Couldn't Help Myself

Since living far and away I've really grown to love blogging, and I don't exactly want to give it up. Sooooo, I have a new one, starting back where I come from. Yes, that's right. Go with it.

Anywho, since it's about nothing other than me and my little life, it's private. If you are interested in keeping up with my aforementioned little life, click here, and I'd be happy to add you to the list.

Muah*

Moving Right Along

Things are changing pretty big around here. No more Thailand for me. It's down to the job hunt. People don't really talk about how much work finding a job actually is. So much, in fact, that I think my life will settle down tremendously ---like, I might have a whole day just to relax--- once I land my next steady paycheck. I'm not complaining though, not in the slightest. Quite the opposite, as I've thoroughly enjoyed such high levels of productivity finally making their way back into my life.

In the last three weeks I've:

A) bought a car and cell phone. this puts me in the ranks of "real person" for the first time in 18 months. pretty exciting stuff.

B) landed a job. full-time substitute for the month of may, baby. that's right, be jealous. i'm a science teacher yo. truth: i am completely stoked on this opportunity and feel very strongly that it's the perfect position for me at this time. it's my ticket in the door, and i'm holding on tight.

and.....

C) gotten a dog!!! this is most definitely the chicken-winner-dinner on the list. i am trying super hard not to become one of those unbelievably annoying dog owners who can't talk about anything outside of their precious pooch, speaks to the pup in baby voices, and doesn't have any issues openly discussing his bathroom schedule, but it's becoming quite the challenge (trust me, i'm as shocked as you are). he's just so awesome i seriously can't help myself. 

Meet McGee: 

I mean, honestly, how could you not love him. 

And with that, it's time for me to say goodbye. I've had an amazing time abroad and loved documenting the experience. But I don't have much to offer in the way of useful or interesting cultural information anymore. My life is turning into nothing more than family, dog, friends and job. And I couldn't be happier. It's time for me to be home, and now I'm gonna' get to it. 

Sawat di kah, puan. ---AKA goodbye, friends.

I Recognize It's a Bit Ridiculous...

... to devote an entire post to one sight when we saw dozens, but I just can't help myself. The Colosseum was magnificent.

Iono about you, but I was hooked at first sight. It was such a treat to have the opportunity to return (actually, it was the main reason we decided to give Rome a second go) and really dive into it. I was impressed. 

By the way, construction of this sucker began in 70AD. 70AD!!!!!! I can't even begin to comprehend something so old. 

I pretty much refused to pay for a tour, but that didn't stop me from eavesdropping on other's guided excursions in an attempt to gain a bit of info. I was that obscure girl hanging out in the background pretending not to listen. But oh, I was soaking it up! Bah hah hah. Through this process, I acquired knowledge that now seems painfully obvious, but at the time I found it intriguing. For example, in the photo above, the area you see was once completely covered and acted as the stage. I was honest-to-baby-j walking around thinking it was as small as what we see today, and I couldn't for the life of me determine the thought process behind this particular composition. Way.to.go.me. I mean, No way has the structure changed after a mere 1940 years. Nooo way! DOH! Anywhom, things really started clicking for me once I overheard that gem.

That's my mom there looking up at the wall. What a massive structure. It was quite overwhelming to take it all in honestly, but in the best way possible. 

Here's me and the moms on the second story. We probably spent an hour walking around, and weren't able to draw any solid conclusions when it came to the seating. It housed up to 50,000 people, but I wasn't seeing it. Don't get me wrong, it's ain't called the Colosseum for nothing, there just wasn't anywhere to sit. And yet another situation where "one of the greatest works of Roman architecture" (according to wiki, but I concur 100%) isn't the same in the 21st century as it was in the first. Come on now guys, what's that about?!

Apparently (after research), the seats were made of marble and numbered to correspond with each individual's ticket. The seating was tiered and given according to status. As far as we could tell, none of this remains. 

I was leaning over the edge to get the cross and Arch of Constantine. It was a pretty busy day with the marathon, which made it lots of fun. I'm sure it's soooo much more crowded in the summer months. When we came the first evening after it had closed, we had the place to ourselves. There was a kind of magic in having something so grand left to us and us alone. Even while freezing and soaked through from the rain, we were fully encompassed in its power. All the cold and wet ran away from our little awe-stricken bodies with the storm. I especially appreciated the moment after returning and realizing just how crowded it could get. 

