This semester's school schedule while in Rome has been so fantastic for many reasons regarding schedule, yet one thing in particular that has been so nice for me is having no class on Fridays! I have not yet been able to successfully plan my schedule at my home university to have Fridays off (though it seems as if eeeveryone else is able to do that just fine), so having this semester without class on Friday has been a real treat.
However, now I'm spoiled.
I don't ever want to have class on Fridays again, and on the rare occasion that we do have to go to class on a Friday while here, for a field trip or makeup class, etcetera, it is a near dreaded event. Like tomorrow, for instance. This coming Thursday we have off of school because of a national holiday (Immaculate Conception), just like we had All Saints Day off of school because it, too, is a national holiday here in Italy. However, I'm guessing it is because our program is so short anyways, they cannot simply let us have the day totally off, rather, we have to go in on Friday (as we did for All Saints Day make-up) and have a make-up day for the day we are going to get off.
Thus, I don't want to go to class tomorrow! I've become so accustomed to having Thursday nights be the start of my weekend that having to go to class tomorrow is not something I'm loving. Honestly and truly, this is not a big deal. However, I've much enjoyed all of my Roman Fridays off, having time to catch up on all of the sleep I've not been getting during all of the excitement, as well as getting an extra day to go out and explore the city in ways that I normally may have deemed that I didn't have time for.
But as they say here in Italy: Basta! It's a saying that I have come to like a lot; it means "enough!" So enough with my ranting and off to bed. I actually have to get up for class tomorrow. Purtroppo! :)
Buona notte!
Love and Style,
L.M.
Showing posts with label Rome. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rome. Show all posts
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Caffè Americano.
One thing that I miss most about the food in America is the coffee. Here in Italy, if you order "un caffè" it's a shot of espresso. Which I must admit, is actually awesome because you can get them for around 80 Euro cents and they're the perfect start to a morning or pick-me-up in the afternoon.
On a side note, did you know that tiramisù is actually Italian for "pick-me-up?" The word tiramisù is the opposite of an Italian saying "sono proprio giu," meaning "I'm so down." :) Funny, huh?
But back to coffee. So you only get an espresso shot when you order a plain coffee here which is awesome in its own way and is a super popular thing to do. If you go into any little cafe or coffee bar at around 2 p.m. there will be somewhere around 20 espresso cups sitting near the sink needing to be washed from the rush hour.
However, as awesome as espresso is, I really miss American coffee; an actual cup of coffee. This is something that us coffee lovers on the trip have been talking about and my roommate and I have finally found a solution. There's this little cafe near our apartment and it's absolutely adorable. The decorations are red and black and super trendy and eclectic and they even play awesome music. Last time we were there they played "Hey Jude" by the Beatles and then today they played Nirvana's "Teen Spirit."
But why we have gone back twice now: caffè Americano. It's one Euro and fifty cents and you get an actual cup of coffee! Plus they even give you a little chocolate biscuit on the side. It's so wonderful and it's actually very delicious coffee. So now we have found the solution: just order caffè Americano. And this coffee shop we found is so adorable. It's the perfect place to sit on a Sunday afternoon with friends, chill on the couch with a cup of coffee and talk. Life is good.
Love and Style,
L.M.
On a side note, did you know that tiramisù is actually Italian for "pick-me-up?" The word tiramisù is the opposite of an Italian saying "sono proprio giu," meaning "I'm so down." :) Funny, huh?
But back to coffee. So you only get an espresso shot when you order a plain coffee here which is awesome in its own way and is a super popular thing to do. If you go into any little cafe or coffee bar at around 2 p.m. there will be somewhere around 20 espresso cups sitting near the sink needing to be washed from the rush hour.
However, as awesome as espresso is, I really miss American coffee; an actual cup of coffee. This is something that us coffee lovers on the trip have been talking about and my roommate and I have finally found a solution. There's this little cafe near our apartment and it's absolutely adorable. The decorations are red and black and super trendy and eclectic and they even play awesome music. Last time we were there they played "Hey Jude" by the Beatles and then today they played Nirvana's "Teen Spirit."
