="http://www.theconcretecatwalk.com/">The Concrete Catwalk</a>}helped me break my pattern of wearing the same pieces the same way over and over. She prepared an online lookbook just for me that I can continue to mix and match with! She showed me how to wear a few pieces, multiple ways. I've replicated many of the looks already with my closet and added a few new pieces...
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<a href="http://www.polyvore.com/kassi_08/set?.embedder=2172641&.mid=embed&id=35673015"><img alt="kassi 08" border="0" force="1" height="500" src="http://embed.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-set/cid/35673015/id/jiLPJZLH4BGOM5wcFxaI0g/size/x.jpg" title="kassi 08" width="500" /></a></div>
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<small><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/kassi_08/set?.embedder=2172641&.mid=embed&id=35673015">kassi 08</a> by <a href="http://concretecatwalk.polyvore.com/?.embedder=2172641&.mid=embed">concretecatwalk</a></small></div>
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I'll confess I had to hold back from buying everything she suggested. I'm holding out a bit to buy more as my hair stylist recommended shopping more there in consignment shops to translate my American girl style into Italian chic.
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My last packing secret was something my mom taught me as a kid. I took a box of Ziploc Freezer bags, stuffed them full, and sat on them until the air was out. The result is ONE suitcase and a carry-on ready for four months abroad.
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Buon Viaggo!Kassandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12429572118378782452noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4172873237197819460.post-68588485726774435122011-04-17T22:26:00.000-07:002011-09-26T04:25:42.221-07:00Ciao Bella!As I sit here leafing through six guides to Italy (hey, a girl's gotta do her homework), I can only dream what life will be like come August.
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Studying in Florence has been in the works for quite some time but became official about a month ago when my friend and I put in our deposits to study abroad. I sit now with an appetite for the Italian culture and culinary treats.
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I think some of the best observation and insight into a culture is shared through a meal so that is exactly how I plan to embrace Italy. Whether it be learning to cook in the Tuscan countryside or enjoying a latte at the local corner cafe, I'll make Italy my home away from home. I'll of course study a little too.
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The plan is to leave Sunny California with one of my best friends, who will be studying at Oxford (smartypants), to jet off to Ireland for a few days. Around the 31st I'll settle in at my new home, Firenze. From there, my journey is uncharted. I can only promise it will include LOTS of Pasta, followed by a long walk (I just managed to shed the Freshman 15), and me <span style="font-style: italic;">attempting</span> to become fluent in Italian.
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Until then, Buon Appetite!
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Currently Seeking:
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-Fellow Travel & Italy Bloggers for travel tips
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-Flight recommendations from London to Dublin to Florence
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-Bed & Breakfasts on a Budget in Dublin
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-The Must Sees of Ireland
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-Favorite Pubs or Eateries a la Ireland
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-How to enjoy Italy from AmericaKassandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12429572118378782452noreply@blogger.com2