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Hi again everyone. I just want to let you all know that I will be traveling for my Spring Break Feb. 28th to March 9th. Please know that I will fully update you on my travels to Belgium and Paris, France when I return.
And please keep me and my friends in your prayers for safe travels and good health.
Miss you all!
Ciao,
Audrey
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Monday, February 25, 2008
Florence is Firenze
So sorry I haven’t written in a while. Returned a day and a half ago from Florence. That’s right…Florence, Italy.
We arrived in Florence the morning of the 20th. We had a very long bus ride that didn’t make the day all that wonderful to start off. However, we arrived around 9:30 am and began our tour of the city. We were taken to a very high point in the distance of the city so we could see everything from a hill top. It was magnificent. Took a tour of a church and then headed back to the bus so that we could be dropped off at out hotel.
Once we arrived and got settled we had a break for lunch. A few of my friends and I decided that we should take advantage of the food market that is located in the middle of the city center. It was a huge white building that had tons of different places to eat. We decided on a small sandwich place where the owner made 9 sandwiches in a matter of 5 minuets. It was one of the most amazing sandwiches that I have ever tasted. Fresh bread, salami, bacon, ham, sun-dried tomatoes, and vinegar and olive-oil. Then we walked around the market that is open every single day and headed back to the hotel. Then Filaberto took us on a few more tours of churches including the Duomo that resides in the actual center of the city. Or day concluded at a nice restaurant where we all enjoyed a slow food experience (slow food is when you sit for about 3 hours and eat and drink…tons of food and wine.)
The next morning we ascended the Duomo…worst staircase of my life! However, we were able to take some amazing pictures…as seen below…
We then continued our tour of the city…stopping in different churches and important buildings. We also took a tour of the museum that houses The David, one of the most amazing art sculptures of our time.
We had a break, so a few of my friends and I got some gelato and headed out shopping. We stumbled across the bridge and took some awesome photos...
The following morning was our last morning in Florence, so we took a tour of the Uffizi Art Museum. There we saw some amazing art, but the best was the Venus that graces so many books, including my Italian Language book cover.
Later on in the day 10 of my other friends and I departed for the city of Siena. There we spent sometime roaming the city and going to dinner for my friend Kacey’s 21st birthday. We happened to meet some very nice Italian 20 year old guys that sang to her some "Regional Songs" along with "Oh Happy Day." They were hilarious.
The next morning was the last day of my wonderful trip in the Tuscany Region. Matt, Mike, Allea and I went inside a church…yes…another church, but this one was amazing as seen below.
Finally our trip home included a 6 hour train ride, that varied on 4 different trains and many funny moments that would take me too long to dive into. Ask me about them when I get home
Miss you all!! And write to me!
Audrey Carlson
Via Crescimbeni, 5
62100 Macerata
Italy
I also love packages….
Audrey
We arrived in Florence the morning of the 20th. We had a very long bus ride that didn’t make the day all that wonderful to start off. However, we arrived around 9:30 am and began our tour of the city. We were taken to a very high point in the distance of the city so we could see everything from a hill top. It was magnificent. Took a tour of a church and then headed back to the bus so that we could be dropped off at out hotel.
Once we arrived and got settled we had a break for lunch. A few of my friends and I decided that we should take advantage of the food market that is located in the middle of the city center. It was a huge white building that had tons of different places to eat. We decided on a small sandwich place where the owner made 9 sandwiches in a matter of 5 minuets. It was one of the most amazing sandwiches that I have ever tasted. Fresh bread, salami, bacon, ham, sun-dried tomatoes, and vinegar and olive-oil. Then we walked around the market that is open every single day and headed back to the hotel. Then Filaberto took us on a few more tours of churches including the Duomo that resides in the actual center of the city. Or day concluded at a nice restaurant where we all enjoyed a slow food experience (slow food is when you sit for about 3 hours and eat and drink…tons of food and wine.)
The next morning we ascended the Duomo…worst staircase of my life! However, we were able to take some amazing pictures…as seen below…
We then continued our tour of the city…stopping in different churches and important buildings. We also took a tour of the museum that houses The David, one of the most amazing art sculptures of our time.
We had a break, so a few of my friends and I got some gelato and headed out shopping. We stumbled across the bridge and took some awesome photos...
The following morning was our last morning in Florence, so we took a tour of the Uffizi Art Museum. There we saw some amazing art, but the best was the Venus that graces so many books, including my Italian Language book cover.
Later on in the day 10 of my other friends and I departed for the city of Siena. There we spent sometime roaming the city and going to dinner for my friend Kacey’s 21st birthday. We happened to meet some very nice Italian 20 year old guys that sang to her some "Regional Songs" along with "Oh Happy Day." They were hilarious.
The next morning was the last day of my wonderful trip in the Tuscany Region. Matt, Mike, Allea and I went inside a church…yes…another church, but this one was amazing as seen below.
Finally our trip home included a 6 hour train ride, that varied on 4 different trains and many funny moments that would take me too long to dive into. Ask me about them when I get home
Miss you all!! And write to me!
Audrey Carlson
Via Crescimbeni, 5
62100 Macerata
Italy
I also love packages….
Audrey
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Swimming in the Adriatic...
Sorry it's taken me so long to post a new blog. I know that some of you are devout readers and it upsets you to arrive at my page and find that I haven't updated....so sorry. This week has been crazy though because I have had midterms...yikes! But everything is good and now I'm here to catch you up on my life.
