Paris

I just realized that I had a few posts lurking around in the draft section, so I'll be posting them all soon. I guess I wish I updated more while I was there, but when you have so much fun living every day life-- anything tech/communication related becomes so secondary.


On Our Way to France

To be honest, at first I was worried that my trip to Paris would be some amalgamation of overrated sites, high amounts of tourism, and snobby and unhelpful French people, but I was so, so wrong. Paris has been one of the best experiences of my life.

Let's start at the beginning. Ryanair is literally one of the most efficient airlines in Europe and the US. In return for the dirt cheap tickets, you have to pay for any carry on luggage and you can only bring one bag on, which includes any purse or camera bag you may have on you. Generally, this results in hiding your extra bag in very creative ways:

Purse... or big butt? (As shown by Paula)

Hostel Living

We decided to stay at the Plug-In hostel, and while they're under construction, it's still very chic. But the best part of it all was that we were staying in the Montartre area. If you EVER go to Paris- stay in that area. Not only is it near the Moulin Rouge, a few main metro hubs, and what seems to be the entire Amelie movie setting, but it has a delicious bakery right down the street, which I unfortunately forgot to take pictures of, but here's the hostel sign:  

Landmarks

It's crazy how many landmarks there are in Paris, and each one is more amazing than the next. Yes, the Eiffel Tower is a phallic symbol- but seriously who cares? It was originally built for the World Fair, but it was stable enough to last for over a century:

Details from the inside

Also, you can't forget about Napoleon's Arc de Triomphe:

Or Notre Dame, which has some of the most beautiful stained glassed windows- and I also thought of Quasimodo

Prayer Candles

Or Moulin Rouge

Or Basilique du Sacré-Cœur

Or the Louvre

So this isn't really a landmark as much as a memorial- and it was so powerful it made me tear-up. It was created to recognize the 200,000 people deported from France to the Nazi concentration camps during WWII. On one of the walls was the poem, "The Heart that Hated War":

I have dreamt so very much of you,
I have walked so much,
Loved your shadow so much,
That nothing more is left to me of you.
All that remains to me is to be the shadow among shadows
To be a hundred times more of a shadow than the shadow
To be the shadow that will come and come again into your sunny life.

After the sobering visit, we ended up going to Versailles, which is also quite sobering during any time that isn't the spring

But on a lighter note- a few fun facts about the Paris visit:

1. The weather likes to play tricks on us. Every time we walked into the subway and then walked out, the weather would be different:

1. If you would like to read French- they key is to drop-off any letters behind the first syllable- for example: Barbes Rochechouart ends up sounding something like this- Bar Rouche. While I'm kind of kidding, I'm kind of serious, lol.
2. I had my first Couch Surfing experience- do it when possible! It's so awesome to meet the locals.

Favorite Italian Phrase

You know, I think it would have made more sense to do shorter but more frequent updates.... lol

My favorite Italian phrase/concept?
Bracchine corte (short arms) with the following gesture:

Meaning little cheap arms- my publishing prof used it to describe herself as she was talking about why she wouldn't be buying an eReader or Nook.

Poste Italiane- The Worst Experience Here Thus Far

I currently have a very long Paris and Belgium post in the works, but since this just happened today- I had to write about it.

The employees at the post office here are unnecessarily rude. I went in to mail something to the States in an envelope that said that no postage was needed. So when I went to give it to the lady, she started talking to me really quickly, and I couldn't understand her. So then, she proceeds to insult me and starts off with- you live in Italy, but you don't speak Italian, you're so ignorant blahblahblah. She also made me pay for a stamp because she couldn't understand what I was saying, and when I tried to tell her-- she just dismissed me. I was SO livid. I seriously wanted to tell her off. I ended up calling the post office to complain to the director, but he didn't speak English either and wasn't understanding my Italian. So finally, I sent a formal letter of complaint through the Web site using Google Translate, and hopefully everything is communicated correctly because that type of customer service is just unacceptable. I will not be bringing anymore business to the Italian post office. The next thing I mail will be in another country.

