The Statue of David

Today I went to the Academia Museum where the original statue of David is held. I say 'original' because there are so many replicas scattered around Florence, but today, I saw the actual thing. And it was pretty cool :)

We had the same tour guide that we had for our first day here in Florence, Bernie. The same tour guide who showed the Jersey Shore cast around when they were here. He is seriously awesome. We talked and looked at the David for like 45 minutes and not once was I bored. He is so interesting and knowledgeable. I tried to remember everything he told us about the statue, but there was so much information, and unfortunately we weren't allowed to take pictures inside the museum (even though I'm sure you all know what David looks like) :) 

Here is what I do remember from what Bernie told me..

• It took 23 months for Michelangelo to make the statue of David.  

• It was completed in 1504

• Michelangelo was 26 years old

• The statue replicates the pose that David had before he fought Goliath 

• The statue used to be on display outside in Piazza della Signoria until 1873, when it was moved into the Academia Museum. 

• It was moved for safety reasons:

1. Teenagers in the 1800s would try to grafitti it (aka, carve their name and initials into it)

2. There were wars going on in Europe and someone accidently shot Davids big toe on his left foot

3. Also during war, someone through a bench off the top of the building directly behind David and it landed on David's left shoulder, which created a long, black crack from his shoulder to his elbow.

4. The statue was STRUCK BY LIGHTENING. There is now a rather large crack that goes done the David's back

• Once inside everyone assumed the statue was safe! But sadly in 1991.. A crazy man climbed over the glass wall that protects David and started banging his left foot with a hammer. Now his toes are a bit messed up on foot. This man was an artist and said that his artwork was better than Michelangelo's and thought if he destroyed the statue that the museum would feature his art. Needless to say the man served two years in prison and is now lives in a mental institute. Although he can leave the institute so all the museums in Italy have a picture of him on file so he won't come in. The man is now 54 years old.

• Michelangelo was given the task to make David by the Catholic church, once finished the church was very confused by the fact that David was naked and was never put inside of any church because it was too racy.

• Michelangelo was not the first artist given this task, he was actually the third. All the other artists turned the work down because the marble was dirty. 

• Michelangelo was very cocky when given the task and said that it would be the best masterpiece the world had ever seen (he was very arrogant to say the least).

I know there is a ton more that I was told but I can't remember it all now. I really should have been taking notes :)

The tour was wonderful & afterward I had a cooking class! Pictures soon to come :)

Ciao, Erica

Its Been One Month!

I have officially been in Italy for one month!! I can't believe how fast this time has gone by! I only have 2 and a half months left, which is crazy and I have already started looking at my schedule for next semester. 

Since I have been here for some time now I definitely have formed opinions about different things that happen here in Italy. The majority of things here I LOVE but there are a few things that are a little irritating.. and since this is the one month anniversary of my trip.. I figured I make a post about what drives me a little crazy about beautiful Italia.

1. EVERYBODY SMOKES CIGARETTES. I mean EVERYONE. I'm sure that there are more smokers than non-smokers in this country. Every time I walk around the city there is smoke blown in my face, and I can't stand it. At home, I would only have to worry about smelling like cigarettes if I were at a bar or party... but here it's EVERYWHERE. Have they not gotten the memo that it is bad for you!? This just baffles me. 

2. YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR WATER EVERYWHERE! I hate having to spend money on bottled water. In my apartment the water is just fine but at restaurants they will not serve you tap water. Usually it's only a few euros a bottle but it still makes me cringe that I have to spend money on something that is normally just given to me. I fell like I am much more dehydrated here than I usually am at home. 

3. The Italian men are SO AGGRESSIVE. I have never experienced so much whistling and so much name calling in all of my life. EVERY TIME I walk down the streets there is someone calling me "bella" or "baby" or something along those lines. They make kissing faces at you and will wink. I have learned the hard way NOT TO GIVE THEM EYE CONTACT. Just keep your head down. It is so hard not to look at them, All I'm wondering is, "who are these fools yelling at me." But if you look at them it just provokes them even more. 

4. Italians don't have DRYERS. Never have my clothes been so stiff in my life. I never thought I would appreciate and miss a dryer so much. My clothes take a day a half to dry in our apartment and they really just don't feel the same. I Can't wait to do laundry at home. 

5. ITALIAN DRIVERS. I feel as if I could be killed every time I cross a street. And the streets are so narrow that when a bus drives by and you are on the sidewalk you feel as if it will take your arm off. I can't imagine ever driving here, although I would fit in since there are so many mini coopers here :)

These are really the only things that I think about and annoy me about this beautiful place. Everything else is pretty much perfection and I am so happy I choose such a wonderful city to study in. 