But why we have gone back twice now: caffè Americano. It's one Euro and fifty cents and you get an actual cup of coffee! Plus they even give you a little chocolate biscuit on the side. It's so wonderful and it's actually very delicious coffee. So now we have found the solution: just order caffè Americano. And this coffee shop we found is so adorable. It's the perfect place to sit on a Sunday afternoon with friends, chill on the couch with a cup of coffee and talk. Life is good.
Love and Style,
L.M.
Friday, November 4, 2011
Red carpets and wonderful films.
Buona sera!
Oooh my gosh we had such a fun time last night at the Rome Film Festival. I've never been to a film festival before, but the atmosphere was so cool and the film we saw was phenomenal. It's coming to the States eventually, so keep an eye out! It's called Too Big to Fail and it was absolutely fantastic!
The festival was on the other side of the city, a side I hadn't been to yet, so we got to venture out to a new area, which was awesome, and then when we got there it was such an amazing experience. Everywhere you looked there were all kinds of trendy people and it was night-time so the big lights were shining on the red carpet.
Rai, one of the largest broadcasting companies in Italy who is in charge of holdings in both radio and TV, had a stand up where they were broadcasting live from the festival and the musicians were performing on the stage right there in front of us. The radio-show host was interviewing them from a chair to their left and they would perform live songs. The one guy even played the electric cello! They were so phenomenal - both groups we saw. It was good, chill Italian music and it was made all the better by the ambiance surrounding us.
There were heat lamps with the flames setting the mood and there was a resting/seating/relaxing area set up by one of the sponsors, a coffee company, and they were giving out free espresso shots in adorable little disposable cups.
Then, the red carpet. When we first went in we had to just walk on the side of the carpet because the main carpet was blocked off, however, after the show they opened up the main, center carpet and we got to walk on it! I'm posting a picture below.
All in all, it was one of the most exciting nights yet. We got to see a movie, something we haven't had a real opportunity to do since we've been here, we got to see an American movie at that, so it was extra fun to see an American film, all in English with Italian subtitles (I tried to follow along during the movie by hearing the English and then reading the Italian) and we got to attend the Rome Film Festival. That's not something you get to do everyday! Che fantastico! :)
Love and Style,
L.M.
Oooh my gosh we had such a fun time last night at the Rome Film Festival. I've never been to a film festival before, but the atmosphere was so cool and the film we saw was phenomenal. It's coming to the States eventually, so keep an eye out! It's called Too Big to Fail and it was absolutely fantastic!
The festival was on the other side of the city, a side I hadn't been to yet, so we got to venture out to a new area, which was awesome, and then when we got there it was such an amazing experience. Everywhere you looked there were all kinds of trendy people and it was night-time so the big lights were shining on the red carpet.
Rai, one of the largest broadcasting companies in Italy who is in charge of holdings in both radio and TV, had a stand up where they were broadcasting live from the festival and the musicians were performing on the stage right there in front of us. The radio-show host was interviewing them from a chair to their left and they would perform live songs. The one guy even played the electric cello! They were so phenomenal - both groups we saw. It was good, chill Italian music and it was made all the better by the ambiance surrounding us.
There were heat lamps with the flames setting the mood and there was a resting/seating/relaxing area set up by one of the sponsors, a coffee company, and they were giving out free espresso shots in adorable little disposable cups.
Then, the red carpet. When we first went in we had to just walk on the side of the carpet because the main carpet was blocked off, however, after the show they opened up the main, center carpet and we got to walk on it! I'm posting a picture below.
All in all, it was one of the most exciting nights yet. We got to see a movie, something we haven't had a real opportunity to do since we've been here, we got to see an American movie at that, so it was extra fun to see an American film, all in English with Italian subtitles (I tried to follow along during the movie by hearing the English and then reading the Italian) and we got to attend the Rome Film Festival. That's not something you get to do everyday! Che fantastico! :)
Love and Style,
L.M.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Film Festival!
Tonight is going to be quite a fun experience! The Rome Film Festival is going on for two more days and for my cinema class we get to go for free! Tonight we're going to see a film at the main festival center with red carpet and everything! Celebrities have come for their films, so it would be awesomeeee if we could see someone tonight! Though there's no guarantee, so we'll just have to see.
It's quite a trek to get there, but it's going to be so worth it!! Ciao!
Love and Style,
L.M.
It's quite a trek to get there, but it's going to be so worth it!! Ciao!
