How I fell in love with Rome

This past weekend I went to Rome with Momoko, my friend from Japan who lives in the dorms with me. Our trip started out like many other weekend trips, an early train to save money but also keep you extremely tired and cold. It was raining when we left (of course, it is Milan after all) and got to Rome around 11. We booked a hostel near the train station because we knew there was going to be a metro strike in Rome on Friday. We found the hostel and dropped off our bags.

This is when the trip got a little interesting. We had to walk to the city center and it wasn't exactly the nicest neighborhood. It just seemed like a gross version of Milan. At one point it was even so windy that a tree branch fell out of a really tall tree and crashed into the car five feet in front of us. It was seriously like some All-state insurance commercial where that would happen and then that guy would be like, "having a bad day? call all-state" or something like that. Very stereotypical of someone's bad day. Then we had to walk through Rome's Chinatown or something and finally Momo said, "WHERE IS ROME?!" We had yet to see any beautiful fountains or ruins like we had been led to believe existed in Rome.

After finally stumbling upon a church, we went in and it was very beautiful and then we promptly left after one of the security guys came up to me with a large cloth that looked like gauze telling me to wrap it around my legs because I was wearing shorts. We decided to stop in a cafe to get a coffee for some energy, where we were asked FOUR times if we really wanted to drink our coffee standing at the bar instead of sitting down (because obviously we are tourists and only real Italians do that) and then they double charged me for a coffee. At this point Rome was not living up to any expectations.

Finally we found the Colosseum. It was a long line and we finally got in, although I'm not much of a fan for ruins so it wasn't the coolest part of the trip. Then we went to the Forum and when we were trying to exit it was almost impossible because there was a concert going on and all the entrances and walkways were blocked off in the most inefficient way (another Italian way of life, urgh).

After that we decided to go to the Trevi fountain, and this is when I fell in love with Rome. It was so beautiful and way better than I imagined. Afterwards we walked to the Pantheon and then along the Tiber and then ended up in Piazza Navona, one of my favorite places of the trip. There were artists selling their beautiful paintings of Italian landscapes everywhere, if only I had enough money to buy one! Someday... Then we ended up in a cute little restaurant where we ate outside and had a nice little candle that kept blowing out in the wind and our waiter probably relit it twelve times. After that we went back to Trevi and hung out before taking a cab back to the hostel. (Metro strikes = expensive ripoff cabs FYI, but what can you do when you gotta avoid the ghetto at night).

When we got to our hostel there was a man in our room even though we had specifically booked (and paid a bit more for) a female dorm. So Momo showed them our reservation and he moved.

The next day we went to Vatican city and went into St. Peter's basilica. Then we discovered that the museum was going to be free on Sunday so we decided to do that the next day. We went along to Piazza Spagna and saw the steps but it started raining so we went in and got some tiramisu from Pompi, I got banana chocolate. Rome definitely has delish tiramisu! Then we tried to go to the museum of pasta, but we couldn't find it and it was pouring so we stopped in a restaurant for wine because...

After the rain let up we moved along to Villa Borghese, a beautiful park in Rome. We rented bikes there and it was so beautiful and lovely we were like little kids on their birthday riding around on those bikes! Only 4 euro for one hour. We also decided that we were going to cave in and go to Hard Rock Cafe for dinner because sometimes when in Rome you are homesick and although the Romans might not do it we wanted to eat buffalo sauce and brownies. After dinner we met up with Larisa at the Trevi but everyone was so exhausted that we went back to our hostels. There was a man in our room AGAIN, but this time we didn't kick him out because he was already tucked away in bed. He was from Sweden and had actually been to St. Louis! I kept psyching myself out about him because I was thinking he was going to be like one of the evil dudes from The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (set in Sweden) but I finally fell asleep after brain mapping out how to attack him if he was really like Bjurman or something. Sorry for the book references for those of you misfortunate souls who haven't read that book yet (go read it! It's awesome). This guy was actually very nice though I just was freaking myself out. 

Sunday we woke up, checked out and then went to the Vatican museum. Everything was very beautiful but it was also so overwhelming! Then we went to get a picture by sticking our hands in the mouth of truth. We talked with a very nice couple from Georgia. Then we had a few hours before our train so we decided to walk to Travestere and get something to eat. We found a really cheap place and got HUGE wines on accident ;). Our waiter was very Italian and nice and it was the perfect ending to our Roman holiday. 

Our train was late but overall it was a great great weekend with new friends and new adventures! I'm really glad I did finally make it to Rome after several failed attempts! 

Collage by Momo: 

Ciao for now! 

Life in Italy post-classes (read: I'm an intern!)

Well! It has been quite a long long time since I have updated my blog. Sorry to those of you who actually read this (hi, Mom).  I did have some articles though for MOVE between my last blogs so you might be somewhat aware of what's goin' on like Donkey Kong.

