Monday, October 18, 2010
Letizia visits!
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Friday, October 15, 2010
Cup o' Nostalgia
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Mantova< Ferrara< Urbino
Emily and I spent this weekend chaperoning an art history field trip about the various historical courts of northern Italy. We spent three days and two nights traveling from Mantova to Ferrara to Urbino. The great thing was that each town got better and better as we went. Urbino, in fact, has jumped high on my list of adorably quaint and charming Italian countryside towns (I should try to sell this official list to Rick Steves, I'm thinking).
I don't even have any worthwhile pictures of Mantova, as we were there for just a quick afternoon. We visited Palazzo Te' and the Palazzo Ducale before moving right on to Ferrara, a town overflowing with people on bikes; the Davis of Italy one might say. One of the best things about Ferrara is that it's famous for pumpkin-stuffed pasta. Oh, how I constantly miss my (dare I say, native) Emilia-Romagna! Also, one day I got to meet up with an American friend from Siena (who used to do this job with Georgetown, actually) who was visiting her boyfriend in Ferrara.
Here I am returning to the castle in Ferrara. You might get a kick out of the next picture, which is me on another pile of cannonballs here at the castle from more than 3 years ago! I look so young (and skinny!)...but come to think of it isn't that what I'll be saying about all pictures of me for the rest of my life?

Emily and I finally took a picture together. I can't decide if she's squinting from the sun or because she doesn't want to take the picture, hmm...

Immediately after arriving in Urbino, Emily and I wanted to explore the town before losing daylight. We stumbled upon a great local foods market selling honey, pumpkins, apples, and truffle oil. This guy was my favorite because he was wearing an Oakland Raiders windbreaker. When I asked him about it, he said he had no idea who the Raiders were but that when he couldn't find his coat that morning he stole this random one from his brother!
When faced with a steep incline of a street at one point during our explorations in town, I insisted to Emily that there must be some payoff for climbing that doozy of a hill. Boy, was I right! We made it up to Piazzolo Roma just in time for sunset:

We followed a sign offering panoramic views to find this incredible gem of a park:



Pasta dish called Strozzapreti, which means "strangle priests"--please don't ask me why. Intriguing though, eh?
Everywhere I turned was an awe-inspiring photo opt that reminded me of the simple beauties of this incredible country. I felt content, even merry in Urbino. How could I not? Every image in the town was joyful. So, enjoy.






I don't even have any worthwhile pictures of Mantova, as we were there for just a quick afternoon. We visited Palazzo Te' and the Palazzo Ducale before moving right on to Ferrara, a town overflowing with people on bikes; the Davis of Italy one might say. One of the best things about Ferrara is that it's famous for pumpkin-stuffed pasta. Oh, how I constantly miss my (dare I say, native) Emilia-Romagna! Also, one day I got to meet up with an American friend from Siena (who used to do this job with Georgetown, actually) who was visiting her boyfriend in Ferrara.
Here I am returning to the castle in Ferrara. You might get a kick out of the next picture, which is me on another pile of cannonballs here at the castle from more than 3 years ago! I look so young (and skinny!)...but come to think of it isn't that what I'll be saying about all pictures of me for the rest of my life?
Immediately after arriving in Urbino, Emily and I wanted to explore the town before losing daylight. We stumbled upon a great local foods market selling honey, pumpkins, apples, and truffle oil. This guy was my favorite because he was wearing an Oakland Raiders windbreaker. When I asked him about it, he said he had no idea who the Raiders were but that when he couldn't find his coat that morning he stole this random one from his brother!
While up there, we saw newlyweds coming to take advantage of the blissful backdrop of Urbino. There were young boys playing soccer in the park that started chanting the wedding march for the couple. I felt like I was in an amazingly cheesy Italian movie.
Everywhere I turned was an awe-inspiring photo opt that reminded me of the simple beauties of this incredible country. I felt content, even merry in Urbino. How could I not? Every image in the town was joyful. So, enjoy.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Villa Wars
Last week we finally transferred hotels from Villa Aurora to our more permanent location at Villa Fiesole. It's such a huge improvement, with a much more professional and capable staff, as well as much nicer accommodations. It was hard packing up and moving again, and it always takes me a while to feel at home in a new place, but once I saw my bathroom here at V. Fiesole everything was worth it! In order to show the striking contrast of the two hotels, here's photos, first of V. Aurora and then V. Fiesole:
My bathroom at V. Aurora
(you couldn't even see yourself in that mirror)
And then Villa Fiesole came to my rescue:
My heavenly bathroom, which includes a huge tub where I take bubble baths worthy of Pretty Woman--minus the hooker part!
(you couldn't even see yourself in that mirror)
And then Villa Fiesole came to my rescue:
In addition, I have a view of Florence out my window, and the chef here is great. And did I mention...the internet actually works!
To be honest, I got along fine with my accommodations at V. Aurora. It was more the incapacity of the hotel to follow-through and several incidents we experienced that made us all terribly happy to seek refuge elsewhere.
Basically, V. Aurora didn't even stand a chance in this battle.
To be honest, I got along fine with my accommodations at V. Aurora. It was more the incapacity of the hotel to follow-through and several incidents we experienced that made us all terribly happy to seek refuge elsewhere.
Basically, V. Aurora didn't even stand a chance in this battle.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Thursday, October 7, 2010
I've Lost My Appetite
Monday, October 4, 2010
Fashion Week
And then...drum roll please...here is my belated gift to myself for getting this new job with Georgetown. It was an impulse buy at the Furla outlet and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. I think the black and white polka-dot lining is the best part.
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