Forza Viola!

There is one thing you always hear that Europeans are crazy about and that's soccer. Or as they call it here in Italia, calcio.

I was able to experience this firsthand last night in going to a Fiorentina-Parma match.

Il Stadio

Getting around to the beginning (Berlin)

Since I'm safe and sound in my room as all of the city goes out due to illness (I would get sick the first week, sigh), I decided I'd put up some photos from the beginning of Opening Tour aka mostly of Berlin. I only took around 1,500 photos on a 10 day trip. That's not too many is it?

Putting a break in case you don't want to have 60+ photos to load.

The things you didn't think about beforehand...

While the west coast is just starting up there day, it's just about nine at night here in Italy.

The weather has turned. When we first arrived in Florence it was stiflingly hot and humid with temperatures up in around the 80s and 90s. Felt a bit like an eternal summer, now the last couple days it has been cooler, less humid with the occasional bit of rain. I actually saw a flash of lightning walking back from a trip to the supermarket. My assumption of the eternal summer may have been a bit much.

Things I didn't really think about before I left though...

1.  Bringing a planner. After learning to use one in high school and continuing to get one in college, I forgot this necessity at home. This is includes other school supplies like folders.
   
2. The cost of water. Europeans like their frizzy water aka carbonated water, I've decided to call it frizzy because in Italy carbonated water is called "frizzante" which literally (according to google translate) translates to fizzy. I accidentally bought a bottle in Germany of it and did not like it.
   So if you want normal, flat water you have to pay for it. At restaurants where you'd pay for either type of water regardless and out and about. Luckily though today I found I can buy 2 liters for .17 euro. Major win.
   
3. Mosquito bites. I've only been here 6 days and I've been bitten all over. Not pleasant.
   
4. Getting sick. After being on buses, hotel rooms, tours, etc around the same 200 people for 10 days, one should be kissing the ground if they escape sans illness but it seems that I am not so lucky. I have the sniffles, sneezes and a bit of a cough. Boo.
   Might be time to break out the one packet of cold meds Mom sent along with me.
   
5. Gelato. 

   

   The first gelato, strangely airy but delicious. Chocolate & Meringa(?). It was good, that's all that matters.

   The shops are EVERYWHERE. Literally at least one on every street and corner.
   I cannot lie I've had it every day I've been here, aside from one. Which is only 6 days, but still. I'd feel guilty if I wasn't walking everywhere.
   Since it just dawned on me I should have taken a picture of every favor I had while here, I'll keep tally here and start taking pictures from now on.

That's all I can think of for now.

Today marked the beginning of the first week of classes. I had forgotten that part of this whole deal, you mean I'm not on a 4 month vacation?! (Just kidding Mom!)

Pictures from Opening Tour are still coming... someone hold me to that.

For now enjoy a picture of the Brandenburg gate in Berlin!

Gelato tally: Chocolate, Meringa (?), Berries, Lemon, Caramel (and two I can't remember, it'll come back to me).

Now I'm off to have gelato again to cap my night, have a great rest of your day everyone!

Just starting up!

It took me awhile to figure out a name and really get the motivation to get a blog together but I finally have!


Just a little intro, the name of the blog is Voglia di Girovagare, which is according to Google translate is Italian for wanderlust, because I currently have one class of Italian 101 under my belt.


The definition of wanderlust according to dictionary.com is

wan·der·lust

 [won-der-luhst] 

noun

a strong, innate desire to rove or travel about.

It seemed appropriate because I've always had a love of travel which was started by my parents taking the family on a lot of great trips not only around the US but around the world. I've been lucky enough to travel to many different countries such as the Philippines, England, France, Costa Rica, etc.


As long as I can remember I've loved to travel, I've always had a bit of wanderlust in me hence the blog name. Something that is being fed this fall as I'm again lucky enough to be able to spend a semester studying in Italy and also visit other parts of Europe. As part of my program's opening tour I've already been able to experience various parts of Germany, Prague, Czech Republic; and Salzburg, Austria.


I somehow managed to take about 1,500-ish photos from opening tour and the first few days of being in Italy.  Some of which will appear here once I start to filter through which ones are worthy to post and catch up on Opening Tour.


Just an fyi, the background of this blog is a picture that I took of the river in Florence at sunset the first full day here.


No idea how often a post will get up here but I'll do my best to put something up as frequent as possible.


For now I'll leave you with a picture of Neuschwanstein castle, a German castle built by Ludwig the II (I think) which the Disney Castle was based off of, that is currently my computer background. Ciao!

Every little girl's dream!