Non capisco il tempo dell'Italia. Io sono stata data prima arrivendo che farebbe caldo ogni giorno. Mercoledì, è piovuto per tanto il giorno. È fato molto freddo. Non ho portato panteloni perchè non era pensato che avrei bisogno di loro. Proprio non ho portato un ombrello. Quindi sono bagnata ogni volta andare fuori. Lunedì, dopo ritornando dal San Gimagnano, sono dovuto andare all'apartamento del mio amico nella città nel piove. Ero bagnata.
Cinqueterre questa fin di settimana era perfetta. Siamo arrivate in Riamggiore venerdì pomeriggio e siamo andate in spaggia immediamente. Il temp era bello e il mare era incredible. Dopo tre o quattro ore all spaggia in Monterosso, eravamo molte stanche, quindi abbiamo avuto una cena presta. Amanda, Edie, Heather, ed io abbiamo mangiato a un ristorante con un panoramico bello del mare e la città di Riomaggiore. Abbiamo condividuto un antipasto "spinach flan" (non ricordo come si dice in italiano). Aveva una salsa di formaggio. E poi abbiamo mangiato verdure grigle: melanzana, pepperoni rossi, e zucchini. Il nostro primo piatto era pasta con pesto--famoso al regione di Cinqueterre. Aveva patate, succhini e pine nuts. Era terrifico. Per dolce, abbiamo condividuto una mille foglie, creme brulee di caffè, e una torta canella con mele e crema. Tutto oera buonissimo. Abbiamo spesso tanto.
I had myself a fun little weekend.
Thursday night, I went with a couple friends to a contrada party. For those who are not familiar with the contradas of Siena, they are the 17 groups that participate in the Palio. They are very close-knit neighbors, you could say, with intense pride and lots of songs for their contrada. The one we went to was the contrada of the shell, Chiocciola. It was so much fun. There was a ton of people there. When we arrived around 10:30pm, there was only one dude on the dance floor, and he had a pony tail and man purse. But by 11:30, more people were drunk and everyone was dancing. It was a blast. They played horrible music like YMCA mixed in with awesome Italian music. I danced with a beautiful French man named Ramon, then went to my friends apartment in the city, ate some tiramasu, and went to bed.
Friday morning 6 of us left for Cinqueterre, 5 tiny beach towns about 3 hours away that are linked together by beautiful scenic walks and hikes. The first thing we did after leaving our bags at our hostel (that took 217 steep stairs to get to, by the way), was go to the beach. It was lovely. The weather report said it would be rainy but it was sunny and perfect. There were 4 of us that wanted to eat out that night, so we went to this restaurant with a beautiful ocean view, right below our hostel. And then we went to town on some of the best Italian food I've had so far.
For an antipasto, we shared a spinach flan with cheese sauce. It was incredible. I forgot how much I love spinach. We then had some grilled eggplant, zucchini, and red peppers. Cinqueterre is famous for its pesto, so we had a pesto pasta that was seriously to die for. It had potatoes and zucchini and pine nuts in it. Soooo delicious. We shared 3 desserts between the 4 of us: Mille foglie, which was like a 3 tier pastry, cheese, honey and powdered sugar combo, coffee creme brule, and an apple cinnamon cake with cream. They were wonderful. Nothing makes me happier than a wonderful meal does.
We were all separated at the hostel because we booked it so last minute. I shared a room with an Australian and 2 sisters from Denmark. I was so tired that I managed to fall asleep with the light on and all 3 up packing.
We started our hikes with the Via dell'amore, a stunningly beautiful sidewalk along the cliff side overlooking the ocean. The whole trail is graffittied with romantic sentiments and poetry. There are padlocks everywhere you look, that couples lock there and throw the key into the ocean to represent their love. I really like it, even though I was there with 5 other single girls. :) We arrived in Corniglia and even though it was 10:30 in the morning, I had to try the honey gelato they had there. It was delicious, and not too sweet to enjoy that early in the day.
