ZAZA!

Our first full day in Florence started with a tour of a museum that was wicked cold…and ended with some wonderful purchases, a marriage proposal and an AMAAAAZING lunch inbetween. So Carrie (one of my roommates, little, cute, fun…also one of the girls in the love web of Triscuit) had been to Florence before and had been to this place called ZaZa.

Guys. ZaZa was the shit.

The atmosphere was awesome, the waitresses were super friendly, it was warm. And right off the bat they served us some fantastic fresh baked pane (that bread in Italian). Reading the menu was an experience in itself. After we ordered a few bottles of wine and some bruschetta…sex became the topic of conversation and how hot one of our teachers was..MARCO. Marco is Italian…and we’re still trying to figure out if he’s straight or not. (When we were traveling he acted like the dark mysterious disturbed artist…now that we’re in Cortona he’s much more smiley…so obviously I’m much happier as well…what a dreamboat) Poor Tommy…Tommy is awesome, kid’s from University of Kentucky..he’s who I bro out  with…someone to talk about March Madness, how wonderful Syracuse basketball is…and spring training for the MLB. Anyways, he’s got a great sense of humor and has the best one liners ever. Its not what he says, but how he says it that will send you into hysterics. So after putting up with hearing about how hot Marco is, masturbating and vibrators, finally our food came and we started talking about something else…I can’t remember because I was having a relationship with my wine and meal.

Anyways as time passed we began getting louder and louder and laughed until we felt like we were going to barf. Finally we realized we needed to get out of there before we gave America a bad rep.

Tommy and Carrie super excited to order

trying to be artsy

my favorite thing about every meal here

sooooo good

the food is so great here, we take a picture of it

i was so happy when i saw this glass...jersey shoreeee
CABS AH HEREEEE

This isn’t goodbye ZaZa..this is see you soon.

First Night Out in Florence..

Alright so the first night in Florence we all went out. It was Triscuit’s birthday…his real name is Tristan..but I don’t really care.  He’s one of those tall skinny stereotypical artsy kids…you know, the kind that has nothing in common with me and is playing two of my roommates as we speak….which is fine, because I don’t have a tv here so its like a little reality tv series…HA.

Triscuit and one of his intrests...one of my roommates..Clare

this is Carrie...also a roommate of mine..shes hooked up with Triscuit a few times..

this is Chaley...we def think she's still in the competition as well..

Ok  ya so we went out to this bar that was a few blocks away from our hotel, which was good because when you’re drunk, in a foreign country and don’t know the language…being  able to sprint back to your hotel is clutch. So this bar was pretty chill..you know, you order your drink and sit at a table and act all sophisticated and artsy and crap like that…well thank god they  had a big flat screen with a game on…however it was a basketball game…Oklahoma City vs. Pheonix…random..but it gave me something to do. It wasn’t really my scene at first..but I realized, it was probably going to be like this the whole semester, so I need to make my own party. Thank god someone felt the same way, Campbell..my sister….no really, she’s a tri-delt like me, and its greattttt. Shes pretty slutty, wicked fun and I always have someone to vent to…like when I keep getting emails regarding mixers at home that sound wicked awesome…but then we shake it off and remind ourselves…oh shit we’re in Italy living the dream. Anyways, so Campbell and I chilled and vented and then all of the sudden a big group of us were talking about friends from home and past relationships and hook ups and all that shit…I don’t know if it was the vodka and strawberry juice cocktails (which were awesome when you squeezed lemon in them..and when you complained that you couldn’t taste any alcohol…they’re pour you another shot for free…YAYERSSSS!! …I did that for each drink) but I started to get all sad and miss my friends from slu…did I tear up a little..yes, did I hide it really well…ya I did. And I’m known for crying every time I get drunk so this was a big step up.

Alright so after I got myself together, a bunch of us were just talking around the table and then all of the sudden a big group of Italian boys walked in…you’re probably thinking..OH MY GOD ALI THIS IS WHAT YOU’VE BEEN WAITING FOR!! Wrong. They were not hot..not my type at all..yes they were all Italian and met some of the requirements but they were small, didn’t look super athletic…they were all euro and crap like that (yes I understand I’m in Europe so they’re going to be like that..but where are all the big athletes!?!?) and I’m more of a big football player type. A bunch of the girls were like..OH MY GODDD…meanwhile I’m like..Oh. My. God. Barf. Ok so then Campbell winked at one…the one wearing a knit hat with a piercing on his lip….I know…I know…ugh. The hole was already dug so we had to socialize with them. And it wasn’t that bad…I don’t know if it was the next round of drink or maybe that one of them was pretty nice..(and happened to be the smallest…great seeing that I’m pushing 5’11” and I was wearing a heel that night….whatever) So we were talking with the guys, and the small one and this other one who was also really nice but his hair was just…another story..and he was really skinny. Ok but they taught us some Italian. I don’t want to say I’m a slow learner…but I was drunk so I wasn’t  a sponge or anything with this Italian 101 lesson….after an hour I left knowing but one thing…peeacherry-somgthing something (spelled it wrong..i’m the type that spells it how it sounds) anyways I’m pretty sure the first part means nice to meet you..so I guess that good.

