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Background: Italy became a nation-state in 1861 when the city-states of the peninsula, along with Sardinia and Sicily, were united under King Victor EMMANUEL II. An era of parliamentary government came to a close in the early 1920s when Benito MUSSOLINI established a Fascist dictatorship. His disastrous alliance with Nazi Germany led to Italy's defeat in World War II. A democratic republic replaced the monarchy in 1946 and economic revival followed. Italy was a charter member of NATO and the European Economic Community (EEC). It has been at the forefront of European economic and political unification, joining the Economic and Monetary Union in 1999. Persistent problems include illegal immigration, organized crime, corruption, high unemployment, sluggish economic growth, and the low incomes and technical standards of southern Italy compared with the prosperous north.

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By tlh001
October 8th 2007

Under the Tuscan Sun... Europe » Italy » Umbria » Perugia

Tuscany

Okay, so I thought Perugia was beautiful but Tuscany is even more beautiful. I might be a bit biased since I prefer the country to the city and Tuscany was as close to being home as the Italian landscape can get. There were farms everywhere (I didn't realize how much I miss the farms until I came to Italy). Tuscany is exactly like all the pictures you see of it and sometimes even more beautiful. Photos don't do it justice, but Impressionist paintings do. We left Saturday morning for Villa Sabolini (the hotel we stayed in). Jackie and I got our [View Full Entry]

By KT Merritt
October 5th 2007

Where has my life gone....Perugia Europe » Italy » Umbria » Perugia

roman aquaduct turned staircase
The steps to jessies apartment

Oh my gosh. I am inlove with Perugia. Its like boulder and Girona and everything fabulous. In the hills between Rome and Florence lies this university-feel town filled with students studying abroad and chocolates. A friend from freshman year Jessie is studying there and I was so happy to see her. Her roommates were all super cool and amazing and actually everyone i met from the program seemed great. The crazyness is that while they are all studying abroad they seem to party ridiculousnessly every night and wake up the next morning with their life in waht feels like shambles. I [View Full Entry]

By Margaret Nigro
October 5th 2007

Sorry it's been a while Europe » Italy » Umbria » Perugia

Oh Perugia
This was from our walk today; things are just so pretty.

Tomorrow I'm heading to Tuscany for a two day getaway. It's been nice having no class today. The weather was gorgeous and we woke up late. Shannon, Stephanie and I all got up between 11 and 1 and went out for panini. We got our food and ate a little picnic on the green space in front of the church of St. Francis. It was lovely. We then got some chocolate and Stephanie and I went to the top of a hill with a great view and ate chocolate and talked about our families. On a side note, I'm pretty sure [View Full Entry]

By tlh001
October 3rd 2007

A night at the opera Europe » Italy » Umbria » Perugia

Opera

Jackie, Keane, Whitney, and Rob went to see the Il Barbiere di Siviglia (in Italian). We took the opportunity to dress up all fancy...any excuse to wear our pretty dresses : ) I even had to get shoes because I didn't have any heels and the dress required a bit of a heel. We sat in a genuine opera box for the show. It made it feel all old fashion. There was a group of Jr. Highers in the top row of boxes and they got bored during the 2nd act so they started shining their flashlights on the giant chandelier...real [View Full Entry]

By farfalla
October 2nd 2007

Il Barbiere di Seville Europe » Italy » Umbria » Perugia

The beautiful frescos

I was reading the white board Monday and saw an add for an opera Il Barbiere di Seville. I didn't know much about it but I figured I should experience an Italian opera. I liked the opera I saw at Chapman, Charles you were amazing in it. Anyhoo I went to the ticket office and worked my limited Italian vocab and bought a ticket. I was very very proud of myself. It takes a lot of energy and brain power to buy things here. It so happens that Hellen and Kirsten were also going to the Opera. There was an Umbra [View Full Entry]

By tlh001
September 30th 2007

When does the ringing stop? Europe » Italy » Umbria » Perugia

Jackie and I went to a wine harvest today. It was so nice to be surrounded by all things green. I now know that I took it for granted having grass and trees all around me. We also had a mini BBQ with sausage, bread, wine, and roasted chesnuts. There was a small campfire too and now our sweatshirts smell like campfire smoke : ) Last night Jackie and I got to experience our first Italian discotech. It was a blast. I'm pretty sure we were the only Americans there but that's ok with me. We went with a bunch of [View Full Entry]

By Margaret Nigro
September 30th 2007

Unbelievable Europe » Italy » Umbria

Umbria

Today was incredible. Firstly, thanks Mom and Dad for letting Betsy and I take riding lessons four years ago. If I hadn't done that I wouldn't have been able to handle the riding today. I know it was a hassle and expensive, so thank you. Betsy and Joanne, I missed you lots today. It was amazing being out there, but it made me think lots of those two perfect summer afternoons riding around the Goscha's. (Please tell me I spelled that right) So, we took the bus to the middle of nowhere, and that was an ordeal in itself. Finding the [View Full Entry]

By farfalla
September 30th 2007

Chocolate Balls Europe » Italy » Umbria » Perugia

Juice and Dessert

So here is the deal...since we got to Italy Natalie, Hellen, Kirsten and I have been eying this bakery shop down Via de Piori. After buying a cake for Hellens b-day we figured we should "celebrate" other peoples birthdays and try other desserts. In one of the freezers there is the most amazing looking plate of chocolate covered ball goodness. We have been talking about buying this plate for ever! So this sunday it actually happened. The highlight of my day was eating, once again! After sleeping in Hellen and I went to Kirstens. There was soooooo much anticipation for this [View Full Entry]

By Margaret Nigro
September 29th 2007

Visiting Becky in Florence, etc. Europe » Italy » Umbria » Perugia

waiting in the train station
It was so cloudy and rainy, and I was reading Harry Potter.

It's Saturday night, but it's felt like Sunday all day, so I guess I'm treating it like a Sunday night. All my roommates are out, which made me lonely at first, but it's really nice to be by myself in the apartment as well. I put on a mix consisting of mainly Damien Rice (9 and B-sides, no O), Ray LaMontagne (Trouble) and Melissa McClelland (Thumbelina's One Night Stand). It's making me really happy. I also took a bath and am doing my laundry . . . and my homework. I'm excited for tomorrow because it feels like a bonus day [View Full Entry]

By farfalla
September 29th 2007

Wine Harvest Europe » Italy » Umbria » Perugia

The View

So this weekend I also got to go on a wine harvest, which was sweet. There was an acre of land bought by this guy (idono his name) a long time ago who wanted to build apartments and make a killing on rent. He had an architect write out plans although the architect disappeared before the plans could be made. Then he got another architect who made plans and brought it to the city of Perugia, who by this time changed building regulations and the land could no longer be built on. The land was then useless and they just planted [View Full Entry]

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