Blogs from Assisi, Umbria, Italy, Europe - page 5

Bon Giorno! You see I'm getting native now. I love Assisi. Leaving Termini Roma was a bit of a nightmare - well just a combination of heat, late trains, no sanctuary from the maddening crowds and an ever more heavy back pack - not that I've taken on more cargo, it just feels heavier each time I pick it up. Anyway I managed to get the train and change at Foligno - luckily my connection was late too. I was sitting next to a mother with a sweet little child on her lap and she told him this long story and sang him to sleep and me as well, I found myself lulled into a nice slumber. I woke up a bit later to lovely hilly Italian country side with those pointy trees and olive groves. ... read more

July 9th, 2008 Meandering our way to Assisi - in the heart of Umbria - I realized that we would pass Modena...which made me think of Ferrari...which led me to Maranello, the home of Ferrari. We stopped in at the museum, which was very cool, and then swung over by the track and the factory, where I managed to snap a couple shots, even capturing a high-speed run of the Ferrari around the track. Now, I can't tell you which model it is...but damn, that engine sound is so sweet. Upon leaving the museum, a roadster had parked next to me in the other handicapped parking spot. It was a Wieseman, and I've never seen one. I snapped a few quick shots, and grandmother drooled. She fell in love with it. I honestly thought she might ... read more

We hop on the train to get to Assisi early in the morning, to have one of the funniest moments of my life. We walked into a shop to purchase some souvenirs to find some good finds! We make our choices, and we make our way to the cash register... all the while surrounded by religious articles in the middle of a city known for its strong connection to the Catholic faith. We are then met by a spry older lady who very carefully and meticulously (and may I say slowly) wrapped up everything for us... but with a very dry sarcastic attitude in every word we exchanged. She makes her way to a back room to find a box for the statue we had purchased, and she is less than satisfied that it wasn't the ... read more

After going through a tough breakup with Paris, I've lately had a wonderful time rediscovering my obsession with Italy. I did love France, but Italy simply has the best of everything. The best March weather, the best food, the best coffee (Starbucks is based off Italian coffee shops after all). Then there's the exquisite churches and museums, the alluring street markets and the most exquisitely beautiful countryside I've ever seen. I'm still completely happy with my decision to study here, and classes are also going very well. Since my grades from this semester transfer back to Drake as credits only and don't count towards my GPA, it's extremely liberating to be in school without the pressure of school. I'm still striving to do well of course, but my work isn't stressing me out or overtaking my ... read more

We finished the olive harvest at San Fortunato November 27. the family took morgan, jenna and i to a great seafood ristorante tucked high in the hills(strange for seafood) called 'piccolo mondo'. They also finally showed us the chapel on the farm where the monks met for mass. We didnt have a farm lined up because we had finished the olive harvest earlier than expected. luckily though, morgan's friendliness and charm got a friend of the family to invite us to stay with her for a few days. Rosella had stopped by to help with the olive harvest once or twice a week. she is friendly and energetic and would often break out her italian opera voice while picking olives. she was Adriana's tai chi and yoga teacher. she knows yoga but is a master in ... read more