http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Cristina/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Cristina en-us Wed, 23 Dec 2009 17:07:10 +0000 Wed, 23 Dec 2009 17:07:10 +0000 Carnevale 2006A month before Carnivale arrived to Venice I was warned by family and the natives alike to avoid the streets and be on the lookout for hords of costumed Venetians and international travelers. I think it may have all been in hopeful expectancy because as the first days of festivities came and went news of Carnevale and its famed magnitude were less and less favorable. Historically http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/blog-45048.html Observations from within an Italian classroom non UniversityThere is no rubric for grading. It seems very subjective if not completely. The last day of my computer design class half Italian students half Americans we lasted 1.5 hours overtime simply because there seem to be no rules. People arrive when the please and the teacher is happy to repeat info if they start on time if not wait u http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/blog-31648.html It is December 5 2005. This will be my second Christmas away from home. I know this may not mean much to some or others may realize they too havenrsquot been home in a while or a few others may never have wanted to be home in the house in which they grew because of a difficult childhood or even a few others may be questioning exactly what IS a homehellipbut I I know exactly what I am mi http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/blog-30289.html When Venice flirts with the sea Aqua AltaSaturday at 830 am I heard sirens. Never heard them in my life but sounded just like they do in the films only for air raids and emergency situations. I go back to sleep to wake up 2 hours later. Get dressed and head out to go work in the studio at school. On the vaporetto however I noticed people wearing their knee high boots but stupidly it didnr http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/blog-30288.html My shoes echo in the alleys clicks of my heels follow me home. The mornings are often heavy with a thick fog a huge dense fog that has fallen upon the city rolled in by the etched deities that blow the directional winds on the ancient maps.There are no bird songs but caws and screeches by seagulls and other water birds even at times during the night. Once in a while with the girls I grab a http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/blog-28204.html The 51st Venice BiennialeInternational Art ExhibitionSteps from my apartment. A 10 minute walk in fact to the gardens near St.Elena. During the year the architectural structures called pavilions built by various countries decades ago to host their artists every year here in the summer months of the Bienniale are empty. But these months this very famous international art exhibition attracts p http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Veneto/Venice/blog-20263.html Friday morning Irsquod already arrived late to the station where we were all to meet to take the bus to the Questura. It is 730am and I am standing among the buses. They really did leave on time. Hm.So I ask which bus into Mestre mainland Venice takes me to the Questura office and once I exit the bus following the throw of people ominously heading my way. We are in a residential neighborhoo http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Veneto/Venice/blog-20262.html The rims light by warm white lights like the entrance guided by candlelight. Upon water. The horizon is constantly waving and firm ground is not a constant.Slightly nasal but warmsounding Venetian dialect.Unusual silences. Lack of cars buses motorinos and bicycles. Lapping of wavesUp and down and up and down the rhythm of my journey over the small sets of marble stairs that cross over the c http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Veneto/Venice/blog-20259.html The Families August 31 2005Arriving in Rome I spent 1.5 days with my aunt uncle and greeted my new baby cousin Lorenzo. At dinner together at the house Gioia and Andrea took turns holding and rocking the little one only 20 days old while Gioia would nurse and the two with exhaustion expressed the life of new and young family. But the two are very tender and Gioia has taken a symbolic step http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Tuscany/Florence/blog-19255.html Too slow at the beginning too fast at the end. The initial weeks of re entry didnrsquot spawn any tearshellipthose in fact came weeks after my body and mind finally realized just where Irsquod came from and where Irsquod returned to. Home. Boston. Connecticut. Italy. Connecticut. Boston. Connecticut. Back to Italy. My return to the US constituted week upon week of visiting. Most people http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Tuscany/Florence/blog-19254.html 5nt I cannot recall the words useful to describe how I am feeling.I have 3 days left in the city that I have befriended and accepted and am leaving with a wonderful taste in my mouth.Unfortunately I will not have access to the internet again before I leave so I will only say that I remember every minute of every day that I have been here. I have explored a million corners and left nothing unturn http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Tuscany/Florence/blog-12381.html Viareggio became a new adventure with a true companion by my side.For two people normally extraordinarily unlucky together always missing buses late loosing things strange circumstances our two days reserved for US were perfect.Our tiny hotel next to the huge evergreen park was also only a stonersquos throw away from the beach. We didnrsquot let our experience with the reception cloud http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Tuscany/Florence/blog-11972.html ELBAThe Island like Paradise a hop away from home. June 2728The boat ride to Isola drsquoElba is only an hour from Piombino and it is clear just be observing the clear rich blue water below that Elba is no Viareggio. I heard from Florentines that Isola drsquoElba was a treasure not only historically but aesthetically. As the myth has it Jason stopped at Porto Argo Portoferraio on his a http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Tuscany/Florence/blog-12377.html June 17 2005The other rootshellip No photos this time as I've given my photo to Klajd who this weekend will be working serving guests in the house of Ferragamo. I am hoping not that he can take pictures of the famous abidings of the shoe designer but of the party itself. I'm curious after all The company for whom he works is the best in Florence and this catering company cooking serving http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Tuscany/Florence/blog-11385.html Meeting the first of the Roman grandchildrenFor my food lovers I havenrsquot forgotten you. My Zia by the way will whip up a pot roast with a rich tomatoolive saucesugo or an creamy asparagus risotto within minutes. We have fresh strawberries and melon for dessert and Alessia and Roberto bring profiterol which are puff pastries filled with a light cream and then topped with a ganash a http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Tuscany/Florence/blog-11384.html Saturday May 28th URBINO730am Piazza AduaUn Professore di storia dellrsquoarte Leoncini una professoressa e noi in 9. We are in small bus and begin our 3 hour viaggio to Urbino in Marche. After the first hump crawling in and through and around the Apenines we then reach another set of roadshellipthat are an endless snake curving this way and thathellipand I must close my eyes for th http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Tuscany/Florence/blog-10142.html Last semester we enjoyed the vivacious teaching of Grazia and 4 months later we have ended up on different paths in different classes even. It was time to get together and I organized with Grazia a dinner under the stars. She graciously hosted to the brim with energy and a wide sincere smile as usual. Our crew of Japanese Chinese Bonnie and American me was added with a Spaniard and Swede http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Tuscany/Florence/blog-10146.html American IndecencyI am often offended to be called an American because I often here it in reference to the mess that young American college students make on their semesterabroad. ldquoLook at their stupidity. Those are your peoplerdquo as they drunkenly yell and sing walking home from the bar vomiting in the streets and kicking and throwing empty beer bottles at trash cans or even up at http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Tuscany/Florence/blog-10144.html Ruralia Festival of Rural Life PratolinoIn the tiny town of Pratolino northwest of Florence and a 30 minute bus ride with the 25 bus from San Marco are hills that bring me closer to the sun than Irsquove been in a while. I smell manure and hear the mewing of bulls the harsh call of the roosters down the hill and in my periphery a red kite high in the sky. I am on the grounds of the Villa http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Tuscany/Florence/blog-10143.html Friday May 27 2005915am school This morning we were in 5 at school being a Friday morning as usual. We went over the previous nightrsquos exercises as usual. I had opened the windows and the sparrows were quarreling the morning light warm and hinting at the dayrsquos heat. Our school at Villa della Quiet is closing here and translocating to the center of FlorencePiazza Savaronola. Theyr http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Tuscany/Florence/blog-10141.html