Una giornata a Venezia

My first glimpse of Venice, as we rounded the bend, was this. Pretty cool, huh? 

When you first arrive at the airport, you have endless options for transportation: taxi, water bus, bus, or a combination of those three. We decided to take a taxi to Piazzale Roma, a transportation hub of sorts for Venetians and visitors, and then continue our search for our hotel by water bus, the vaporetto.

Yeah, don't bother with those overpriced gondola rides. Take a picture of one like I did and move on. Plus you get the same experience (close enough, at least) on the vaporetto, for only 7 Euro at that!

Teeny tiny alleyway ristorante. NOT trattoria, as we were grumpily reminded.

Step into any shop in Venice and you will find Murano glass, made on the nearby island of Murano. This world-famous glass is a great souvenir idea. Don't settle for the cheap bracelets some shops sell, though. I don't believe that was true Murano glass. If you want the real thing, just make a short trip to the island itself. It's not too far away!

St. Mark's Square. To Venetians it is simply known as "the square" or la piazza because it is the only "square" in the city. The rest of Venice's open areas are campi (and piazzale for Piazzale Roma).

Unfortunately if you get tired then a cafe's gonna be your best bet, because anyone sitting on the edge of the water will be shooed away by Venetian police. They look quite unhappy that they have to do this each and every day so just know ahead of time. 

Ending on a good note, as always!

Freeeeeeezing Florence

During my short stay in Italy, I made it priority to visit THE most culture-rich city, Florence. Ever since learning of the Renaissance I have been fascinated by this place and all the talented artists and great minds who once walked those same streets.

But, upon arrival at the Firenze train station, we were greeted with a disturbing cold that reflected the complete opposite of Rome's weather. This slightly dampened our moods. Even worse was our hotel. Pros of staying at the Residenza Millenium: being super close to the train station. Cons: pretty much everything else.
The moral of the story is just be wise in your hotel choices, read up on reviews, and be prepared for anything.

Some of the more pleasant experiences in Florence were first and most importantly: the food. I was especially excited to try the pasta. We ended up going to Trattoria Gargani, a cozy place with a casual, family-oriented atmosphere. Hands down, BEST pasta I've ever had! The noodles were homemade and brought out still in the pan, all buttery and sprinkled with the perfect amount of pepper. I made the mistake of forgetting to take a picture, though...

On our last day we happened across Pescheria San Pietro, which was conveniently located by the train station. Although we were the evening's first customers, we were warmly welcomed by the owners, a man and woman who, I can honestly say, love to sing. They even took my mom's song requests and we all sang and hummed together until more customers arrived later on. I ordered the green pasta with a dory fish sauce. I was at first hesitant because I am very particular about my choices in fish, but this was an amazing dish.

After glancing at the dessert menu, I couldn't wait to try some. I originally ordered the non-alcoholic raspberry sorbet, but when I was informed that they were out of the flavor I had to opt for the lime instead. ONE OF THE BEST CHOICES IN MY ENTIRE LIFE. The dessert was perfectly flavored, not too sweet yet not too bitter. I was truly amazed at how something so perfect could actually exist. Does all sorbet in Italy taste this great? If so, I cannot wait to go back.

We did make it to the Uffizi Gallery and the Accademia. I was looking forward to Michelangelo's David the most. 

The Accademia Gallery also featured a unique little hall, the Museum of Musical Instruments. I was particularly interested in this section which featured stringed instruments, because I'm a cellist, so I loved seeing the cello that was used in the Medici String Quartet, pictured below.

However, you don't need to spend all day inside of Florence's impressive buildings. Even though it remained cold, we strolled around the city, admiring structures such as the Duomo. I love the colors of the church!

Last but not least, make sure you make your way to the river, stopping by Ponte Vecchio on the way. Although there's lots of people there, the trek is worth it.

Rome: The History and Culture

The heart of Italy is full of history and rich culture, from Ancient Rome to the Renaissance. And luckily, Rome has so much to offer in both categories.

The Vatican Museums are a fantastic choice when you're searching for that blend of history. Be warned, though, that there are so many people there! We went on a Monday and thought we would beat the crowds...

At least I got to see some amazing works! Here is the famous "School of Athens"by Raphael.

Don't skip the fun part: Send a postcard through the well-known Vatican Post. (They say it's supposed to be efficient, but mine didn't arrive until I got back home a few weeks later!) But looking through all the cool stamps is still interesting...

