Finding calm

A day in Florence is like no other. A variety of four-wheeled, three-wheeled-, two-wheeled, and human obstacles can stand in your way, even just during a simple walk to school in the morning. The city is very stimulating, be it with the beautiful scenery of the Tuscan hills, the architecture, or the various svelte Florentines that pass you by, and you have to be careful not to let things like the sweet smells from a pasticceria distract you from an oncoming Vespa. Like many things in Italy, life is a balance of fast and slow, urgent and relaxed. Because of this, tranquil places like cattedrali (cathedrals), cappelle (chapels), sinagoghe (synagogues), and moschee (mosques) are great places to take a deep breath and relax. During my time in both Florence and Italy as a whole, I have visited many of these places and found relief from the sometimes stressful life of Italian cities. I don't visit these places for religious reasons, but more for the calm they induce. They are great places to think. The quiet, cool, and beauty of a cathedral or synagogue can help anyone forget about an angry encounter with a taxi driver, a long line at a caffe, or the general claustrophobia of city life. They are great places to sketch, people watch, and admire domes of all sizes. I've visited cathedrals in Rome, Corniglia, Florence, Siena, and Pisa during my stay in Italy as well as well as the Tempio Maggiore (Great Synagogue) and mosque in Florence. All have astounded me with their artwork, architecture, and gilded streams of light, but my favorite so far has been the tiny little church of San Pietro in Corniglia. I stumbled upon it, sweat on my brow and gelato in hand, after a hike in Cinque Terre National Park. The temperature was approaching 41 degrees Celsius and my legs needed rest. I climbed the small set of stairs at San Pietro, and found myself alone in a beautiful and tiny cathedral with candles glowing and music drifting from distant corners. I sat on a pew for a few minutes, and re-energized myself for the last part of my hike.

Ceiling of the Pisa cathedral in late-afternoon light.

So, anytime you are in need of a quiet place away from the chaos of an Italian city, take the hike to San Pietro in Corniglia or just visit the nearest synagogue. Both will do the trick. --Jessica Tierney

Key words: cattedrali (cathedrals), cappelle (chapels), sinagoghe (synogogues), moschee (mosques), duomo (dome), calma (calm)

Advice

Make yourself pack as light as possible. You are going to shop when you get to Florence. Plan on bringing some things that you can wear while you are here and leave behind before you go home. If you are planning on shopping a lot think about packing a suitcase within a suitcase. See the places on your cultural list as soon as possible. You may want to hit up a few more than once. --Sarah Terranova

Parole utili: Per portare via – “to go” like for coffee; Allora – used as frequently as “ummmm” in English; Grazie mille

Saving money

Everybody knows being in Italy isn't free, however there are ways
to save money here and there, and eventually it adds up.  When I was in
Rome, we tried to walk everywhere we needed to go but unfortunately
our hostel was 8 miles away from the center so at night we had to taxi
because the busses stopped running at midnight.  One night Corbin and
I had eaten dinner in the center and needed to get back to the hostel,
but we weren't familiar as to how the busses function in Rome.  They
don't just go around in circles like at KU, or if they do, it takes a
REALLY long time; we learned the hard way.  It was around 11:15 and we
caught the bus going the opposite direction. When his final stop was at
11:40 at the bus station we knew we were in trouble.  Fortunately,
after being booted off the bus, a taxi was waiting for us, as if the
taxi driver and the bus driver planned the entire thing.  He told us
it would cost us 60 Euro to go home... yeah right.  We politely told
him he was crazy and we would wait for the next one.  A few minutes
went by and we were walking towards a more busy area to find a cab and
the same taxi rolls by again and this time shouted "45 euro".  We once
again declined.  Still searching for a cab, a couple minutes passed
and the same cab driver circled around again, this time shouting "35
Euro". I caved in.  He then asked if I smoked and iIreplied "No, but I
don't mind if you do, if you knock the price down to 30 Euro." He
obliged, and we saved 30 Euro on the ride home.  Just be aware of
scams, and if the price sounds too high, it probably is. --Ben Balson

The Streets of Florence

Forget buses and taxis. The best was to see Florence is by walking. Everywhere. You see and experience so much more. But my biggest advice is to take it slow. The beauty of this program is that except for class in the morning, you have nowhere to be! So why walk fast? Enjoy yourself, see everything, walk down streets you’ve never been on, stop into stores and look around, stop and listen to the street musicians, talk to people (in Italian, duh), ask for directions, take in the culture, eat at every gelato place. (Maybe only the last one if you want to be sick by the end of 3 kilometers. There are gelato places everywhere.)

