in a spacious place

I will be glad and rejoice in your love

for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish in my soul.

You have not handed me over to the enemy but have set

my feet in a spacious place.

Psalm 31:7-8

Carnevale di Venezia

"Venice is like eating an entire box of chocolate liqueurs in one go."-Truman Capote

Last weekend, Ilaria (one of my italian roommates) invited Caroline, Valentina and I to come and stay at her house in Padova, and then go to Venice for Carnevale! We took the train early afternoon on Friday, and arrived in Padova around 4pm. Her mom picked us up in her car, and then took us to a Pasticceria to eat some typical Carnival-time pastries--Frittelle di Venezia (cream filled doughnut hole covered in powdered sugar)! After that, she took us on a mini-tour of Padova, showing us all of the villas and monuments and all the historical information that went along with them! 

Ilaria's mom made sure that we were well fed because we were "ospiti importante!!" (important guests)! Ilaria told us that they never eat that well--it was like Christmas dinner :) Her mom made us homemade sunflower seed bread, a roast with potatoes, fresh veggies and peaches for dessert. The second night she made rabbit (I know it sounds crazy, it was my first time eating it, and it was really good), more veggies, and the best olive oil I have ever had...I could go on and on about the food, so I will stop now.

We got to meet Ilaria's friends and went out Friday night to Bassano del Grappa with them.

On Saturday we hopped on a train to Venice for Carnevale!

Carnevale is an annual festival that starts about two weeks before Ash Wednesday and ends on Fat Tuesday. There were some AMAZING outfits and masks galore, and lots and lots of people.

Now time for some pictures--they speak more than words!

bought my mask for 10 euro

the girls got their faces painted :)

it was an absolutely beautiful day!

TOOOONS of people--so crowded!

yep, this is real.

I got a mask--FEATHERS

Ilaria, Caroline, me and Valentina!

Such an AMAZING experience!!

I really enjoy free things.

I went to TWO MUSEUMS today, fo freeeeee :)
That is one of the bonuses of going to the Accademia--I get into all the Museums gratis!
I went to the Galleria dell' Accademia, which is the gallery attached to my art school and houses Michelangelo's statue of David as well as many other wonderful works of art. As I rounded the corner, and entered in the hallway that leads down to the David, I almost started crying! I know it sounds silly, but as I walked towards him, I just couldn't stop smiling and had that choked-up feeling... It was like when you haven't seen someone you love for a really long time, and you finally are reunited and you are so happy you could (or do) cry.
I plan on going back there very often, because there is a room filled with absolutely wonderful statues that I want to draw. Gosh I am going to miss Italy!!


The other museum I went to was the Sala delle Reali Poste degli Uffizi where they are having an exhibit with all sketches and drawing by some of the greatest artists--Michelangelo, Raffaello, Leonardo da Vinci, Fillippo Lippi--to name a few. It was really amazing to see sketches and drawings that alot of times turned into famous and finished paintings!

such a wonderful and inspiring day!

Also, if you are ever feeling sad or just need to laugh, you must watch this!

To all my ladies out there...

Today is la Festa delle Donne (Women's Day)! 

In Italy this beautiful yellow flower--called la Mimosa--is the symbol of the Italian Women's day. When we got to school this morning, they had a basket full of them for all the girls :)

Una mimosa per tutti le belle donne nella mia vita, vi voglio tanto bene!!

I promise I am going to school...

Party #1: FRIDAY, Themed "things that fly".

Kayla, Brita and Katie had a party at their house last friday which was really fun! There were lots of good outfits, for example: Flight Attendant, lady bug, Super heros, paper airplanes, and I was a flying pig. Best costume though goes to the three in the picture below--the main characters from Disney-Pixar's movie "Up"!! so creative :)

Party # 2: TUESDAY Brittani's mom sent Lauren and I a package full of decorations for Brittani's birthday. Lauren and I decorated her house while she was at class the evening before her birthday, cooked some Bruschetta, and when she came back from class, SURPRISE! We hung out, ate, and went dancing late into the night.

Party #3 WEDNESDAY MORNING(Continuation of Brittani's celebration): Brittani's Birthday BREAKFAST BURRITOS!!

The next morning, we had about 14 people over to Brit's house, and we all brought something to go in breakfast burritos. Whitney saved the day with her 32 oz. bottle of Tapatio (Mexican hot sauce for those of you who are missing out on life and don't know what Tapatio is). 

in the picture below, yes, we are burrito cheers-ing

Party #4 WEDNESDAY NIGHT(later that day, STILL Brittani's birthday): CAKE/PIE TIME

I made Brittani an apple pie with brown sugar and oatmeal crumble, and we bought some gelato to go with it! Alyssa and Lauren made a fruit cake which we also consumed, gladly. After we ate some pie and cake, we went out to celebrate some more.

Party #5: THURSDAY, Ilaria and Valentina (my italian roommates) had a party themed "1950's-60's"

Our house was PACKED with italians dressed up and dancing to all sorts of American classics--The Beach Boys, Billy Haley, songs from Grease---and don't let me forget to mention that those same 2 cds got played on repeat for a good 5 hours. But that didn't matter, because everytime "Rock Around the Clock" came on, everyone danced like it was the first time they'd heard it :) It was SO much fun, and I got to talk in Italian and meet a whoooole bunch of Italians. 

Another thing, Italians know how to feed their guests! There was a whole bunch of food and Maleesa contributed with good ol' American Ritz crackers and a bowl of full of peanut butter. We had to explain to the Italians what peanut butter was, that there was NOT in fact actual butter in it, and they called it "salsa Americana"(american sauce) ...hahahaha

Next party....CARNEVALE di VENEZIA!! pictures from that to come...

Northern Italy fieldtrip

So these pictures are from our field trip we had in the end of January...yes I know I have slacked a bit on posting them! We went to Padova, Vicenza, Bassano del Grappa,...some other little towns and finished in Verona! I would say if you were coming to Italy and didn't know where to visit--go to Verona. It is beautiful, romantic, has some historical stuff, but all together it an absolutely charming place!

On a Sunday afternoon in the main piazza in Verona. As you can see, the old women REALLY have a thing for brown fur coats...

Oh the little things

Are wild strawberries really wild?

Will they scratch an adult, will they snap at a child?

Should you pet them, or let them run free where they roam?

Could they ever relax in a steam-heated home? 

Can they be trained to not growl at the guests?

Will a litterbox work or would they make a mess?

Can we make them a Cowberry, herding the cows,

or maybe a Muleberry pulling the plows,

or maybe a Huntberry chasing the grouse,

or maybe a Watchberry guarding the house,

and though

they may curl up at your feet oh so sweetly

can you ever feel that you trust them completely?

Or should we make a pet out of something less scary,

like the Domestic Prune or the Imported Cherry,

Anyhow,

you've been warned and I will not be blamed

if your Wild Strawberries cannot be tamed.

                                                                — Shel Silverstein (Where the Sidewalk Ends)

Today I bought a little basket full of strawberries on my way home from the gym. It was the first time I've eaten them since I left California!

It was a good day.