The Best Week Ever

On Monday I went to Italian, but skipped photography so I could finish my paper for my Abnormal Psych class at 3:30! So I went to Abnormal Psych and I had a debate which went well! It was nice to get it over with! Then I went back to the apartment and showered and Kate and I met mom and the boys and we went to my birthday dinner! It was so much fun! I got steak that was delicious! For dessert I had a chocolate fondue which was so good! After dinner they came back so the boys could see my apartment and then they walked Mom home and Kate and I got ready. We met our friend Becky and the boys and went out because it was Karaoke night! It was fun because we were able to start the celebrating of my birthday, and I was so happy to be able to that with my friends and my brother! Becky, Kate, and I sang “Heaven is a place on earth” So we had a lot of fun and then came home! On Tuesday I slept in and that went to lunch with Mom, Scott and Aleks! We had a great lunch and then I had to leave to go to class and they were leaving for Rome! After class I came back and our living room was decorated with balloons and it was so nice! I took a little nap and then did some work on the internet. I got a package from Mom, Dad, and Scott with a cake and balloons and it was so nice! Then Becky, Kate and I went out to dinner. We found this great place and our waiter was so nice! I got spaghetti and it was delicious! All of a sudden Becky was like oh I have to go get something for my mom, so she left! Then Kate’s phone kept ringing, so I kind of thought something was weird. So anyway we left to come back to the apartment before going out that night. So anyway I opened the door and everyone yelled “SURPRISE!!!” and all my friends were there! It was soooo nice and I really was surprise! They all had princess hats on and we had three cakes and I got to blow out all three! I got wings and a wand and ears and a birthday crown! It was so nice of everyone to come and it was so fun! We had princess fizz to drink! So everyone sang and had cake and it was so nice! On Thursday I skipped Italian again for Thanksgiving!! Kate and I got a train to Orvieto, and met mom and the boys there! We walked around for a while, but realized all the places were closed for lunch! So we ended up grabbing a slice of pizza and then getting pizza at the train station. It was funny, but we said thanksgiving is about who you are with, and I couldn’t have asked for better people! So that was really fun, and then kate and I came back and got on the internet quickly and then made some pasta (we said we were lucky to have SO many thanksgiving meals!) then we cleaned up the kitchen, watched a Laguna and went to sleep! Overall, I had a great Thanksgiving!