 

I have found too that walking in small groups or even by myself is far better, because it is easier to keep the pace to a light stroll and you can stop into places that interest you with less of a chance of someone not wanting to join, thus splitting the group.

So it is best to enjoy what little time you have in this beautiful country and keep it relaxed and easy. --Corbin Soliday

tre frasi utili:

Dov’è.....? - where is .....?

Buongiorno / Buona Sera - Good morning / Good afternoon/evening

posso accarezzare il tuo cane? - can i pet your dog?

No Italian

I came to Italy not knowing any Italian, so I was really curious to know whether or not this trip was a good idea. Turns out I made a good choice because everyone was willing to help me and after only a few days in Rome I had already learned a lot of Italian. I learned to ask questions about every little detail because it helped me advance in my Italian speaking skills. I didn’t always let others speak for me because I knew little, but I asked how to say it and tried myself. This experience has been an amazing adventure/ challenge for me, but there is nothing I would change about it! Take advantage of every opportunity! --Brittni Counts

Three useful Italian words:

-          Basta

-          Grazie

-          Ciao

Train station

Look for this machine to stamp your ticket!

The not-so veloce self-service kiosk

A new experience in Italy for me was a train station.  In Kansas public transportation is limited to within cities, but in Florence one can get a train to anywhere else in the country.  The train station wasn’t anything like what I was expecting either.  So first lesson is don’t come with preconceived notions about train travel.  Second lesson buy train tickets at least the day before you want to travel.  If you wait until the day you want to depart there is added stress of the line and catching the train at the time you want.  The train station is always a bustle with people coming and going from Florence since it is a hot tourist destination.  I had a bad experience where the self service kiosks kept shutting down while people were trying to buy their tickets.  People became very irate.  When my group finally reached the kiosk for our turn we were preparing to buy our ticket when the man behind us was cursing us out to hurry up because he was going to miss his train.  One must realize that it was not my fault he was going to miss his train.  It was his fault for not being early and prepared; better early than late I always say.  The last and maybe the most important thing to remember about train travel is to validate your ticket.  They always come by and check your ticket once the train is moving, so avoid the hassle of a fine by finding a yellow box, usually located at the entrance of the track, and make sure to validate your ticket!  Buon Viaggio! --Janel Wietharn

3 useful words: Partenza=Departure, Arrivo=Arrival, and Convalida=Validate

il traffico

In Italy, the driving style is vastly different than most of us Americans are used to. Absent are the enforced traffic laws and the streets are a mesh of flesh and metal as pedestrians dash to avoid their metal encased counterparts. Outside the city, people are at the whim of automobiles, but inside the city, it is different. Inside the city, people reign supreme. Le macchine creep behind the people, as shadows at dusk, down every street until the freedom can be achieved by way of open road. Transportation is a nightmare because the buses are overcrowded, Vespas and vehicles remain at almost standstills and le bici wobble with unbalance, the consequence of not keeping speed. I strongly believe the easiest way to get around the city is andare a piedi.

The blur of a racing car when it breaks free from the crowds in the city.

A cheap lunch

Through the streets of Florence there are many places to find a quick bite to eat. A good, fast lunch is always a necessity, but it is important to find a place that will not hurt the wallet. Most paninos you would find on the street are about 5 euro and the paninos were made hours before you arrived to purchase it. One place that is a local hotspot, and has been for over a hundred years, is I Due Fratellini.  In via Cimatori, just a few blocks from both the Piazza della Signoria and the Piazza della Repubblica, I Due Fratellini has optimal location. In Florence since 1875, this panino palace is literally not much more than a hole in the wall. Just walk up, say the number of the panino you would like and sit along the streets and watch the other American tourists flock down the block to O Vesuvio to get a glimpse of the Jersey Shore. For only 2.50 euro, it’s hard to beat the quick service and fresh ingredients they have to offer. Don’t be discouraged by the long line out front, it goes rather quickly. Stop by just once and you’ll discover it will soon be your favorite place for a quick bite to eat.

