Una Domenica en Firenze

I was born and raised a Roman Catholic, but let's just say I have been absent from Church or anything even a little bit religious for a really long time. The Church of San Lorenzo is right around the block from my apartment, so last night I figured..why not go to an Italian mass? I am in Italy, right? I woke up this morning and went to the 11:00 am mass.

I'm not really sure if I was allowed to take pictures or not, but I did try to sneak a few while I was in the pew. The church itself is absolutely gorgeous. It is very simple, yet elegant at the same time. A good 100 people were probably in attendance this morning. I grabbed the church bulletin when I walked in, and thankfully it had the entire mass and the readings there for me to follow along. In Italian of course. Obviously, I couldn't really understand what was being said, minus the few words and phrases I've learned thus far in my Italian 101 class (Haha). Since Roman Catholic masses follow a specific format, I still knew what part of the mass we were in, and I was able to follow along and read the responses in Italian with the rest of the congregation. What was really cool to me was that I don't think anyone knew I was American. Score.

After the mass, I paid for 40 cents to light a candle in the Church. I talked to my dad last night about maybe attending this morning, and he made a good point to say a prayer for my Nana and Papa who passed away who would have been so happy that I have this opportunity to live in Italy for a while. So, naturally, I lit candles for them. It's cool to think that there's a little symbol of the two of them here with me in Florence. I also blessed my Saint Anthony bracelet that I've been wearing every single day since I arrived in Florence.

I'm going to try to go to a Sunday service every week...Once I brush up on my Italian a little bit.

Happy Sunday Everyone!
Ciao, Xoxo


MB

That's Amore

Buongiorno!

So this morning my roommates and I decided to explore Florence. It's actually amazing to look at everything and just take the city in. One of the coolest things I've seen so far are the locks that are found near the Ponte Vecchio and the Arno River. My first night in Italy I learned that to when two people are in love with each other, they get a lock and lock it around an old gate, a piece of steel or anything that can have a lock put on it to show their love. People put their names on the locks, anniversary dates, initals--anything. And the couples keep the keys so their love is everlasting. Hopefully they will never be removed. I just thought it was the coolest idea. In America, people carves names into wood or trees or graffiti..here it's something much more tangible and symbolic.

I think my roommates and I will get four locks and lock them all together and put them on the Ponte Vecchio...just to show the friendships we've created here in Italy.

And obviously, I plan on making a lock for my boyfriend and I. Maybe one day we can come back to Florence together to unlock it.

Too sappy? Maybe.

Ciao, Xoxo

MB

Vino!

One thing I've learned so far...drinking wine is seriously an art form in Tuscany. On Monday nights, I have a wine tasting class, and I feel like I've learned so much already. In each class we taste four different wines of a specific region of Italy. This week was Piedmont, so we tried Barbera, Dolcetto, Borgo and Moscato for a dessert wine. The technique for wine tasting is so fun.

First, you fill the glass about 1/4 with wine. You immediately look at the color of the wine. You can tell exactly where the grape is grown, the climate and even the type of soil it comes from based on the color. Second, you swirl the wine around in the glass a few times. You have to pay attention to the way the wine archs around the sides of the glass. The longer it takes for the wine to settle again shows its thickness. The thicker the wine, the more alcoholic it is. ( I think that's right). Then, you smell the wine. The scent also shows the type of grape used and where it comes from. Finally, the best part--tasting the wine! You take a small sip, move it around in your mouth a little, and make sure to get some oxygen in your mouth as well so the taste of the wine can take full effect. 

Apparently from studying the grapes and the areas around Italy in which they're grown, you can tell exactly what type of wine you're actually drinking. You can even tell the age of the wine. Obviously I'm no expert but I just wanted to share what I learned so far. Hopefully by December I'll be a wine tasting professional. 

Plus..it's not so bad leaving class a little tipsy. ;) 

Happy drinking!

Ciao xoxo

MB

Oh, the Joys of Travel.

So, after two days of hectic traveling, losing my luggage in Germany, and aimlessly walking the streets to find my apartment, I finally made it. Florence is absolutely beautiful. It definitely is one of the most amazing places in the world. And even though I have no clothes or any of my stuff, somehow it doesn't even bother me right now. The beauty of this place can distract anyone. My roommates are all very nice and I can tell we're going to have such a great time this semester. And not to mention my apartment is gorgeous--definitely better than anything I was expecting. We can see the Duomo from our dining room window. Yeah, we have a dining room. This is huge.

It turns out that my sister and her husband are also here on a vacation, so I got to spend some time with them. Last night they took me to the top of the hill that looks out over the river and the entire city of Florence. The view is absolutely amazing. We just sat and drank beer and listened to a live guitarist play for the crowd. We explored the city a little, and ended up eating dinner at this awesome ristorante. My first dinner in Italy: Eggplant Gnocchi and a bottle of white wine. It was incredible, obviously. After, we walked the streets and found this square that was filled with bars and a live band. It's crazy that hundreds of people just hang out, drink and dance on a regular Wednesday night. The atmosphere here is insane. We ended the night with chocolate gelato.

Hopefully my bags will arrive today. Right now, I am one extremely under dressed resident of Florence.

Ciao, Xox

MB

Ciao!

My First Post...Ever.

Hi all. This is my first blog ever,so you can imagine it may be a little rough. (You would think this would be natural for me seeing that I'm a journalism major, right? Wrong.) I've created this blog as a way to document and write about my experience living in Florence, Italy starting next month. As a senior in college, not only am I gearing up for graduation...I am getting ready to completely immerse myself in a vastly different culture and place. Although the planning has been a little stressful, I can honestly say that I am beyond excited about what the future holds for me in Florence.

So...this blog will be a way for me to write about people, places and things that I come across during my 109 days (roughly) in Italy. Hopefully you guys can experience a little piece of Florence with me.

Since it's only July, I still have a little over a month to finish planning for the big move.

I leave the U.S. at the end of August...so until then, sit tight!

That is, if anyone even reads this.

Ciao,

MB