Gondolas

So this weekend I went to Venice and had an amazing weekend! I left Thursday night and took the long train ride (about 5-6 hours) to Venice. But surprisingly it went by so fast! I had to switch trains once, and then I was able to get some homework done, I had two papers due so I had a lot of articles to read. So I got into Venice around 11ish on Thursday night. I was going to met up with my friends Abbie and Colin, but they were coming until Friday, so I found a hotel 3 minutes from the train station, since I didn’t want to be walking around by myself that night. So when I got in I found the hotel pretty easily and checked in. The room wasn’t anything great but it worked! I was able to buy internet time and it was soo nice! I was able to catch up on some of my shows I have missed and write emails. I also took a hot shower which felt very good! So then I woke up Friday morning and checked out, and took the water metro to meet Colin and Abbie. Colin was there first and Abbie came shortly after and it was so nice to see them! So we met the owner of our hostel and she gave us directions to our “apartment”. It seemed a little weird, but it was like a treasure hunt! So we had fun trying to find it, and we finally did! AND IT WAS HEAVEN! Normally hostels are small and just have a bed and a shared bathroom (sometimes you end up sharing in big rooms). But knowing me, I researched and researched and made sure this one had a good rating and reviews. So our apartment was beautiful! It had a full kitchen, table, TV, 4 beds, full bathroom (with a shower with jets and a radio!) It may not sound like much, but for poor college kids it was AMAZING! We contemplated spending the weekend in our apartment! But we ventured out! We spent about 3 hours and just went exploring without a map, which was fun! It was soo pretty! We did the Italian thin and sat down and got cappuccinos! At one point I wanted a picture of Abbie and I by the water, but she got a little too close and almost fell in! Luckily I was there to save the day! We decided we wanted to go back to the apartment and shower and get ready for dinner, but had no idea where we were. So at one intersection this man came up to us and asked us where we were going and he said he would take us there. So we start following him, and then he pointed out the best pastry shop and informed us he needed to buy some pastries. So we weren’t really sure what to do, but we followed him in and waited. He showed us the best pasties to get. Colin talked to him mostly, but anyway we finally got to a point and he asked someone something, and he told us he had passed where he needed to go, but he pointed us in the right direction and recommended a few places for us to go. It was so nice because people are so very helpful! So we went back and showered and headed out for dinner! We found a great place and got a lot of food! But we had a great meal! After we went to St. Marco’s square but nobody was there! So we walked around, and then tried to find a place to hang out at night! But it was dead! We got a great night sleep because we slept in for a while on Saturday. I think one of the things I loved about Venice was it was so relaxing! Most of the time there are so many things we want to see on the weekend its go go go! But this trip was relaxing, we did what we wanted when we wanted! So after getting ready Saturday morning we headed back to St Marcos! We got hot chocolate which was so good and then went to a museum! We stopped for lunch and also visited the Basilica which we were disappointed with! Next, the best time of my life..feeding the pigeons! Gross I know. At first I thought it was disgusting, but after I while I fell in love with them! There are places all over to buy bird feed, and the pigeons are smart and know when you have it because thy swamp you! It is such a funny feeling to have birds all over you! The 3 of us had fun! (Don’t worry we washed our hands after!!!) Mom called and they were in Venice! Yay! So we met then at their hotel and it was so nice to have my family there! It was fun too because Abbie and Colin were excited, and it was like Portsmouth was in Venice! I’m lucky to have such a great family and friends! So the boys grabbed some pizza and then we went on a gondola ride which was really fun! It was pretty at night, and you can’t leave Venice without going on a Gondola ride! After that we went to dinner. Scott and I got steaks which were not cooked at all. The place was nice, but they told us we had to be out by 8pm. Then, when the check came and Mom wanted to pay by credit card, the guy told us the “machine was broken”. It was not his lucky day because we were not stupid! Mom had read about how they try to get you to pay with cash because they lose some money when you pay with credit card. He told us it was our lucky day; they found a machine that worked! So anyway we were all tired so we went back and watched Laguna Beach and hit the sack! Abbie was up at 6am to catch her flight. Colin was up and out around 930. I left and went to the main building to pay and then I met the boys for lunch! We had pizza (obviously!) Then I left to go back to the train station and took a train home! It was such a fun weekend!!

When in Rome!

I had an amazing time with Aimee in Rome! On Thursday I took a train to Roma Termini, and I got some food and some muffins and waited for her to come! Unfortunately, her flight landed late and she had to wait for her luggage. So I did some homework and walked around and ended up buying a book that talked about Portsmouth! So that was nice! Then she finally came and she got off the train and looked at me funnily, and she goes, ah I think I left my bag on the train! It was funny! So anyway it was so nice to see her! So we walked to our hostel which luckily was only like 5 minutes away. We went up to our room which was for 6 people and there were people already sleeping, so we tried to be quiet and unpack and stuff. Then my friend Mike called, and he was staying at the same place! So we hung out with him. Then my friend Tom called from Perugia and he was in Rome with friends so we went to hang out with them too! It was fun! We wanted to sleep in, but it was kinda awkward because there were other people in our room. So this one girl woke us up and told us the cleaning lady we coming so we should leave soon. So we got ready and we took a very long bus ride to the Vatican! We stopped and got a cappuccino first, very Italian of us. We were confused as to where we wanted to take a tour, so we asked a lady and the museum had closed. So we decided to go back the next day! Next we went to the Trevi Fountain and tossed our coins in. It was a very pretty fountain, but also very busy! Then we were in need of an icecream break. So we found a place and each ordered two scoops of gelato. However, we received a 13 Euro gelato monster! The thing was huge! Mine had a lot of flags and Aimee’s had a pretty silver sparkler. After our “meal” we went to the Spanish steps, which were very pretty. We had read (in Mom’s packet of course) about a McDonald’s which was suppose to be very pretty, so of course we felt the need to stop. And it was, by far, the prettiest McDonalds I have ever seen! So we stopped for some French fries! We also did the Pantheon, and then got a good night sleep! Saturday morning we were up early and we went to the Vatican Museum. We ended up doing a tour which was so nice because we were able to pass by the people who were waiting in line (for hours) We took the tour which was good and then we were able to see the Sistine Chapel which was really cool! We had to keep reminding ourselves we were in Rome! After that we went to the Coloseeum and again did a tour to skip the lines. It was crazy to hear about all the violent and bloody things that took place there! Next we went to the Roman Forum which was very pretty! We called it an early night since Aimee had an early flight. After I she got on the train to the airport, I was off to see the Pope! I got to the Vatican around 11am and sat down to read my book. However, it started to become cold and right before 12, it started to drizzle a little. But anyway he popped his head out of a little window, and waved (he was waving to me obviously!) I waved back and when he started speaking Italian, and I didn’t know what he was saying, I was outta there! I’m really glad I went though!

