If you are calling from an Italian phone: +39 335 7869623 (not sure how the charges work, text is lowest cost I think)
Either way, you are reaching my Italian cell...
Hopefully this should all work by now!
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
How to reach my italian cell
If you are calling from the US: +1 312 428-4400 (you will be charged normal domestic calling fees)
The Come to Jesus Moment
No traveling words to live by today. Didn't learn anything new worth living by. This post is more about connecting with things in life that consistently make you happy. In my father's words, "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade." To make my lemonade, I am calling upon the constants in my life that are transferable here.
Learning: Classes have begun. While I am slightly pissed about the dates and times of tests and assignments as they conflict with certain travel arrangements, all in all, i couldn't be happier to be back in class.
- Italian: Today, our teacher spent an hour yelling things at us in Italian (similar to the way people tend to scream and english phrase at someone who doesn't speak english). Eventually we started to pick up on what she was trying to do and we actually learned some useful phrases. While the class is at 9 in the morning, I think all in all it will be worth it.
- Michelangelo in Rome: LOVED my teacher. She is basically what I would aspire to be if I had the guts to commit to being an art historian. She's young and down to Earth in that weird quirky scholarly way. Obviously she was wearing a GREAT giant necklace. I am completely envious. Anyways, turns out she actually lives in Florence and only comes into Rome for class. She also planned a weekend for the class in Florence so I am SO excited for that. The entire weekend is filled with Michelangelo!
- Contemporary Art: Art from 1980 to present with an emphasis on gallery shows and management. SO COOL! Basically I realized within the first ten minutes of class that I know basically nothing about contemporary art. My teacher is also really cool. She is actually German but some how through a series of Ph.D.'s and jobs she wound up in Rome. She really wants to try and get us out to a lot of galleries and modern shows around Rome which has the potential to be amazing. When I said I was from downtown Chicago she told me there is quite a modern art scene developing there...clearly I said something like, 'Oh I know,"...no I don't haha.
- Art of Rome: Haven't had this yet. Every class in at another location around Rome. It hits all the big sites which I have already been to but clearly will be happy to go again.
Art History: In general, I LOVE art history. While I admit, many aspects of it can be quite boring. Most other parts basically fascinate me. I never get tired of it. It opens doors to other cultures and histories, and some how has the power to transport me into another world. I couldn't be more appreciative of living in Rome for this reason!
Music: It's pouring rain, again. I'm running down the Villa del Corso trying to find the hole in the wall store where I bought the stupid ripped bag so I can return it. I step in the biggest puddle ever and simultaneously get splashed by a cab....then the best song on my iPod comes on that I haven't heard in a really long time. I tend to think rediscovering an old great song is somewhat like finding a $20 on the ground or the sun coming out after a week of rain (this also happened today!). Music is a luxury I could not and will not ever live without or fail to pay attention to.
OK, this was just the sappiest and longest post ever. Point is, when you're really down, and nothing seems to be working out, and life seems just oh so lemony and sour, sweet lemonade is just around the corner, if you use the your proper utensils to make it.
Best, Lauren
Monday, January 26, 2009
When a Lot of Rain Falls in Your Life, Retail Therapy and Food are the only Answers
Traveling words to live by: When you can't say simple words in another language such as who, what, where, when or why, do not attempt to say things such as, "can we split this on two credit cards?" or "why is this diet coke 5 Euro?"
This morning, our entire apartment was up by 7:15 and out the door by 8. As previously mentioned, I was actually looking forward to starting Italian class. The language barrier has been much harder than anticipated. We arrive at school at 8:45 where upon Sally and I made our way to Garden room I for our first day of Italian Language and Culture (classroom was complete with a GIANT wooden crucifix and Jesus). Ten minutes later, the Surie-look alike (30 Rock fans!) receptionist waltzes in and tells us our class is actually cancelled for the day. This was the first thing that pissed me off.
Sally and I then met the illusive housing director, Kathy Beemis (yes rhymes with penis which seems ironic as she turned out to be a complete dick...sorry...no I'm not. Guess you have to meet her). Any who, as you can probably tell, no things did not go well and yes Sally and I still live in the same room in the same apartment.
