12:26 AM, GMT+1
That's exactly what I thought to myself when I woke up Monday morning. There was this weird cold stuff on the ground outside. Never seen it before in my life. We just have earthquakes and fire in SoCal.
Other than that, nothing new. Going to the Inter-Panathinaikos game tomorrow, and I still haven't decided who I'm rooting for. And we apparently have snow this weekend... weird.
Time to curl up with a bottle of warm Nesquik, Elf, and... company.
Oh yeah. We watched The Three Musketeers yesterday in the big cinema in the Collegio. The Italians loved it-- yay for Keifer Sutherland and S.re Chris O'Donnell.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Sunday, November 23, 2008
I would walk 500 miles. On a freeway. In 1 celsius weather.
9:18 PM, GMT+1
I went to go see Benny Benassi (he's a big techno-artist, for those of you unfamiliar) this Thursday. He was having a free concert, and, well, this was just one of those times where I figured it was something I really couldn't pass up.
I left with a friend last Wednesday, and we first got into an aperitivo at a club called Old Fashion for free. An Aperitivo is like a snack buffet, kind of. From there, we high-tailed it to Porta Romana, where the Benassi concert was being held.
We got lost several times, getting different directions from the 8 Italians we asked.
Okay, Italy. Maybe it's time you got some REAL street signs, instead of posting barely-visible ones on the walls of buildings.
We got there in the end, and there was a literal MOB of people in front of the place. Stands to reason, though... but this was midnight, and we were tired. We cheated, pushed, and elbowed our way to the front of the line, finally got in.
Only to find out that there was hardly anyone actually in the club at that moment. We said hello to some friends, then Brandon asked the big black bouncer what time Benassi was showing up.
"Alle quattro," was his answer.
Yeah. No. We got out of there at one, and heard from friends later that he never showed at four. Hey, if I wasn't getting paid, I probably wouldn't do it either.
We had to walk home, although we had the chance to admire the area we were in. It was quiet, wide, and actually very pretty, considering it was Milan. I think if I had to, I would end up living there.
The walk was uneventful, except for where we decided to stroll on the autostrade (freeway) to get home. But we did. It was cold.
I am most likely going to see an Inter- Palathinaikos Champion's League game at San Siro on Wednesday. Yay! Anyone who wants stuff from San Siro better tell me now.
I went to go see Benny Benassi (he's a big techno-artist, for those of you unfamiliar) this Thursday. He was having a free concert, and, well, this was just one of those times where I figured it was something I really couldn't pass up.
I left with a friend last Wednesday, and we first got into an aperitivo at a club called Old Fashion for free. An Aperitivo is like a snack buffet, kind of. From there, we high-tailed it to Porta Romana, where the Benassi concert was being held.
We got lost several times, getting different directions from the 8 Italians we asked.
Okay, Italy. Maybe it's time you got some REAL street signs, instead of posting barely-visible ones on the walls of buildings.
We got there in the end, and there was a literal MOB of people in front of the place. Stands to reason, though... but this was midnight, and we were tired. We cheated, pushed, and elbowed our way to the front of the line, finally got in.
Only to find out that there was hardly anyone actually in the club at that moment. We said hello to some friends, then Brandon asked the big black bouncer what time Benassi was showing up.
"Alle quattro," was his answer.
Yeah. No. We got out of there at one, and heard from friends later that he never showed at four. Hey, if I wasn't getting paid, I probably wouldn't do it either.
We had to walk home, although we had the chance to admire the area we were in. It was quiet, wide, and actually very pretty, considering it was Milan. I think if I had to, I would end up living there.
The walk was uneventful, except for where we decided to stroll on the autostrade (freeway) to get home. But we did. It was cold.
I am most likely going to see an Inter- Palathinaikos Champion's League game at San Siro on Wednesday. Yay! Anyone who wants stuff from San Siro better tell me now.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
"Dimmi. Dimmi. Dimmi! WHAT DO YOU WANT?!"
11:32 PM, GMT+1
We heard that particular phrase when we walked into a Burger King in Rome so Britt could buy fries-- how American. "Dimmi" in Italian means "tell me". You'll hear it all the time from cashiers. So after we ordered, the cashier was speaking to the couple behind us, who were not paying attention in the slightest bit. He decided to get their attention another way.
Unfortunately, they spoke neither Italian nor English. They were French... and quicker than lightning, the cashier switched over to French to take their order.
