Last weekend... June 3-5
Okay, here goes a lot of catch up and I hope I remember it all. So....
Friday June 3rd
Today was the first day of class and we had a Master Class with Gabriele Micheli, who is famous for his opera coaching and directing in Italy. He was very congenial and we learned a lot from him. The master class lasted from 9 AM until 1 PM then we were free the rest of the day. Those of us who didn't sing today (including yours truly) will sing on Monday for Signore Micheli. Then, we got lunch and cell phones (not at the same place). That's when I started to walk home. The two other girls I was with livedon the opposite side of town, so I was walking by myself. It was fine though because I knew the area well by now and I knew I'd blend in better if I didn't have someone talking to me in English. So, I started home (it was SO hot) and I wanted to take my cellphone stuff home so I wouldn't lose it. Well, on the way, there was a group of 3 american guys (you could tell they were American by their idiotic behavior and their clothing and they were saying 'Buongiorno' to every person they passed with a thick American accent.) When they got to me and said 'Buongiorno' as they stared at me intently with their jaws dropped. I just ignored them because they were being idiots. They must've thought that meant I was Italian and didn't understand English because one of them said to others rather loudly 'Wow! She's hot.' So, I turned around and said 'Thanks. And I'm American.' The replied with 'Cool, me too.' Uh duh! Obviously! Now I know where Americans get their bad name in Europe from; other than Bush. Now, that I've offended a few of you (but all of you know my views on politics) on with the day! So, not even 100 meters further, a street vendor starts hollering at me 'Hello! Hello baby!' I ignored him for awhile until it got so annoying that I turned to him and called out 'Non grazie!' Which means 'No thank you!' Then he calls back, 'Oh italiano eh?' with a smile. So, he maybe he though I was Italian because I actually didn't speak English immediately to him. Like most Americans do when they visit Europe. It was hilarious. The rest of the evening, I spent with the other students at our apartment, talking and laughing. We made dinner and got some champagne and stayed up rather late having a blast.
Saturday June 4
We had already decided that were going to go to the Isle of Elba (if you've seen the Count of Monte Cristo, then you know what Isle I'm talking about.). So, we left on the 9:30 train to get to Piombino to take the ferry to Elba. When we finally arrived on Elba (after running to catch the ferry and everyone on the ferry watching us and I'm sure laughing at us) we walked all over to try and find a hotel (unsuccessfully) for those who wanted to stay overnight, we went to a beach. But, Todd who claimed he knew the way, did NOT and we had to walk all the way up a large hill that felt like a small mountain. Boy did I get a workout! See, Jahree, I'm getting tons of exercise!!! Then walked halfway down it again before finding out we took a wrong turn and needed to walk back to the top to get to the correct turn for the beach! But it was SO beautiful when we got there. It was amazing. The water was crystal clear. You could see ALL the way down. I'm tellin ya, it was the clearest (is that correct grammar???) water I've ever seen. And the whole ocean was such a beautiful blue. There were all kinds of rounded pebbles lining the shore and sea bottom (at least as far as I went out). We swam and relaxed there all afternoon until we decided to leave to try and find a hotel before it was to late to get back if we needed to. So, we walked for another hour, until it was 6:30 (18:30) and the last ferry we could catch to get back to Florence that night was 7:00 (19:00). So, me and three others who decided that since we hadn't found a hotel yet they wanted to head back before they ended up sleeping outside on the Island. The four of us RAN back to the port to get our tickets and board the ferry. But we were closer than we thought and made it with 10 minutes to spare. On the ride back from the Isle there was a flock of seagulls flying over our boat, so we decided to feed them (I had brought some chips for my lunch). Dru held out the chips and I and Aaron took pictures. Then, I gave my camera to Dru to take pictures of me feeding the seagulls. It was SO fun!!! I'd hold my hand all the way out and when one would spot me, he'd hover right over me with his beak out and then dive in and grab the chip real fast and fly away. It was awesome. Then the whole trip home was tightly scheduled. We took the bus from Piombino to Campiglia Mattina, we had literally 3-5 minutes to buy train tickets to Pisa and validate them. It was a rush. Then it was the same story from Pisa to Florence. We felt like we were on the Amazing Race. We finally arrived home at 1 AM and we were EXHAUSTED!!!
Sunday June 5
We didn't wake up until 1 pm this afternoon. We were so tired! So, once we woke up, we ate lunch and then went down the street for gelato. It was awesome! America definitely needs good gelato. Then we decided we'd head towards the grocery store (Standa) but we took our time getting there and looked at quite a few shops on the way. Which was torture! I did need a bag like purse to carry music and essentials in. So, I got one for €12 at a department store at Piazza di Republicca. It was a good deal considering how expensive everything else was there (such as clothing around €250). Then we went to Standa and began noticing the gorgeous men that were out today!!! Oh man they were so beautiful! And I'm so spoiled because they all tell me how bellissima I am... All this man attention is going to spoil me. Ciao miei amici!!!