I like this one.

Right across the street a massive area filled with ruins caught our attention. Had we known better, we would have allowed ourselves more time. Arriving around 4 left us with only an hour to explore before closing, which simply wasn't enough. We could have easily dedicated an entire day to the ruins. There were gardens, remnants of old palaces and dozens of things we loved passing by without having the faintest clue as to what they used to be. The photo above and below were in this section. Back in the day, there were underground passages between these areas and the Colosseum. 

Happy Birthday..... TO ME!!!!

It was soooo freakkking cool to celebrate my birthday in Rome!!!!!!!!! WOWZA. And I'm now officially a twenty-hewhoshallnotbenamed year old. I could tell you, but I'd have to kill you. Okay okay, I'm kidding, but trust me. OLD. (okay, you got me. 24. GAH). 

We dedicated the day to the colosseum. And there was a marathon. The city was so alive. Basically, it was perfect. 

Since we were in Italy, and pretty much every day of the trip felt like my birthday, I wasn't really expecting to feel any different on the actual day. Not that it wouldn't be special, it's just that everything had been so amazing. I didn't see how it could get any better. But, to my surprise, I had the berfday juices flowing through my body good. I was feeling it.

Let me tell you a little story about me and this most awesome of awesome days. Bringing you back to 2005, and my freshman year of college. So it's my birthday, and I'm walking down the street, minding my own happy business. It's clear, blue skies, but it had been raining and there's water everywhere. Puddles to watch out for and such. Along comes a truck, a big one, around the corner just as I'm walking past. The driver flies through a giant puddle, splashing me from head to toe in mud. Normally at this stage in life I would have freaked and totally gotten upset because said driver totally ruined my clothes and gosh, what a totally terrible day. Sigh. Instead, I shrugged with a grin and said (out loud and to no one) Welp, it's my birthday, and just kept on walking and kept on smiling like nobody's business. It was me-- in public, covered in mud, having a happy, happy day.

I've felt like this without fail once a year for as long as I can remember. 

On this one special day it's really all about the attitude. No matter what happens, I'm having a good time. Ultimate goal: to maintain my birthday mentality 365 days a year. 

So you see, for me it's kind of a big deal. But I wasn't expecting it this year, because I thought Italy couldn't get any better. Let me tell you dear friends, on this one day, it did. Awesome.

It's me and my momma bright and early. On my birthday. Hi!

Baby Jesus thought of me and decided to give me a good hair birthday. Thanks Baby Jesus, I won't forget this.

Jack in the Box meets gelato. I dug it. Yummmmm. Sorry about the cone in the eye thing mom... my b.

We saw the Trevi Fountain at night as a final bday treat. 

Everything Else Venice

Welcome to Venice, the one-of-a-kind city made up of 118 islands, connected by 400 bridges, with 180 canals. Think about it. Wow.

I cannot stress enough how much of a fallen-down-the-rabbit-hole, complete trip of a city Venice is. First off, it's a total maze. Absolutely no grid system and dead ends practically around every corner. Arrows are in place, supposedly leading pedestrians to hot-spot destinations, but instead they run you in circles. Eventually you just have to hope that maybe in all your wandering you will stumble upon your desired location. On occasion this works out, but often for us we found ourselves somewhere in the vicinity after closing time. If you see something you want in this city, get it. There's no telling if you will ever be able to find the store again. On the main road, sure, you can browse and consider a purchase for tomorrow. But inside, the deep deep heart of Venice, where you can hardly tell which way is up and directions are useless, absolutely not. We saw several items of interest, only once. Damn. We couldn't even replicate our routes to the sights, always managing to stumble upon them in some form or fashion that had nothing to do with our original directions.

I figured the best way to explain this would be with a city map. It's small, but note all the question marks. The X is our hotel, and the google bubble is Piazza San Marco, their most famous sight. Not the easiest place for us to find.

See?? This place is a nightmare if you need to know exactly where you are/how to get somewhere. But, that's part of what makes it so charming. Aside from the fact that we lost out on some great souvenir opportunities, it was thoroughly enjoyable. 