Parole Utili: -Ventisette-the only thing you need to tell them to get a delicious panino of salami picante and goat cheese;  vino da asporto-for just one euro more you can get a solo cup of wine to take on the streets; un altro vino da asporto- - Just in case you need some fun in your life.

Cooking Class 2

 

Tuesday evening was our second and final (for some) cooking class of this summer semester. I would have to say that I personally enjoyed this one much more than I enjoyed the last one because I liked the food we made this time much more. We learned how to make homemade gnocchi which is a potato pasta that is very common in Tuscany with a pesto tomato sauce and an appetizer that consisted of eggplant, tomato, and mozzarella, and for dessert we made homemade tiramisu. It was all so delicious and I am really excited to go home and try out the recipes on my own. The class itself was a lot more fun this time as well. Francesca and her kids came to join us and her son Dorian cooked with my group which was very cool. He is such a happy kid all the time and he just made the cooking atmosphere so much more fun.  --Katie Copeland

Some of the common words that are helpful to know in the kitchen are:

Mescolare: to stir

Tagliare: to cut

Sale e pepe: salt and pepper

La festa di San Giovanni

St. John the Baptist, the patron saint of Florence, is celebrated on June 24th. This day and the days leading up to it are days of great celebration for Florentines. Activities for St. John include Calcio Storico and fireworks.

Calcio Storico is a medieval soccer tournament that takes place in the square of Santa Croce. There are four teams: red, blue, white, and green. These teams play a game similar to soccer with no rules and earn points by throwing the soccer ball against the opposing team's wall. Most years the two teams who move on to the finals are the white and blue team with this year being no different. Typically a few days before the final game the tickets are sold out and come game day the stands are packed tighter than a tin of sardines. The opening ceremonies commence at 5:30 and as the teams are paraded out, hundreds of smoking, shirtless Italian men go crazy in support of their team. The opening ceremonies last about 45 minutes and include flag bearers, noblemen on horses, and religious officials, all dressed in medieval attire. When the game actually starts, the two teams attack one another with fury. These men try with all their might to score a goal but, just like in normal soccer, very little scoring is actually done. This year the blue team emerged from this blood bath victorious scoring 3 points while the defeated white team scored 1 1/2. The game itself lasts only an hour or so but the participants all end up looking like this war has waged for ages.

This year the hour long fireworks spectacle began at 10:00 pm. Many Florentines watch the show from the banks of the Arno or from one of the many bridges.

Three words you need to know for San Giovanni are: biglietto or ticket, Santa Croce which is where the game is held at, and fuochi or fireworks.

Cultural difference -- travel

  When traveling between any two places, no matter the distance, you are always going to find something different. Whether it's extremely different or something minuscule depends just how far you go. Leaving the American culture behind and entering a whole new place has brought forth many new exciting encounters and experiences. Traveling across the world leaves plenty of room for some pretty big differences. They are really all around, but I think the most significant ones are convenience and transportation.
    Convenience and transportation pretty much go hand in hand here. In my opinion, the transportation set-up  makes for suitable living and is so much less of a hassle than it is in the States. Instead of having to jump in your car to drive across town, you can easily walk pretty much anywhere. Not only is it faster and safer than getting on the road with crazy Italian drivers, it also allows you to explore the city more and stumble upon something new each day. 

    Traveling in-between cities and countries is effortless with easily accessible train stations located in the center of every city. Buying your ticket is probably the most annoying part, but once you have that out of the way all you have to do is show up, hop on the train, and you're on your way. Not only is this mode of transportation so much smoother than flying and more comfortable than driving, but it is also way more punctual. Almost always the trains leave exactly on time, never a minute late.**
    Not only is traveling more accommodating, but much more exciting as well. Lengthy train rides offer day-dreaming out the window at the beautiful scenery to pass the time while some modes of transportation are simply way more fun than others. If you travel to Venice you will have the opportunity to take "traghetti", ferries and water taxis which take you across the Grand Canal of Venice. 

