Turning Coal into Diamonds: Day 38

After missing breakfast by ten minutes and watching black water fill our toilet, we  got directions to the train station, waited at the bus stop for about 30 minutes, then stood around at the bus station for another 30 minutes looking like idiots because we had no idea where to go. We knew the direction we had to go, but saw no cross walks or sidewalks anywhere. We finally figured it out, and after getting a croissant for breakfast, getting a little more confused, walking under a tunnel, asking a police officer where the “treni stazione” was and continuing in the direction we had been heading, we finally found the train station! We had about an hour wait until the next train left for Siracusa, so we got some traditional Sicilian food called an arancini, sat on a bench and basked in the sun.

                            

On the train we met two other girls that are studying abroad in Italy, one in Rome staying with a host family, and the other in a town about an hour away from train, also staying with a host family. Maggie passed out on the train because she was still exhausted from flying and the week before, but I talked to them the whole way to Siracusa!

Our hotel wasn’t far from the train station once we got there, so we checked in and got ready to explore Ortigia, the island in Siracusa. The island is, as I always say to describe everything, BEAUTIFUL! It’s very relaxed and quaint, with soothing ocean waves, and the cutest little streets. We saw Piazza Duomo, the Temple of Athena which is now a Cathedral, the ruins of the Temple of Apollo, the famous fresh water spring, the castle on the tip of the island, and a very beautiful sunset.

The Pantheon in Siracusa

Some water sport that was very entertaining

The Temple of Apollo

          

          Cute side streets

Piazza Minerva

Piazza Duomo

Temple of Athena - now Siracusa Cathedral

Fonte Aretusa - fresh water spring 

Photo shoot...

Observation of the Day: With a little effort, you can always find your way to the most beautiful things. It was truly a struggle getting to Siracusa, but once we were there, I saw some of the most beautiful sites I have ever seen!

Turn down for what? My eardrums, please: Day 37

My sister made it to Italy today! I met her at the airport, where we then waited for six hours for our flight to Catania.

We got a taxi to our hotel, Hotel Miramare – and paid 20 euro for a five minute drive, I might add. This was the first experience I have had really trying to understand someone speaking Italian, and trying my best to use the Italian I know to respond.

We were starving so we asked where we could go to eat and were told to go to Cucaracha right across the street. The interesting experiences continued. The tables were set up in a circle around what looked like a dance floor – we felt like were intruding.

There was a cute old man taking money at the door who didn’t understand us and vice versa, but I was able to understand “mangiare”, which means to eat, so he retrieved who seemed to be the owner who spoke some English and got us a table.

The pizza was impossible to cut with a fork and a butter knife, but I felt like I was already imposing on some event so my sister and I tried to be polite and use our fork to eat the whole time.

Then the DJ turned the music up and the dancing began. I swear to you, for every new song that came on the DJ turned the volume up, but the dancers were very entertaining. This was some authentic Sicilian culture we witnessed, and at one point I wished I could have joined in on the dancing!

I stayed up late Friday night to skype my Leadership family in the Leader Advancement Scholarship Program at the All LAS meeting the Leadership Institute was having to kick off the 2015 LAS Competition Day. It was so great to see so many faces (even though they couldn't hear me), and priceless the reactions everyone had when they realized Katie wasn't just showing them a picture of me.. 

Follow closely... this is a screenshot of a snapchat of a screenshot of my Skype session, featuring the one and only David Walter. 

 Today also is the first day of the Spring 48 hour film competition I normally participate in. My friends in Central Premiere Productions that I was on a team with last semester said I’m their honorary member, and even said I would make an appearance in the credits. And the winner was: “Probably ate spaghetti this weekend.” First of all, there’s a good chance I will eat spaghetti. Second, 5,000 miles apart and these people can still make me cry with laughter. (They didn't actually put me in the credits, sad face).

I would be lying if I said I wasn’t sad that I’m missing all of these things – I already missed my cousins wedding on February 7^th, shout out to Betsy and Clint Schneider! However, with the short time my sister has been here, I have been able to put in perspective how much I have learned from my month in Rome.  It’s worth missing one semester of things at home to have and create completely new experiences in my adopted home!

Observation of the Day: You're always missing something somewhere, so enjoy whatever it is you are doing here and now. 

Is it faster to Rome or by Aston Martin: Day 34

Tuesday was a very interesting day for me, to say the least...

I started off the day with a nice run/mostly walk in the Villa Doria Pamphilj that lasted just over two hours.

Then I got some homework done.

Around 11:30 AM I rode the tram to the stop right before the river, started walking towards the Vatican, and came across the filming of the new James Bond film set to release later this year. It was what was left of part of the chase scene along the Tiber River.

James Bond as in Daniel Craig. As in they're in Rome filming for Spectre until March 12th.