As many of you might know, I am STILL in Milan even though I was supposed to come home May 12 because I accepted an internship at Neri Pozza Editore, a publishing house, here in Milano! I have already started it a couple weeks ago and I love it! I read a lot of books in English and write book reports and make suggestions on whether I think it was good or not. I have also been working on translating some material from Italian to English to pitch Italian authors to English-speaking publishing houses in the USA, UK & Australia. So that's pretty cool! The colleagues are great & we drink a lot of coffee. (Random fact: they DELIVER coffee here, like little shots of espresso or cappuccinos to our office sometimes! Bars here are cool.)

The office is right in Brera, which is a super cool area of Milan with lots of little cafes so I have been exploring on my lunch breaks and stuff. I have been working from 9:30-6:30 which is good for me because I like getting up late.

Lots has happened since Spring break, I went to Tuscany to visit Madeline in Terriciola and we went to Volterra, I went to DUBLIN!!!, then was the big family week in Europe where we went to Barcelona, then on a cruise to Marseilles, Genova, Naples, Messina, Tunis and then we went to Venice! Then finals week and then last weekend I went to Cinque Terre so I have been pretty busy! I'm thinking about making individual blog posts for some of the main events so stay on the lookout! Tomorrow I am going to Rome with Momo and then next weekend is SCOTLAND!!!!! Then one more week and I'm home June 12 which I can't wait to see all my lovely friends and family and mexican foods that I miss so much.

Anywho, forgive me for forgetting about you guys for a hot minute, but I hope to have some good stories up for you soon!

Ciao for now! 

Steal me with a kiss

I've been really bad about keeping up with my blog. Oops. Last weekend wasn't too eventful besides a a lot of shopping. I went shopping around Duomo on Saturday and bought a new cheetah coat! And some socks. Ana and I went looking for some "culture" but all the museums were closed by the time we finally made it out of the dorm and then we tried to see a movie but we couldn't find any in the original English they are all voiced over in Italian and we didn't want to do that.

So we went to Duomo and met Rhianna and Sarah. We saw some street performers and we stopped to watch them do their breakdancing routine. And during the middle of the routine one of the dancers came up to me and said, "Can I have a kiss on the cheek?" And it was the middle of the show so I felt socially pressured to do give him a peck on the cheek and he turned and kissed me on the mouth! Those Italians are so damn sneaky.

It was a little like this except he won. -__-

But we finally escaped and went onwards to Mango where I found my beautiful cheetah coat and all was well.

The crazy guy who stole a kiss. -__-

Another break dancer.

Then on Sunday we went to the vintage markets at Navigli. It was so cold! But I scored some vintage Valentino sunglasses for 35 euro and a little clutch thing for just 5. Ana got a gorgeous red purse! 

I haven't done too much this week because we have been getting so many projects in our classes for our midterms. I have to write a ten minute short play with two other girls for Methods of Illusion, I just got finished making a book cover for my Publishing, Publicity and Cultural Journalism class and we also have a big Transmedia project due soon in the Digital Media and Journalism class. Who knew I actually came here to learn stuff?? Ugh. 

I have also been trying to lock myself in my room so I stop buying so many things. I got this sweet bracelet and I discovered Pull & Bear which is basically like another awesome version of H&M or Forever 21 or something. And it has lots of clothes with bears. I love bears. So it was bad news. On the plus side I have gotten a lot better at grocery shopping! Next week we are doing an American night for the other people in our dorm and I think I'm going to make gooey butter cake and we are going to have chicken nuggets or PBJ sandwiches or something. American delicacies at their finest! 

Tomorrow I am going on a field trip for my Publishing class to a real Publishing house here in Italy that my professor works at. Since I've wanted to be a book editor since 6th grade, I'm totally geeking out over this project and this field trip and this class in general. Later in the semester we are going to get to visit the offices of Vogue Italia and Glamour Italia! 

This weekend I'm also going to Florence for my friend Sarah's birthday. It's supposed to be really nice weather so I am excited! Although I can't figure out how to buy a bus ticket sooo that should be interesting tomorrow. Might just cave in and buy a train ticket for the fast train. Trenitalia and Eurolines have the most stupid websites for purchasing tickets and finally after hours of looking for the tickets and trying to make it work I was like: 

Today marks my one month of being here! Lots of things have happened and I can't wait for the many more adventures to come. My parents are coming in April for a cruise! I can't wait to see them :) 

I like having my own room here and all but sometimes it gets scary because I always think there is someone behind me...

Well, I actually just wish this guy was hiding in my room somewhere! But I will see him again in 2 1/2 months, and he got us tickets to see Ludovico Einaudi in Chicago for my birthday since I missed him here in Milan! I can't wait to see everyone that I am missing who has probably forgot about me! Just kidding. Love you all! Don't forget to check my new column tomorrow about fashion week and getting lost etc etc etc. Ciao for now! 

Running around

Since I've been here for a little less than a month, I finally decided it was probably about time I exercised. I went on a nice little run Sunday which I've been meaning to blog about for a) to let the world know that occasionally I do work out and b) to share some of the cool sights around the area where I live!

The buildings here are so beautiful! 

Yeah there's a gate like this in front of my house as well...

Sculpture in Piazza Concilazione

Lo Gnomo gelato... it tastes even better than it looks! 