    In order to take full advantage of these conveniences, remember maps and train timetables. They will be your best friends on this trip! Buon divertimento! --Molly Middleton

**Editor's note: Molly, I think your positive experience with the punctuality of trains in Italy may be atypical.

International Travel

A Rimini

One of the best things about being in Italy, besides learning the language, absorbing the culture, and inhaling the food, is being so close to the other European countries. When else can you seriously say, "Oh, I think I'm going to go to Spain this weekend, or maybe France. And next weekend I want to go to Austria." Being able to say that is AWESOME. This summer is not only a once in a lifetime opportunity to become fluent in Italian while living in Florence, but an opportunity to travel! You can go see the world! All of Europe is knocking on your backdoor, and all of Italy is just a short step away. I LOVE to travel, and so does my family. We spent Christmas in Egypt this past year, and it was a trip that I will never forget. After I decided to study abroad in Italy, I knew I wanted to purchase a Eurail Global Pass so I would have the ability to go as I please. The first weekend we were in Italy, a bunch of students and I decided to go to Rimini, a small beach town on the Adriatic coast that attracts a lot of traveling students. We stayed at a really fun hostel called Sunflower Backpacker Hostel. The beach, tanning, discotecas... It was a great way to kick-off the summer! The next weekend I went to Venice with some friends for an electronic music festival called ElectroVenice. We saw some of our favorite DJ's like Afrojack, Deadmau5, and Fatboy Slim! The third weekend we had a three day weekend, so we took advantage of the extra day and went to Vienna, Austria, and Prague, Czech Republic. We took overnight trains to and from Vienna and so it made the trip seem a lot shorter. This trip was different because we weren't surrounded by Italian anymore. New countries, new languages, and new currencies. We truly felt like outsiders, but nevertheless, we had a really fun time! Tomorrow I am planning on going to Barcelona, Spain with one other friend for the weekend. I am really excited to explore this historic, and eclectic city, and to go to the beach, of course! Who knows where my Eurail pass will take me in the future... Maybe France, Switzerland, or even the Netherlands. So while I soak up the Italian culture during the week, on the weekends it is time for me to say, "Ci vediamo, Italia!" The world is out there waiting, and it is time to explore. --Meg Reesing

Vivere in famiglia

My host family is amazing! My roommate, Meg Reesing, and I are living with all-around awesome Italians. Our host-dad Stefano was in a famous 90s band, that I can only describe as the Italian love child of No
Doubt and Ricky Martin, called 'Dirotta Su Cuba'. Here he is circa 1990 rockin' out with his band when flashy fits and sweet euro-dos were acceptable. They still are actually, it's pretty great: (Stefano is the one in the sweet white fit)

https://mail.ku.edu/owa/redir.aspx?C=6f57ca888df647d6b474539a0c0c3848&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.youtube.com%2fwatch%3fv%3dVpc_JuyhXIA%26feature%3drelated

...Vanessa (our mom- best Italian mom ever) makes us eat all our pasta which is not difficult, as it is the most delicious food ever, and Neri (their little 9-yr.-old) runs around loudly presenting his ever-changing opinions about the history of the "Carolina's"-he has an obsession with the American Revolution & Civil War and tends to ramble adorably from time to time. I think the Patriot (in Italiano) has played seven times or more since Meg and I have been living here, it's great.

Neri as Dante in a school play

 

View of the Duomo from the terrazza

Since it is close to impossible to find an American Revolution get-up in Italy, Neri resorts to a pirate hat and camouflage, clearly the next best thing. Meg's family, who are visiting her in late July, are planning on bringing some serious American toys for Neri, everyone is excited for this- mostly Neri. --Cat Novak

Fiesole

Fiesole is a simply stunning town resting right above Firenze in the scenic Tuscan hills, making it the perfect place in the summer to venture for a day trip from Firenze. Grab a bus ticket available at most tabaccherie or the train station for around 1.50 € for the round trip, then head to Piazza San Marco and look out for bus # 7. The bus generally runs about every thirty minutes and takes about twenty minutes to get up to Fiesole.

