A week ago today, it was Blue Monday, supposedly the most depressing day of the year. But, with meteorologists predicting lots of snow today and sub-zero temperatures with the wind chill this week, I’m thinking we all could use a little cheering up.
So, today we’re heading to sunny Italy, albeit vicariously, with my daughter, Elise, and her best friend, Abby. The two spent about six weeks there last spring on a study abroad trip for Elise with the University of Michigan-Dearborn, and some fun in the sun for Abby.
When Elise wasn’t in classes at the University of Padua — the 800-year-old university where Galileo studied and taught — the two explored the incredibly beautiful sights and vibrant culture of Italy.
They visited Venice, Florence, Assisi, Cinque Terra, Milan, Rome, Sorrento and Naples. They even flew to Berlin, Germany, to spend a weekend there. Take a look at Elise’s video summarizing their unforgettable adventure.
They also recorded their journey in wonderfully entertaining weekly updates on Facebook, sharing some of the things they learned along the way. So pack up your winter blues, get on board and experience Italy more closely through their eyes.
Week 1 – Acclimating to Italian life
Thursday 5/10: 1. Phone stores are a half-hour walk away. 2. You need your passport to get a new SIM card. 3. You should know you need your passport before you leave to said half-hour-away phone store. 4. Italians don’t know how to make hamburgers.
Week 2 – Gondalas, nuns and cathedrals
They began their second week in Italy wandering around Venice, and here’s what they had to say about that magical city.
Friday 5/11: 1. Venice is BEAUTIFUL and also easy to get lost in. But sometimes getting lost for 2+ hours lets you see the even-more beautiful, quiet backstreets that are untouched by tourists.
They had an amazing experience in Assisi.
From their countryside hostel, they boarded a bus that would take them to the city. But they got off at the wrong bus stop and had no idea where they were. At the bus stop with them were a group of Franciscan nuns from the U.S. who were on their way to the Basilicas of St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi. I’ll let Abby tell you the rest of the story:
… [The nuns] invited us to join them. So, we entered this Cathedral where this group of sisters were going to renew their baptism. They took us in, and we renewed our baptism with them and had this whole prayer service (at the baptismal fount of St. Francis and St. Clare!!!). Then we went with them to the Basilica of St. Clare to see the cross that spoke to Saint Francis (like literally spoke out loud and gave him his life purpose).
After that we went with the sisters to the tombs of St. Francis and St. Clare and prayed with them there. Finally, they invited us to lunch at this restaurant, and we drank wine with them and ate pasta and they paid for our meal! What a wonderful way to experience Assisi, where Saint Francis and Saint Clare are from, all because we got lost and missed our bus stop! As Sister Patty said, it was a “Momento di Deo” or “God moment.”
From Assisi, they made their way to Florence, where they climbed the stone steps that spiral up to the 700-year old Duomo, or dome, of Florence Cathedral, giving them an amazing view of the city and surrounding mountains.
After Florence, they went to Cinque Terre, along the Italian Riviera’s rugged coastline.
Reporting on their second week in Italy, Elise commented on how grateful they were for having cars here at home to get you from one place to another, rather than walking or relying on public transportation. She also shared these observations.
Monday 5/14: 1. Always overestimate how long it will take you to walk to the train station, otherwise the locals will have to witness you frantically running towards said train station. 2. The Italian bus system is confusing, and sometimes you just have to give up and desperately resort to an over-priced taxi to get to your hostel.
Week 3 – Fashion, food and gelato
Of their time in Milan, Abby noted that the Milanese “aren’t as snobby” as they expected them to be, and clothing stores in Milan have “very-well-dressed, intimidating security guards.”
Wherever they went they ate delicious Italian specialties in small cafes and quaint restaurants and fell in love with gelato. They both agreed that Almond and Stracciatella were their favorite flavors.
They also discovered the hard way that subway doors “stop for no man.” According to Abby,
They also might separate you and your friend, leaving Elise standing on the platform, waving to Abby, who’s inside the car, getting shot off in the wrong direction.”
Week 4 – German beer, Roman ruins and papal sightings
In Germany, they indulged in sausage and sauerkraut, pretzels and beer, and saw the Berlin Wall, Brandenburg Tor, and the Holocaust Memorial. At the Berliner Fernsehturm, they took the elevator up about 666 feet to get a beautiful 360-degree view of the city from the visitor platform.
The weekend after Germany, they headed to Rome. Of their time there, Elise wrote:
Saturday 6/2: Rome is HOT in June. Also, somehow managed to fit the Vatican Museums, Raphael’s Rooms, Sistine Chapel, Saint Peter’s Basilica, the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and the Palatine Hill (where Rome was founded), and our 14th gelato all in one day. Clocked in 10 miles of walking.
The next day they stopped to hear the Pope address the crowd and missed their train!
Week 5 – Final exams, missed flight and fun in the sun
The good news is Elise finished her class and passed the final exam. The bad news — missing their flight to Sorrento — led to this Pro Tip from Abby:
NEVER RELY ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT IF YOU HAVE A FLIGHT TO CATCH. Otherwise, you’ll be stuck taking an hour-long bus ride to a five-hour long train ride to an hour-long, crowed, hot, tram to your hotel in Sorrento. However, eating a fresh seafood dinner right on the ocean while the sun sets makes up for the day’s rough start.
Despite the struggle to get there, they savored their time in Sorrento, as their time in Italy was nearing an end. They took in a great view of Mount Vesuvius while lounging in floating chairs along the Amalfi Coast. They also soaked up a little too much sun, which led to their last pro tip:
Italian sun does not mess around. Apply ample amounts of sunscreen!
Arrivederci, Roma
What an adventure, eh? Well, I hope hearing their story put a smile on your face and maybe even inspired you to follow in their footsteps some day soon.
I wish you joy today, my friends. Arrivederci!
1 Comment
After 14 days of study and learning we have covered a fraction of the time it takes to see empires come and go in the Holy land, Israel has seen 27 civilizations up to now. One built on top of the other one. We have many pictures to organize and share. It is great to your daughters moving through life, pursuing excellence. Keep those pictures coming. Dave and Nancy