Northern Italy

Venice!!
Oh, how I love this city. In the days of Shakespeare, Venice was the place to be….not much has changed. The paved streets are busy with activity, as are the murky blue canals. People are chatting everywhere, shops glitter with the famous Murano glass, waiters beckon you into their particular cafes, and the magnificent domes of San Marco loom over all of it. It is beautiful. Some day, I have to come back.
We arrived after our 8 hour bus ride in only semi high spirits. We had to be up at five to make it here on schedule. I slept the entire way here, and thus never noticed the time go by. We dropped our stuff off at our hotel and went on a walking tour around the city with the various members of staff that were with us. EVERYONE came on the Northern Italy trip. Dr. Hatile, Dr. Flusche, Dr. Waterman Ward (and family), Professor Blue (and family), etc.
It seems like Venice would be a place where one could easily get lost (I nearly did a thousand times), but thankfully it isn’t really that bad. The Basilica of San Marco is just about the biggest central area you could hope for, and signs all over the city lead you right to it. If it’s too far to walk to wherever you need to go, you can always take a water taxi!!!
Venice is expensive, no denying that. I don’t even what to THINK about how much I have spent on gifts so far!! It is going to be a FANTASTIC Christmas!!!!! 
After our walking tours, we had free time for awhile. Most of us wandered around the city and met back at the basilica for mass, then went to dinner. The entirety of a cute little trattoria was rented out for us for dinner both nights.
I was dead beat after dinner and so went back to the hotel, showered, and passed out. I brought TWO books with me on this trip and haven’t so much as touched one yet. If the rest of this trip continues to be like day one I doubt I will get an opportunity to read anything more than a dinner menu!
Day two in Venice was just as busy as the evening before. We woke up at about 7:30ish, had breakfast at the hotel, then split up in various groups depending on whichever tour we signed up for the previous week. I signed up for all the tours on this trip based on the prof. that was leading them. Flusche first thing!!! She was taking a group on a tour of the Basilica. I won’t say another word about it, except you MUST experience it for yourself some day. It is a real hodgepodge of architecture. There was a lot of byzantine influence on its construction, so it looks a lot like an eastern church. It is chock full of glittering mosaics, which are absolutely dazzling. The body of St. Mark lies underneath the main altar as well. Go see it, people!
After the tour, I walked around a bit, did some shopping, had a calzone, then hopped on a boat to go to the island of Murano and see the glass blowing factory there. That’s where I did the majority of my gift buying. I really couldn’t help myself. I just saw so many things that reminded me of people back home. Seeing glass blown is extremely interesting. There is no school where you can learn to do it. It is a tradition that must be passed down through a family. To become a master glassblower, you have to practice for about 25 years. Talk about a lifetime profession!!
Professor Blue’s little girls, Hannah and Cora were having a BALL watching the glass being blown. I picked Hanna up and had a front row seat! She was so cute!! VERY well behaved little girls in a room full of glass. When I was their age I probably would have given my parents a heart attack.
We made our way back to the hotel to drop our stuff off and then Lindsey and I went for bellinis before dinner. After dinner I decided to call it an early night and get a shower and crash. I am absolutely beat AGAIN!. Will I ever have enough energy again? I feel old.
Denise isn’t back yet, but I really hope I hear her knock before I pass out…..
Ciao!







Florence!!
I like Florence, don’t get me wrong, but it hasn’t got the romance that Venice does. It is very Americanized and very much a student center. The place is literally CRAWLING with American students studying abroad. It’s no wonder, as there is lots to see.
The first day we checked in, unpacked a bit, cleaned up, went on another guided tour of the city led by Dr. Hatlie, went to mass, went to dinner, and had some free time. Florence is famous for its leather market, which stretches all the way around a church and down the street. I got a leather jacket---still expensive even after some haggling. It is incredibly soft and definitely worth it.
The next day we had mandatory visits to the Ufizzi Museum (did I even spell that right?) and tours with different profs. I went with Blue to hear him talk about Machiavelli. I was a little disappointed. I think I am just museum-ed out, to tell the truth. It was pretty awesome seeing Botticelli’s Birth of Venus though. I’m a fan. After that, not a lot went on. A bunch of people did go to a bar that night that was apparrantly serving 5 shots for 5 euro, but that sounded a little ridiculous to me so I skipped out and sort of wandered around the city for awhile.
The next day, we went to the Academia Museum to see the David and then we took off for Assisi. We haven’t been here long, but I can already say I love it here. It is a very quaint little town. Unfortunately Franciscan churches are not renouned for their beauty—they are usually very starkly decorated. I didn’t go on the guided tour (which was thankfully optional this time), but instead wandered around a bit on my own. Everyone here is very friendly, and it isn’t too expensive. The hotel we are staying in is quite nice too. I did pop into a church too see the garments of St. Frances of Assisi and the body of St. Claire.
Dinner time!!
Ciao!



Assisi!!!
This small town winds and bends all over the hills of Northern Italy. It is impossible to get lost, bored, or hungry here.
Our first night, I wasn't in the mood for the guided tours, so I spent a lot of time on my own just walking around the place. I bought a cannoli and munched on it while I watched the sun go down over the city....the city itself then proceeded to light up like a christmas tree. it was beautiful.

After that I started feeling like a loner, so i made my way to dinner and attempted to be social...no go.....the wine tasting that Monsignor put on for us helped a lot.I spent that evening traipsing around assisi, picking up a few small souvineers, eating gelato, stopping into a few churches to pray, and then going to bed.

The next morning, we woke up early, went to the Basilica of St. Francis, listened to a lecture from Dr. V. and had a few hours to walk around some more (optional tours were available but declined) before lunch. I bonded a bit with some of my suite-mates from back on the Rome campus. Lunch was uneventful, as was the bus ride home....where I now sit writing this.
So much to do tonight!!! classes start up again tomorrow, paper due thursday and exam friday. shoot me.


CIAO!!!!