Unexepected Trip to... Seattle!

I just got back yesterday from a 3 day trip to Seattle, which showcased some of the most beautiful weather I have ever seen in this past month and a half. The sky was blue, and it was warm. (Well, warm when you compare it to 25-35 degree weather.) I could actually go outside without a coat on! It was magical. =)

I also got to go up the Seattle Space Needle,

 

 

Pike's Place Market

(where I saw the ORIGINAL Starbucks!), and some other wonderful places around the area.

A fantastic weekend all in all! =)

Aperitivo and Venice... The Carnival Experience!

Venice was like a fairytale. It was beautiful and the festivities just made it magical. I am currently in the process of uploading both pictures and videos. =)


5:15AM- Groggily wake up after the awesome Aperitivo that happened the night before with my two new friends Isabella and Federica. I should have taken pictures, but the food and company were just too good.

5:30AM- Finally manage to roll out of bed and got ready in a record time. =D

6:00AM- Walk out to the tram and realize that it won't be there for another 12 minutes, so we opt to take a taxi.

6:20AM- Arrive at the double decked buses- a first! and gasp in tired amazement at the coolness of this new experience before quickly realizing that I forgot my contacts, lol. So any pictures you see of me without glasses on- I'm a little blind in them.

Fast forward to...

11AM- because everything in between consisted of sleep to see the arrival into Venice and its eerie similarity to New Orleans. The only difference being the tracks along the side of the road, which don't exist on the way into New Orleans.

12PM- we walk into the city, and I've clearly stepped into another world. There are masked revelers and  people everywhere. After getting separated from the group we wander along the different alleys and streets until we cross one of the larger canals via gondola! (another first! video here: Gondola Ride) Please skip the first 9 seconds of the gondolier's butt. I was trying to figure out my camera.

   1PM-3PM- a lot of walking around and buying masks until we get to Piazza San Marcos.

3PM- There are cathedrals, fruit lions, giant grasshoppers, and more amazing costumes with melodic music in the background to set the mood (video available here: Piazza San Marcos)

And the day basically ends with eating food before the fire show!
(Fire Show)

2AM-3AM- It takes us an hour to walk back to the bus after everyone gets properly lost, and we're all exhausted.

7AM- Lena and I finally get back home and take some Coldeeze and drink some Refresh tea to ward off any possible colds that the day may bring before falling into bed.

End of Italian Class, Ikea, Super Bowl Victory and Travel Plans!

Sorry for the long delays, but Italian class has kept me busy. In between my last post and this one, so many things have happened, so this might be kind of wordy. Let's begin. =)

Getting a Permit of Stay:

The Permit of Stay process was, very honestly, difficult and time consuming and completely unlike getting your tram pass (which is a very enjoyable experience in comparison.)

Step One: Ironically, the easiest part of it all was filling out the necessary forms that were entirely in Italian- with the help of Bocconi of course.

Step Two: Then, you have to go to a Tobacco shop and buy a stamp for your forms.

Step Three: Afterward, a group of us ended up trekking to the post office on 2-3 separate days and had to go to three different post offices. One of the post offices kept running out of the receipts we needed. Another was closed. The third one was very crowded and closed at 6PM and only gave a certain amount of receipts out each day. So we went back to the closed one the next morning, and we were finally able to turn everything in.

Step Four: Now, I have to go to the police station at some point to turn everything in.

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Aperitivo:

Aperitivos are a Milan-only experience, so if anyone comes to visit me- this is a must! Basically, you pay 6-10 Euros for a drink, and you get a free buffet of food! We went to this place called Maya, and they had french fries, pasta, salami meats, and lots and lots of other food. I wish I had pictures of the food, but I wasn't thinking, heh. So I'll take some next time.

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My First Ikea Experience- Including the Ikea Bus!

I have never been to an IKEA, so this was an especially interesting experience on multiple levels. But the best part was definitely the IKEA bus. =D

Since everything is built around the public transportation system, IKEA has a bus that will take you from a stop off of the metro that will bring you to the store. It costs 2 Euros to go round trip, but if you go to the store and buy something, they subtract 1 Euro off of your total.