Love and Style,
L.M.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Two picture-perfect afternoons.
I don't quite know what it is, but something about when the weekend rolls around things go from fantastic to stellar. Our weeks are always amazing and, because I'm nerdy like that, I actually really enjoy going to class, but there's just something about our weekends - they always bring really exciting adventures.
For the past few weekends in particular, it has just been awesome. I've been going into the weekends with just a few plans and not too many expectations and they have just been turning out like a dream.
On Friday night we did something that we hadn't yet done, and that's to go out at night in our particular area of Rome. It's a really hip, young area with lots of bars and hot-spots that stay open late at night/early morning yet my roommate and I hadn't yet been out. So Friday night we went out to this bar with a group of our friends and it was sooo amazing!! It was super small and crowded upstairs but then we discovered that there was a whole downstairs with tons of seating, cool tables and awesome patterns and prints on the furniture and walls. They had TVs playing music videos of popular songs but then the DJ from upstairs was blasting all downstairs too. It was so amazing and we had such a blast.
Then, the next day, we slept in and when we woke up we decided to get some lunch and explore our area a bit more, being that going to that bar opened our knowledge up to a whole different part of our area. So we went over there and what did we find? A little hole-in-the-wall Chinese restaurant!!! Now, while this may not seem all that exciting, you have to realize that here in Italy like 98% of the food is pizza, pasta or panini so when we saw a Chinese restaurant it was so amazing!
We went in and it was far from a hole-in-the-wall, by the way. It was very large, so nice and the food was soooo good!! It was only $4.50 for my chicken with cashew entree and they even took the meal vouchers we get through our program that pays for some of our food and groceries! Score!!
Then today we went back to that same piazza and ate pizza for lunch while sitting on the steps of the fountain in the middle and then went to this adorable coffee shop down one of the adjoining streets. It was so peaceful and truly was an "I'm in Rome" moment.
Such a lovely day, and might I add, one of the best study environments I could ever ask for! Ahhh [contented sigh] :)
Love and Style,
L.M.
For the past few weekends in particular, it has just been awesome. I've been going into the weekends with just a few plans and not too many expectations and they have just been turning out like a dream.
On Friday night we did something that we hadn't yet done, and that's to go out at night in our particular area of Rome. It's a really hip, young area with lots of bars and hot-spots that stay open late at night/early morning yet my roommate and I hadn't yet been out. So Friday night we went out to this bar with a group of our friends and it was sooo amazing!! It was super small and crowded upstairs but then we discovered that there was a whole downstairs with tons of seating, cool tables and awesome patterns and prints on the furniture and walls. They had TVs playing music videos of popular songs but then the DJ from upstairs was blasting all downstairs too. It was so amazing and we had such a blast.
Then, the next day, we slept in and when we woke up we decided to get some lunch and explore our area a bit more, being that going to that bar opened our knowledge up to a whole different part of our area. So we went over there and what did we find? A little hole-in-the-wall Chinese restaurant!!! Now, while this may not seem all that exciting, you have to realize that here in Italy like 98% of the food is pizza, pasta or panini so when we saw a Chinese restaurant it was so amazing!
We went in and it was far from a hole-in-the-wall, by the way. It was very large, so nice and the food was soooo good!! It was only $4.50 for my chicken with cashew entree and they even took the meal vouchers we get through our program that pays for some of our food and groceries! Score!!
Then today we went back to that same piazza and ate pizza for lunch while sitting on the steps of the fountain in the middle and then went to this adorable coffee shop down one of the adjoining streets. It was so peaceful and truly was an "I'm in Rome" moment.
Such a lovely day, and might I add, one of the best study environments I could ever ask for! Ahhh [contented sigh] :)
Love and Style,
L.M.
My roommate and I at the adorable bar!
The awesome Chinese place! A total gem of a discovery. :)
Saturday, October 22, 2011
An awesome day.
Today my friends and I went out shopping on one of the main streets for shopping in Rome! It's called Via del Corso, and we had some serious good times today!
We started the day off by sleeping in (something we hadn't done in a long time) and then got up, got ready and went to our friend's apartment for what was a totally awesome lunch! We had manicotti, green beans, fruit salad and periferols for dessert!