Apart from museums, there is always the Rome Opera and Ballet. Since it was around the holidays, we went to see The Nutcracker, or Il Schiaccianoci in Italian. It was great to see how different the Italian interpretation is from American or Russian performances.

 The entrance. 

*Doors don't open until about 15 minutes before the show!

 While we were waiting...

 Programs cost 10 Euro, so I opted for a picture of the poster instead

Front row seats!

After the ballet, we decided to walk towards Piazza Navona, in search of gifts for friends and family. We had heard the market there had been mostly shut down but still wanted to see if there was anything left at all. Here was our answer...

Nothing but the obelisk, but this was pretty cool on its own.

Next we tried Campo de Fiori:

All we found was food! (And, seen here, a bunch of smelly pork)

Would love to come back in the spring when there is more fresh produce!

A week later, New Year's Eve rolled around. We chose to stay home (although I really wanted to see the fireworks in the city; they are visible from so many sites from the Colosseum to Piazza del Popolo). One of the "gifts" I had been searching for for the duration of my trip was La Befana, the Italian Christmas witch, another bit of the Italian culture. After looking absolutely everywhere possible, we stumbled across a whole collection at the grocery store! That's right, Carrefour, the least likely place, had a whole bunch in different colors. We chose green, brown, and gray, and they were only about 7 Euro each (and filled to the brim with Italian candy).

Here she is on our tree.

I left for the airport days later feeling satisfied, having found what I'd been looking for.

Roma on Those Nice, Warm Days

Although most of the year is warm (at least in my view), take advantage of the nicer, dryer days to experience Rome from the outside. From parks to squares to outdoor cafes, there's so much to do! My number one recommendation: visit the Orange Gardens, also known as Parco Savello, for great panoramic views of the entire city.

 Pretty, fragrant orange trees

 I don't recommend eating the fruit itself... A bit tart

Clear skies and bare trees of winter

Whatever you do, don't miss the super interesting Villa del Priorato di Malta, which features the site of a 10th century Benedictine monastery and the famous keyhole of Rome, which grants visitors an intriguing view of the Basilica at Vatican City:

(Not the best quality camera, for the Basilica isn't visible here...)

Another option is always the Colosseum, although you'll need several hours for this if you plan on visiting the Forum and Palatine Hill as well. The latter we didn't reach in time before it closed for New Year's, so I'll be going back this spring.

 View of Roman Forum from beside the Colosseum gift shop

Day                            vs.                    Night

Next stop: the Pantheon

I suggest reading up on its history; I vaguely remember seeing the name on a PowerPoint back in freshman year but definitely wanted to know more to appreciate the centuries-old architecture.

 The dome is really amazing...

Christmas in Rome

Experiencing Christmas in Rome is truly a rewarding experience. One of the top things on my to-do list: see Pope Francis.

The Pope normally appears from his own balcony to the right of the Basilica, but only twice a year does he give his blessing from the Basilica itself. And, if you arrive at St. Peter's Square early enough, you might have your own seat in the front instead of having to stand.

He's here!

Crowds, crowds, and more crowds...

 See the Swiss guards before they leave.

 The Nativity scene here is spectacular.

Catch a glimpse of the Tiber before the sun sets... Just a few minutes' walk from the Square and right by Castel Sant'Angelo. But don't bother stopping by any places to eat near the Square. They are tourist-oriented and the food is simply mediocre. If you're looking for quality and authenticity, make some time for the quaint neighborhood of Trastevere.

Roaming the Streets of Rome: Day One

My most recent trip was to the magnificent city of Rome, Italy. Luckily my mom lives there, so finding a place to stay wasn't a problem for us!

A look at my first day there:

 View of Piazza del Popolo

 Lots of fancy designer stores by via Condotti*

Perfect end to the day!

*Gelato tip: don't waste your time at gelato places right by the tourist attractions; the hidden shops are where the locals go and have the best variety. 

However, I do applaud one of the big names, Giolitti, whose creamy gelato was topped with whipped cream for free! I ordered a scoop of blueberry and one of oreo biscotti:

(Okay, I didn't spend all my time eating these amazing desserts...)

*A quick word about the shopping: If you simply want to visit your usual European/young adult fashion stores, your best bet is Via del Corso, even with the crowds. If, however, you might be looking for something truly unique, then any street close to urban areas will satisfy your needs. For example, if you're looking for wood products like the shops that make Pinocchio, you'll likely happen across one eventually. The one I visited on my way to the Pantheon is Bartolucci, which sold cute little wood toys and Pinocchio Standard dolls.