While Fiesole may be small it contains many sights to see: the Piazza Mino da Fiesole (Cathedral of Fiesole), Piazza San Francesco (The Church and Convent of San Francesco), or The Archaeological Museum. Then after a long day of adventures, grab a table at one of Fiesole’s restaurants like Villa San Michele, Vinandro, or La Reggia degli Etruschi and eat while watching a panoramic view of the sunset on the Tuscan Hills. Keep in mind, the buses do stop running around eight or nine in the nighttime. --Caleigh Williams

parole utili: la collina: the hill; prendere l'autobus: take the bus; la vista: the view

La moda

Two times a year the latest styles of clothes and accessories are debuted at fashion week in the fashion capitals of the world: New York, London, Paris, and, most important to this program, Milan. At these shows (one for the fall and winter looks and one for the spring and summer) designers showcase what is going to be the next big thing that will eventually become noticeable in the styles worn by many average Italians.

            What is in fashion today in Italy is very different from that in America. Though jeans are becoming more widely accepted across Italia, it is still not the norm to wear them regularly. Many women wear skirts of a reasonable length and a more dressed up top. One word that describes these women is classy. They generally cover their knees and shoulders. Generally, darker colors are worn by the older Italians and the younger Italians will tend to wear brighter colors. Young men can be seen sporting brightly colored pants occasionally, but usually wear nice shorts and a polo of some description. Unlike in America, Italians hardly wear flip flops or short jean shorts. These items of dress are usually indicators of a tourist.

            Italian words that can be useful when talking about fashion are plentiful, but there are a few that are necessary to know. One of the most important is moda which means fashion. Another is vestiti which means clothes. Finally, possibly the most important word to know in any language: scarpe, also known as shoes.

            Overall, Italians portray elegance. When they go out, they do it in a more conservative, classy manner than in America. One thing is for certain though, when it comes to fashion Italian men and women always show up in their best, raising zero suspicion as to why Italy is the home of one of the greatest fashion capitals in the world. --Paige Kauffman

Weekend Travel -- Milan

My dad came to visit during my study abroad trip to Florence and suggested we go to Milan for a Saturday. Our first stop, the Piazza del Duomo, was stunning. As we were walking into the Piazza, a slow moving group of protesters passed by us. They were holding flags and signs while they chanted in unison. The emotion in their voices moved me to tears.

We walked around the Duomo to the front and met the protestors again. This time they had picked a place to collectively stand. A group of bystanders and police surrounded the protesters. The contrast between gorgeous architecture and human tragedy promoted the protesters' position. 

--Emily Boullear

Parole utili: duomo_ italian word for a cathedral; piazza_ is a place of gathering in a city square; la gente_ the people

Under the Tuscan Sun

I was prepared to write about the beauty of Cinque Terre, however I've
found that my partner in crime has already covered this aspect of Italy
in a previous post. Thus I am forced to write about something different.
In fact, this post is all about how Italy is different. Let's go!

Toward the end of the trail in Cinque Terre, there is the famous “Walk
of Love”. This is written everywhere. I wonder what it is like here on
Valentine’s day.
This is very different from the graffiti that I have seen in America in
that the graffiti in America is often vulgar. In Italy however, they
just write "love". I suppose all you need is love!

Are you in love? Are you ready to never look back and lock in your final
answer? Perfect. Just go put a pad lock on this fence with you and your
significant other's name written on the other side, then throw the key
into the ocean. Nothing says “I will always love you” like a lock on a
fence.

I think these people have a lock somewhere. We were relaxing on the
beach when the people right next to us started, to put it nicely,
"getting to know each other". I know it’s creepy to take a picture, but
this picture illustrates a huge difference between Italy and the states.
There is definitely a lot more public affection in Italy. In fact, I was
talking to some Italians about it, and they think the reason that George
Clooney and his girlfriend broke up was because he was not affectionate
enough in public with her. What this picture doesn't illustrate is the
other 300 people sitting right next to them that can see them. It would
just make me nervous to do this in front of everyone, wouldn't it you?