Then we headed out for a day of shopping! I had many things on my list and I found most of them, the thing I'm most excited about being real Italian boots!! There are boot stores everywhere here. Boots are so popular and you see people wearing them everywhere you turn and just as much you see boot and shoe stores everywhere you turn as well. And we're talking nice boots here.
They're usually anywhere from 135 Euro to 160 Euro and upwards, bearing in mind that it's even more when you convert it to U.S. dollars, since one Euro is equal to about $1.40, roughly. However, I am suuuuuuuch a boot fanatic. I could literally wear boots every day, no other shoes, and be completely fine. They just make me feel like I'm so set to go anywhere and they go with so many things! So, with that said, I knew that I would really like and appreciate getting a pair of Italian boots.
However, they needed to be within my price range. I decided that, rather than buying 20 small things, I would rather buy 10 nice things while I'm here in Italy. Things that will last me for a long time and things that are truly special. And alas! I found boots today! They're such nice boots - brown, distressed suede with wooden soles that are going to be so great for walking around on all of the uneven, unfilled in cobblestone that is literally everywhere in Rome. It's so difficult to walk on because it's so uneven, it hurts your feet and scuffs up your cheap shoes something awful! But these are so sturdy and just walking home I could even tell that it was so much nicer walking with the thick, wooden bottom. Italian items are so well made. I've noticed that with clothes, shoes and handbags alike. Everything is leather and everything is real, classy, so nice and truly well made. You indeed may have to pay more, but the quality of the items is guaranteed to be nicer.
My new boots are so well made, real suede and they're made in Italy, bought in an authentic Italian shoe store (not some chain store; they are an actual Italian leather and such shoe store) and I only paid 110 Euro. Grant it, that is a lot more than I think I have ever spent on boots, but I am soooo happy and so excited to wear them. I got something that is truly special and that I can cherish for years to come.
I love shopping and I love Italian boots!!!!
Love and Style,
L.M.
We started the day off by sleeping in (something we hadn't done in a long time) and then got up, got ready and went to our friend's apartment for what was a totally awesome lunch! We had manicotti, green beans, fruit salad and periferols for dessert!
Then we headed out for a day of shopping! I had many things on my list and I found most of them, the thing I'm most excited about being real Italian boots!! There are boot stores everywhere here. Boots are so popular and you see people wearing them everywhere you turn and just as much you see boot and shoe stores everywhere you turn as well. And we're talking nice boots here.
They're usually anywhere from 135 Euro to 160 Euro and upwards, bearing in mind that it's even more when you convert it to U.S. dollars, since one Euro is equal to about $1.40, roughly. However, I am suuuuuuuch a boot fanatic. I could literally wear boots every day, no other shoes, and be completely fine. They just make me feel like I'm so set to go anywhere and they go with so many things! So, with that said, I knew that I would really like and appreciate getting a pair of Italian boots.
However, they needed to be within my price range. I decided that, rather than buying 20 small things, I would rather buy 10 nice things while I'm here in Italy. Things that will last me for a long time and things that are truly special. And alas! I found boots today! They're such nice boots - brown, distressed suede with wooden soles that are going to be so great for walking around on all of the uneven, unfilled in cobblestone that is literally everywhere in Rome. It's so difficult to walk on because it's so uneven, it hurts your feet and scuffs up your cheap shoes something awful! But these are so sturdy and just walking home I could even tell that it was so much nicer walking with the thick, wooden bottom. Italian items are so well made. I've noticed that with clothes, shoes and handbags alike. Everything is leather and everything is real, classy, so nice and truly well made. You indeed may have to pay more, but the quality of the items is guaranteed to be nicer.
My new boots are so well made, real suede and they're made in Italy, bought in an authentic Italian shoe store (not some chain store; they are an actual Italian leather and such shoe store) and I only paid 110 Euro. Grant it, that is a lot more than I think I have ever spent on boots, but I am soooo happy and so excited to wear them. I got something that is truly special and that I can cherish for years to come.
I love shopping and I love Italian boots!!!!
Love and Style,
L.M.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Blogging on the highway.
I officially think that this is really cool. At the moment, I am riding in the inner lane of a highway going to Rome on our group bus. Since our apartments in Rome don't come with internet, we all got the internet sticks and I just found out that you can connect almost anywhere, including the freeway!