Ciao, Erica xo

Milan Fashion Week

On Saturday 9/24 I went to Milan for the day to experience Fashion Week.

The whole day was a little choatic & unorganized but nonetheless I had a good time!

The first stop of the day was at the Milan Duomo. I think this is the most beautiful church I have ever seen. And it's HUGE! It's the 4th biggest church in the world (The Duomo in Florence is the 6th). I love the Gothic style.

The only downside to the church was that we didn't know we would be able to go inside of it & we weren't dressed properly (In Italy you have to have both your shoulders & knees covered to enter a church). A bunch of girls had to wait outside (since we were on a tour) for about a half an hour until the rest of the group was done looking inside. 

Just after the church we walked around the Galleria which supposedly is the oldest mall in the world. It was gorgeous with glass ceilings and stores way out of my price range. 

Afterward we had some free time & lunch. And guess where we had lunch at? Some fabulous pasta restaurant? A delicious pizzeria? No...... McDonalds. I know. It's terrible. But seriously everywhere we went was packed. Even McDonalds was! But we had no other choice. The menu is pretty different then in the states. I tried to get a photo..

I just ordered chicken nuggets & french fries. It was disappointing that we didn't have a better meal while in Milan but we were crunched for time and every restaurant had a long wait.


After our FABULOUS lunch we were able to attend a fashion show. Which was AMAZING!! I have never been to one before and I loved the designs of the show we saw. It was in a tent and the designer was Nenette.

As you can see the designs were very feminine, floral and flowy. I loved them, definitely something I would wear.

I tried to get a video..

After the show we walked around the fashion district and saw all the major fashion houses like Gucci, Prada, Miu Miu, Chanel. Seriously every high end designer you can think of.

After that we took the 4 hour bus ride home. All in all it was a good day.


A few more things I liked about Milan..


Elephants must be the city's symbol because there were statues of elephants ALL over the city.

Also, there were cute dogs EVERYWHERE & dogs in Italy can go anywhere a human can!! Restaurants, grocery stores, shopping malls, you name it.

I took a picture of these 2 specifically because they looked the most like Howie :)


Thanks for reading :)

Ciao, Erica xo

Italian Hospitality!

Most Italians are SO friendly! Karyssa & I just went to the gym at school & on our way back we stopped at a Pinini shop called The Oil Shop. It was seriously DELICIOUS! Only one problem.. I got the "spicy" sauce on my sandwich, thinking it would be like a spicy buffalo, but instead it was seriously jalapeno seeds all over my sandwich. It was SO SPICY I couldn't eat the whole thing. I made it through half, and just that was a struggle. As we were about to leave, the owner of the shop, a really nice older man noticed that I didn't eat all of my pinini & he asked me why. I told him that it was a little too spicy for me & next time I was going to ask for a different sauce. He felt bad that I didn't eat all of my meal that HE MADE ME A WHOLE NEW SANDWICH! I kept insisting that he didn't have to, but he was persistent & said that I could save it for later. So he made me a whole new pinini with pesto on it, for free. It was so nice & I fell like something like that would never happen in the states. I can't wait to eat there more, not only because the food is REALLY good but also because the service was so good!! And it was also so cheap! I had a huge pinini, fries & a water and it was under 4 euros. 

Most Italians are so friendly! And some Italians are TOO Friendly!!! ;)

Ciao, Erica xo

Fiesole

Today a few people from ISA took a 20 minute bus ride to a town just outside of Florence called Fiesole. The bus ticket there & back only cost 2,40 euros so Karyssa & I took advantage of the public buses & went up to Fiesole, and I'm so glad we did. It was gorgeous. It's a tiny town where you can hike up and see ALL of Florence. The pictures I got doesn't do the view justice. 

We then walked a little further & there was a monastery that is no longer used that is there to tour and look at. It was pretty cool to see.

The next few pictures are all of bedrooms that Monks would stay in. They were tiny and barely had anything in them.

 We then walked back down to the center of the city & waited for the bus to bring us back into the city.

It was a really quick, little trip. We left Florence at 3:45 & were back back 6:15 but I loved the town & I'm so happy I took advantage of the cheap bus ticket to see a very different part if Tuscany. I cannot wait to explore more. On Saturday, I'm going to Milan during Fashion Week. SO EXCITED!!

Ciao, Erica xo

Cooking Class Week 3

My third week of cooking class was amazing. We went to a well known gelato place in Florence & were taught the steps of how to make gelato :)

Preparing the ingredients

egg yolk, sugar, cream/milk. red wine (that goes on the strawberries) and vanilla

 GELATO!!

 My cute professoressa :)

It was the best gelato I have ever had!

My Contemporary Italian cooking class is DEFINITELY, by far my favorite class here :)


Ciao, Erica xo