After this, with no class for the rest of the day, Sally and I headed into Trastevere and to the city center where we walked down the Via Del Corso in search of some retail therapy and a panini. Little did we know, the panini was about to be the highlight of this day.
Found a great school bag for 13 Euro at this strange luggage store. I was so happy with my purchase! Fast-forward two hours when i found a huge tear in the bottom of the bag once I was back home....
Sally and I also made our way all the way down to H&M...once out of the store, we heard thunder and saw lightening...clearly we were blocks from the bus. Yes, we were caught in yet another rain storm. The bird poop isn't working.
In other news, I have officially begun watching Big Love season 1 online. I think this is both a constructive and important development in my life...clearly Margaret is sitting at her computer thinking, "I told her to watch it from the very beginning." So, yes mom, I am watching finally.
Also for any Lost fans out there, what are we thinking about the oceanic 6 needing to go back to the island...personally i think this is kinda whack...I'm gonna have to see where they go with this.
FLORENCE FRIDAY!
Best, Lauren
Sunday, January 25, 2009
The PIzza Sandwich: The Chipotle Burrito Bowl of Rome
Travelling Words to Live by: If you have random white stuff in your hair and on your jacket after being in any piazza in Rome, yes, it is bird poop.
Sally and I have many talents. Eating is certainly one of them. In an attempt to eat as many carbs as we can in a single day, we have decided that starting the morning with a pizza sandwich is a good idea. The pizza sandwich by definition is one long piece of pizza cut in half and then folded together to make the delicious delicacy sold basically on any corner in Rome. We have had about 6 in three days....similar to the way we consume Chipotle burrito bowls in Madison...in other words we've never met one we didn't like.
Miraculously the rain ended today so we headed into the city center again and walked all over the city. Most of the places I had been to already with Margarita but it was of course fun all over again. I have now been to the Trevi Fountain three times in ten days. We also had the BEST gelato EVER! The flavors were plentiful and AMAZING. The highlights were champagne, strawberry, and some mystery flavor Sally accidently ordered that was great. If only we remembered the name of the shop or the location....
Highlights of Yesterday: Sally was pooped on by a bird in the Piazza Venezia. To this I replied well it's good luck! She says that's just what they tell you to make you feel better you just got crapped on by a bird. She also let me ask for directions with a large chunk of food in my two front teeth. I was clearly confused when the waiter looked at me with a baffled alien expression and walked away. We also went on a bar crawl which began at the spanish steps. Very fun. Lots of young people including a group of Aussies who were drinking themselves stupid until their flight at 4:30 the next morning. One of them was walking around telling people some girl told him he looked Colin Farrel...this was just not the case.
Tomorrow classes start! I have Italian in the morning which should be interesting. Not sure how I feel about having to do work again...I will clearly just have to get over this.
Best, Lauren
Music of the week:
Don't leave me this way - Thelma Houston
The man who sold the world - Nirvana
I guess that's why they call it the blues - Elton John
Time to Pretend - MGMT
Saturday, January 24, 2009
In Every Life, a Little Rain Must Fall
Well, as I'm sure you've realized from the title of this blog, things are not exactly going swimmingly. Margarita left and I have to say I miss her and home soo very much. Salvatore (Sally) arrived at the apartment and soon there after we went to war with the housing department of our school. To sum it up, we are basically on Mars while everyone else is enjoying Earth...not to be too cliche or overly dramatic.
In any event, taking the advice of Stefano from the school, we are exploring everything we can. In my quest to see every Caravaggio in town, Sally and I ventured to the Capitoline Museum. We ended up seeing two more including the Fortune Teller which was amazing. Also, in the same museum, were other Roman sculptures such as the Colossus of Constantine and the Capitoline She-Wolf.
The other highlight of the days thus far has been booking our trip to Venice for Carnival!! This is soo exciting.
More news will follow on the housing situation and what we are up to. Classes start on Monday so I am really excited for that. Can't wait to start taking Italian! I really think it will make things much easier.
Best, Lauren
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Baby the Bitch2 new luxury foes: pedicures and tea cup dogs.
