"You all made your own world here, and you're all going to disperse and this won't be here anymore, but you made something." - George

Another rainy day in Firenze over here. So, the Gallatin program is OFFICIALLY over.

Said my goodbyes to Gal-pals this morning (starting at 4 am with Hannah), found a bunch of money in Branson's abandoned room (seriously, Branson? was the process that expedited?), then schlepped all of my stuff over to Villa Natalia from a very sadly empty Villa Colleta. Finally all settled in at Natalia, with a bathroom in our room (so nice, walking down the hall was getting kind of annoying), a mattress WITHOUT SPRINGS (thank the lord, beds at Colleta were, as Hannah would say, revolting), and a GORGEOUS view of our campus. Although I'm really sad that the Gallatin program has come to an end, I'm so happy for the friends that I've made and I'm looking forwards to the next six weeks in this bellissima villa :)

Tonight is notte bianca in Firenze, which means that everything stays open all night and there's music everywhere! Unfortunately, there are supposed to be thunderstorms all night, and most of the kids here are severely jet-lagged, so this notte bianca thing might not be quite as fabulous as one would think. We'll see. Tomorrow some orientations and walking around Florence in the rain. To many of you reading this: mi manchi! (I miss you). A domani.

Ciao Amori!

Laura

"Bella che fa?"

A rainy day in Firenze today. Went to our favorite steak place last night ("I just don't understand how life could be bad if food tastes this good." - Hannah) before going to see Aida at the Boboli Gardens, which was quite lovely. Today I frolicked around Florence in the pouring rain, getting totally lost (I went in the world's biggest circle and took twenty minutes walking from Santa Maria Novella Station to Santa Maria Novella Church - they're literally back to back. Che pizza). It was nice though, I haven't yet had a chance to really get lost in the city - although the rain was a pain in the ass. It was the kind of rain that comes at you in every direction, so regardless of an umbrella (which I've determined must have some holes in it or something) I was completely soaking wet by the time I waded through the rivers (streets) and arrived at a spa on the far side of the Arno at Porta Romana. I stayed there for a couple hours, got a much-needed massage, then went to the Gallatin farewell dinner at Il Latini with the whole class (including some professional idiots as well as George&Mimi, of course). Pictures from today:

(frolicking in the rain)

(mid-dinner photoshoot, hammy moments all around)

Currently forcing Hannah to pack and listening to Branson serenade me with MY guitar that I haven't yet had time to learn how to play. What can you do. The Gallatin program is officially over, everyone is leaving tomorrow! So sad. Tomorrow will likely be another downpour as I schlep all of my stuff from Villa Coleta over to Villa Natalia. Could be worse though, right? :)

Ciao Amori!

Laura

"Freedom is primarily experienced in action...to be free and to act are the same." - Hannah Arendt

Buona sera! Felice Festa di San Giovanni! Today is Florence's version of fourth of July in celebration of their patron saint, John the Baptist. This morning we had our final art history class. We met in Piazza della Signoria, where we watched the 9:30 am procession (complete with loud drums, funny little Italian ensembles with feathered hats, and the throwing of Florentine flags). Then it was to the Palazzo Vecchio before having our final class with George. Heading down to the Arno to watch the fireworks in an hour or so - our cab driver today stressed that we absolutely must go! Pictures from Palazzo Vecchio this morning:

Also, of very much importance is the fact that Ali GRADUATED from high school yesterday!! HOORAH! You made it, Alexandra (that was for Poppop), onwards and upwards you go. This obviously requires a picture of the day:

This was definitely before you chased me out of garages with brooms...ANYWAYS I love you, I'm so proud of you, and I wish I was there yesterday! I was in spirit, of course, and I expect molto pictures from your party! (Yehhh, dat's wight, yew did it - yes, that was my accent, you can't tell me to shut up via blog).

Ciao Amori!