Olive Harvest

On Sunday Jeanette and I went to an Olive Harvest! We went out to the countryside which was so pretty! We picked some Olives (after about one tree I was done!) The olives off the free were very sour and gross. After we went and cooked sausages and olive oil and bread, the olive oil was amazing! We were able to see the villa where the people live and it was so pretty!

The fair!

After that I went to a fair with Doug and his roommates, and I had SO much fun! We took a bus to the train station, and then our bus broke down, so we asked if we could walk to the fair from the train station, which we could! So we started walking! So we started walking towards the fair and then we saw it! We stopped and got some food first, and then we went to the actually fair! It was awesome! They had a lot of games and rides! We went on the bumper cars first which were probably my favorite! We also went on this crazy flipped ride and Doug lost his hat and his phone. Then we got a bus back to the train station, but another bus didn’t come for an hour, so we walked home, uphill! It was a long walk!

Get on a train and see where it takes you

On Saturday I woke up around 10:30 and showered and cleaned. I went to the bus station to get a bus to the train station. I wanted to catch a train going in a certain directions of small towns. So I waited on the bus for 15 minutes before it left, and I thought I was going to miss my train. It was suppose to leave at 12:14 and I got to the train station at 12:13. I didn’t have time to buy a ticket and it was only going to be 2.50 Euro and they usually don’t check your tickets, so I just sprinted to the train and hopped on literally as it was pulling away. As luck would have it, I saw the ticket checker five minutes into the ride. And I did a bad thing, I lied. He came around and I held out my money acting like I could buy a ticket on the train, which I don’t think they really let you do. He asked me in Italian if I had my ticket, and I played dumb (not too hard for me I know!) and pretended like I didn’t know what he was saying. He said it again, and I asked if he spoke English, he said no! Fhew! So anyway he asked in Italian where I was going, I waited till he asked again and then said Spello. He gave me a dirty look and kept going. Oops! So anyway I made it to Spello and followed the signs to the center, and of course it was at the top of a VERY long and steep hill. I took some pictures for photography and spent an hour or two walking around. It was really nice. Then I went back to the train station and took a train back to Perugia. I went to the computer lab and did a little homework and then I went to the photo lab to develop my film!

Happy Halloween!

On Wednesday it was Halloween! Becky came up with the awesome idea that we should be Rice Krispies! Snap, Crackle, and Pop! So her and Kate went out and got us hats! And then we all had colored tank tops and jean skirts and black flats! We also went out and got matching tights! And Becky made us sings and white colored things! We also had spoons and a box of Rice Crispies! We made dinner and watched Mean Girls and got all dressed up! We went out and hung out with some of our friends, and we obviously had the best costume! We slept in on Thursday and then I went to Leonardo Da Vinci and then I got on a train to Flornece. When I got there I saw Nora and Marie and we walked to their apartment. They showered and we all went out to dinner which was so good! Then, we came back and got ready to go out, but we were all so tired that we changed into our PJ’s and just hung out! In the morning we went and got bagles which were soo good! Then we went to a market and I got fresh pasta, soooo good! Then I got on a train to Perugia which was good because I had a lot of work to do and was so tired! I got back and went out to take a lot of pictres, and I went to the computer lab. Then we had some dinner and I took a shower and some friends came over, but i was so tired that i was in bed at a decent hour!

World Champs baby!

On Sunday I got back from Florence in the morning. I did some laundry with Kate. We read the sign (in English) that said it should take 25 minutes to wash. Kate’s did take 25 minutes, and mine took an hour and a half! And I had to press the emergency button to release it! Ridiculous! So anyway it was fun to all have dinner and talk about our trips! Everyone had fun! Then, the big game! The Red Sox were up 3-0 in the World Series, and they could win it all Sunday night! So of course, being a true Red Sox fan, we stayed up! My friends Rob and Doug and Becky and I all headed out to get internet at 330am. In front of our school buildings we get wireless, so we were the sketchy kids in our Red Sox gear sitting on the steps from 330am until 500am. But we won baby! Needless to say I was very tired the next day!