I love the internet.
I just checked my emails, tweeted and checked Facebook, all while stuck in traffic going back to Rome. Which leads me to my observation of the moment - traffic going into Rome (we're coming back from Pompeii) is very heavy. I don't know for sure, but I wonder if it has anything to do with the riots.
We have officially been on the bus for three hours and 15 minutes on a trip that Google maps tells me should take two hours and 30 minutes. I'm kinda ready to get off the bus, but, then again, now that I know I can get internet... I 'm actually enjoying it more than usual, even if it has been a looooong time and we aren't even off the freeway yet.
Anyway, that's all for now!
Ciao tutti!
Love and Style,
L.M.
I love the internet.
I just checked my emails, tweeted and checked Facebook, all while stuck in traffic going back to Rome. Which leads me to my observation of the moment - traffic going into Rome (we're coming back from Pompeii) is very heavy. I don't know for sure, but I wonder if it has anything to do with the riots.
We have officially been on the bus for three hours and 15 minutes on a trip that Google maps tells me should take two hours and 30 minutes. I'm kinda ready to get off the bus, but, then again, now that I know I can get internet... I 'm actually enjoying it more than usual, even if it has been a looooong time and we aren't even off the freeway yet.
Anyway, that's all for now!
Ciao tutti!
Love and Style,
L.M.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Witnessing history.
Ciao tutti,
It's with a different tone that I write you tonight, as much has been going on today in beautiful Roma. We are on a trip to Pompeii, Naples and Capri this weekend and, thus, are not in Rome at the moment, but we learned this evening that riots have been taking place in Rome near the Colosseum since earlier today.
The riots are due to economic unrest going on and these riots are not only being seen in Rome, but in many, many countries, including the U.S.
See this article for a brief overview of the happenings.
Then see this for more details and history.
Tomorrow we head back to Rome after our weekend away, and I'm so interested to see what's going on. Tomorrow is also a very large soccer game which is sure to bring even more uproar, plus if these riots continue - it is sure to be an interesting time. Adding more turbulence to the situation is the fact that the happenings with Berlusconi just occurred yesterday.
While I'm excited to witness history in the making, I really hope and pray that things can settle without too much destruction to property and human life.
Love, Style and Thoughts for Peace,
L.M.
It's with a different tone that I write you tonight, as much has been going on today in beautiful Roma. We are on a trip to Pompeii, Naples and Capri this weekend and, thus, are not in Rome at the moment, but we learned this evening that riots have been taking place in Rome near the Colosseum since earlier today.
The riots are due to economic unrest going on and these riots are not only being seen in Rome, but in many, many countries, including the U.S.
See this article for a brief overview of the happenings.
Then see this for more details and history.
Tomorrow we head back to Rome after our weekend away, and I'm so interested to see what's going on. Tomorrow is also a very large soccer game which is sure to bring even more uproar, plus if these riots continue - it is sure to be an interesting time. Adding more turbulence to the situation is the fact that the happenings with Berlusconi just occurred yesterday.
While I'm excited to witness history in the making, I really hope and pray that things can settle without too much destruction to property and human life.
Love, Style and Thoughts for Peace,
L.M.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Oatmeal and apparently looking Italian.
Ciao amici!
I'm writing today with two completely unrelated topics on my mind. The first is one that is now stuck in my mind and it's frustrating because I'm not sure there's anything I can do about it.
I have a craving for oatmeal.
This started back last week when my roommate and I were in the supermarket down the street and a fellow American from another study abroad program came up to me and asked if I knew the Italian word for oatmeal. I didn't but wished him luck and that was that. However, the thought of oatmeal stuck with me.
This has only been intensified by the fact that, for the past few days now, my boyfriend has been eating oatmeal during our Skype conversations. The way the time difference works out, we usually talk during my night/his morning. He has just woken up and is eating breakfast, and his breakfast for a while now has been oatmeal.
