Amalfi Coast

We heard about a tour called bus2alps from previous students who did the Temple Rome program. They do tours all over Europe; French Riviera, Swiss Alps, Almafi Coast, as well as day trips to Naples and Venice and other places. We booked Amalfi Coast, it had a great itinerary Pompey, cliff jumping, boat tours, and Capri and AnaCapri I was sold.
I instatntly knew it was going to be a great trip when they put in the Hangover on the bus to Sorrento. We get to our amazing hostel around 12 AM and checked-in. Seven Hostel was a chic newly opened hostel with a rooftop bar and played live music at night.
We woke up the next day bright and early and headed up to Capri the scenery was beautiful. It was so a surprise waking up to the hills and mountains. So to get to Capri we had to take a public ferry. Because it had rained the water was really really rough. It was so rough in fact that half our tour puked in bags on the ferry...yea. We then had our boat tours and my poor roomate was sick to her stomach from the previous ride. The boat tour was really awesome and fun for the people that weren't sick. However because the water was rough we could not go in the blue grotto, one of the 7 natural wonders of the world.
The tour set up a discount with a shop in Capri that custom made sandals, of course I got a pair complete with initials.  We then had a tour of Julius Caesar's garden and shopped. They also had a chair lift that was well worth the 7 Euro. It took you to the highest point of the mountain. It has spectacular views, 13 minutes of heaven.
By the end of the day we were all pretty exhausted and went out to a great restaurant were I had the best food so far in Italy. I ordered homemade pasta with mussels and clams. We then tried to go to a bar down the street but no one was really feeling it so we left.
The next day was by far the most memorable. We woke up to pouring rain on the day that we were suppose to cliff jump and go on a boat tour. Everyone was upset and in a bad mood during breakfast. We couldnt believe that the best planned day was going to be cancelled, rain or shine here we go. We got on the bus and the rain was starting to let up. We said a group prayer on the bus for the weather to clear up when we got there. Sure enough here comes the sun!!! It was such a relief that we were going to have a great day. We then get on boats to go to the cliff jumping site and also swim in caves.

I JUMPED OFF A 40FT CLIFF!!! It was crazy and terrifying the climb up was worse then the jump I must have cut myself up 5 times. It was nuts I only did it once though the landing really hurt I did not have proper form.We got back and had a few hours on the beach. It was a perfect and relaxing day.
The next day we toured the city of Pompey which was greatly preserved because of the eruption that happened 79 A.D. It was amazing how they still had original floors and mosaics. Fun fact about Pompey they had penis statues guiding the way to the brothels. They were obsessed with penises.
It was a great tour. Bus2Alps is actually going to start a US based tour too! 

Jersey Shore + Rain = Florenzia

I should have known that even the difficulty in getting a train ticket to Florence was a sign that this might be a challenging trip. One of the girls on the trip, Michelle, suggested an awesome website where we could get a round trip ticket to Florence for 34 Euro (which is incredibly cheap). The only catch was that we would have to leave at 6:45 AM Saturday morning and return at 1:00 AM Monday morning and the train ride was 4 hours long as opposed to the typical train of about an hour and a half. No big deal, we all thought, that gives us plenty of time to explore the influential city. Booking the ticket was excruciating. The website was a mess and only after what seemed like the millionth try did we see any progress. In addition, The website was not compatible with PNC. So at first I thought my account was frozen and was freaking out because it is my only card. So I am trying to call my bank panicking to my mom all over sees, which is an unsettling feeling, you out of control and helpless. Come to find out that 6 other people in our group were dealing with the same issue and our cards were not frozen.
Train ride wasn't bad I slept the whole time and was made fun of for bringing a neck pillow. We arrive in Florence and attempt to find our hostel. I forgot to mention that the group that was going to Florence was about 40 people. So try and imagine 40 bewildered college kids in Florence trying to find a hostel, it was a little crazy. We get to our hostel, Florence plus, which is really geared towards young travelers. It has an indoor pool, a rooftop bar, and a computer room. So the image of a hostel from the movie Hostel was debunked.
Once we arrived we were informed that we could not check in till 3 PM, however they had a luggage room for us to store our stuff. So we dropped our stuff and proceeded to take on Florence.
Our hostel was in a great location located in central Florence so the first thing we did was see the Doma and the church. We also found the leather markets where we spent the greater part of the afternoon.
I dont know if you were aware but the Jersey shore cast was also in Florence so of course we had to see the pizza shop where they worked, O'Vesuvio. So we walked past the shop and Pauly D runs out and grabs my two roomates Ashley and Lauren and pulls them inside the shop. We tried to go in after them but the camera crew wouldnt let anyone go in without signing a waiver. About 10 minutes later the cast Pauly D, Vinnie and Sammy leave the shop. So my other roomate and I go in trying to get the scoop of what just happened. My roomates explained how they were forced to buy hats and pizza and Pauly asked them where they were from what they were doing here and a series of other questions before he INVITED THEM TO A CLUB THAT NIGHT!!!!!!!!!!! Mission accomplished, get asked put by Jersey Shore and the pizza was actually decent.
So after that ordeal we walked around Florence and were planning our day and what we want to see tomorrow, the statue of David, go inside the Doma, and get those things we had been eyeing up in the market. So we head back to our hostel around 7 PM were take a quick recovery nap and get ready for the club.
Club Space was the sickest club I have ever seen. It had 3 floors, 5 bars it was nuts. Well about an hour into it in  The Situation, Sammy, Ronnie, Dena, and Vinny arrive. No Snooks or J Woww, not sure why. So anyway a huge mob swarms them and its like a stampede rushing towards them. So they are on stage dancing and getting the club pumped the situation and Pauly D are inviting girls up to dance, it was really surreal. there were cameras and people everywhere, it was a great night.
We had to be out of our hostel by 10 AM the next morning, this was a real struggle considering that half of us didn't get back till just 5 hours before check out time. So we had an agenda and a day full of things to do first on our list climbing the Doma, which has the most beautiful view of Florence. We approach the piazza (or square) were the Doma is and its closed, ok so we cant do one thing no big deal. Then we go to the markets to get gifts and what not, success. We then proceed to go see David and the clouds open up and downpours. Im not talking about easy rain that wouldn't bother you I'm talking about hail and huge rain drops and you would probably catch pneumonia if you went out there kinda rain. We quickly took shelter in a shore store for 2 hours before it even lighten up for us to walk in. So we head back to get our luggage and hang out at the hostel, even though we checked out, because all the museums were closed by the time the rain let up.
Jersey Shore + Rain =Florence.