Okay. When it's at the point where the McDonald's cashiers speak at least three languages and you can only speak one, it's time to re-evaluate your life.
This weekend we went to Rome, if you haven't figured that out yet. I finished midterms last week and caught the 11 AM train out of Milan, effectively using the last of my Eurail pass. Why Rome? Well, Britt told me she and her class were going to be there. Why not? My travel pass was going to expire soon anyway. May as well go see a pretty place.
I had a hostel booked, and after the 4 1/2 hour train ride, I hunted for a map (which I am framing in gold for helping me navigate Rome the ENTIRE trip), and went to my hostel. Wasn't bad, and cost me like 10 Euro for the night. Afterwards, I went to go meet Britt at her hostel, and got to say hello to people I hadn't seen in awhile, like Erica.
I chose to keep my valuables with Britt in the hotel (which she was staying at with her entire class of like 50 people), and left it in the safe of the room she shared with her Florence roommate Stephanie. My backpack I carried with me-- never know when you might need something. And I packed light anyway.
We went to go get some food at 5:30, because we were going to be taken to a private tour of the Sistine Chapel at like 7:30 PM. I tagged along-- thanks again, Britt. How many people get to sit on the floor of the Sistine Chapel? Not many-- and not for long. But we did. And I had great portions of the place explained to me. Although I still think Michelangelo should have researched what a whale looked like before he ended up drawing an oversized bass next to Jonah. But I got to experience firsthand a Rab Hatfield lecture. According to the Syracuse folks, Hatfield is the equivalent of Chuck Norris in the art department.
Then it was back to the hotel at like 9:45. I was just going to grab my stuff, but I stayed a little longer in order to say goodnight and all that. Stephanie turned on the TV, and a movie called "The Brothers Solomon" was on. It was in Italian. I watched a little bit of it... and then woke up the next morning. Midterms really took it out of me. And yes, I passed out in their hotel room.
After waking up, we decided to have breakfast. AKA I mooched off of the free breakfast the hotel provided for its customers. It was awesome! First time I had eggs for breakfast since orientation.
We had a bed-and-breakfast waiting for us for Saturday night, so we headed over there after breaking fast. It might have been the best experience I've had with an overnight room. If anyone is ever in Rome, I highly recommend it- Diocleziano B&B. It's only like five minutes from the train station.
The rest of our weekend passed by in a touristy way. Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, the like. But on Sunday, we got to see two things: Porta Portese, which is the biggest outdoor market in Italy, and the Italian National We're-The-Shit day.
In other words, the army rolled out their copters, tanks, tents, battlefield computers, planes, and had an airshow going. It was cool- planes were flying overhead, doing the smoke-thing in the colors of the Irish flag.
Then the train strike prevented me from going home that night, and I had to stay yet another night. But that was okay. We found a restaurant that had tacked pictures of Tigger and Winnie the Pooh all over the walls.
I'm listening to the Phantom of the Opera right now, by the way. Anyhow.
See y'all later.
We heard that particular phrase when we walked into a Burger King in Rome so Britt could buy fries-- how American. "Dimmi" in Italian means "tell me". You'll hear it all the time from cashiers. So after we ordered, the cashier was speaking to the couple behind us, who were not paying attention in the slightest bit. He decided to get their attention another way.
Unfortunately, they spoke neither Italian nor English. They were French... and quicker than lightning, the cashier switched over to French to take their order.
Okay. When it's at the point where the McDonald's cashiers speak at least three languages and you can only speak one, it's time to re-evaluate your life.
This weekend we went to Rome, if you haven't figured that out yet. I finished midterms last week and caught the 11 AM train out of Milan, effectively using the last of my Eurail pass. Why Rome? Well, Britt told me she and her class were going to be there. Why not? My travel pass was going to expire soon anyway. May as well go see a pretty place.
I had a hostel booked, and after the 4 1/2 hour train ride, I hunted for a map (which I am framing in gold for helping me navigate Rome the ENTIRE trip), and went to my hostel. Wasn't bad, and cost me like 10 Euro for the night. Afterwards, I went to go meet Britt at her hostel, and got to say hello to people I hadn't seen in awhile, like Erica.
I chose to keep my valuables with Britt in the hotel (which she was staying at with her entire class of like 50 people), and left it in the safe of the room she shared with her Florence roommate Stephanie. My backpack I carried with me-- never know when you might need something. And I packed light anyway.