It sounds so good!!! But I don't know if they have it here! I was looking for a little bit in the store yesterday and didn't see anything and I definitely haven't seen it out and about anywhere else but I'm going to look up the word and actually go talk with someone next time. We'll see what happens there, but I sure do hope they have it somewhere in Rome! :)
Then the second experience on my mind is the fact that my roommate and I have now been confused for Italians and been asked directions three times. One time we were going for a run and two ladies on a Vespa asked us where something was, another time a guy walking down the street asked us how to get somewhere and another time this couple asked us where something was. The couple was the most interesting, because, as was also the case with the ladies on the Vespa, we're new here and don't know where too many things are. Thus, we didn't know where the place they were looking for was. The ladies on the Vespa were totally fine and said o.k., no problem, but the couple had a different reaction. The lady of the couple got so frustrated that we didn't know where the place was and even made this frustrated gesture. Not quite knowing what the crazy problem was, we simply said "mi dispiace" and continued walking.
So that was funny, but the cool thing was that we have definitely been mistaken for Italians that know where they're going and know where things are three times now! There's a certain type of awesome feeling that comes with experiences like that. :) It feels rewarding and makes you feel like you maybe do actually fit in a little bit.
Love and Style,
L.M.
I'm writing today with two completely unrelated topics on my mind. The first is one that is now stuck in my mind and it's frustrating because I'm not sure there's anything I can do about it.
I have a craving for oatmeal.
This started back last week when my roommate and I were in the supermarket down the street and a fellow American from another study abroad program came up to me and asked if I knew the Italian word for oatmeal. I didn't but wished him luck and that was that. However, the thought of oatmeal stuck with me.
This has only been intensified by the fact that, for the past few days now, my boyfriend has been eating oatmeal during our Skype conversations. The way the time difference works out, we usually talk during my night/his morning. He has just woken up and is eating breakfast, and his breakfast for a while now has been oatmeal.
It sounds so good!!! But I don't know if they have it here! I was looking for a little bit in the store yesterday and didn't see anything and I definitely haven't seen it out and about anywhere else but I'm going to look up the word and actually go talk with someone next time. We'll see what happens there, but I sure do hope they have it somewhere in Rome! :)
Then the second experience on my mind is the fact that my roommate and I have now been confused for Italians and been asked directions three times. One time we were going for a run and two ladies on a Vespa asked us where something was, another time a guy walking down the street asked us how to get somewhere and another time this couple asked us where something was. The couple was the most interesting, because, as was also the case with the ladies on the Vespa, we're new here and don't know where too many things are. Thus, we didn't know where the place they were looking for was. The ladies on the Vespa were totally fine and said o.k., no problem, but the couple had a different reaction. The lady of the couple got so frustrated that we didn't know where the place was and even made this frustrated gesture. Not quite knowing what the crazy problem was, we simply said "mi dispiace" and continued walking.
So that was funny, but the cool thing was that we have definitely been mistaken for Italians that know where they're going and know where things are three times now! There's a certain type of awesome feeling that comes with experiences like that. :) It feels rewarding and makes you feel like you maybe do actually fit in a little bit.
Love and Style,
L.M.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Roman McDonalds.
Ciao tutti!!
Words cannot express how amazing Rome has been thus far. We arrived on Saturday and it is now Tuesday, but it already feels as if we have settled in a lot. Classes started yesterday and have been absolutely wonderful so far! My Rome Through the Ages and Intro to Renaissance and Baroque Art classes seem like they are going to be so fascinating and I find myself feeling more intersted than usual in class. I always enjoy classes and learning, so much so that sometimes I think I'm a bit odd... However, there's something about learning about subjects while being in the city in which it all happened that is fascinating and I truly cannot wait to learn more.
I knew I would love Rome because I remembered how I fell in love with it last time I was here, however, the moment that feeling hit me again was so fantastic. We were in the cab going from our drop-off spot to our individual apartments and just driving down the street it all came back to me. Seeing the city, how it bustles with modernity yet is surrounded by antiquity and history, it's so amazing. There's just something about this city that I can't put my finger on now to describe it...maybe I'll eventually be able to pinpoint it, but it's just fantastic.
However, no matter how amazing a place is, sometimes you just long for what you're used to - a taste of home. And my roommate and I found that on our first night in Rome. We got to our apartment, unpacked a little bit and then headed out to explore. When it came time for dinner, we both agreed that we were actually kind of tired of eating paninis, pizza and pasta for all of our meals. We wanted something different, and we wanted something like home. What did we find? A sign saying that McDonalds was five minutes away.