One thing about Italy that I liked is how each city very much has it's own vibe and heartbeat. We found Venice to be no exception, as it was particularly special. The trinkets and gifts were like none we had seen previously, and very specific to the area. They were of a nicer quality. A lot of it focused on Carnival, which we didn't care too much about, but it was still impressive. Also, the Murano Glass. Which is quite pretty. The fabric and paper shops were wonderful. All in all, it is an ideal city for window shopping. They had such alluring displays; it was quite the distraction for my mother. There we were, off towards our destination of choice, with an hour and a half to spare, and we'd manage to miss it by 20 minutes because she just couldn't help herself. Never in my life have I lead her anywhere. As you may well know, I am a bit of a slow walker. AKA I've never met anyone who moves at a more leisurely pace. I move at a stroll, really. And my mom, well, she's getting a move on it. So, I was completely unprepared to be in the position to ask her to hurry it up now, shooing her along. Quite the role reversal for us, but there I was. 

Here's mom, wandering around aimlessly at a snail's pace with her head in the clouds, mouth agape and completely in awe at all the beautiful things in the window: Jacqueline, look how beautiful that purse is. Ooooh, and those shoes!

Me: Mom, I know they're gorgeous, but that's the wrong way! We only have 15 minutes to make it to the palace. Don't you want to go?

Mom, now completely distracted and oblivious, trying to focus on the shoes and make a decision: Uhhh, yes yes. You're right. I'm coming...

It was very cute. 

And, in her defense, the shopping was in a league of its own. I completely understood the hold-up.

Another Alice in Wonderland like quality belonging to this city is the sense of wonderment that seeps into your soul as you step out of the train station and take it all in for the first time. It possesses a Disney Classic kind of ambiance. Whimsical and enchanting. You can't help but feel good about yourself and life as you're looking out at the Grand Canal. In our 96 hours, that sense of amazement never left me. Walking around, completely lost, it was hard to believe this place really existed in the same world I've been living in my 24 (woah! yeah, wtf I'm officially OLD) years. Pretty pretty pretty cool.

You have to be careful, or you might find yourself off the road and in the water. True story. There wasn't any protection for pedestrians, which again added to the charm, but sure made us keep an eye out. Some of the pathways were so narrow we might as well have been scaling the wall. On those, we just turned back into the maze in search of another route. They must have it pretty under control cuz we never heard any splashing or screaming, but I'd be scared to bring a child there. Just sayin'. It'd be destination of choice for those looking to off a spouse. Just a slight nudge in the water and a nonchalant walk back into the maze would do it... Again, just sayin'.

I loved looking at the buildings, 100s of years old and full of life and stories, on the edge of the island visibly sinking into the ocean. Powerful, yet jarring. I mean really. Jarring = understatement. How long is that city predicted to last before it's all gone underwater? We're talking about a place with history dating back to the ninth century. And these people knew what they were doing. It only started to subside in the 20th century when wells were sunk in the lagoon to provide water for the locals (according to Wiki). So, let's break it down. For over 10 centuries it survived, strong and completely above ground. And then bam. Down it's going. Thanks guys. Anyways, you can actually see it sinking. Like, see it. And feel it. The ground is completely uneven underneath your feet. Sometimes we would stop and look at each other thinking, Uhhh, should we bale? Feeling safe over there? Sink or not, it was totally worth it. 

Oh, and the food in Venice was excellent. Not that you would expect anything less in Italy. Still, it didn't disappoint.

And, there are no cars. This little touch only added to the charm. Pretty great.

We had planned for only two days in the city, we pushed it to four, and I still wasn't satisfied. I said it my first night, but Venice made me want to pack up my things and settle in for good. In my cute little canal-side apartment, I could jump out my cute little window, climb over the old beautiful bridge and ride off in my cute little boat to my cute litte store where I sold beautiful things. I would looooovvvvvveeeeeeeeeee to live there. If only I was a ba-zilllllllionairre. How do they do it?!

Venice In Still Life

Just a few pics of our time in this labyrinth of a city. Walking around, it was so hard to believe a place like this really existed. Very surreal, to say the least. I loved it. There is lots to tell, and I'll fill you in on all the fun stuff when I'm back stateside. T-minus 48 hours!