Laura

"Therefore, painting is philosophy..." - Leonardo Da Vinci

Went to The Mall this morning - the outlet about 30 minutes outside of Firenze, with stuff straight from factories in Italy. Needless to say, it was a very successful experience - Hannah and I were incredibly successful at La Perla. After The Mall it was off to art history class at the Uffizi. Pictures from today, sitting in Piazza della Signoria at the end of class:

That's all for now, about to go eat some gluten-free pasta (or something) and do some serious paper-writing. Tomorrow (Italy's version of July 4th) we're busy ALL DAY with classes downtown and possibly in the Boboli Gardens, then watching fireworks over the Arno and going out for drinks with George (gotta love Gallatin professors). A domani!

Ciao Amori!

Laura

"We are free to change the world and to start something new in it." - Hannah Arendt

Revisited the idea of social construction in class today - talked about how we are shaped by our experiences, and the fact that we become who we are through action. We put on masks, we play roles, etc etc. As George said: "I have no idea what it means to be an adult...it's just a role that I seem to have found myself in." The masks we wear and the roles we play are not necessarily deception, but extensions of ourselves. That's all the philosophy I have in me today...take it and run with it. Just had a great Florentine steak and some red wine with Hannah and Branson after writing a paper, definitely ready to go to sleep now. A domani.

Ciao Amori!

Laura

Adios Barcelona, Ciao Firenze

FINALLY back in Firenze after a whirlwind of a trip to Barcelona (a taxi to a bus to a plane to a shuttle bus to a bus to a taxi...), but firstly:

"Boy I hear you in my dreams, I feel you whisper across the sea..."

Clearly, this has to be a picture of the day. Hi Marc! Happy birthday (yesterday I was clearly too overwhelmed to post this on time) to my favorite dork. I miss you, I love you, I wish you were here (soon enough!).

So, Barcelona. Saturday night we had delicious tapas and seafood paella, then to a really shi-shi hotel (Hotel Arts) to sit on the couches of the roof bar/lounge, sip cocktails, look at the stars and feel the ocean breeze. Not too shabby. Met quite a character, a Barcelona native who apparently lived in the hotel (rich) and was very entertained by the fact that we are from New York (ah! New Yorkers! I love these New Yorkers). With him, we discussed the art of bullshitting (ahem, Branson): "oh yea man, good bullshitting job man, brava!" - that went on for about a half hour. Then he took us to a club on the beach called Opium, where we waltzed into, since apparently everyone knows him (Javier? that was his name), where we stayed for about five minutes and decided we were over it. Solid night in Barcelona.

(Arc de Triomf)

Sunday we went to the Picasso museum (amazing! so, so interesting), then to Parc de la Ciutadella (where the "Arc de Triomf" is...bonjour Paris?), then to the Sagrada Familia Church (designed by Gaudi, still in the works, but very awesome), then up to Parc Guel for some frolicking in flowers and cloud watching. Smooth, sailing, right? Yes, until we went back to the hotel to get our luggage and I realized my external hard drive (you know, that thing with my entire life on it? every picture I've ever taken? Every paper I've written?) was gone. Obviously, I must have left it in the room. Long story short, they wouldn't let us back into the room until we haggled them, Branson and Hannah called their parents to devise a plan, we left a note with an offer for a reward, I had a very teary breakdown to my parents (and then Marc) on the phone, and we all came to the conclusion that whoever saw it in the room stole it. SO, that sucked. CHE PIZZA ("what a mess," as the Italians and Allie Swatek would say). But such is life, we'll figure it out. On that note, I'm very happy to be back in Italy, although Barcelona was certainly a place to see. Pictures!! :

(Parc de la Ciutadella)

(blowing kisses? ham.)

(Hannah and Branson singing George Michael and rocking out...)

(Sagrada Familia Church)

(Parc Guell)

(Branson you took this one! Brava)

That's all for now. About to finish up some reading and head over to Villa Ulivi for class with George.

Ciao Amori!

Laura