Christmas lights, Florence-style!!

So here is my street during Christmas time--pretty awesome, huh?? Oh and that cute couple? That's my roommate Maleesa and her boyfriend Xander. They're pretty awesome as well :)

La prima nevicata in Firenze!!

IT SNOWED TODAY!! Which means... Lots of snowball fights. Even with complete strangers.

LasagYUM

No school today! Whaddo I do?


1) wake up, walk into the living room freakin out to my roommates because I think "Oh my goodness, I slept until 1pm!!" They look at me like I'm crazy, then inform me that it is only 10:10am.

2) Meet up with Lauren. Walk 30 minutes to what we think is a Christmas Fair with Italian doo-dads, turns out it is the equivalent to the Salvation Army, and as American as Italy can get. (they were selling bags called "american treats" filled with 3 marshmellows, mini hersheys bar and a stick of gum).

2) Purchase some gems in the used clothing section (four sweaters and one tunic= 17 euro!!)

3) Walk home, see the giant ceremony in Piazza del Duomo and watch the guys in funny costumes throw flags and play trumpets while they TURNED ON THE LIGHTS on the Christmas tree!!! So exciting.

4) Make Lasagne with Lauren, and then some sugar cookies with the Peppermint sprinkles my Mom and Dad sent me!

4) Invite friends over to eat it! They bring apple pie and more cookies.

5) Happy Food coma.

Reunited and it feels so good!

Over Thanksgiving weekend, three of my very dear friends--Amanda, Marie and Allison came to visit me in Italy!! Amanda and Allison are studying in England this year and Marie is studying in Spain. They arrived Thursday night and left eaaaarrrrly Monday morning, so we got a good three days together to eat and explore. 

On our first day, after waking up at 1pm we went and got lunch where we proceeded to eat: two pizzas, a calzone and a bowl of gnocchi. Oh, and a bowl of bread. 

After feasting, we walked around Florence and I showed them some of the sights. 

The following days consisted of: more pizza, going to the top of the Duomo, gelato, dancing, cioccolato calda (pretty much melted chocolate that you drink/eat with a spoon), some MORE pizza, RAIN, making true Italian tiramisu from Ilaria's own recipe that she has memorized, and celebrating Marie's birthday!! Such a great time--I cannot believe that we all were able to get together in ITALY! 

their first day in Florence, on my street!

Yes I ate this whole pizza, I'm a proud member of the clean plate club.

Smooches

my beautiful friends and the Arno River

love this picture!! They fit in just fine in Italy :)

Climbing to the top of the DUOMO!

the most incredible view of Florence!

we went out to a dance club called SPACE

making Tiramisu!!

we found some excellent candles to put atop of Marie's birthday "cake"

just to make you jealous ;)

Thankful.

 How does one go about explaining our American holiday called Thanksgiving to two curious Italian girls?

First, you talk about the food. Most important food is the Turkey, naturally. Then comes the copious amount of buttered/salted/sugared/marsh-mellowed casseroles, vegetables, rolls, salads, sauces, potatoes and pies that you load on your plate not just once, but twice or maybe three times.

After the "look-of-sheer-disgust/intrigue", you attempt to justify this gluttony by saying we do this because we are thankful! 

They nod their head hesitantly, but secretly they could hardly wait to stuff their faces on their very first Thanksgiving.

And neither could we.

Cooking in our TINY kitchen

 So we decided to go an easier route and got Turkey Breasts instead of the whole bird since our oven is small, unpredictable, and hot as Hades (we named it Dante's Inferno if that gives you any idea).

Maleesa's amazing turkey

the delicious stuffing I made!

I was in charge of the stuffing and the gravy, which both turned out to be Ilaria and Valentina's favorite! I got my recipes from the Food Network (Gravy recipe and Stuffing recipe).

Marie enjoying the feast

Our Menu:
-Turkey Breast
-Mashed Potatoes
-Stuffing
-Gravy
-Fruit Salad
-Broccoli Salad
-Sweet Potatoes
-Bread
-Cranberry Sauce
-Pumpkin Pie
-Homemade chocolate chip cookies (the mix was sent from USA!)
-Vino and Spumante (wine and champagne)

Pumpkin Pie and chocolate chip cookies

We had twelve people join our Thanksgiving feast, including MARIE SHIMANSKY(!!) who was one of three of my girlfriends who came to visit for the weekend (the other two didn't get in until after midnight).

my beautiful roommates

Cin-Cin!

