Touring Italy

Dear readers, however many there are,

I'm sorry there has not been a blog posting lately, I've kinda been cashing in on all this relaxation time I've had here in lovely Florence so there has not been many blog postings. Fear not though, for I shall have so much more material once I return from touring with my Parents to Rome and Pisa.

Thats right, my mom and dad (Kathryn and David Ladd) have arrived safety in my home city and we shall be exploring the ancient parts of Rome and the quirky town of Pisa over the next couple days. This is very exciting considering I loved Rome when I went with my Grandmother in Summer 2010, there are quite a few things I want to see again as well as a few churches I missed and want to see.

Excitement and Awesome-ness await! In the meantime enjoy this video I took of some jamming Italian men in the middle of Piazza Reppublica one afternoon!



Ciao!

Caffine and Midterms

As if it wasn't enough that I like coffee, being in Italy has expanded my like for this caffinated drink. Florentines have drinking coffee down to an art form and consider it a relaxing activity rather than one you commonly have on-the-go in the United States. Italians do not do to-go in any way shape or form, coffee is no exception. If you want it you go to a bar or caffee and sit for a bit to enjoy and drink it. I rather like this idea though it forces me to leave early in order to do this if I want coffee in the morning before or between classes.

Course I also learned how to make espresso on the stove in the apartment for those days I either really want some or don't want to go to a public bar.

First off the school vending machines sell small portions of coffee. Not like the starbucks energy coffee drinks or the extremely caffeinated and sugary sodas of Pepsi and Mountain Dew. Can we have one of these in the IARC building? I really think it would bring up moral significantly and help those late to all nighters we are constantly having as architecture students.

Hike in the Hills

The hike began in a little Tuscan town called Fiesole, which overlooks Florence from a nearby hillside. I admit I was abit worried when we began hiking large street hills, I really wanted this to be trail hiking and I would be very disappointed if it was just a simple walk through the town. Thankfully we made it to a trail head on the outskirts of town were our 10 mile hike would begin, the sights were spectacular!



We visited the cliff where Leonardo da Vinci supposedly tried to fly his paper and wood flying machine, there was even a stone to commemorate it. Very cool!


We even got to see old evidence of tool markings on stone faces were Stone masons and artists cut their stone to create building blocks and sculpture!






The hike took us through the wooded area and into the country side were there were many an olive tree and a few local homes along the dirt roads.





Anyway, the trip lasted 5 hours and we ended it in another little town that for the life of me I cannot remember the name, all I know is it was a 30 minute bus ride from Florence.

Festa della Donna

Along with living in a different country comes interesting Italian celebrations that just creep up on me as I go about my daily life. Today is International Women's Day, a festival observed in some European countries (including Italy) where women are celebrated.

The Yellow Mimosa Plant

In Italy, the yellow Mimosa flower is given out to women on the streets (sometimes for a fee if you take it!) and is sold in the stores so that men may buy them for the women in their life. Here in Florence for the day all state Museums are also free of charge for women, which is pretty awesome I mean what a great gift! There are also various other perks at clubs and restaurants but go figure I got the most excited over the museums even though majority of the ones in this city I can get in free of charge with my Friends of the Uffizi Card. Oh well, it is kinda neat to be special for a day!

Ciao!

Vegetable Risotto

Mmmmmm delicious! Made it myself and everything!

Ingredients:

+ 1 Zuchini
+ 2 Carrots
+ A pat of butter
+ Risotto Rice
+ Olive Oil
+ 1 packet of chicken stock