Almost all of the streets were very narrow, in between shops and buildings. I loved getting such a close-up view of all the old architecture and textures. For me, it was kinda the perfect way to get from point A to B.

Loved this. The photo isn't great, but little boy in sailor hat and his mother hanging out was a great Venice moment for me. 

Inside the Doge's Palace. This was the only pic I took here, and I didn't take any of Piazza San Marco. These places really are too beautiful for pictures. It sounds weird, but it felt disrespectful to take them. So I didn't. There's no way I could have ever done it justice, you really just have to see it in person.

A view from our vaporetto on the grand canal. Those buildings are Soooo old, AND sinking. Yet, still in use. I mean, how freakin' cool is that?!

Mom and I out and about on the vaporetto, first thing of our tired day. It was probably around 1:30. I couldn't get out of bed until after noon, just so exhausted.

On top of the Rialto Bridge, Venice's most famous. The interior is lined with dozens of shops. It's huge!

Hope you enjoyed! We certainly did. Venice is a keeper.

Oh, To Get Lost in Venice

A real dream come true in the life of me, come to find out.

We've been here for only a few hours and I can't help but question my research sources on the city. Why would anyone be ready to leave this place after only a day? No, no, that just won't do. It is most unusual, yet surprisingly elegant. Turns out I'm quite taken with Venice. And I plan to get lost and lost and lost for the next 48 hours. 2 days is not enough, but it will have to suffice. This city is the first that's made me want to move to Italy. I'm completely enthralled. Never know what I will have found come sunset on Thursday, but I guarantee it will be pretty.

Local Trains, Little Towns.

Chapter 2: Lucca-- "A Place of Fairy Tales"

I'm pretty big about rambling on and on and on about how wonderful something is, but I'm not gonna do that here. I'll leave it up to you to decide. And the city's wall is still completely intact, just fyi. That's what you're seeing. At a 2 hour train ride, what a fantastic sunny day. Ciao! 

Walking from the train station this was our view of the city. Woah. Talk about impressive. It was the perfect place to spend our first sunny day of Traipse Across Italia, 2k10.

From just inside the walls. We crossed through this area, and I felt like I entered a fairytale land from the days of yore. That's right, yore. 

A bit of a steep incline. I certainly didn't want to fall! After my first brave attempts at peering over, I stayed clear of the edge. There wasn't any protection. It enhanced the beauty, but sure made me act carefully.

Tons of bikes in the city, and most were very old. They all had baskets like this one too. The people of Lucca seemed to live at a much slower pace, having a life I envision similar to 50s Americana, just 10x higher on the pretty scale.

It was nice how parts of the wall were covered like this on the interior, making things feel so natural. It all came together in this little town.

 
Looking out over some backyards and gardens. If you look in the top right corner, you can see a tower with trees growing on top. We thought it was interesting, and unusual. Maybe a park up there?!

I love this. So much of the world doesn't use a dryer. If nothing else, I enjoy looking at the clothes. Makes me feel like these are a peaceful people. Not sure where that connection comes from, as I have been without a dryer for over a year now. Shouldn't seem so foreign, but it does. I definitely love it.

On top of the wall, looking outside the city. It is still hard for me to believe people live here. Where could they possibly go for a vacation? No, you would never want to leave.

Handbags, Footwear, and Cuisine. Oh My!

If you have a weakness for any of the above, this is seriously not the place for you. Or I guess, maybe it is, depending on how you're looking. But man, do they have the goods. I have met some handbags on this trip I just wanted to curl up next to and take to bed with me. For reals. Under the covers and everything. I just fell in love. My new personal favorite is snake skin. Soo soft, so pretty. So made for me. There are just too many from which to choose. Paradise. Now, if only I could find an affordable version of paradise. That sounds too perfect for words.