The next hike was more nature-y, and more like a real hike. It actually was pretty difficult, but you had an ocean view the whole time which made it worth it. It felt good after all my weeks of eating to get a really good workout. Plus, the town that it led to, Vernazza, was stunning. It was my favorite of the 5 towns by far. First of all, it was tiny. Second of all, it had a little fortress around it which I liked. I had the most amazing pesto bruschetta there. Seriously. I was almost crying it was so delicious.
We took the train back to our beach and spent a couple more hours soaking up the sun and fending off Italian men in speedos. Heather and I shared a nutella crepe, and we were on our way back to Siena. It was a short trip but it was wonderful. It made me excited to beach it up in Barcelona in a couple weeks!
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Monday, July 25, 2011
San Gimagnano
Dopo lavoro oggi, Heather, Amanda, ed io siamo andate a San Gimagnano per tre ore. La città è bella e famosa per il gelato ottimo nel mondo. Sono state tante persone aspettando fuori e abbiamo aspettato per 15 minuti. Ho mangiato un gelato praline e nutella. Era buonissimo. Dopo, siamo camminate al posto panoramico della campagna. Toscana è veramente un paese bellesimo. Sono fortunate a abitare qui.
There is a jazz festival in Siena this week, and last night I went to one of the concerts. It was really fun and really free. One of the bands was American. I find it kind of ironic that my first jazz performance experience was in Italy of all places, but whatever.
Today after work, Heather, Amanda and I went to the nearby city of San Gimagnano for the afternoon. It is a beautiful little town which so happens to host the gelateria who has one best gelato in the world 5 years in a row. It was packed with a line out the door. I got an almond praline and nutella gelato and it was soooo gooood. Obsessed. We also did a little shopping and I found adorable hand painted salt and pepper shakers that I already regret not purchasing.
On the way back to Siena, it started pouring rain. I am very confused my Italian summer weather. I was under the impression a couple weeks ago when it was like 90 degrees out, that it was only going to get hotter. Its been freezing. I didn't even bring any pants! Oh well, no pants are the best pants.
Dinner tonight was wonderful. We had spaghetti with meat sauce, followed by pears and cheese, my personal favorite. Tonight the pears were drizzled with honey and a little bit of lemon juice. They were amazing. We also had zucchini and green beans and finished up with a hot glass of orzo.
My hair is still wet from walking through the city today in the pouring rain and no umbrella.
There is a jazz festival in Siena this week, and last night I went to one of the concerts. It was really fun and really free. One of the bands was American. I find it kind of ironic that my first jazz performance experience was in Italy of all places, but whatever.
Today after work, Heather, Amanda and I went to the nearby city of San Gimagnano for the afternoon. It is a beautiful little town which so happens to host the gelateria who has one best gelato in the world 5 years in a row. It was packed with a line out the door. I got an almond praline and nutella gelato and it was soooo gooood. Obsessed. We also did a little shopping and I found adorable hand painted salt and pepper shakers that I already regret not purchasing.
On the way back to Siena, it started pouring rain. I am very confused my Italian summer weather. I was under the impression a couple weeks ago when it was like 90 degrees out, that it was only going to get hotter. Its been freezing. I didn't even bring any pants! Oh well, no pants are the best pants.
Dinner tonight was wonderful. We had spaghetti with meat sauce, followed by pears and cheese, my personal favorite. Tonight the pears were drizzled with honey and a little bit of lemon juice. They were amazing. We also had zucchini and green beans and finished up with a hot glass of orzo.
My hair is still wet from walking through the city today in the pouring rain and no umbrella.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Weekend a Siena
Dopo la cena ieri sera, sono andata alla città con Makenna, Rebecca, e Amanda per guardare un film nella fortezza di Siena. Il film è stato nel teatro fuori (ampiteatro?). Era americano e si chiamo "Il discorso del Re." L'ho guardato in inglese quattro o cinque mesi fa, e mi ha piacuto entrambe volte. Era divertente uscire alla notte. Abbiamo incontrato un uomo da Austria che sta qui per due settimane. Suona il pianoforte e era molto gentile. Non parla italiano, ma è andato al cinema italiano solo.
