Thanks for the Inspirational Words Salinger!

"The best thing, though, in that museum was that everything always stayed right where it was. Nobody’d move. . . . Nobody’d be different. The only thing that would be different would be you."

However cliche, this has been one of my favorite quotes since I read this book. I no longer consider it my favorite book ( and rightfully so I might add), but these lines remain with me, usually when I return home to New England after being in the district for so long. Yesterday, Mel and I walked across the Tiber as we have done many times before, and I realized that although the surrondings changed, it's still the Tiber, with the same views, same crowds, same bus stops.

This is a picture I took on the first night in Rome:

In the summer months and into fall, the Tiber in Trastevere bursts with nightlife. Restaurents set up right againest the water, and there is music, dancing and shopping right along its banks. Now three months later this is how it looks:

Taken from almost the same angle, it now flows with desolate and deserted banks. Still kind of beautiful though ( That's the Vatican standing behind the bridge)

It's funny, how you don't notice things changing until they actually do.

This sounds philosophical which I hate, because I am not like that! I just pretty pictures okay?

xox

Molly( or Mole-y as my Italian teacher calls me)

Herman Hesse Finally Wins.

After a long battle with Herman Hesse, he is winning me over with his Journey to the East. I sat in this little cafe in Piazza Trilussa that Ricki introduced me too, sipping Italian hot chocolate ( the best ever) and reading it on this cold rainy day. I've had a fun last weekend in Rome and visited the Piazza Navona Christmas Market yesterday. It is crazy! They have the best donuts called ciambella and they serve them hot ( calda!) As Rachel Ray says, Yum-o!. I won't lie; I miss her a little bit. I miss my family and my bffs, and New England, but I realize I'm not ready to leave.

Pictures from my time Rome'n Around... God, I am clever :)

Ali and I on top of St. Peter's, the largest church in the world! I don't usually look like such a freak, but apparently scratching my forehead and making cuts are my new things whist having dreams about being attacked. COOL. Also, be proud of Ali... she is petrified of heights and look how happy she is here!

Hi Rome!! From the top of St. Peter's Basilica looking out at Vatican City. Yes, I am wearing a red and green headband to celebrate December 1st.

Col-Col and I being super religious.

You can't see it that well, but the small inner circle of the dome is where you stand and look out into the church. It's also still 320 steps away from the top!

On the Tiber in Winter :)

Home soooon. CRAZY!

Rome Conquers Me

Since Monday of this week, so three days ago I have done:

An Oral Presentation for Italian Media and Pop Culture on the Presence and Importance of Local Identities and their Role in Nationalism for Italy, specifically through a case-study on Frascati.

A 10 page paper on St. Francis' and St. Catherine of Siena's role as both spiritual and political communicators in Medieval Italy for Religion and Spirituality in Medieval Italian Literature

A 10 Page paper on the above Case Study for Italian Media and Pop Culture, more specifically outlining the history of villa culture and wine production and how they build local identity in the Castelli Romani region.

My final creative writing Notebook.

My Italian Oral Presentation.

and finally another 10 page paper for Art History discussing the relationship between artwork and architecture from St. Catherine's Monastery at Mt. Sinai and its significance in the Byzantine Empire.

and now I'm donee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Except for the four finals I have next week.

but I can sleep again!!


Christmas markets this weekend :)

and to clarify. I love that I have spent 3 months in Rome. I don't necessarily love it all the time slash my apartment. but oh wellllll!


x's and o's
Molly

Thanks for the pawn shops St. Francis!

Yes it's true. Good old Francis of Assisi created the idea behind pawn shops. He wanted even the very poor to be able to get money if they needed it without having to go into debt. Really, they should have made him a patron saint on that alone!

In all seriousness, I went to Assisi on Friday with my Religion and Spirituality in Medieval Italian Literature class. Thoughts are:

1) From its posistion on the hill, it is breathtaking. It was a little foggy so I'm not sure my pictures are the best, but go see it for yourself!

2) The basilica is amazing. Even the artwork alone ( pretty much all frescos of Francis' life by Giotto) are worth going to visit.

3) There is not much of a social life, so a daytrip ends up plenty of time and be prepared to walk all the hills! My legs are still hurting.

4) So many quaint shops to buy pressies for people! I found this really charming shop with special made pasta and olive oil because there are a lot of olive trees there! Another shop had speciality soaps that smelled divine and were all made there. I loved the white musk one and bought it for myself and they had soaps made from red wine.... MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

5) There is a beautiful castle to hike up too, which leads to this overlook on the mountain. I felt like I could see forever. Definitely worth it!

Go Francis. You Rock!

Molly

Because I Love Lists

Bloggings requires effort. Most of you who read this I keep in touch with anyway, and I write down things for myself in my little blackbook ( scandelous!) anyway. I don't like updating that much, and do so much writing for my other classes at school, that this seems to be more like work than fun.

Anyway, things from the past month:

1) I went to Dublin, Galway, and London for my fall break! Fun times full of relaxation, sightseeing, shopping, and airports. ( and crepes... if you ever go to Dublin you must go to this place called Lemon!)

2) On my way home from the above trip, I was slapped by an Italian women! Apparently, I bumped her on the bus with my duffle and after lots of screaming she wound up for a good old slap. Is that not considered assult anyone!?

3) I've had some really good pizza.