The Marketing dork in me came out in full force when I saw it!

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Who Dat! The Super Bowl in Italy!

So I found a bar in Milan called Fiori Oscuri, and a group of us went to go watch the Super Bowl! Woo! Unfortunately, there were a ton of Colts fans, but fortunately- we definitely got the last laugh! Moreover, the owner of the bar graduated from Texas Tech, so he made REAL burgers. And they were so delicious. I split a Bacon Cheeseburger with Jessica, who's also studying abroad from UT, and Lena had a BBQ Chicken burger and split it with Lene, who is our awesome other roommate. I'm sure you must be asking- why would you split an awesome burger? And I have a very simple answer for you- 10 Euros. That's right, 10, which with the exchange rate would bring it up to $15 or something, but man- I appreciated that burger. Please people, eat a burger for me! I miss it so.

Even better, the bar was so elegant. It's three floors with artwork and awesome light fixtures. Unfortunately, all the pictures i have are of the food and Saints game. Next time though, and there will be one, I'll take pics!

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Venice, Dublin, Paris, and Brussels Trips

Finally, TRIPS!

I'm going to Venice this Saturday for Carnivale! AHHH! I'm SO excited. I also bought tickets for Dublin, Paris, and Brussels. I'll be in Ireland for St. Patrick's Day! =D I'm afraid this entire portion will end up in all caps,  so I won't go on too much about it. But- here are the general dates:

Paris and Brussels- last week of Feb. to first week of March, spending 3 days in each city

And I'm currently planning my trip to the UK, yay!

Our Shopping Adventure

Lena and I went on an adventure today! (Cue: It will be an adventureee, we’re going on an adventure Charliee!)

Goals for the Day:

1. Get a Bus/Tram/Metro Pass
2. Go to Esselunga- this may be hard to imagine, but it's bigger than a Super Walmart!
   
3. Don't get lost!!!
   

With that in mind, we researched all the tram routes that we would need to take in order to get from the Duomo to Esselunga and then back to our apartment, which is a lot easier said than done. In between Google Maps and the Tram map on the ATM site, we found our way. Something to note: while the newer trams have signs inside that tell you what the next stop is, older trams leave you guessing-- just to keep things interesting. The map inside the Moleskine Milano book has been a lifesaver!

First, we headed back over to the Duomo to get our bus passes. Fortunately, there were a couple of people there who spoke English, otherwise we would still be pass-less. For future reference, to get a student bus pass you need the following items:

• Your Bocconi Acceptance Letter
• Passport
• 27 Euros (10 Euro Activation fee+ 17 Euros for the rest of Jan. and the beginning of Feb.)
  
• Passport photo
  

And as it turns out, you can actually get cheaper passport pictures here than in the US. For 4 pictures, it was 5 Euros whereas in the US, it costs $15 for 4 pictures

Then, we hopped on the tram until we got to Esselunga- NEVER, and I mean NEVER, go on the weekend for your first time. It was very overwhelming. While the picture below does showcase the monstrous size of Esselunga, keep in mind that the picture is only 3/4 of the store. That's right! It's even bigger.



Here are a couple of pictures of the inside, which only cover about 1/8 or less of the store:




So crowded!



Considering tomorrow is Sunday, it may just be a day of rest. I believe that many Italians are religious, and a lot of stores will probably be closed. So until then, buonasera!

Driving, Walking and the Duomo

As I said in my last post- I just had to cover the different driving rules here. Imagine when you first step into Milan, you take a taxi, and as you are sitting in the taxi- the scene is something like this:



Basically, oncoming traffic drives much closer to you than traffic that is going in the same direction as you. In fact, traffic going in the same direction is separated by a median. And if you need to take a left or right turn, and you happen to be in the wrong lane; it doesn't matter! Feel free to take that right while in the left lane and traffic is driving straight in the right lane or vice versa. Even better, do it at the same time! Not only does this make for a crazy riding experience, it makes me appreciate the fact that I do NOT have to drive here.