Stamattina, Edie ed io abbiamo insegnato la lezione per la società del succorso. Parlavamo del tempio di Roma e le benedizioni che riceviamo quando frequentamento il tempio. Per i membri della chiesa qui, il tempio più vicino è in Svizzera. Viaggiano nove ore. Sono molto emozionante per il loro tempio a Roma. Per noi che abbiamo un tempio a vicino a casa, la nostra responsabilità è frequentare il tempio spesso. Non abbiamo il sacrificio che altre paese hanno. Sono molta fortunata abitare a Utah.
Yesterday was the first Saturday that I stayed in Siena. I hung out with a couple American friends that I met here all day. We shopped and we ate. I had a marvelous piatto of pears, pecorino cheese, and honey. Basically, it was delicious. Afterwards, I was craving an Italian doughnut filled with nutella, but the closest thing I could find was a chocolate filled pastry that was also wonderful. Like my nonna says, I can diet when I get home, but here I have to eat as much as I can. Last night a few of us saw "Il Discorso del Re" (The Kings Speech) in the fortress of Siena, which has an awesome outdoor amphitheater. It was so fun and Colin Firth's dubbed voice wasn't even that bad.
This morning, Edie and I taught the Relief Society lesson about the temple. It was so cool to see their excitement over the Rome temple. It was a little harder to teach and engage a discussion than it was to read a talk in Sacrament meeting, but we did a pretty good job. Piano, piano my Italian is getting better.
Stamattina, Edie ed io abbiamo insegnato la lezione per la società del succorso. Parlavamo del tempio di Roma e le benedizioni che riceviamo quando frequentamento il tempio. Per i membri della chiesa qui, il tempio più vicino è in Svizzera. Viaggiano nove ore. Sono molto emozionante per il loro tempio a Roma. Per noi che abbiamo un tempio a vicino a casa, la nostra responsabilità è frequentare il tempio spesso. Non abbiamo il sacrificio che altre paese hanno. Sono molta fortunata abitare a Utah.
Yesterday was the first Saturday that I stayed in Siena. I hung out with a couple American friends that I met here all day. We shopped and we ate. I had a marvelous piatto of pears, pecorino cheese, and honey. Basically, it was delicious. Afterwards, I was craving an Italian doughnut filled with nutella, but the closest thing I could find was a chocolate filled pastry that was also wonderful. Like my nonna says, I can diet when I get home, but here I have to eat as much as I can. Last night a few of us saw "Il Discorso del Re" (The Kings Speech) in the fortress of Siena, which has an awesome outdoor amphitheater. It was so fun and Colin Firth's dubbed voice wasn't even that bad.
This morning, Edie and I taught the Relief Society lesson about the temple. It was so cool to see their excitement over the Rome temple. It was a little harder to teach and engage a discussion than it was to read a talk in Sacrament meeting, but we did a pretty good job. Piano, piano my Italian is getting better.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Giorno dello sciopero
C'è stato uno sciopero nazionale per gli autobus oggi. Heather, Edie, ed io non abbiamo potuto andare alla città per lavoro, quindi stavamo camminando circa la campagna. Tutto. Siamo camminate all'Aquacalda a comprare "magnum mini's." C'è state cioccolate con caramel e doppio cioccolate. Erano buonissimi. Sono camminato a solo al negozio di vestiti che avevo visto prima. Ho comprato una sciarpa e tre paia di orecchini. E poi sono andata alla casa dell'altra nonna per visitare la mia amica Amanda. Lo sciopero non era tanto emozionante quanto avevo pensato sarebbe. Mi piace lavorare. Mi piace la città. Gli scioperi sono noioso.
There was a national bus strike today so we couldn't get into the city to go to work. We were excited at first, thinking we could make this day a pool day, but it was cloudy. Makenna and I went to a bar for breakfast because I was craving orzo, which is like coffee but instead of coffee beans its made with barley. I went running and showered, and then spent the rest of the day walking around basically. I felt like being alone today so I went shopping and took the long way everywhere I went. Tuscany is truly beautiful. Several times today, I looked around and wondered how I ended up here. I adore it. The people are so nice and so understanding of my lingual imperfections. Twice while I was walking Italians pulled over to ask me for directions. I was absolutely no help at all to a woman, but she just smiled at me and told me I was bella.
