HEY ALL, FINALLY BACK IN FLORENCE AFTER A CRAZY WEEK OF TRAVELING, STILL NO COMPUTER AND NOW I HAVE A MESSED UP BLACKBERRY TO GO ALONG WITH IT. I'M KINDA MAD ABOUT PITT GOING DOWN, BUT GLAD TO SEE STATE DOING WELL. DONT HAVE TIME TO TALK ABOUT SPRING BREAK NOW BUT I AM GOING TO TRY TO GET IT DONE TOMORROW.
CIAO
JK
Monday, March 30, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
March Madness
Despite the fact that I will be missing more of March Madness than I would have liked to, I cannot complain because the next 10 days are going to be borderline insane. First I would like to congragulate Dobkin and Seth for their repeat, Word-Daniels b (p.s. dobkin please dont call me here again, it costs money, oh see you next tuesday).
So, my computer should finally be back in the game tomorrow, just in time for me leaving for spring break, so it will have been almost 4 weeks since I will have used my own computer (I now understand how obsessed Americans are with technology, and how little Italians care).
After two consecutive weekends in Florence (and potentially my last until May), it was time to czech another country off my list (I really didnt want to do that, but it was too easy). Thursday night three of my roommates and I (Marc, Jon and Jeremy) left Firenze for a weekend in Prague. Since we are all a little strapped for cash, and didnt know much about where to stay in the city, we decided to take a bus trip (similar to Interlaken)...unfortunately it is a 15 hour trip to Prague. After one of the worst bus rides in my life, we arrived at our beautiful Plus Prague Hostel at 12:30 Friday afternoon, and the hostel was kind enough to leave cereal and bread out for us for "breakfast". After an hour to relax and rejuvinate, we met up with a tour guide in Old Town Square. Despite the lack of sun during the day, Prague was definitely one of the more incredible cities that I have seen so far. The architecture is really cool, and they have a ton of structures and buildings that you just dont see in other countries (again, pictures will be posted once the ol' comp is back and running). One thing that I noticed right away was the amount of Jewish people who were living in the city. Walking through the Jewish Corridore there was truly fascinating, and one of the nicest parts of the city. After a few hours of walking, we finally ended the tour at Prague Palace, which sits atop the entire city and offers quite a view of Praha (still trying to get why everyone just cant call these cities one thign...Firenze, Roma, Praha...crazy). After the tour, we went to the Czech Diner, which offered us our first taste of czech food (which instantly became our last as well). After a nice nap, it was time to czech out (sorry last time, i swear) the nightlife. Fortunately for us, the same guy who gave us our tour also runs a pub crawl, so we figured we would tag along for the night. The beer in Prague is definitely better then what we have here in Firenze, and way cheaper. In fact, the city of Prague is one of the cheapest cities I have ever been to, and beer is the cheapest part of the city (about 35 crowns/beer which is about a euro). Saturday, we woke up and walked around the city before heading to a bar called the Beer Factory, where each table has its own tap, a really cool concept and a lot of fun. After spending some time there, we walked around the city some more before ending up at a chinese restaurant for dinner. After dinner, we checked out a few more of Prague's bars. The first one we went to was really cool, and the interior was made up of all old soviet bus parts...pretty cool concept. Then we ended our night at a 5-story club, where each floor was its own different club of sorts. Sunday morning we woke up just in time for our 15 hour trek home, but at least I had some midterms to study for on the bus. Overall, my trip to Prague was a blast and it is definitely a city that everyone who has the opportunity to check out (definitely had to delete czech there, cant break promises) must do.
I just finished my third midterm this morning, and have one on Thursday right before my flight to Barcelona. I also realized that I will be waking up in Deerfield two months from today, and that sucks (sorry mom). The sun is finally shining in Florence, the construction is supposed to be done when we return from Spring Break, and I will once again have a computer...Well, I guess this is it until I return from break...Still taking Pitt to win it all this year..Until next time...
A Presto,
JK
So, my computer should finally be back in the game tomorrow, just in time for me leaving for spring break, so it will have been almost 4 weeks since I will have used my own computer (I now understand how obsessed Americans are with technology, and how little Italians care).