I have probably been eating too much gelato. I'm also not so hot at cooking so what I've been eating in the dorms has been pretty limited. Although mozzarella and tomatoes with balsamic vinegar has always been a favorite of mine, and it's so cheap here! 

Ana, Alex and I also made some pasta and chicken the other night. I fooled Nick when I sent him this picture... he thought we had cooked something really fancy and goes "what is that golden thing?" 

My response?

"A chicken nugget." Gotcha.

Well, it's time to go stalk some models and designers outside the Prada show because it's fashion week in Milan! 

Ciao for now.

#Nerdproblems

Warning: this post is about a total #nerdproblem.

I missed seeing Ludovico Einaudi in Milan by 3 days. He's my favorite pianist for those of you who are unfamiliar. I'm such an airhead I had looked up his tour dates before I even came to Italy and was really excited that he would be in Milan. I didn't buy a ticket and completely forgot about it until yesterday... 3 days after he performed in Milan. 

He was performing still though tonight in Ancona, which is just about a 3 hour train ride away from Milan, so I was like heck I'll just travel there to see him and call it my birthday present to myself (my birthday is Tuesday weee) since seeing him live is on my bucket list, and when is the next time I'll be in Italy? So I looked up a train and found a hostel and found the Ticketone place to buy the ticket with a little help from ESN folks. 

It was closing in 8 minutes so I started running there, then decided I wouldn't make it so I went to the next closest one to where I was. He told me I was too late to buy one. Safe to say I was pretty upset. 

Then on the train home, there were two boys playing music on the metro. People are always playing music and doing other various things to earn money on the metro at rush hour on my way home, and I usually never think twice about them. These boys were playing the accordion and the violin and it was actually very good. Somehow that made it a little better, that although I didn't get tickets to see Ludovico Einaudi, there is still beautiful music all around. 

Someone posted this really beautiful video about Milan for those of you interested in seeing a lot of the different sights of Milano. 

Also this morning I woke up thinking in Italian, so maybe that's a sign that I'm getting better! Which makes me a little bit closer to checking off speaking fluent Italian on my bucket list. I also got to go to Venice Carnevale last weekend which was a major to do on my bucket list, so I guess you're not meant to check that many things off in one week.

Don't forget to read my latest article for MOVE about my wonderful experience at La Tana del Lupo. You can check my Facebook or Instagram @holyguacamollie for more pictures of Carnevale and the snow!

Hope everyone is well! Ciao for now! 

From CoMo to Como

So I missed my first class. Oops. But I have gotten back on the track, so all is well!

Well this weekend was very event filled. On Friday after class I went to the exhibit "On Space Time Foam" that is temporarily in Milan (well it was, it left on Feb. 3) at Hangar Bicocca. It was completely free thanks to ESN.

It was really strange to be up there on the bottom level because I felt like I was in a zoo with everyone looking up at me and getting excited when I crawled around instead of just lying there. I guess that must be what the tigers feel like so I amused the viewers by crawling around and making faces at them. I was just glad that I didn't wear a skirt or a dress like I usually do, because that would have been... interesting. I got a video of some other people crawling around, but you couldn't bring your camera in there because that wasn't part of the art. The artist apparently had been there the day before and he wants to build islands like this where people can live. I'm sure some people would be into it, but not me. It was a fun experience, but I don't think I could live like that!

There was also a really cool permanent exhibit called The Seven Temples to God.  

On Friday I also went to this gigantic club called Alcatraz. International Week allows ERASMUS students to get into clubs every night for free or 10 euro for two drinks. It's a pretty sweet deal.

Saturday was a tour of the city with ESN. We ate this delicious stuff called panzarotti from Luini a famous restaurant by the Duomo. There was also this sweet gelato place there, am definitely going to have to go back and check it out.

The church right where The Last Supper is, we didn't get to see the painting, though.

I took a trip to Lake Como on Sunday. The town was very beautiful and you can read about some of the adventures that happened in my next column for MOVE coming out Friday. From CoMo to Como, I thought it was pretty clever.

Everyone keeps asking me if the food is to die for so this is my big answer, YES. I think I am turning into a wine glass full of pizza. Even the pasta that we made from ingredients from the supermarket was better than any I had ever had, and that is only props to the ingredients because I can hardly even make a frozen pizza. I also found some Mexican restaurants on Foursquare so I think I am going to try to get some people together to go for my birthday in a couple weeks.

My regular classes started on Monday, so I haven't been to all of them yet. They all seem pretty interesting. Except for the design class... all we did was look at before and after pictures of different label designs for products. But I am really excited for the Publishing, Publicity and Cultural Journalism class to start, it sounds very interesting.

So far my two favorite things in Italy are aperitivo (you pay for a drink and then get to eat at a buffet for free filled with delicious pasta, bruschetta, and other amazing appetizer type food) and SHOES.

My first pair. Made in Italy! 

Well I suppose I should do some actual studying so I can go to aperitivo tonight at Old Fashion. It's America night! It's safe to say my outfit is ridiculous... 

Reppin' Missourah, Americuh.

Ciao for now!

MOVE

Don't forget to check out my column for MOVE Magazine. Here's the latest post.