Thus, we went on an adventure. We walked for close to an hour trying to find the McDonalds that was somewhere five minutes away. Grant it, if we would have had access to our smart phones, with their Google maps and other apps, we probably could have found it in a matter of seconds. However, that's another interesting aspect of being abroad. It's a total change from what your used to, even down to the detail of cell phones. Being without my iPhone for uses such as a camera and iPod has been interesting, and, in cases such as this one, where it would have been so helpful to be able to Google where the McDonalds was, it certainly makes you appreciate it while you have it and realize how dependent we truly are on technology.
None the less, the hour-long adventure to McDonalds was soooooo worth it. We eventually found it and it was one of the nicest McDonalds I have ever been to. (Second on the list would have to be the Rock n' Roll McDonalds in Chicago!) The menù had some different additions to it...such as a sandwich called "toast" and fried olives... not sure how I feel about that last one. However, I stuck to my usual when I head to Micky-Dee's: chicken McNuggets, fries and a coke. A six-piece meal cost about six Euro, and then each container of katsup cost 20 Euro cents. Yes...they charge for katsup. It's really rare here, so I suppose maybe that's why. :)
It was so nice to have a taste of something familiar. Even though I don't go to McDonalds all that much back home, it was just the same as in the States. I can easily say that I have never appreciated or enjoyed McDonalds as much as I did that night. It was wonderful. :) And it's good to know that it's there waiting for me if I ever need a reminder of home again.
Love and Style,
L.M.
Words cannot express how amazing Rome has been thus far. We arrived on Saturday and it is now Tuesday, but it already feels as if we have settled in a lot. Classes started yesterday and have been absolutely wonderful so far! My Rome Through the Ages and Intro to Renaissance and Baroque Art classes seem like they are going to be so fascinating and I find myself feeling more intersted than usual in class. I always enjoy classes and learning, so much so that sometimes I think I'm a bit odd... However, there's something about learning about subjects while being in the city in which it all happened that is fascinating and I truly cannot wait to learn more.
I knew I would love Rome because I remembered how I fell in love with it last time I was here, however, the moment that feeling hit me again was so fantastic. We were in the cab going from our drop-off spot to our individual apartments and just driving down the street it all came back to me. Seeing the city, how it bustles with modernity yet is surrounded by antiquity and history, it's so amazing. There's just something about this city that I can't put my finger on now to describe it...maybe I'll eventually be able to pinpoint it, but it's just fantastic.
However, no matter how amazing a place is, sometimes you just long for what you're used to - a taste of home. And my roommate and I found that on our first night in Rome. We got to our apartment, unpacked a little bit and then headed out to explore. When it came time for dinner, we both agreed that we were actually kind of tired of eating paninis, pizza and pasta for all of our meals. We wanted something different, and we wanted something like home. What did we find? A sign saying that McDonalds was five minutes away.
Thus, we went on an adventure. We walked for close to an hour trying to find the McDonalds that was somewhere five minutes away. Grant it, if we would have had access to our smart phones, with their Google maps and other apps, we probably could have found it in a matter of seconds. However, that's another interesting aspect of being abroad. It's a total change from what your used to, even down to the detail of cell phones. Being without my iPhone for uses such as a camera and iPod has been interesting, and, in cases such as this one, where it would have been so helpful to be able to Google where the McDonalds was, it certainly makes you appreciate it while you have it and realize how dependent we truly are on technology.
None the less, the hour-long adventure to McDonalds was soooooo worth it. We eventually found it and it was one of the nicest McDonalds I have ever been to. (Second on the list would have to be the Rock n' Roll McDonalds in Chicago!) The menù had some different additions to it...such as a sandwich called "toast" and fried olives... not sure how I feel about that last one. However, I stuck to my usual when I head to Micky-Dee's: chicken McNuggets, fries and a coke. A six-piece meal cost about six Euro, and then each container of katsup cost 20 Euro cents. Yes...they charge for katsup. It's really rare here, so I suppose maybe that's why. :)
It was so nice to have a taste of something familiar. Even though I don't go to McDonalds all that much back home, it was just the same as in the States. I can easily say that I have never appreciated or enjoyed McDonalds as much as I did that night. It was wonderful. :) And it's good to know that it's there waiting for me if I ever need a reminder of home again.
Love and Style,
L.M.
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