My conversation skills are slowly but surely getting better. I have been making more of an effort to talk to Italians and to practice thinking in Italian and I believe it is helping. I think I'm going to be thrown through a loop when we go to Barcelona in a few weeks. Spanish? What? Che? Que? I hope it won't be too confusing.
I have been here for a month. I don't believe it. One more, and then back to America, where people don't know how to cook pasta and there are shopping carts at the grocery store. Weird.
There was a national bus strike today so we couldn't get into the city to go to work. We were excited at first, thinking we could make this day a pool day, but it was cloudy. Makenna and I went to a bar for breakfast because I was craving orzo, which is like coffee but instead of coffee beans its made with barley. I went running and showered, and then spent the rest of the day walking around basically. I felt like being alone today so I went shopping and took the long way everywhere I went. Tuscany is truly beautiful. Several times today, I looked around and wondered how I ended up here. I adore it. The people are so nice and so understanding of my lingual imperfections. Twice while I was walking Italians pulled over to ask me for directions. I was absolutely no help at all to a woman, but she just smiled at me and told me I was bella.
My conversation skills are slowly but surely getting better. I have been making more of an effort to talk to Italians and to practice thinking in Italian and I believe it is helping. I think I'm going to be thrown through a loop when we go to Barcelona in a few weeks. Spanish? What? Che? Que? I hope it won't be too confusing.
I have been here for a month. I don't believe it. One more, and then back to America, where people don't know how to cook pasta and there are shopping carts at the grocery store. Weird.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Troppo cibo.
Il fratello di Edie ed la sua ragazza sono venuti alla cena stasera. La nostra nonna era molto emozionante e ha cucinato una cena speciale. Gli antipasti è stati bruschettini con qualcosa. Penso che fosse "liver" ma non so. La pasta era buonissima. Aveva il pesto ed "green beans" e le patate. Il pane è stato cucinato a perfezione. Per il piatto secondo, abbiamo mangiato "pork" e rosmarino, patate con rosmarino, e verdure. Erano fantastico. Siamo finito con una torta di mele con la marmalate è stato fato dalla nonna. Sto ingrassando.
Last night, I made the mistake of telling our nonna that Edie would be at dinner when in fact she was eating with her brother and his girlfriend who are in town for the weekend. As a result, nonna made too much food. I felt responsible and so I made an effort to eat more than usual. I had two servings of pasta, 2 bug cheese stuffed bell peppers, and 3 pieces of whatever meat it was. I was so full, that I couldn't even enjoy the strawberry tiramasu afterwards.
Edie's guests ate with us tonight, and nonna was so excited. We ate in the dining room with fancy dishes and everything was cooked to perfection. The antipasta was little mini bruschetti with some sort of liver paste. Sounds gross, but it was okay. The pasta that followed was spaghetti with homemade pesto, green beans, and potatoes. It was incredible. The second course consisted of lean pork with rosemary, incredible rosemary potatoes, and grilled vegetables. The bread was toasted to perfection and I poured olive oil and salt all over it. For dessert, we had an apple cake that wasn't too sweet and had absolutely no butter in it. Just olive oil surprisingly. You couldn't taste it. I have a feeling I won't be hungry for a few days.
Today at church I spoke in Sacrament meeting. I gave an 8 minute talk. Impressed? You should be. There were actually like 30 people there because 2 American families showed up. It was nerve racking and I read more than I wanted to, but what can you do. Next week, I'm co-teaching Relief Society.
Last night, I made the mistake of telling our nonna that Edie would be at dinner when in fact she was eating with her brother and his girlfriend who are in town for the weekend. As a result, nonna made too much food. I felt responsible and so I made an effort to eat more than usual. I had two servings of pasta, 2 bug cheese stuffed bell peppers, and 3 pieces of whatever meat it was. I was so full, that I couldn't even enjoy the strawberry tiramasu afterwards.