And the shoes. Oh, the shoes! One thing Italy does well is flats. Not to knock the heels (as they are equally unparalleled), but I find myself constantly impressed with the ballet-style footwear they are rockin' in these parts. They are stylish and comfortable, quite the unusual combination. Here in Florence, people have it together when you're talking fashion (not in Rome- SHOCKER). But it's so dang hard to walk around this city. What with the narrow streets, practically non-existent sidewalks in places, and cobblestone pathways, it's a wonder they don't have more pedestrian injuries. But they don't. They compromise. Beautifully. I wish American shoe designers would get a clue. Let's make it PRACTICAL and BEAUTIFUL. TOGETHER. I think maybe women would like that. Well, this little lady loves it. So soft and giving, and flat. Yet sexy and chic and stylish. Where do I sign all my credit away? Cuz I'll do it, sir. 

I had a dish here that was so good, it brought me to tears. TEARS. Really, I cried. I know, crazy right? My mom and I will discuss our food for 30 minutes. How does that happen? Don't you think we would have moved on to a better topic? No. No we wouldn't. There's no better topic in Italy. Mmmmm, mmm. Yumm. Oh my gosh, can you believe this? Here, taste it. Perfect.

The food is good. Damn good. These Italians know how to bring the elements together. It's all about combination and after taste. On the first bite maybe you're thinking, Ooh, this is pretty good. On the second, Yumm, I'm really liking this. By the fifth, you're hooked. It's the best meal you've ever had. And then you're finished and the taste left in your mouth is nothing short of magnificent. We've been enjoying a lot of veal, treating ourselves almost every night. Lucky for us, they pass no judgement whether we eat momma or baby. It's not my intent to offend, but no matter your personal PETA, we like baby. And I'm not apologizing for it. So thanks, Italy. It is de-lish. Also, the soup. Quite the horse of a different color, as I would never think categorize it as such. Much thicker, and lacking broth. But still Ahhh-mazing. What we've had has been real comfort food.

Let's get to the point. Desserts. Delectable delectables. The trick is they're not too sweet. And they're light. We like to load it up back in the good ole' USofA. Sugar sugar and heavy heavy. Why do we think that's best? Italy is where it's at when it comes to your after dinner cravings. Again, they are spot-on with the flavor combinations. So far, we've enjoyed tira misu, chesnut flan, ricotta cheese cake, and an assortment of baked goods that were scrumptittilyumptious. 

Bottom line: The hype is certainly warranted. If you weren't a handbag whore/shoe lover/foodie before visiting Italy, you are now. Trust.

Pics for Dad and Everything Florence

We had such a lovely little day in Firenze, of which I'll tell you all about later tonight. Headed off to the opera now. In the meantime, some pics to enjoy- even if you're not my dad, but especially if you are.

View from the Piazza Michelangelo, just outside the wall of Florence. 

Me and The Duomo. We were able to attend a church service there on Sunday, and even though we couldn't understand a word, it was very beautiful. And cold! Well worth our time and a definite recommendation if you are interested. 

You can see the city's wall running up the right side of the photo. 

These photos were taken looking down on the city wall and up at the steps from the same location. I loved glancing back at the wall and still life surrounding us. Looking out at what I had always envisioned an Italian street to be was a peaceful moment. Nothing like we see back home. At the top they had several little cafes, and some nice hillside steps for people to relax, have a beer (lots of Coronas- HA) and enjoy the sun soaked view of Firenze. We could have stayed there for hours, but it was a pretty romantic spot, and as the only mother-daughter pair for miles, we moved it on along after about 20 minutes. 

Sorry for the delay, times have been busy. We ended up staying in Florence five days/six nights. It was a great way to spend such a big chunk of our time. What with the daytrips, museums, history, architecture, churches, shopping, sights, views, food, and --I'm guessing you get the idea-- culture, we enjoyed ourselves from beginning to end. I will say walking on those treacherously paved roads with suitcases presented a challenge, but that's my only complaint. The Uffizi. The Accademia. The Duomo. Holy Jesus, Mary and Joseph did we get such a unique opportunity to see one-of-a-kinds first hand. Like Michelangelo's Statue of David. My mother just finished a novel where it was discussed that art is supposed to invoke awe in the viewer. None of this Jackson Pollock BS (if you love him, deal. My comment/opinion certainly isn't going to hurt his reputation. And admit it, you can't compare him to Michelangelo). I have to confess before this trip I didn't have a huge appreciation for art. Beautiful things, yes. I like pretty things. Sculptures, paintings, I could enjoy them, but very rarely was I moved. I spent most of the time not getting what all the fuss is about. Well, the Statue of David could move mountains. I was completely in awe. That thing moved me so much, I was almost back in America by the time I walked out. A whole different kind of impressive. A photograph could never do it justice. 