All in all, Thanksgiving was a success and extremely delicious. I still cannot believe that I am living here in Italy, and seeing/doing/experiencing such wonderful things. I am so thankful for this incredible adventure God has me on, and for my family and friends whom I love so very much!

Being an artist costs a lot of money.

I just purchased my first 100cm x 150 cm canvas, oil paints and two paint brushes in Italy!
Damage done: €113.
[OUCH]

However, I am VERY excited to start my first painting! It is gonna be raaaad

When in Rome...!

November is the busiest month so far for me here in Italy! Paul visiting for 5 days, one day in between, then we left on a school field trip to Rome for 4 days! Our first stop on the way to Rome was the quaint little town of Orvieto, where we visited a church and had lunch. 

Orvieto

a little side-street in Orvieto

Orvieto is situated on top of a hill, overlooking this beautiful view!

Second stop on the way to Rome: 

Il Parco dei “mostri” di Bomarzo which means "park of monsters". It is filled with huge statues and sculptures of gigantic animals, huge figures, nymphs, and gods with dramatic proportions and kind of ugly (hence the name of the park).  

ahhhh

Finally, after an eight hour journey from Florence, we arrived in Rome! We stayed in a really nice hotel, and I roomed with two girls whom I have made really good friends with--Lauren and Brittani. That night we had a 3 course meal of Cannelloni with ricotta and spinach, Saltimbocca alla Romana with green beans and carrots, pasta, and a fruit cake for dessert.

Jessica and I looking fancy at dinner

The next day, our program directors didn't hesitate to get us up at 7 in the morning to begin our jam-packed Roman holiday. First place we visited was the Forum, which was the ancient center of Rome. What blew me away was that this was completely covered in dirt up until the 1920's when excavations finally began to uncover this gem. Next we visited the Palatino (Palatine) which is one of the central hills of Rome as well as one of the oldest parts of the city.

what a view!!

Next stop, the Colosseo (Colosseum!) All I have to say is Magnificent. To any of you out there who have read Francine Rivers' "Mark of the Lion" Trilogy, this really brought to life her books! Did you know that it was capable of seating 50,000 spectators?! Crazy. One thing that bummed me out though was that after the 6th century, since it was no longer being used, they took a lot of it apart and used it for building materials.

 Later, we saw the Pantheon, two Caravaggio paintings in the Church of San Luigi, and visited the Trevi fountain at night. Let me just say that the Trevi Fountain (especially at night) has now become one of my most favorite places in the whole world.

St. Peter's Basilica aka the Vatican at night!

 The next day, we went to the Vatican Museum. That was AMAZING! Some highlights: the Hall of Maps, the Sistine Chapel, a beautiful painting by Jan Matejko, The Sistine Chapel, and then of course, St. Peter's Basilica (the Vatican!)

my friend Brittani, no shame looking like a tourist,  enduring the rain. haha

the Jessica's and I inside the Vatican Museum!

We also visited the MAXXI Modern Art Museum, an Etruscan Villa, and two Etruscan "cities of the dead"--Cerveteri and Tarquinia--where the Etruscans built entire cities to lay their deceased family members to rest. It was so fascinating.

I couldn't help but say (about 50 times) that this was the best field trip I've ever been on!! What an incredible blessing to be able to be here in Italy and travel and see the things I have seen.

PAUL IN FIRENZE!

So I am very behind on my posts, so without further ado: 

 introducing,

Paul in Firenze!

Paul and the Duomo

We went on a run to Piazzale Michelangelo and Chiesa San Miniato

Paul's amazing night photography

Sitting on the steps of the Duomo!

For a Florence Cultural celebration, they put grass all around the piazza surrounding the Baptistry!

Day trip to Fiesole, a city that sits on the hill above Firenze

One of our many pizzas during the week

Graffiti tunnel

Paul and a candy shop

We tried Marzapane!

Probably one of the most perfect nights of my life! We ate some gelato right before this picture :)