After some more Italian lessons and belting out the lyrics to “The Dog Days Are Over “ by Florence and the Machine (ya they play a lot of American music here) with Victor we made a quick getaway after Campbell started making out with the one with the hat and piercing…obviously I was looking out for my sister. So we grabbed each others hands and high tailed it back to the hotel. 

A promising future in Florence..

So a few hours ago we just arrived in Florence and already I’m liking this city…maybe even more than Rome (Gasp!) probably because I’m about to buy some gold and leather…haaaaaaaa!

So our hotel is actually in the city, and we’re near bars and restaurants and parks…woot woot. AND, it’s nicer than our last one..spacious rooms, terraces and a guy that walks around giving you beer. Oh and we have TV’s (still need to see if those work) and A MINI FRIDGE (already filled with a few bottles of vino)

We walked to dinner at this GREAT place, super nice, awesome atmosphere and DOPE ASS FOOD. Again, awesome food, a hot waiter, and I sat with great people again…oh and I asked for more napkins…IN ITALIAN!!!

“ancora tovagliolo per favore”  (more napkins please)

First dinner in Florence.

Viterbo...kewl.

So we left the wonderful city of Rome and now we’re on our way to Florence…but not so fast…lets stop at Viterbo…ok I’m down.

Viterbo is this little medieval village that is filled with hidden treasures…I feel like a lot of places are going to be like that. We were there for most of the day, and spent basically the entire day walking around and sitting outside of this great little restaurant and eating one of the most amazing things ever!!!

Oh and I got color today on my face and arms…YAYERSSSS (thank god because I still have yet to see a friggin tanning bed)

And one more thing…there was a couple that legit made out, HARDCORE, for like 5 minutes..right in the middle of the street and in front of me…thanks, just rub it in.

one of the views of the town

loved this door

trying to be artsy..

I heart vino.

amazing little cafe

another meal that changed my life; foccatia, olive oil, melted mozz, prochuitto, and eggplant and some amazing stuff on top

dried fruit stand

When in Rome...

So lets relive the highlights of the last few days shall we…

First night at dinner…

SOOO FUN!! The food was amaaaaazing, obvi, and the wine  was free…repeat THE WINE WAS FREE!! Dinner here is served in 3 main courses..first course is usually your pasta or soup, second is your meat or fish and third…DESSERT!! Dinner is where Molly and I first met everyone and I ADORED my table, we were loud, drunk and hysterically laughing the whole time.

First REAL day of ROMA!

Rome. Rome. And Rome. One day was not enough…I need one month, at least. I spent the morning in “Ancient Rome”, we visited Campidoglio, the Roman Forum, and the Colosseum in the morning. Everything was breathtaking and half the time I was like “Holy shit al, you’re in Rome”. There was a big Italy vs. Ireland game that night so throughout the day you saw Ireland’s finest, wasted, dressed obnoxiously in green and wearing those big Hats and scarf/flag things (ps. I really want one of those scarf flag things..but like a purple one from Florence) Oh and we saw A TON of asians…especially near the Colosseum.

some big musueum...trying to be artsy

part of the Roman Forum

more Roman Forum..

colosseum..no big deal

kewl.

So after all this we went to get lunch…I decided on gelato…I mean it was in the high 60s that day, so something cold creamy and absolutely delicious sounded perfect. Suck on that SLU. I got nutella and bacio…Nutella and Chocolate and Nut. SOOOOO GOOD.

ohhh my gawwwd...sooo good

orange trees were everywhere in Rome

In the Afternoon we went to one of the dopest museums ever; the Villa Borghese…absolutely stunning. The ceilings were all painted, every room was absolutely exquisite and filled with marble sculptures and paintings..a lot of Bernini and Caravaggio. This place was not a joke.

After another treck to some church to see a few paintings, we went to a bar, drank some wine, bought some wine, and then headed back to the Torre Rosa (our ghetto ass hotel) for dinner..and more wine. I’m trying to sit at a different table with a different group of people every night just to feel everyone out, and EVERYONE IS THE SHIT.  Highlight of dinner..more wine and TIRAMISUUUUU.