Afterwards, I did some more homework in my favorite cafe, headed to school and worked on a painting that I have lost all enthusiasm for and am ready to move on to the next one. I am learning what I do and do not enjoy when it comes to acrylics.

From 6-7 PM I participated in the development of the film club during one of our first meetings. The club definitely has potential, and I have a lot of ideas, so this will be a fun project when I am not traveling here!

And because it was Paige's 21st birthday, we went out to an Irish Pub called Scholars, and sang along to other people singing Karaoke all night. I have never had so much fun!

I wouldn't mind having more days like Tuesday.

And as for the title of this post, I have my uncle Peter to thank for his infamous joke: Is it faster to Chicago or by Bus? He has a knack for oxymorons.

Observation of the Day: I cannot wait to come back to Rome with a film crew of my own! For now, I will settle with getting a glimpse of James Bond..

Czech It Out!: Day 30-32

(I 100% stole this post's title from my roommate, Kasey.)

Prague, or Praha, of the Czech Republic is a magical city! After a half hour train ride, just under a two hour flight, a half hour shuttle transport to the hostel we booked, a twenty minute wait to be taken to a different hostel (because apparently something was wrong with our room), and a ten minute drive to our next hostel, we were finally ready to explore.

We hadn’t eaten since breakfast, so the first thing we did was eat at a place right around the corner. I ordered a traditional Czech beefsteak with a cream sauce and bread dumplings. 

The beef was great, but the bread dumplings were sickeningly sweet, and I just couldn’t stomach them. When we got the bill, I was both upset and amused to find that my water was a whole ten crown more than the beer my roommates had ordered. Ten crown is only about 35 cents, or trentacinque centesimi, which is about 40 US cents. As they say about Prague, the beer really is cheaper than the water.                                                                

                                                                                                                        
                                               (Wenceslas Square)

After walking around Old Town Square and Charles Bridge for a while, we walked around some more trying to find a bar to go to, and finally decided on an Irish Pub – I know what you’re thinking, but we were tired and just wanted somewhere to sit. On the plus side, they had really good hot chocolate.

(Bubbles in Old Town Square)

 

Let me tell you, those Czech's really know how to work the low, dramatic lighting. Walking around in the dark can be a little frightening, but all the important buildings have spotlights shooting up into the sky leaving a haze of light that's both mysterious and humbling.

 (Tyn - the Gothic exterior/Baroque interior church in Old Town Square that was half of the inspiration for the Disney Castle!)

We spent almost all of our Saturday daylight on a free walking tour provided through the Prague airport shuttle service we had used. It was well worth the time! We saw many of the same things we had seen last night, with the addition of the Prague Castle and beautiful gothic Cathedral. This time, however, we learned so much about the history of Prague, and some of the current social and political life of its people. In the Czech language, the city is called Praha, which originated from the word Prah, or fort, because the city used to be a major fort, as many large cities today in Europe once were. One thing that surprised me was that 75-80% of the population has no declared religion, and the Czech Republic actually has a very high Atheist population.

Charles Bridge

    Lennon Wal

                  Paige signing the Lennon Wall

Amazing view from the hill the Prague Castle is on in Hradčany district.

                          Across the river from Prague Castle, right next to Charles Bridge.

The amazing Gothic architecture of the St. Vitus Cathedral.

Charles Bridge

Wenceslas Square in the daylight

The Astronomical Clock in Old Town Square

That night for dinner I had a skewer with pork, beef, chicken, and onion with French fries and table bread. This time, instead of paying more for water, I got orange juice, which was actually orange soda. At the end of our meal, two men who we think worked in the kitchen, came out several times to play music – it was quite entertaining!

My night was completed with some chocolate covered nuts from Captain Candy, a candy shop we had been eyeing that just has barrels full of candy, and some beautiful music played by street artists with a keyboard and a drum set consisting of pans and buckets. 

Sunday morning we walked to a bridge across from Charles Bridge to get a better view, then did our tourist shopping in the only market in Prague that is open every day of the year right outside of Old Town Square. I had some crown left to spend, so I bought a shot glass for my mom, a bottle-opener magnet for my dad, and some post cards for my sister, my best friend, and myself.

                                         Sausage for lunch!

     The traditional Czech pastry

Our tour guide mentioned that because of the many different eras of architecture and design that remain in Prague today, films are often shot there because it can be made to look like so many different cities and time periods. If I don’t come back there with my family someday, I hope I do with a film crew.

Next weekend I will be venturing to Sicily – including Siracusa, Catania, and Taormini – with my sister Maggie, who is visiting for her Spring Break!


Observation of the Weekend: Rome feels like home. It was great to travel for the weekend and Prague was magical (if not a little chilly), but when we returned to Rome, I felt like I was home. Rome is so exciting and huge and fun, but also comfortable now.