Friday June 3rd
Today was the first day of class and we had a Master Class with Gabriele Micheli, who is famous for his opera coaching and directing in Italy. He was very congenial and we learned a lot from him. The master class lasted from 9 AM until 1 PM then we were free the rest of the day. Those of us who didn't sing today (including yours truly) will sing on Monday for Signore Micheli. Then, we got lunch and cell phones (not at the same place). That's when I started to walk home. The two other girls I was with livedon the opposite side of town, so I was walking by myself. It was fine though because I knew the area well by now and I knew I'd blend in better if I didn't have someone talking to me in English. So, I started home (it was SO hot) and I wanted to take my cellphone stuff home so I wouldn't lose it. Well, on the way, there was a group of 3 american guys (you could tell they were American by their idiotic behavior and their clothing and they were saying 'Buongiorno' to every person they passed with a thick American accent.) When they got to me and said 'Buongiorno' as they stared at me intently with their jaws dropped. I just ignored them because they were being idiots. They must've thought that meant I was Italian and didn't understand English because one of them said to others rather loudly 'Wow! She's hot.' So, I turned around and said 'Thanks. And I'm American.' The replied with 'Cool, me too.' Uh duh! Obviously! Now I know where Americans get their bad name in Europe from; other than Bush. Now, that I've offended a few of you (but all of you know my views on politics) on with the day! So, not even 100 meters further, a street vendor starts hollering at me 'Hello! Hello baby!' I ignored him for awhile until it got so annoying that I turned to him and called out 'Non grazie!' Which means 'No thank you!' Then he calls back, 'Oh italiano eh?' with a smile. So, he maybe he though I was Italian because I actually didn't speak English immediately to him. Like most Americans do when they visit Europe. It was hilarious. The rest of the evening, I spent with the other students at our apartment, talking and laughing. We made dinner and got some champagne and stayed up rather late having a blast.
Saturday June 4
We had already decided that were going to go to the Isle of Elba (if you've seen the Count of Monte Cristo, then you know what Isle I'm talking about.). So, we left on the 9:30 train to get to Piombino to take the ferry to Elba. When we finally arrived on Elba (after running to catch the ferry and everyone on the ferry watching us and I'm sure laughing at us) we walked all over to try and find a hotel (unsuccessfully) for those who wanted to stay overnight, we went to a beach. But, Todd who claimed he knew the way, did NOT and we had to walk all the way up a large hill that felt like a small mountain. Boy did I get a workout! See, Jahree, I'm getting tons of exercise!!! Then walked halfway down it again before finding out we took a wrong turn and needed to walk back to the top to get to the correct turn for the beach! But it was SO beautiful when we got there. It was amazing. The water was crystal clear. You could see ALL the way down. I'm tellin ya, it was the clearest (is that correct grammar???) water I've ever seen. And the whole ocean was such a beautiful blue. There were all kinds of rounded pebbles lining the shore and sea bottom (at least as far as I went out). We swam and relaxed there all afternoon until we decided to leave to try and find a hotel before it was to late to get back if we needed to. So, we walked for another hour, until it was 6:30 (18:30) and the last ferry we could catch to get back to Florence that night was 7:00 (19:00). So, me and three others who decided that since we hadn't found a hotel yet they wanted to head back before they ended up sleeping outside on the Island. The four of us RAN back to the port to get our tickets and board the ferry. But we were closer than we thought and made it with 10 minutes to spare. On the ride back from the Isle there was a flock of seagulls flying over our boat, so we decided to feed them (I had brought some chips for my lunch). Dru held out the chips and I and Aaron took pictures. Then, I gave my camera to Dru to take pictures of me feeding the seagulls. It was SO fun!!! I'd hold my hand all the way out and when one would spot me, he'd hover right over me with his beak out and then dive in and grab the chip real fast and fly away. It was awesome. Then the whole trip home was tightly scheduled. We took the bus from Piombino to Campiglia Mattina, we had literally 3-5 minutes to buy train tickets to Pisa and validate them. It was a rush. Then it was the same story from Pisa to Florence. We felt like we were on the Amazing Race. We finally arrived home at 1 AM and we were EXHAUSTED!!!
Sunday June 5
We didn't wake up until 1 pm this afternoon. We were so tired! So, once we woke up, we ate lunch and then went down the street for gelato. It was awesome! America definitely needs good gelato. Then we decided we'd head towards the grocery store (Standa) but we took our time getting there and looked at quite a few shops on the way. Which was torture! I did need a bag like purse to carry music and essentials in. So, I got one for €12 at a department store at Piazza di Republicca. It was a good deal considering how expensive everything else was there (such as clothing around €250). Then we went to Standa and began noticing the gorgeous men that were out today!!! Oh man they were so beautiful! And I'm so spoiled because they all tell me how bellissima I am... All this man attention is going to spoil me. Ciao miei amici!!!
posted by Unknown @ 4:26 AM
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