We went to go get some food at 5:30, because we were going to be taken to a private tour of the Sistine Chapel at like 7:30 PM. I tagged along-- thanks again, Britt. How many people get to sit on the floor of the Sistine Chapel? Not many-- and not for long. But we did. And I had great portions of the place explained to me. Although I still think Michelangelo should have researched what a whale looked like before he ended up drawing an oversized bass next to Jonah. But I got to experience firsthand a Rab Hatfield lecture. According to the Syracuse folks, Hatfield is the equivalent of Chuck Norris in the art department.
Then it was back to the hotel at like 9:45. I was just going to grab my stuff, but I stayed a little longer in order to say goodnight and all that. Stephanie turned on the TV, and a movie called "The Brothers Solomon" was on. It was in Italian. I watched a little bit of it... and then woke up the next morning. Midterms really took it out of me. And yes, I passed out in their hotel room.
After waking up, we decided to have breakfast. AKA I mooched off of the free breakfast the hotel provided for its customers. It was awesome! First time I had eggs for breakfast since orientation.
We had a bed-and-breakfast waiting for us for Saturday night, so we headed over there after breaking fast. It might have been the best experience I've had with an overnight room. If anyone is ever in Rome, I highly recommend it- Diocleziano B&B. It's only like five minutes from the train station.
The rest of our weekend passed by in a touristy way. Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, the like. But on Sunday, we got to see two things: Porta Portese, which is the biggest outdoor market in Italy, and the Italian National We're-The-Shit day.
In other words, the army rolled out their copters, tanks, tents, battlefield computers, planes, and had an airshow going. It was cool- planes were flying overhead, doing the smoke-thing in the colors of the Irish flag.
Then the train strike prevented me from going home that night, and I had to stay yet another night. But that was okay. We found a restaurant that had tacked pictures of Tigger and Winnie the Pooh all over the walls.
I'm listening to the Phantom of the Opera right now, by the way. Anyhow.
See y'all later.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Time to stooooodieeee......
10:22 PM, GMT+1
So while everyone in the known universe is on Obama-watch, I'm definitely on International-Relations-and-the-Middle-East-Watch because of a stupid midterm tomorrow. This blows.
I get to go to Rome this weekend and do as the Romans do. Whatever that means. I'm probably going to end up visiting the Big Kahuna in the Vatican, and the Collosseum. Whatever I decide to do, I'm sure it will be a good time.
Weather update- it's raining. A lot.
I have four midterms this week, starting tomorrow. Hooray! And I'm sitting here in the dimly lit library, under a very small lamp, hunched over my notes. The window's about three feet to my left, and the wind's howling. I've also got CNN up on my computer so I can see which candidate gave America more brain-candy. Speaking of which, I think I'm going to write an article about the celebritization of presidential candidates. I do wish politics was a quiet, private affair where everyone made educated decisions. Hahahahahaha. What a joke.
Hopefully, the colder weather and the rain will mean no more moskeeters in my room. Except that if I get one warm day, I'm going to find myself on the menu for half of the insect population in Milan.
Oh, this weekend, I found an awesome pasta place by the Duomo. Thank you, Rick Steves. It's a chain full of Filipino people. Who happen to be all over Milan. It's like the cold and the rain brought all the brown people out!
Back to studying for me.
So while everyone in the known universe is on Obama-watch, I'm definitely on International-Relations-and-the-Middle-East-Watch because of a stupid midterm tomorrow. This blows.
I get to go to Rome this weekend and do as the Romans do. Whatever that means. I'm probably going to end up visiting the Big Kahuna in the Vatican, and the Collosseum. Whatever I decide to do, I'm sure it will be a good time.
Weather update- it's raining. A lot.
I have four midterms this week, starting tomorrow. Hooray! And I'm sitting here in the dimly lit library, under a very small lamp, hunched over my notes. The window's about three feet to my left, and the wind's howling. I've also got CNN up on my computer so I can see which candidate gave America more brain-candy. Speaking of which, I think I'm going to write an article about the celebritization of presidential candidates. I do wish politics was a quiet, private affair where everyone made educated decisions. Hahahahahaha. What a joke.
Hopefully, the colder weather and the rain will mean no more moskeeters in my room. Except that if I get one warm day, I'm going to find myself on the menu for half of the insect population in Milan.
Oh, this weekend, I found an awesome pasta place by the Duomo. Thank you, Rick Steves. It's a chain full of Filipino people. Who happen to be all over Milan. It's like the cold and the rain brought all the brown people out!
Back to studying for me.
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