And some of the paintings at the Uffizi blew me right out of the water. I never thought it possible that I could be an art snob, but I certainly know the difference in quality after seeing such masterpieces. Now when I look at the reproductions around town all I can think is how they pale in comparison. Not even in the same league. Weak. The originals were otherworldly. 

Apart from the museums, I particularly enjoyed our time in the streets. Florence is a small city, petite even. She's dainty. We could walk from one side to the other with no trouble. Taking in the hustle and bustle of daily life, mixing the local with tourist was lots of fun. They have all kinds of silly things for outsiders to do that bring in revenue to the city. Like ride in a horse drawn carriage through the center of town. Florence is at the top of the list for cities dependable on tourism, they simply wouldn't survive without it. But they are gracious. I was surprised to see just how many people were living there. Lots of families, baby strollers, and little doggies that nobody picked up after-------- SAY WHAT? That mess is crazy. How could Florentines, of all people, walk around a city full of doggie doo? Not sure I'll ever understand. Pick it up! THAT JUST AIN'T RIGHT. 

They would transport their chitlins around on the front and sides of bikes. Yesh, too scary for me. But there was a definite sense of looking out for one another, and they make it work. I, however, kept envisioning all these terrible scenarios of mother and baby getting rammed by an SUV driving soccer mom sipping on her grande frappuchino, turning around and releasing the wheel to smack her son in a seat-belt wearing fight. Meanwhile bicycle peddling mother tragically lands on top of baby in the street. Not a nice image. I'd have to remind myself I'm not in America, where a bitch will run ya over for glancing at her funny. From what we saw, these are a happy people.

The church service and opera were perfect bite-sized Florence treats. Not something I would normally consider doing at home, but I was eager for the opportunity to attend an opera in Italy. We went to one in a small church, and watching from such close proximity proved a more intimate and enjoyable experience. What we saw was set-up for the tourists, and there was an English explanation before each act. But no complaints! We wouldn't have had a clue otherwise. It was nice. All and all, a worthwhile experience if you have the time. A definite recommendation. If I were to see another though, I want something more authentic. I'm glad we went, but like the art, the second-hand quality just isn't sufficient. I want the full experience. 

[[[***I originally said I would return to see this particular performance again, but after touring the Venice Opera House and hearing them practice, I immediately changed my mind. The level of excellence was unmatched. Now I would only pay to see the best of the best. Don't think we'll get a chance this time around, but hopefully one day***]]]

Surprisingly, I was ready to say goodbye to Florence. After 5 days of amazing sights, activities, food, views and culture, it was time to move on. Italy just has so much to offer. And such diversity. Now's not the time to be missing out on the goods. Off to Venezia. Ciao!

Local Trains, Little Towns.

Chapter 1: Pisa-- "That Tower Sure Is A Leanin'"

We took our first day trip to Pisa. It was awesome. Loved the train ride through all the small mountain towns. Bright colors and pretty houses. And cheap, too. 

Loved so much more, but I'm just gonna leave you with some photos for now. I promised not to show incomplete blogs anymore, but I gotta do it here. There's so much to tell; it's all happening so fast. And all I've managed to get out is how the signs are difficult to understand, how I was sick as a dog on my first day, and how the Vatican wasn't my particular blend of choice. That just won't do. This is the most magical place on earth. Italia is my Disney Land, and it has exceeded every single extraordinarily high expectation I put on it. It's just that kind of place. I love it. Love it. So I wanted to show a little gratitude. The Tower was unbelievable in person. I've never seen a photo that made me think it would be beautiful, but it most definitely was. What a great little town, a great train ride, a perfect little day.

I'll get back and fill in the details of our trip when I can. But it's 10:30 and I can barely keep my eyes open. Time to catch some zzzzzs.

NOT fake. Mad props to my mom's photog skills. Love this.

All of the cathedrals have just blown us away with their beauty.

Woah!

Somewhere in the center of town, inside the walls. 

What a beautiful view from the bridge.