Today, an incident occurred which has temporarily turned me off to two normally very enjoyable items in my life. Location: Pharmacy outside the Church of France in Rome. Issue #1: Bad toe caused by even worse pedicure. Issue #2: Baby, the Miniature Doberman Pinscer.
Scene: In search of band aids, I encountered Baby. In a moment of fury, Baby, obviously freaked out due to her position amongst many crushing feet in a crowded pharmacy, lunged, catching my lower leg in her comically downsized jaws. Immediately her owner screamed, ‘Ay Baby!’ and yanked her away giving me an all too obvious, ‘what the hell did you do to my dog look”. I can only say, that at that moment, I was thrilled that Baby was the ridiculously miniature version of her larger, and seriously scary counterpart, the Doberman Pinscer.
Anyways, the day, before and after the Baby incident was fine. Margarita and I did another death march, this time of the area around my school, a wonderful church containing three Caravaggio’s ( AMAZING!), and the small church across from our hotel containing the Bernini statue, The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa (Angels and Demons fans!).
Two days till Schmallen (Sally) arrives!! Can’t wait!
Best, Lauren
Sunday, January 18, 2009
The Pantheon Death March
Current State: Great shoes....bad blisters
Travel Words to Live by: When it comes to guide books, all that glitters is not gold.
Rome!! Say it with me...'Rome!" While I was sad to leave London it was a true joy to arrive in Rome. However, true to form, within minutes we had a cab driver who didn't understand us(or pretended not to) and drove like a bat out of hell all the way into the city leaving (margarita asked me about nine times if I had my seatbelt on). He then tried to ransom Margarita (the Italian version of Margaeux aka Margaret) for our bags. She set him straight with a 'well they're goes his tip' statement and we were off. Needless to say, she had everything under control.
Our hotel is a 115 year old building which previous to that was a monastery. It is a true decorative marvel. Every inch of every service is literally covered with marble, paint, glass, etc.
The next morning we started off on what promised to be one of the '24 Great Walks of Rome". Little did I know, Margarita had previously altered the route to include several other locations along the way adding in about an extra oh um, 3 MILES to the route.
In a single afternoon, all by foot, we saw the spanish steps, most of the shops around them, the Trevi fountain, The Pantheon, the column of Marcus Aurelius, and the Church of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva (oh yeah throw in there about a handful of obscure twists and turns which margarita claimed were in the right direction but some how required us to turn back around and walk another half mile in the same direction to 'complete the route').
In any event, we had a lovely dinner at El Nino. This was shortly after margarita jokingly tried to set me up with my hotel stalker John Lucas who wanted to go out with us after dinner. She set him straight initially but he seems to be a growing problem.
Today, we ventured to the Borghese Gallery. While this seemed to be another outlet of Italian Fascism given their strict policies on everything from coats, bags, water, entrance and exit times, entrances, stair ways, directs of flow of traffic, etc....it truly was an amazing experience.
In route to the Ara Pacis museum, Margarita and I got a bit distracted in the Prada store and sadly never made it to our last destination. Tomorrow is another day.
Best, Lauren
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
London
Current state: thrilled but with bad hair, avoiding all mirrors
Traveling words to live by: Don't get uber trendy haircut with crazy bangs hours before leaving on long trip sans proper hair tools.
Margauex (European-Chic version on Margaret) and I arrived in London yesterday afternoon. Obviously we left Chicago in a blizzard (what other whether is there in the Midwest this time of year). The usual jet lag ensued so the first afternoon and evening were a bit shorter than expected.
Today, after sleeping in until 11am (Hell must have froze over) we awoke and navigated our way to the British Museum and the National Gallery. Essentially I saw in person about two years worth of art history classes in one day...I'm not sure how to mentally digest this. Mostly I just think, how the hell did the British acquire all these pieces of art??
Tomorrow Margauex promises we will be getting up much earlier. I suspect she is going to try and make me work out in the closet sized cardio room in the hotel. Then we will be off to the royal palaces and Westminster Abbey.
This weeks traveling music:
Rebel Rebel - David Bowie
Into the Mystic - Van Morrison
Invisible Touch - Genesis
The Start of Something - Voxtrot
Anything Fugees
Best, Lauren
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