Swimsuits are more like underwear in Italy. There is a lot of man-thigh
on the beaches. One interesting thing about the beaches is that
everyone, no matter their age, weight, or physical appearance, goes out
and has a fun time in the sun and water. In America it seems to me that
people are very concerned with how they look, especially in a swimsuit,
however in Italy, it's not a big deal. Got a little extra mass around
your middle? No problem! Just make sure to bring some sunscreen.

That water is SO blue. So beautiful but not really fun to get in I have
to admit. The beach is pebble-ly and the water was rough so getting into
the sea involves getting pummeled with rocks (one hit my ankle pretty
square and knocked me over). Fun to look at though! Also, while we were
sitting on the beach, every once in a while a really big wave would come
around and the water would get to all the people sitting on their
towels, and also wet all of our things. Every time it would happen,
people's sandals were swept off to sea and they would have to try to
chase them down. Italy is something else. I deeply encourage anyone to
make the trip across the pond to see this wonderful place.

Alla prossima!

Jon Samp

Parole utili: Sciopero/SOP = strike/train not in service (the
trains do that sometimes); Spaggia = beach; protezione solare =
sunscreen (apply generously)

Il turismo in Italia

Tourism thrives in Europe and Italy is no exception. The reason why so many people come to experience Italy is because of the long-held traditions and ties to the fine arts and humanities. Italy is one of the most culturally rich nations in the world and since the Age of Discovery which started early in the 15th century more and more people have been interested, and able, to venture out and see the world. I chose a picture of Florence's Ponte Vecchio because I thought it expressed one of the most popular tourist pastimes: window shopping. The goldsmiths on Ponte Vecchio have an incredible collection and anyone can purchase some beautiful gold jewelery--just be prepared to pay a lot! I also included a picture of Arezzo. In the picture of Arezzo you can see participants of a long-held tradition where townsmen dress up and celebrate all day and then hold a jousting tournament at night. Tourists from all over Italy come to watch the modern-medieval spectacle. No matter where you are in Italy you are bound to see tourists, but the great thing is that every seems to be having fun and enjoying the rich cultural atmosphere. --Josh Palmer

3 parole utili: 1) Carta igienica - Toilet paper; 2) L'insettifugo - Insect repellent; 3) torre di sorveglianza - Lifeguard Tower

Weekend travel

This weekend we traveled to Greve in Chianti for wine tasting and Cinque Terre to catch some much-needed rays. Both trips had beautiful hiking trails, but the landscapes of each varied greatly. Chianti is in the countryside of Tuscany, while Cinque Terre is a group of five towns located on the coast of the Ligurian Sea. While on our hike through the vineyards of Chianti, we stopped at La Pieve Di San Leolino. This Catholic church is positioned on top of a large hill and had the most amazing views of the countryside. Afterwards we enjoyed multiple Italian courses and tasted three types of Chianti wine, a dessert wine, and an after dinner wine. On Sunday, we took a train to the first village of Cinque Terre, Riomaggiore, and then took the “Love Walk” to the second, Manarola. Another train ride brought us to the middle town, Corniglia, where we hiked to Vernazza. The majority of this two-hour hike was a steady uphill, but all our sweat and hard work was worth it once we saw the beach of Monterosso, the final stop in Cinque Terre. While this weekend was full of hiking and exploring, I think all the fresh air left us energized for another week of school, instead of feeling exhausted. --Katie Divel

Parole utili: dessert wine=vinsanto; after dinner wine=grappa (helps with digestion); Cinque Terre=the five lands

l'Accademia del Giglio

L’Accademia del Giglio is the school where all of us students from KU are studying at here in Florence.  The school was founded in 1995 and is a private school that is aimed at teaching international students Italian language and culture. Classes at the school are always kept small, generally 5 to 8 students in each class. The teachers are experienced and are always very helpful whenever students need assistance.  As students we attend approximately four hours of class per day. The first two hours are grammar and the final 2 hours are conversational practice with about a 20 minute break in between to grab a snack or coffee.  As I’m sure was the same with most of the other KU students I was not sure as what to expect when coming to school here in Italy but I think that we can all say that we have been pleasantly surprised. The atmosphere at the Accademia del Giglio is one that is exceptionally comfortable and encouraging.   I believe that all of us students feel that we are progressing quickly because of the effort and course work at the school. I personally enjoy the conversation portion of the day best because we are not only able to use the Italian that we are learning in class but we are able to learn about culture at the same time in a fun and interesting manner. -Larry Flanagan