After two consecutive weekends in Florence (and potentially my last until May), it was time to czech another country off my list (I really didnt want to do that, but it was too easy). Thursday night three of my roommates and I (Marc, Jon and Jeremy) left Firenze for a weekend in Prague. Since we are all a little strapped for cash, and didnt know much about where to stay in the city, we decided to take a bus trip (similar to Interlaken)...unfortunately it is a 15 hour trip to Prague. After one of the worst bus rides in my life, we arrived at our beautiful Plus Prague Hostel at 12:30 Friday afternoon, and the hostel was kind enough to leave cereal and bread out for us for "breakfast". After an hour to relax and rejuvinate, we met up with a tour guide in Old Town Square. Despite the lack of sun during the day, Prague was definitely one of the more incredible cities that I have seen so far. The architecture is really cool, and they have a ton of structures and buildings that you just dont see in other countries (again, pictures will be posted once the ol' comp is back and running). One thing that I noticed right away was the amount of Jewish people who were living in the city. Walking through the Jewish Corridore there was truly fascinating, and one of the nicest parts of the city. After a few hours of walking, we finally ended the tour at Prague Palace, which sits atop the entire city and offers quite a view of Praha (still trying to get why everyone just cant call these cities one thign...Firenze, Roma, Praha...crazy). After the tour, we went to the Czech Diner, which offered us our first taste of czech food (which instantly became our last as well). After a nice nap, it was time to czech out (sorry last time, i swear) the nightlife. Fortunately for us, the same guy who gave us our tour also runs a pub crawl, so we figured we would tag along for the night. The beer in Prague is definitely better then what we have here in Firenze, and way cheaper. In fact, the city of Prague is one of the cheapest cities I have ever been to, and beer is the cheapest part of the city (about 35 crowns/beer which is about a euro). Saturday, we woke up and walked around the city before heading to a bar called the Beer Factory, where each table has its own tap, a really cool concept and a lot of fun. After spending some time there, we walked around the city some more before ending up at a chinese restaurant for dinner. After dinner, we checked out a few more of Prague's bars. The first one we went to was really cool, and the interior was made up of all old soviet bus parts...pretty cool concept. Then we ended our night at a 5-story club, where each floor was its own different club of sorts. Sunday morning we woke up just in time for our 15 hour trek home, but at least I had some midterms to study for on the bus. Overall, my trip to Prague was a blast and it is definitely a city that everyone who has the opportunity to check out (definitely had to delete czech there, cant break promises) must do.
I just finished my third midterm this morning, and have one on Thursday right before my flight to Barcelona. I also realized that I will be waking up in Deerfield two months from today, and that sucks (sorry mom). The sun is finally shining in Florence, the construction is supposed to be done when we return from Spring Break, and I will once again have a computer...Well, I guess this is it until I return from break...Still taking Pitt to win it all this year..Until next time...
A Presto,
JK
Monday, March 9, 2009
Gimme all the Chicken Heads from Pasadena to Medinah
One week later, and I still do not have a computer(good thing I got to the library early today). After 5 days of rain, no computer, and a lot of work that I had to do, seeing the sun when I woke up Friday morning was incredibly refreshing. With no visitors coming in, and so many Florence students fleeing the city on the weekends, it was a great weekend to relax and do some sight-seeing. Friday I woke up, threw on some shorts and went downstairs to get my laundry from the laundromat next store, but I was so happy to see the sun I just kind of kept walking. After walking along the Arno, I decided why not go up to Piazza Michelangelo (the steep street and hundred steps almost convinced me otherwise, but I prevailed). It was the first time that I had gone up there by myself, and it really was a great place to get away (and read about the Illini looking like last year's team towards the end of the game). After a few hours up there, I went to the Oil Shoppe for lunch. The Oil Shoppe is right around the corner from Antico and there is a hot debate about which sandwich place is better, but I was not impressed at all by the sandwich I got or the person who made my sandwich, so it's Antico the rest of the way for me (sorry Marc). The rest of the day was spent lounging around the apartment doing nothing (but we have now finished season 3 of the Soprano's...only problem is we don't have seasons 4-6 on DVD...) before heading off to dinner. Again we decided to stay on our side of the Arno for dinner, and found a great restaurant, Mama Gina's, where we all had great chicken dishes (we found teriyaki sauce last week so it was nice to get something different then that for a change). After spending the past 13 days in Florence, I needed a change. Saturday morning, three of my roommates (Josh, Jon and Jeremy) and I hopped on a train for a trip to Siena. It was great to see another Tuscan city, and even better to see this one with the sun shinning (something Lucca was lacking). Siena was truly a beautiful city, and as it is an Italian city, it obviously has a Duomo, and we decided to make that stop #1. Although the Duomo in Siena did not have the dominant presence as its counterpart in Florence, there were many things about it that I did prefer. The front of the Duomo in Siena was absolutely incredible, with Statues coming out of the walls and paintings above the doorways (again, pictures will be added once I get my laptop back, sorry). The view from the top of the duomo was probably the best view I have had since being abroad, as you could see the countryside and all the mountains that seem to surround almost every Italian city. After walking around some more, we spent some time in Piazza del Campo, a large open plaza that Florence really doesn't have to offer. After some more walking, and a few adventerous bus rides, it was back to Florence. A slow weekend, but a much needed one as I don't know when I am going to be in Firenze for a weekend again...kinda weird.
