Ciao Ciao,

I have been so busy lately and I totally forgot about blogging.  This week was a busy week for me because I had two quizzes and I also had a paper to write for next week since I will be away this weekend.  We only had a three day week which was awesome because the Italians celebrate Easter Monday more than they do Easter.

Last week wasn't too eventful, although I did go on a field trip with my class to San Marco Monastery. It was interesting because we were learning about a friar from the middle ages that lived there.  It's a very very plain building so it wasn't my favorite, but it was interesting. Other than that, it was a pretty relaxed week.

This past weekend I stayed in Florence, and it was really fun.  It was nice to stay and hang out in Florence and I ended up being pretty busy.  On Friday, I went to the Medici tombs and they were pretty cool and unlike anything I'd seen.  It was this huge room with extremely extravagant tombs.  We actually ended up going our weekly history class field trip there yesterday.  Then I met up with Abby and we went to check out the Medici Palace.  I expected it to be more extravagant but they lived so many places in Florence, so I guess it just depended on the style of whomever lived there at the time.  I enjoy learning about the Medici family and that's what I'm writing my history final paper on.

On Saturday, we were planning on going to Viareggio which is a beach close by that you can just take a train to, but it planned on raining all day and being pretty windy, so we decided to skip that.  Instead, Sara, Abby, and I went to Gustapizza pretty much for breakfast.  I'm going to miss Gustapizza so much when I get home and there's really nowhere in Pennsylvania at least that has pizzas anything like that.  Me and my roommates always joke about how we should open a pizza place like Gustapizza at Penn State.  Katie's family was visiting so I went out to dinner with them that night to this really good place nearby, and it was really fun.

On Easter Sunday, we woke up early to go to to stand right near the Duomo to get good seats for the fireworks.  There's a parade throughout the city, but everyone just really focuses on the fireworks.  We saw the parade come through and then the little tower they shoot fireworks off of was brought in at the end of the parade.  It was supposed to be pulled by two oxen, but I couldn't really see, seeing as I'm really short.  We waited there for about an hour and a half and finally the fireworks started.  It started from inside the church when the priest throws a dove-like shape firework at a certain spot, which triggers the fireworks, and this huge rush of smoke comes from inside the church to this little tower and then the fireworks started going off.  I was only expecting a few big fireworks, but it was about 15 minutes worth of fireworks.  They launch them off right in between the Duomo and the Baptistery and these buildings are so close together. I'm surprised it doesn't damage the buildings.  It must be such a fire hazard, plus there are so many people standing close to it and the little tower looked like it was wood.  It was the most bizarre Easter celebration I've ever seen but it was very cool.  After, my friends and I walked around the leather market and I bought another leather purse.  I can't help my addiction.  Later that day, I went to Easter Mass in Santa Maria Novella Church, which is the church really close to me.  It was the first time I had been in there, and it's very pretty.  I couldn't understand the mass at all.  Most of the time I can pick out a few words from each sentence, but the fact that the microphone was echoing made me not understand anything.  It was nice to be in church though.  The only thing about Italian mass is that they don't sing, which I just expected they would.  It's very interesting.  After church, my friends and I had a potluck dinner with tons of awesome food.  We had eggplant, salad, bread, mashed potatoes, baked brie, and broccoli.  I made bruschetta and also an interesting lemon cake.  I bought the cake mix from the Italian grocery store so it came out good but I wasn't sure what to expect.  The baked brie was so delicious and so easy, and I don't know why I don't just make it all the time!

On Easter Monday, we had no class so we decided to take a day trip! We took the train for about an hour and a half to Lucca.  It's this old medieval town which still have all the city walls still intact.  It was a really cute, small town.  When we first got there we found a place to each lunch and had some pretty good pizza.  We walked around for a little bit and there was a market nearby where we got some dessert.  After that, we rented bikes and biked through the town.  I was nervous I was going to hit someone but I successfully didn't.  I was also really skilled at taking pictures while riding my bike.  After biking through the town for a little, we went to this path they have that is all around the city walls and you can bike or walk around the whole town and it was very pretty.  There was so much green and it was a beautiful day.  After biking, we went home.  There's not too much to do in Lucca, but it was fun and relaxing.

Tonight I leave for the Amalfi Coast at 7:30 PM!!!!! I am so excited, it's going to be so beautiful.  There are a lot of little towns on the coast but we're specifically going to Sorrento.  Then each day we're taking a trip.  We will be going to Capri which is where the famous Blue Grotto is, Pompeii, and also Positano which is another coastal city.  It's going to be in the 60s and fairly sunny throughout the weekend! :) Although, I'm not sure it'll be bathing suit weather, but I'm still bringing my bathing suit.  The water will probably be pretty cold.

Upcoming Plans: 

This weekend (April 4-7):  Amalfi Coast!!! I cannot wait, I'm so excited!

Next weekend (11-14):  Just hanging out and staying in Florence 

April 18-21: We are looking into Springfest in Munich, Germany.  I really want to go to Germany!!! So then I could use at least a little bit of German. 

April 25-28:  Staying in Florence for our last weekend!  Then HOME the next weekend... AHH can't believe it's coming to a close!

Ciao Ragazzi,
Katie