(oh and on a side note…so many couples, so much PDA…so depressing)

The Trevi Fountain…

Let me first say, Rome at night is DA BOMB. COM. Everything is lit up, its Romantic as hell, and everything seems so cool. After dinner a bunch of us decided to go out, the highlight of the night…after being lost for a few hours..was the Trevi Fountain.

The Trevi Fountain. Oh. My. Gawd. I died. You’re walking down an alley, and all of the sudden it opens up and there it is, and it was absolutely magnificent. I could of stayed there for hours…just looking at it. The atmosphere was amazing and I just adored how romantic it was.

They say when you visit the fountain you have to make a wish, a wish about love. (obviously I need help with that situation…aka no situation) So I had to make a wish….or a few. Did I spent 10euro on wishes…you’re damn right I did. And it was AWESOME.

Trevi Fountain at night = awesome

made a wish for yellow room...nbd

Welcome to Italy..yayersss

So after delays and plane incidents and everything else that went wrong, I AM FINALLY HERE! And it is absolutely amazing! I was speechless on the ride from the airport into Rome. Everything about this country is so great, the flora is so cool, the rolling hills are magnificent and these people DRIVE JUST LIKE ME!! They go really fast, ride everyone’s tail, and break late and hard…I love it. Plus…men..there are men EVERYWHERE and they’re hot, I’m smitten with half of Rome right now.

I met the other girl that got left behind (super nice) in the US and we ended up exploring Rome together….fail. So we were thinking that we were going to have someone show us around and help us with the language barrier and show us Rome…ya we were wrong. Let me tell you…it was a long afternoon.

First we struggled in the lobby of the hotel just to buy a map and a metro pass. Then we left the hotel and found the bus stop…after countless numbers of busses that passed us, we finally found the 98 bus (thank jesus and mary) and it took us into the Historic Center of Rome…kewl. After walking around for a bit we were feelings pretty good about ourselves, going into little vintage shops here and there, exploring alleyways (now that I think of it…alleys = not a great idea), then after a few hours we realized we had been walking around in a circle…that wasn’t even that big. Whatever.

So then we got ballsy and tried to go into a place to order lunch…after trying a few places, realizing “ehhhh” to “parla inglese?” (do you speak English?) was not going to suffice we ended up finding this one little bar and ordered a pizza…and it was the shit.

yummmmm

We felt like we had conquered the world…we ordered a god damn pizza. So as we sat in food coma barely strong enough to keep our eyes open(keep in mind we have been up for over 24 hours straight), we decided to find our beloved 98 bus and head back to the Torre Rosa (our hotel motel holiday innnn) and PASS OUT.

After I passed out for what seemed like days (it was two hours)…fell asleep bbm’ing yellow room (<3) I woke up to a knock on my door…and it wasn’t room service, it was one of my roommates!!!! And she’s super chill and really nice…so far this experience has been awesome, today was such an adventure and I can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings..but for now its time for a big family dinner (yummmmmm) and to meet everyone in the program. YAY FRIENDS! (aka yay people that speak English!)

Woke up in America today...lame.

   I should be eating gelato in Rome...throwing coins into the Trevi Fountain (obviously making a wish concerning my love life...or lack of), buying fabulous things from every shop I set my eyes on..but alas..I'm still in New York...still in America..just hanging out at the albany airport. Why you ask? Snow...snow...and more snow. And I'm not talking about a dusting and its icy out..I mean...FEET, WHITEOUT, SHEER CHOAS ON THE THRUWAY, ALL FLIGHTS CANCELLED...did you catch that last one...ya..all flights cancelled. So how do you get to Rome when your flights cancelled you ask...well you don't.

This is how i felt when I found out my flight was cancelled...

And this was the wonderful view I got to enjoy while I was stranded in the airport..

   So now, two days later, we're going to try this again. Currently sitting at the airport waiting for my first flight...have we been at the airport since 6am..yes...does my gate not open till 10am...yes. You look puzzled..no you read this right..I'm here nearly 5 hours early..welcome to the Laug way of traveling.

   So far the experience hasn't been the best...dad lost his voice from screaming (at me), mom's upset because I caused a scene at check-in (and to United Airlines, I apologize for my behavior, and promise not to "Send hatemail to homeland security") and I'm pissed because I had to take out of bunch of crap from my suitcase because of this DUMB 50lb limit on your luggage...people I'm going for 3 months..cut me some slack. 

   But this day hasn't been a total loss...I found out I wasn't the only one left behind in the program, and that makes me feel a lot better. I meet one of the girls that got left behind in D.C. I hope we bond over this...and I hope she likes the Jersey Shore...

Day 1 of "my life changing experience" has officially commenced. 

YAYERSSSSS!