Chocolate Heaven in Santa Croce

So, one of the biggest perks of living around the corner from Piazza Santa Croce is the fact that there are always really cool concerts, exhibitions and...CHOCOLATE FAIRS. I have never seen so much chocolate in my life! It was crazy with rows and rows, booths upon booths of chocolate from all over the place. Mostly Italian and Belgian chocolate, some from Spain too. This fair is dedicated exclusively to quality confectioners' chocolate, all made by hand. Italy has been doing its best to preserve chocolate making as an art form since the E.U. authorized vegetable fat as a substitute for cocoa butter in chocolate. Traditional Italian chocolate is always made by hand with pure cocoa.

Many people from my school made multiple trips a day, however, I only made it once because A) It was soooo expensive and B) Let's be real, I'm not trying to gain 87938450 pounds. I did buy my favorite, chocolate covered almonds (one scoop=25 almonds) for 6 euros! I didn't realize how much it costs until after I had measured it out in the bag...oops. Oh well, after Seren and Sarah laughed at me for spending about 20 euro cents per almond, I kindly shared and made them last. They were my mini fortune haha. I also bought a chili pepper truffle; chocolate and chili powder. I always wanted to try one after seeing the movie Chocolat. It was definitely good, but spicy!

Truffles

More Truffles

Hot Chocolate: I thought this hot chocolate was going to be like the kind you would get at a fair you know, Carnation-esque, but it was literally so thick, it was like melted chocolate in a glass. Call me crazy, but I didn't like it very much and gave the rest to Seren and Sarah to share.

Chocolate tools and instruments

Chocolate Violins!

Chocolate Pasta

Shoutout to my mom: she would have loved this. Too bad it arrived a month late, after she had already visited. My mom lovessss chocolate! I would have bought some to bring her home, but chances are it wouldn't have made it back to the States. I have a slight inclination a little nibble bandit (aka me) would eat it.

New Little Tidbits

Just going to post a few photos to make for a quick update:

My roommates and I had a dinner date and came home for a little photobooth fun.

Seren and I took a little day trip to Siena. The weather was cold, but the day was so beautiful because the sun finally came out after so many gloomy days in Firenze. Our Italian friend, Andrea, came along with his handy tour book and proceeded to read us the history about each spot in Siena. It was sweet, but he read way too fast so we just sort of nodded along and smiled pretending like we understood everything he was saying.

Candle offerings inside the Duomo.

This is a picture of Siena's Duomo, one of my favorite churches I've seen yet in Italy; it's just absolutely gorgeous inside.

Andrea was laughing at me all day because I was taking pictures of everything I saw (flowers, cool graffiti, walls, buildings at different angles) he thought it was so funny because I found so many things to be so beautiful that he sees as ordinary, obviously born and raised in Italy, the gorgeous effect wears off apparently. So, at lunch I took a picture of our delicious pizzas and he was cracking up.

Exploring the town, we found this really cool well and decided to make wishes. I'm sure many of you who know me well know what I wished for. However, this task proved to be a little difficult for me; standing right in front of the well, I missed it completely while throwing in my coin. How that happens, I don't know. I suppose well-wishing is not for the uncoordinated, but I didn't let that get me down, I just leaned over the second time and dropped it in. Still wished for the same thing; hopefully it will still come true the second time around. Hmmm keep your fingers crossed.

In Siena's main square. There were so many people out having lunch in the center of the Piazza, feeding the pigeons and taking in the sun. It was really beautiful out.

Girls night in. We did apricot moisturizing masks and watched The Bachelor (we had a marathon including 4 episodes), which didn't end until 430a.m. No big deal. We take that show pretty seriously I would say.

Well, there is definitely more to come in the next few weeks. Finals are next week, which I am dying for them to be over. I feel like this semester has dragged on forever, and I have my sights set on my next vacation. My friend Shawn and I are going to Belgium, Scotland and England for a week during semester break. I'm definitely so excited and can't wait for all the beautiful things we're going to see! Until then...buonanotte, it's late and time for me to catch some ZzZz's.

Livin' the Dream

It's weird I decided; that when I walk around here I look around and still can't believe that I live in Florence. Usually when I walk to and from school by myself I really take the time to soak in everything around me: the sound of Italian being spoken around me in musical cadence, the shop owners standing outside having seemingly intense conversations with theatrical hand expressions as Italians do, the tourists year-round with camera in hand that are herded like cattle to the different sites. Normally, they would be a hassle as I'm walking around because they never have any clue where they are going, but it makes it worth it when I see their faces taking in the beauty of the Duomo or taking a picture of the Dante statue in front of Santa Croce. It's such a comforting familiar feeling, thinking back to the first time I saw these sights, I almost feel connected to them in that way, feeling that same awe they feel when they see them. I really try not to take for granted the fact that one of the world's largest collections of priceless artwork sits at the Uffizi at the end of my block, or the fact the Renaissance took place around the corner from my apartment in Piazza Signoria, or that at one point the world's greatest, most creative and talented minds once excelled in their field sending humanity into such advancement beyond their time...in the very place I call home for this year. I just feel so blessed.