I let it take my breath away

Yesterday my art history class had a mandatory excursion to Hadrian’s villa in Tivoli. Hadrian’s villa can only be described as romantic. In the 2^nd century AD, a time of peace in Rome, the emperor Hadrian built a 250 acre villa and moved his court to Tivoli. The villa was mostly decomposed however a few pools still remain.  It was a bit hard to picture the vastness of this place in the time in which it was built. We then proceeded to the actual town if Tivoli where I saw the most beautiful garden.

The Este family, one of the richest Italian families in all of history, owned a villa compiled of thousands upon thousands of fountains. It was absolutely gorgeous and I let it take my breath away. You look down and four levels with more and more fountains. Inside the villa were beautiful and renowned works of art.  It was an amazing day I am so lucky I took the class and get to see all of these places.

Today about 20 of us went to the beach. It was a little pricey to get in, 10 Euro, but it included showers, chair, pool, and volleyball. The sand was black?!? No idea but it was a nice day trip spent with some really great people and it only cost 2 Euro to get there! Score!

(pics are up on my Facebook of both Hadrian’s villa and the garden)

Meeting Poppa Joe

Yesterday Was my first day of classes I had Roman History. The lectures are pretty long and also have an on-site day. My professor is a native Italian archeologist who seems to really know his stuff. I also experienced the Italian market it reminded me a lot of Zerns back home. They sell everything from clothes to meats. It was extremly difficult to order food I only ordered olives (which were amazing)  for 1 Euro. I had my Italian phrasebook and was trying to say what I wanted, I looked like a total American lol. After the market my neighbors and I went out to lunch at a nice place on the corner and ordered pasta. It was a nice change from the 5 Euro take away personal pizza that we've been getting.
Yesterday night or this morning to be technical was crazy, we met Poppa Joe is a Temple grad who moved back to Italy and made his own job by promoting this club called Bloom. My roomate heard about this club Bloom through a friend of a friend and we decided to check it out! Why not? None of us had class will 5 PM the next day. So we get to Bloom around midnight and no one is there Poppa Joe greeted us at the door and treated the girls to some drinks. Poppa Joe explained that Romans dont get started till 1 AM and go till about 4 AM. So we proceeded to be out till 4 AM. When in Rome!

The first couple of days

On Saturday we went to Todi, a medieval town in Umbria. It was beautiful non-touristy spot with some parts dating back to 500 BCE. We then proceeded to Titgnnano castle were the Temple Rome program treated us to a 12 course meal. The castle and space was beautiful overlooking the Tiber river. All the food was good we were served antipasta, bruschetta, 2 pasta courses, 3 meat courses, and finally a dessert wine with biscotti. Saturday night we went out to a place called Testaghanni (maybe thats how its spelled no clue) its a strip with discos's lined along it.yea there called Disco's cause Bar's here are actually like 711's.
Today we had orientation in which everyone was hung over and didnt retain ANYTHING but im sure things will be repeated. We then proceeded to go on a walking tour to get to know Roma a little better. We saw the Trev e Fountain, Spanish Steps, this monument I cant think of the name of, and we learned how to ride the public transportation. I must have walked 10 miles today seeing all these places that are right next door to me! Tomorrow is the first day of classes and then Tuesday where going on site!

IM HERE ITALY CANT HANDLE ME!!!

So I made it!! 2 cars, 2 planes, and a van and... I'm here! My flight was smooth no complaninents. My mom slipped me an ambian before I left and I was out like a light after dinner and missed the planes breakfast. I arrived at my residence, its a small aprtment with two bedrooms and a tiny kitchen which includes a table and four chairs not bad for a flat (I'll post pictires soon). I HAVE NO ROOMATES, as of right now that is. However the girls next door said they would adopt me. I got all settled into my room and then proceeded to expolore with the girls next door. At 6 most of the students in the Rome program met up and went for pizza and we walked to our campus. We then came back had some wine and now just reminesing about the exciting first day. Tomorrow we will be traveling to the medievel town of Todi where we will explore and be treated to a 12 course meal at a castle cant wait!

It only just begun

The title of the blog, bella viaggio, means beautiful journey, which I hope to have.

I wanted to write this blog for a few reasons. One I wanted to document my trip and two I wanted those who cared to see what I was up to in Italy.

I have two days till my departure and I am freaking out. Do I have everything? Im I going to make friends? What should I expect from this experience? All these things are racing through my head! I can only imagine what Italy has in store for me