Sorry for the boring post, but that was my week. I'll have more for you next week, I promise. Oh, Pitt looked pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty good this weekend...Gordon Beckham at 2nd?...Why do the bulls want to be the 8th seed?...Until next time...
A Presto,
JK
Sorry for the boring post, but that was my week. I'll have more for you next week, I promise. Oh, Pitt looked pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty good this weekend...Gordon Beckham at 2nd?...Why do the bulls want to be the 8th seed?...Until next time...
A Presto,
JK
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Ahhh Kelly Clarkson
Sorry for the delay, but we are unfortunately experiencing some serious technical difficulties across the pond. I just took my computer into the Apple Store and hopefully will hear from them by the end of the week. So I've been kicking it old-school here this week with no computer or TV (I am actually writing this post by hand right now and hopefully I'll get on a computer soon) so it has been interesting and quite, which brings me to last weekend. After 7 nights and 10 visitors, last week was ridiculous, and the slow pace of this week has been a perfect remedy.
On Thursday, the Barcelona kids arrived at different times throughout the afternoon/night (only Ben made it in time for a home-cooked meal though) and it was great to see more friends from home. Unfortunately, by the time we made it out Thursday night, all of the bars were closed (thanks Florence, way to make a good first impression), but we did find some late-night shoarma, so it wasn't a complete failure. Friday was the second-nicest day we've had in Florence this semester (second only to Saturday) and we kicked if off with an amazing view of the Arno River from the Ponte Vecchio before heading to Antico Noe for lunch (more visitors only meant more approval). After a phenominal panini, it was off to the leather market where the Barcelona kids looked at ties and scarves with Marc while I went to get Jordan from the train station (not like my opinion on ties and such mean anything anyways). The first tourist stop everyone wants to make in Florence is the Duomo, and if the weather is worth it so is the £8 to climb to the top. Since Marc and I had already climbed it, we sat on the steps of the Duomo and got in some phenomenal people watching while our visitors labored through the hundreds of steps to the top of Florence. After the Duomo, it was off to see the David. I have never been so befuddled with a rule as I was with their no picture policy. Why not? Is the flash going to bring the giant David crumbling to the ground? After a few verbal exchanges with the security guards and 20 minutes of admiring the work of Michelangelo, it was time to take them for Florence's top gelato at Vivoli (happy Marder?). With the sun beginning to set, we figured the Piazza Michelangelo would be a perfect final tourist destination for the day, and it didn't dissapoint (unless you've watched the sun set from Sunset dock). Dinner was Acqua el 2 for Lauren's 21st birhday, and it was great to see both her and Becky.
On Saturday, we started the day with lunch at Trattoria Mario (a cool hole-in-the-wall place with a smell menu and fast service) per Kogan's request before sending the Barcelona kids to Pisa for the day, they really wanted to see that leaning tower thingy. After walking them to the train station, it was round 2 of the leather market for the weekend, but with Lauren and Becky there was a little more money being spent (not to mention Marc's new leather jacket). One of my biggest pet peeves here is how the euro bills do not all fit well in American wallets, so I spent £12 on a nice brown leather wallet that doesn't tear £50 bills to shreds. Since the sun was shining, we figured it would be a good time to relax at Pitti Palace. Apparently we weren't the only ones with this idea as the plaza was full of people enjoying the Tuscan sun. After a little dehydration kicked in, it was back to the apartment to relax before dinner. Unfortunately, our reservation at El Gato fell through, but there was a small restaurant right near my apartment that was able to fit us all in. One thing that I really like is walking into a restaurant and hearing zero english, and that was the case on Saturday. After a great meal and a few bottles of wine (best house-red I have had in Florence, take it for what it's worth), we began talking to the waitor and found out the entire restuarant was staffed by one extended family. His wife is in the back cooking every dish, while his brother-in-law was the other waitor and his nephews bussed the tables, which we all found to be very cool.