We had a gold themed party last night for our friend Riccelle's birthday and as I was standing outside with one of my best friends, Seren, she and I were saying that these are the times we should remember and cherish even while we are here, because when we return to the States; we're going to say "remember that one time in Firenze when we had that party for Riccelle?" It's like having nostalgia before it's even over! I love this place and I love all the people I live with/spend my time with. They are amazing and have made this experience even more incredible than I could have imagined. Here are some pictures thus far from 2010:

My roomie, Andi! Love her.

Andi, Seren, Me, and Colton :)

My girls!

Video of Matias, Zach and I messing around at the grocery store

I AMsterdam

Nearing the end of winter vacation, a bunch of us went to Amsterdam to celebrate Max's birthday. Matias, Zach, Ryan, Sarah, Max, Andi, Alyssa, Jeremy and myself left on January 8th at 3:30a.m. to Pisa airport. We didn't really know what to expect, all we knew is that is was Amsterdam and we were going to have a great time like we always do when we travel together. Little did we know how intense it was going to be. First of all, it was definitely so much colder than I am ever used to, there was so much snow, but having never been a huge fan of it, I ended up kinda liking it. We frequented the coffee shops to stay warm, went to Vondel Park and had a snowball fight, visited the Van Gogh museum, and the Heineken Brewery. We walked all over that city and we had such a great time. I want to go back again to see more of the town, preferably during the summer when we want to be outdoors for longer!!

Our lovely hostel. All 9 of us in the same room!!

I AMsterdam

Via dei Neri crew at the Heineken Experience

Snow Bunnies

Happy Last Day of 2009

So, I'm in Rome for capodanno (New Year's Eve) and wanted to wish you all a safe and happy new year. I seriously can't believe how quickly this year has gone by, it feels like just yesterday, I was arriving here in Italia. Now, months later, I am bidding 2009 farewell...it has been an amazing year. 2008 proved to be a little rough, but this year has definitely made up for it. I have been blessed with so many great opportunities, incredible new friends as well as the fortune of maintaining my old ones, and a spectacular new outlook on life. I am going to take these things with me into the new year; I can't wait to see what it has in store for me. Buon giorno 2010...bring it on! See you all next year. Peace and much love.

Buon Natale

Merry Christmas everyone, or at least the day after. I hope everyone had a great holiday with loved ones...I sure did. My parents and brother are in town and yesterday they went to Pisa for the day while I waited to go to the airport and collect my lost bag, to no avail due to the holiday. So, while my family was away the boys downstairs, Roxanne, Jen, Sarah and I had a potluck at the boys' place like a little family. There was so much food we didn't know what to do with it except stuff our faces because it was so delicious. I think I can confidently say we have mastered the art of the potluck. After allowing time to digest the feast, we did a white elephant with Augie, Adrianna, and Louis joining us. I picked #10 out of 11, so I ended up with the gift I wanted...a roulette shot game (perfect for me). We couldn't wait and immediately put the game to good use furthering our Christmas celebration. Soon after, Matias and the rest of the boys were so eager to use their mini soccer goal Matias won in the gift exchange and rushed over to the croch (Santa Croce) for some natale soccer.

Adrianna won fireworks and of course we dabbled with those a little as well. Definitely a Christmas to remember in Firenze.

Christmas lights

Ponte Vecchio in the snow

Sitting in the hallway at school.

Me and the fam in Piazzale Michelangelo overlooking Firenze

The Duomo with snow

Catching Up...

I made it a goal to keep a blog documenting my amazing year here in Firenze. Well, since I have been quite the slacker the last 4 months that I have been in Italy, I am going to take the time to wrap up these mentioned months in a quasi short post. I moved here on August 27, 2009 in the middle of the raging humid summer heat. Met some amazing people and moved into my apartment on Via dei Neri, about a block away from the Arno. Perfect. Since then, I've been going to school, working hard learning my Italiano, and partaking in many great times with some of the coolest people I have ever met. So far, I've traveled a little to France, Spain and around Italia. I'll post some pictures below.

I'm on winter break right now, marking pretty much the halfway mark of my stay here. I can't begin to express how sad I am that it is almost halfway over because this has been one of the most incredible experiences of my life, and I've only lived it for 4.5 months. I just can't get enough! My parents are here for a few weeks spending Christmas in Florence and the New Year in Rome. Then, I'm off to Amsterdam with my friends before heading back to school. Until next time...my resolution for the new year, to get better at blogging. Ciao for now :)

In Barcelona, Spain

Making a wish into the Trevi Fountain in Rome

Arc de Triomphe in Paris

Secondo Piano on Via dei Neri 10: Alyssa, Beth, Andi and Me

In Venice