Parole Utili: Ho una domanda- I have a question. Professore/Professoressa- teacher/professor . Compito- Homework. Libro- Book

Il mercato

In Italy, I have been to three different outdoor markets.   In Florence, I went to the San Lorenzo market, which mostly sells souvenirs and Italian products for tourists.  In Venice, I saw a huge fruit and vegetable market.  In Verona, I walked through a market of artists selling their work (they were also holding a competition for who had the best painting; I voted, but I don’t know who won).  All of the markets are full of people and energy, so you have to go into them with a positive, leisurely attitude.  If you’re impatient (like me), it can be frustrating to push through slow-moving crowds and stressful to stick with a group in all the chaos.

However, the markets are a great way to buy things cheaply and practice your Italian and haggling skills.  I, for one, am not very aggressive, so haggling with vendors isn’t something I’m very comfortable with, but I’ve seen Jordan get some awesome deals by asking the vendors for lower prices.  Of course, the legitimacy of some of the products in the touristy markets isn’t always very clear, but in most cases you honestly can’t tell the difference between the “real thing” (which is incredibly expensive) and what the street vendor is selling (often incredibly affordable).  I’d suggest checking out the markets for some things, and then splurging on the stuff you really care about.   At the San Lorenzo market, I saw Italian leather, fans, masks, clothes, jerseys/calcio memorabilia, cameos, paintings, postcards, etc. The shops go on and on, you’ve just got to search for the right deals. They often don’t have price tags on their items, so you have to get used to asking how much things cost and conversing with the vendor.  A lot of them speak sufficient English, but it’s fun to test your Italian, too!

The fruit markets are beautiful, colorful, and a little mysterious.  I saw lots of things I’d never heard off.  Here I mostly observed Italians grocery shopping. These markets close earlier in the day. –Jenny Curatola

Parole utili:  Quanto costa questo/quello? (How much does this/that cost?)  Barattare (to barter) Dov’è un bancomat? (Where is an ATM?)

First cooking class

First Cooking Class

On Tuesday we had our first Italian cooking class where we were taught how to prepare a classic Italian meal.  The main dish prepared was Tortelli di Patate, which is a Tortellini pasta filled with garlic mashed potatoes.  Then we prepared Ragu’ alla Bolognese, a Ragu meat sauce, that was used to cover the Tortelli di Patate.  The side dish that we prepared was Gnudi alla Toscana, a spinach and ricotta mixture rolled into mini balls.  Finally came dessert, where we prepared Biscottini di Prato – Cantucci, which tastes like a chocolate chip cookie except more crunchy and cut in slices.  The entire meal was made from scratch and took us about three hours to prepare.  Overall I think everyone truly enjoyed the experience and is looking forward to our next cooking class! --Kaitlynn Bundschuh

Aggiungere – to add; Mescolare – to mix together; to stir; Bollire – to boil

Il caffè

There are several different ways you can order your coffee here in Italy. The first time that I stopped at a cafe it was interesting because I ordered a coffee but ended up with a small cup of espresso. Going to a coffee shop back in the States, i.e. Starbucks, it is pretty common for people to get all sorts of drinks but they all significantly have more amounts of sugar and flavor added. Out here they are more about having espresso after their meals or early in the morning. Instead of all the different flavors they have different way to order their drinks. They all come without sugar so you have to add that yourself but you can also order it with milk, alcohol, or other stuff. Coffee shops out here are a lot more common then back in the States, you can find one on almost every corner and you will see a variety of them compared to just seeing Starbucks.
--Chris Forman

Parole utili: amaro: bitter, corretto: with alcohol, latte: milk

Il cibo!

