Christmas in Venice!

Sorry all for such a long time in between posts, I was traveling around Europe for winter break! 

My first stop was Venice. 

VENICE

(Venezia)

So Christmas time was rolling around, and I didn't have any plans. I wasn't flying home, nor meeting up with family in Europe. My good friend Brittani (the sweetest girl ever) and her family invited me and two other girls to join them for Christmas in Venice! They rented a beautiful apartment and we slept great on the three couches. 

Lauren and I accidentally took the expensive train to Venice, but turned out it was worth it because it was really fast and way nicer than the cheap slow one. (go figure). We arrived at nighttime, and I was blown away at the beauty of Venice, even in the dark! I felt like I was at Disneyland or something, because we had to wait for our "water taxi boat" and then rode around on the canal to get to our stop.

Venice by night

Venice by day!

 The next day, we went grocery shopping for all of the food we needed for our Christmas day feasting. By the time we got back from the store, the tide had risen, and we had to walk through ankle-deep water that had flooded the streets!

The view from our balcony!!

The wonderful Groswird's and our Christmas dinner! 

We spent our days exploring the city and relaxing back in the apartment. We didn't realize how nice it was to just do nothing for once! For Christmas day, Brittani and her mom made an amazing breakfast of Quiche and banana pancakes with berry sauce. I taught all the girls how to make Tiramisu (Ilaria's recipe!) and we had a full force Christmas dinner consisting of Turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, cranberry sauce, rolls and cooked carrots.

I had such a great time and am so thankful for the generosity of Brittani's family to take in three of us girls on their family holiday!

Such a unique Christmas to say the least!

Lauren, Alyssa, me and Brittani!

The day after Christmas began the rest of my winter travels--

off to Munich, Germany! 

I will post soon, stay tuned ;)

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