4) I have been to the Porta Portese Sunday market and got some great presents for people! Scarfs for 4 euros. and new fake pearls for one euro! woohooooo.

5) My sister and Patrick came to visit and it was a lot of fun. We went to the Hardrock cafe for thansgiving!

6) Many people think Campo di'fiori is overrated. Sometimes I would agree, but with 4 euro cocktails from 11-2am and heating lamps at Saby's, and the build your own panini place nearby, it's hard to stay away. AND contrary to popular belief, it is not all tourists! So there.

7) I dyed my hair blonde.

8) Just kidding.

9) I'm starting to like it better here. I go home 3 weeks from today! Yikes. I could never live here forever; it's much to crazy and the Italian ghetto isn't exactly my first choice of residence. Though I am starting to feel like a local when the store owners say ciao on my way to school.

10) Yes I am still walking to school. I like the exercise. I don't feel like I am losing weight ( too much pizza and gelato) but I can now take my jeans on and off without unbuttoning them. However, I think that may be the result of having no dryer.

11) Wehave heat now!! Thank gosh. I was freezing. All the time. Now it's toasty.


12) If you have not had suppli, you are missing out. They are little rice and mozzerella balls in a tomato sauce and then fried. Crochette Potato is like little fried balls of potato and are also divine. I eat like 10 a week!

13) I find myself speaking Spanish all the time. I should have gone to Spain or South America.

14) I'm dissapointed that I only made it to two other countries. But I've had class things on so many fridays and missed like 5 weekends of travel becacuse of people visiting! I have seen a lot of Italy though, which is nice! Places in Italy: Rome, Venice, Ischia, Naples, Pompeii, Capri, Sorrento, Frascati, and Assisi next weekend. I want to try to see Florence/Siena as they were on my list, but I don't know if that will happen.

15) Going abroad is not easy. I have a lot of work! Some students at my univeristy don't have their gpa transfer which is awesome for them and they just get credit. However, AU takes my GPA so slacking off is not an option! Lame Lame Lame.

Ok that is seems like enough!

pace
Molly

SO

apparently, something is wrong with my email. I have been getting some; others are not getting mine ( Thanks gmail you're awesome!)


Anyway, no matter. please comment here if you have emailed and I have not answered! I answer every one, so that is how you will know!! I'm not dissin!


ok that is that.
midterms are lame.
annnnd fallbreak was fun.

Nobody Knows the Truffles I've seen!!

Lame title? Possibly.

A 2 week long festival dedicated to European Chocolate? Coolest thing Ever.

This weekend, I headed to the town of Perugia for the annual European chocolate festival. Getting there was quite the process ( 2 coach buses for 2 hours- because one broke down; a 15 minute bus ride; a 15 minute train ride; walking up a large hill), but finally we arrived! Woo, Eurochoclate 2007.

The first part of the festival is held inside, and by inside, I mean in an old castle!! With the medieval atmosphere embracing me, I walked through what can only be described by a chocolate paradise. Room after room and every hallway in between was filled with chocolate of all kinds! Different experts set up their stands hoping to sell you their prized treats, all made with skill, delicacy, and pure deliciousness. The different regions of Italy and then other European countries group together, showing all visitors what they consider to be the finest chocolate around. After looking around the first few rooms, I ran back to a display that I could not get out of mind. Pieces of the thinnest wafer cookies ( they resembled potato chips!) dipped in swirls of white and milk chocolate. They packaged together in a clear gift back and tied with a beautiful cream ribbon, so clearly the 8 euro left my wallet faster than you can imagine. I am trying to savor every bite, but have a feeling they will go quickly!

Despite the beauty that was the town of Perugia; it's breathtaking really and the amazingness of being surrounded by chocolate, my next purchase was much needed. The weather was freezing that day, about 40 degrees! Up to the point, it has maintained a temperature of around 70 or 80 degrees, so I spent the entire day feeling like I was back in New England with my multiple layers. Hot chocolate was a must, and it was like nothing I have ever had here. Italians idea of hot chocolate is really just liquid chocolate. Picture a Hershey bar being melted right into your cup, ready to slide down your throat to warm you to the core and fill your taste buds every desire. Move over SwissMiss!

The next thing I bought was a present for someone else, but I am going to have a steal a bite when they open it. It was a cute little pie server, with a slice of chocolate on top! The best part was the chocolate looks like creamy milk chocolate, but apparently is its flavored like vanilla! Yummmmmm.

It was a great day of exploring and fabulous Italian pizza with chocolate tempting you with every footstep taken. Yes, I can eat a pizza by myself- don't judge! The weather was freezing, but luckily a band hit the streets walking up and down while blasting away on their saxophones, banging the drums, and blaring the tuba encouraging visitors like myself to follow their lead down the street. Once in a while they stop, and the crowd would gather around dancing and clapping to the music, truly just thankful for the joy they were bringing to the streets. At one point, a woman tried to drive her car down, but no one paid any attention as the band rocked on and the celebrations continued! I hope she wasn't in a rush, but really even without the band there is no way she could have maneuvered the crowds in her Smart Car

Ok so more pictures

Sampling our hot chocolate!

Sar and I re-enacting the boy and girl who are the advertisement for the festival... and you can kind of see the beautiful view!

Rocking out in the streets of Perugia! Do not, repeat not make fun of my hood. It was cold!

A little bit of fun after the end of a WONDERFUL DAY!

and peace.

Molly