After another fun night in Florence, all my visitors were gone by 2 on Sunday just in time for me to get back and realize that my computer had crashed. I am going to stop now before my anger starts showing up in my writing, but I am staying in Firenze this week to catch up on some school work and sleep, before heading to Prague in 2 weeks. It's hard to believe that mid-terms are just 10 days away here, and spring break begins that weekend as well...where has the semster gone? Until next time...
A Presto,
JK
On Thursday, the Barcelona kids arrived at different times throughout the afternoon/night (only Ben made it in time for a home-cooked meal though) and it was great to see more friends from home. Unfortunately, by the time we made it out Thursday night, all of the bars were closed (thanks Florence, way to make a good first impression), but we did find some late-night shoarma, so it wasn't a complete failure. Friday was the second-nicest day we've had in Florence this semester (second only to Saturday) and we kicked if off with an amazing view of the Arno River from the Ponte Vecchio before heading to Antico Noe for lunch (more visitors only meant more approval). After a phenominal panini, it was off to the leather market where the Barcelona kids looked at ties and scarves with Marc while I went to get Jordan from the train station (not like my opinion on ties and such mean anything anyways). The first tourist stop everyone wants to make in Florence is the Duomo, and if the weather is worth it so is the £8 to climb to the top. Since Marc and I had already climbed it, we sat on the steps of the Duomo and got in some phenomenal people watching while our visitors labored through the hundreds of steps to the top of Florence. After the Duomo, it was off to see the David. I have never been so befuddled with a rule as I was with their no picture policy. Why not? Is the flash going to bring the giant David crumbling to the ground? After a few verbal exchanges with the security guards and 20 minutes of admiring the work of Michelangelo, it was time to take them for Florence's top gelato at Vivoli (happy Marder?). With the sun beginning to set, we figured the Piazza Michelangelo would be a perfect final tourist destination for the day, and it didn't dissapoint (unless you've watched the sun set from Sunset dock). Dinner was Acqua el 2 for Lauren's 21st birhday, and it was great to see both her and Becky.
On Saturday, we started the day with lunch at Trattoria Mario (a cool hole-in-the-wall place with a smell menu and fast service) per Kogan's request before sending the Barcelona kids to Pisa for the day, they really wanted to see that leaning tower thingy. After walking them to the train station, it was round 2 of the leather market for the weekend, but with Lauren and Becky there was a little more money being spent (not to mention Marc's new leather jacket). One of my biggest pet peeves here is how the euro bills do not all fit well in American wallets, so I spent £12 on a nice brown leather wallet that doesn't tear £50 bills to shreds. Since the sun was shining, we figured it would be a good time to relax at Pitti Palace. Apparently we weren't the only ones with this idea as the plaza was full of people enjoying the Tuscan sun. After a little dehydration kicked in, it was back to the apartment to relax before dinner. Unfortunately, our reservation at El Gato fell through, but there was a small restaurant right near my apartment that was able to fit us all in. One thing that I really like is walking into a restaurant and hearing zero english, and that was the case on Saturday. After a great meal and a few bottles of wine (best house-red I have had in Florence, take it for what it's worth), we began talking to the waitor and found out the entire restuarant was staffed by one extended family. His wife is in the back cooking every dish, while his brother-in-law was the other waitor and his nephews bussed the tables, which we all found to be very cool.
After another fun night in Florence, all my visitors were gone by 2 on Sunday just in time for me to get back and realize that my computer had crashed. I am going to stop now before my anger starts showing up in my writing, but I am staying in Firenze this week to catch up on some school work and sleep, before heading to Prague in 2 weeks. It's hard to believe that mid-terms are just 10 days away here, and spring break begins that weekend as well...where has the semster gone? Until next time...
A Presto,
JK
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