    Italian food has been one of the highlights of the trip so far. Our house mom, Gabriella, has cooked us some of the best meals while I have been in Italy. The meals have comprised of pasta, salads, fish, pork, and chicken. One of the best nights she served us steamed chicken with potatoes and meatballs in a delicious sauce. There was  pesto pasta served as the first plate along with bread, salad, and vino. So far, the food that i have recieved in Italy has far surpassed that of my expectations. The spices that our house mom uses are unique and very complimentary to the dishes that are served each night. The food we have sampled in Italy so far has been very unfamiliar but exquisite.

Parole Utili: Vorrei: I would like, Buonissimo: very good!, Buon Appetito: Have a nice meal (said before eating)!

-Billy Galvin

Il Giardino di Boboli

We were originally going to visit Galleria dell' Arte Moderna but it was randomly closed today, so we went ahead and went to Giardino di Boboli because it was open and in the same area. It was a very hot walk around the gardens but it was very peaceful and relaxing. Dani, Katie, Emily and I found a shaded part that overlooked Florence. The city is beautiful from every point of view but I found this one special because it emphasized the structure of the city and how the city is in a valley surrounded by mountains. Francesca, Siena, and Dorian met up with us. We started walking and found Josh who joined us for the walk around the gardens. Francesca showed us around the garden and gave us all the history that we wouldn't have known on our own or without our guidebook. We wandered around the garden and broke a few rules by walking in blocked off parts of the area. Shhhhh! Today was a perfect day for visiting Giardino di Boboli and I recommend going to it if you are looking for a relaxing place to go and just sit around while gazing at the beautiful panoramic view of Florence.   --Kelsea Eckenroth

parole utili: chiuso: closed; l'ombra: shade; la valle: valley

Ferragamo Shoe Museum

Italy is the capital of fashion. Many world-famous designers are Italian: Gianni Versace, Dolce&Gabbana, Roberto Cavalli, and Valentino-just to name a few. There is a famous street in Florence (Via Tornabuoni) which is home to some of the "poshest" clothing, jewelry, and shoe stores. It is here that you can find another well-known designer's store: Salvatore Ferragamo. Born in Bonito in 1898, Salvatore Ferragamo had a calling that was evident from his early childhood: making shoes. In 1914 he moved to Hollywood where he opened a store selling custom-made shoes that soon became famous. Many well-known movie stars were his regular customers. Some included Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, Ingrid Bergman, The Duchess of Windsor, and Sophia Loren. When he returned to Italy in 1927, he decided to settle in Florence where he opened a workshop and store in Palazzo Spini Feroni which he purchased in 1948. In 1995, a museum was established by the Ferragamo family in order to acquaint an international audience with the artistic qualities of Ferragamo and the role his name played in the history of international fashion and not only footwear. Among the many items displayed in the museums, one can find elaborate hats, paintings, a pair of shoes designed by Andy Warhol, and even (though totally unrelated) the well where Beatrice Portinari committed suicide out of love. Ferragamo died in 1960 but his unique style still lives on. --Siena Vance

You can visit the Ferragamo Shoe Museum at Piazza Santa Trinita 5/R; Wednesday to Monday, 10 am-6pm.

Gelaterie in Firenze

Though there are many popular gelaterie in Florence (Grom, Perché No?, Vivoli- which are all located downtown) there is only one that remains one of the most favorites. This gelateria/pasticceria is famous throughout Florence for its outstanding gelato and mouth-watering treats. The name is Badiani, and it is located in an area of Florence called Campo di Marte (close to the Artemio Franchi stadium, Viale dei Mille 20/R). This gelateria is famous for their "Buontalenti" gelato. In 1979 the Florentine tradespeople issued a competition with the purpose of celebrating the famous Florentine architect Bernardo Buontalenti. Badiani presented itself to the competition and won a prize with a gelato named "Buontalenti". Since then this specialty based on whipped cream and custard won the heart of the Florentines and of all the lovers of gelato. Despite the many attempts from other gelaterie to imitate this flavor,  Badiani has remained for the past 40 years the only and true home of the real "Buontalenti". --Siena Vance