Pre-session Summer 2018
(May 16-May 30) 
To be completely honest, I wasn’t overly-excited about going to Milan. Being that it was the last stop of our trip, fatigue had definitely started to take a toll. However, it ended up being one of the most memorable days of my two weeks in Italy. Our primary site to see was the Duomo and pictures really don’t do it justice. As soon as we walked out of the metro station, we looked behind us and there it stood; we were all overwhelmed by its size and beautiful design. Unfortunately, I wasn’t allowed into the church because my shoulders and knees were bare, but that didn’t stop me from climbing to the top of the cathedral. After trekking up a very long set of stairs, Brenna, Janthel, Tabitha, and I took in the gorgeous view of Milan and got a better look at the Duomo’s architecture. The intricate and detailed designs, which are gothic style, included engravings of faces and people. The four of us were content with simply appreciating the scene when we realized we actually weren’t at the top, so we traveled up a very narrow, windy set of stairs. All the stair climbing was absolutely worth it because from the top, we had an even larger view of the city. Once we made our way back down, we walked through the famous Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, Italy’s oldest mall, which featured high-end stores like Versace and Prada. Later on, some of us went with Dr. Permenter and Dr. O’Connor to a rooftop terrace with an amazing view of the cathedral. The day in Milan turned out to be one of my favorites and I couldn’t have asked for a better way to end our Italian adventures.
...Author: amandajbrash
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For our free day, Brenna and I decided to stay in Florence and explore the city more. We took some time to sit near the Ponte Vecchio after having coffee and pastries for breakfast at Scudieri. Eventually, we came across a cute shop with journals, pens, and stationary. It was a family-owned business and one of the owners, who was so friendly, showed us where they marbleize paper. I’ve really loved journaling throughout this trip, so I had to purchase one to start using at home. With gold ribbon, he engraved the journal with my initials and it turned out so pretty. I can’t wait to use it when I get back to the US. A little while later, we went to see a movie. In this small Italian theater, only one movie was showing, the new Star Wars. I didn’t know what to expect when we walked in, but, and this should be no surprise, even Italian movie theaters have beautiful art and architecture. The theater had a dome structure with an intricate pattern, as well as gold statues. It really felt like we were in a museum of sorts. Though I’m not a big Star Wars fan, the experience was definitely worth it. Afterwards, we found a rooftop aperitif place overlooking the Duomo; the view was absolutely gorgeous on a sunny day like that. To end our relaxing day, we stopped for dinner when halfway through, we realized the restaurant was Dante-themed and our nerdy English sides most definitely came out. In addition to a copy of the book being used as a decoration, the walls displayed quotes from the three parts of The Divine Comedy. To top it off, the food was delicious. It was truly a perfect day in Florence.
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After only being in Florence for a little while, it didn’t take me long to realize that this is the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen and the city has exceeded all my expectations. Pictures truly don’t do it justice. I was absolutely in awe after seeing the massive size and intricate design of the Duomo. Even the little cobblestone alleyways and streets that aren’t necessarily supposed to be considered “pretty” have a rustic charm to them. Florence just has such a unique atmosphere that’s difficult to put into the right words. The first day, we arrived at our apartments, which are also amazing, and Brenna and I walked around the Duomo, just so elated to be there. We came across a gelato place, Eduardo’s, and stopped in to get a treat. We both loved it and for me, it was my favorite gelato so far. At night, we had dinner with the entire group and it was nice to spend time with everyone outside of class meetings. The pasta, meat, and dessert dishes were delicious. After our meal, a bunch of us walked down to the Ponte Vecchio, or Old Bridge, and made a quick stop at the carousel in Piazza della Repubblica. The area was gorgeous, so we decided that we had to take a ride on the carousel to take everything in. We finally arrived at our destination at the bridge and I really cannot put into words the feelings that I was experiencing because the scenery was that breathtaking. The only word I can use to describe that feeling is magical and it’s definitely a memory I’ll never forget. Every day since, I’ve continually been blown away by all Florence has to offer; I’m so happy we have three more days here to enjoy this incredible city.
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To be completely honest, I was terrified the day before leaving for this trip because I’d never been in another country before. I wasn’t sure that I’d be able to catch on to the native language or the different lifestyle here in Italy. However, all that anxiety was alleviated within a few days and I can say that I’m having the time of my life studying abroad. It’s only been about three days, but I’ve already had experiences that I’ll never forget. My dining experiences started out a little shaky on day one. I accidentally ordered a Focaccia pizza, not realizing that it didn’t come with cheese, and was served plain bread. I do have to say though, the bread was still delicious. I definitely knew better on day two, so I stepped up my game and ordered a Patate pizza (pizza with potatoes). At home, I really try to limit my carbs, but I am fully embracing all the carbs Italy has to offer in these two weeks. Turns out, pizza with potatoes actually tastes pretty great. With all the sites we’ve seen, I’ve been in complete awe. On the first day, we saw the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, and the Pantheon. The view from the top of the Spanish Steps was gorgeous, as are many of the scenes in Rome. I really enjoyed the Trevi Fountain honestly for a mainly trivial reason. That site was one of the main ones featured in the Lizzie McGuire Movie, one of my childhood favorites, and I always wanted to see it for myself after watching the movie. I was fascinated by the Pantheon because of how old it is and the fact that no one knows how the dome was crafted. It’s incredible to me that people from so long ago could construct such a massive structure that’s still standing today, without all the current technology we have today. These past few days have been eye-opening and I’m so excited to see what’s in store for our next city.
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