Edie's guests ate with us tonight, and nonna was so excited. We ate in the dining room with fancy dishes and everything was cooked to perfection. The antipasta was little mini bruschetti with some sort of liver paste. Sounds gross, but it was okay. The pasta that followed was spaghetti with homemade pesto, green beans, and potatoes. It was incredible. The second course consisted of lean pork with rosemary, incredible rosemary potatoes, and grilled vegetables. The bread was toasted to perfection and I poured olive oil and salt all over it. For dessert, we had an apple cake that wasn't too sweet and had absolutely no butter in it. Just olive oil surprisingly. You couldn't taste it. I have a feeling I won't be hungry for a few days.
Today at church I spoke in Sacrament meeting. I gave an 8 minute talk. Impressed? You should be. There were actually like 30 people there because 2 American families showed up. It was nerve racking and I read more than I wanted to, but what can you do. Next week, I'm co-teaching Relief Society.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Firenze
Sono andata a Firenze per il giorno. Non sono andata al Duomo o il Ufizzi o l'Accademia. Sono andata per il pelle. Il mercato era bennissimo e ho visto tanto roba che abbia piacuto. Ho comprato una borso per mia sorella dopo cercando per due ore. La bolsa è grige e bella. Mia sorella è una ragazza fortunata che abbia una sorella come me. Sarà un regola per il suo compleanno e magari per natale.
We took a day trip to Florence today. I didn't go to the Duomo or the Ufizzi or even to see the David while I was there. Today was a day for Zara, H&M, and the Florence leather market. Today was a day for shopping. Much to my dismay (but also to my relief), I did not find anything at H&M or Zara that I wanted to buy. I was starting to sink into the depths of shopping despair until I found a beautiful purse at the leather market for my sister Jaimee. It feels and smells so good and that girl better love me forever for getting it for her.
Today also marks the day that I have had the best panini of my life: prosciutto, roast beef, and green sauce (a little lighter than pesto), and prosciutto, mozzarella, and sun dried tomato. They were from a tiny bar called Due Fratelli and they were magical. I will definitely be going back.
We took a day trip to Florence today. I didn't go to the Duomo or the Ufizzi or even to see the David while I was there. Today was a day for Zara, H&M, and the Florence leather market. Today was a day for shopping. Much to my dismay (but also to my relief), I did not find anything at H&M or Zara that I wanted to buy. I was starting to sink into the depths of shopping despair until I found a beautiful purse at the leather market for my sister Jaimee. It feels and smells so good and that girl better love me forever for getting it for her.
Today also marks the day that I have had the best panini of my life: prosciutto, roast beef, and green sauce (a little lighter than pesto), and prosciutto, mozzarella, and sun dried tomato. They were from a tiny bar called Due Fratelli and they were magical. I will definitely be going back.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Vestiti e Cibo
Stamattina, sono andata al mercato di Siena con Heather ed Edie. Era la prima volta e molto emozionante. Ci sono state molte bancarelle con i vestiti, la roba per la cucina, le scarpe, e più. Ho comprato un paio di panteloni con una fantasia dei fiori e un vestito con una fantasia dei fiori diversa. Heather ha comprato due camicie, un sciarpa, e un paio dei panteloni. Ho visto tanto che mi ho piacuto, ma quella roba era cara. Sono emozionante andare di nuovo la prossima settimana. Sabato siamo andate a Firenze per il mercato della pelle ed i saldi!!
Shopping at the market was so fun today. But not as fun as eating a tomato, mozzarella, and eggplant pizza, a slice of nutella pizza, and kiwi and strawberry gelato. Dinner was so quintessentially italian as well: prosciutto and melon, tomato and mozzarella, some other kind of cheese, salad and bread with olive oil. Nom nom nom nom. To counteract the amount and nutritional value of the food I consume here, it is my new goal to run in the mornings. Ew running. Wish me luck.
Shopping at the market was so fun today. But not as fun as eating a tomato, mozzarella, and eggplant pizza, a slice of nutella pizza, and kiwi and strawberry gelato. Dinner was so quintessentially italian as well: prosciutto and melon, tomato and mozzarella, some other kind of cheese, salad and bread with olive oil. Nom nom nom nom. To counteract the amount and nutritional value of the food I consume here, it is my new goal to run in the mornings. Ew running. Wish me luck.
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