Moreover, you can't forget about parking! While I can't find an image that describes what I am saying- let me just say that sidewalks are free range for parking.

Similarly, walking is its own art form here. Between the cobblestone streets and many grated sidewalks, I'm surprised more people don't break their ankles.

Last, but not least- a gorgeous picture of the Duomo taken by Lena, my roommate. It looks photoshopped, but it isn't. More pictures of it to come tomorrow when we go back during the day. There should also be a picture of the piano key steps that lead down to the metro.



P.S.- Yes, I know I keep saying that an itinerary will go up, but we are very dependent on our budget. So let me just say, I will put it up as soon as possible. Ciao!

Coming Over to Milan

A few things that will be covered in this post: the Flight over to Milan, the Apartment, and the Jet Lag.

One of the many, many benefits of traveling during the low season, besides cheap plane tickets ($590 round trip), is the amount of space on the plane! I got to lie over three seats on the way over, and it was very comfortable. The entertainment offered was also pretty good. I ended up listening to Muse's new album (amazing!) and watching:

• A Simpsons episode
• A House episode
• 500 Days of Summer (a great movie)
• Part of GI Joe (the Cobra one that just came out) that left much to be desired, so I watched about 10 minutes of it and stopped the movie
• Part of Time Traveler's Wife, the book was so much better and the movie was so sloppily chopped together that if you didn't read the book you would have been lost, so I stopped watching after about 15 minutes
  
• Erin Brockovich- yes it came out 10 years ago (has it already been that long?), but it was a good movie

The other main highlight of the flight was definitely the view of the Swiss Alps! It was breathtaking. Obviously, these images don't do it justice,but I still think they're a pretty good representation.

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A few other flying facts:

• There is free wine on international flights from the US to the UK. I had my first legal drink on the flight over, and it was pretty exciting for me.
• New carry-on rules are irritating, or it could have just been the guy who was checking us in- he was kind of a jerk and kind of helpful, which was quite a strange mix

The Apartment is amazing and is a much better deal than the apartment I had to stay at this past summer in Chicago. We rent from a gentleman named Roberto, and he has been very helpful and kind. These images are actually the ones of our room pre-move-in, but just imagine it looking lived in (yet neat... which it will be after tomorrow-- currently it looks like 4 large suitcases exploded)

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Last, but certainly not least, the Jet Lag. It is currently 5:30AM over here in Milan, and I have spent the past 2 hours updating this blog and updating photo albums on Facebook. However, I do know some steps that can be taken to fight the Jet Lag (if only I listened to my own advice):

• As soon as you get on the plane, go immediately to the sleeping time zone of the place you're going to be at regardless of where you are
• Sleep
• If you can't sleep at the designated time zone- take some sleeping pills
• You will be almost as right as rain when you arrive and not be awake writing blogs and uploading images

Next post: driving in Milan, itinerary, and a few other topics

Change of Plans

The trip hasn't even started, and there has already been a change of plans:

• The flight got pushed back a week because of the bad weather, but it just gave me more time to spend with everyone here =)
• While Massive Attack tickets were within price range- plane tickets to London for 3 days were not.... which leads me to my next point
• Cheap plane tickets may be '8.99 Euros' but when you add on taxes and surcharges- the cheapest flight is still going to be around 60 Euros for a round trip
• Similarly, tickets to Morocco are much cheaper and more convenient than tickets to Egypt, so I will most likely be going to Morocco... Tangier? We'll see.
• Not so much a change, but is related to our travels- I will attach a brief itinerary that was made on a glorious spreadsheet soon =)
  

In packing land there are also a couple of interesting things:

• Reduce, reduce, reduce! It seems like common sense, but even my attempts at reducing have resulted in 2 check-in pieces and 1 carry-on piece
• *Wants to pull hair out*

Tomorrow I will be going to Houston and staying with a couple of my awesome friends- Tian and Duke! Thanks again for letting Lena and I crash before we head off to Italy. It also makes leaving Baton Rouge a little bit easier knowing that I will be going somewhere with friends.