Yesterday I went on the best Excursion of my life. Most of the excursions are fun...but this one takes the cake. We began our morning on a 7:15 am bus ride to Loreto. This is a fairly small town with a few things to do, but our main stop was at a church that houses the Black Madonna. For those of you that don't know, apparently the house that the Angel Gabriel visited Mary to tell her that she was expecting baby Jesus is in this church along with the Black Madonna. Many people (including Mother Teresa) visited this spot for many years because miracles have happened there....and people still visit to this day. It was an amazing experience to be in that room and one of the most beautiful churches. We walked around the town a little more and then headed to Sirolo where we had the option of going down the the Adriatic Sea...
When we arrived down to the bottom of this huge hit, we were walking on the shores of the Adriatic. It was a warm 60 degree afternoon and all of my friends and I headed over to the shores. I couldn't believe that I was there...it was beautiful. We adventured around on the rock and climbed up on this limestone-ish rock that slide straight into the Sea. Even in tennis shoes it was really hard to keep your balance. Whitney and I were holding a conversation until we heard our friend Clark start yelling. At that moment we turned to see him failing his arms attempting to stay above the water. Yes...he had slipped into the Sea with all of his clothes on. Luckily two of my other guy friends were down near him, and they yanked him out pretty quick. Clark said the water was cold.
After our 20 minute hike back up the mountain-hill...we boarded the bus and went to lunch in Frasassi. Most of our lunches are really good but everyone was so hungry from our trip to the Sea that it was the best lunch we had had so far. After lunch Filiaberto took us to a cave. Now if someone tells you that you are going to a cave...I think of slimy walls that don't have much of anything interesting about them. However, this cave was amazing. The only horrible thing was that we weren't supposed to take pictures....but my friend John did, so I will upload those soon. Anyways, we walked around there for a while and listened to her tell us that it was discovered in the early 70's and they have been preserving since it was found. The walls and pillars are amazing and I loved every minute of it. After we left, we started head to a different part of the town where we got to go wine tasting. This was my first Italian wine tasting experience. We learned how to sniff, look and taste the wine to its fullest, and surprisingly enough...it was very interesting. I think I'm starting to become sort of an expert...haha..
We arrived home in Macerata around 8 pm where I went and got pizza with my friends and reminisced about the day. It was an amazing experience.
This week we're going to Florence (Wednesday), so if you could all keep my group and me in your prayers, I would really appreciate it. I love and miss you all!!
Audrey
Yesterday I went on the best Excursion of my life. Most of the excursions are fun...but this one takes the cake. We began our morning on a 7:15 am bus ride to Loreto. This is a fairly small town with a few things to do, but our main stop was at a church that houses the Black Madonna. For those of you that don't know, apparently the house that the Angel Gabriel visited Mary to tell her that she was expecting baby Jesus is in this church along with the Black Madonna. Many people (including Mother Teresa) visited this spot for many years because miracles have happened there....and people still visit to this day. It was an amazing experience to be in that room and one of the most beautiful churches. We walked around the town a little more and then headed to Sirolo where we had the option of going down the the Adriatic Sea...
When we arrived down to the bottom of this huge hit, we were walking on the shores of the Adriatic. It was a warm 60 degree afternoon and all of my friends and I headed over to the shores. I couldn't believe that I was there...it was beautiful. We adventured around on the rock and climbed up on this limestone-ish rock that slide straight into the Sea. Even in tennis shoes it was really hard to keep your balance. Whitney and I were holding a conversation until we heard our friend Clark start yelling. At that moment we turned to see him failing his arms attempting to stay above the water. Yes...he had slipped into the Sea with all of his clothes on. Luckily two of my other guy friends were down near him, and they yanked him out pretty quick. Clark said the water was cold.
After our 20 minute hike back up the mountain-hill...we boarded the bus and went to lunch in Frasassi. Most of our lunches are really good but everyone was so hungry from our trip to the Sea that it was the best lunch we had had so far. After lunch Filiaberto took us to a cave. Now if someone tells you that you are going to a cave...I think of slimy walls that don't have much of anything interesting about them. However, this cave was amazing. The only horrible thing was that we weren't supposed to take pictures....but my friend John did, so I will upload those soon. Anyways, we walked around there for a while and listened to her tell us that it was discovered in the early 70's and they have been preserving since it was found. The walls and pillars are amazing and I loved every minute of it. After we left, we started head to a different part of the town where we got to go wine tasting. This was my first Italian wine tasting experience. We learned how to sniff, look and taste the wine to its fullest, and surprisingly enough...it was very interesting. I think I'm starting to become sort of an expert...haha..
We arrived home in Macerata around 8 pm where I went and got pizza with my friends and reminisced about the day. It was an amazing experience.
This week we're going to Florence (Wednesday), so if you could all keep my group and me in your prayers, I would really appreciate it. I love and miss you all!!
Audrey
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Carnival - by Creed Braton
I hope that all of you watch the Office - and if you don't then you should. It's an amazing show full of laughs. That is the inside joke about my title. But enough plugging the best show ever...
Yesterday was Carnival. For those of you in the States - Mardi Gras/Hallowween. For me, it was never anything that I looked forward too. Fat Tuesday usually was something that I only celebrated in French Class, and this would have been the first year that I could have attended Muncie Gras - holler for BSU.
Okay, so yesterday our group headed to Ascoli Pecino for the day. When we arrived around 9 am we took a quick tour around the city. It mostly reminded me of Macerata, but it's a flat down in between the mountains and the Adriatic Sea. It was fairly warm so we weren't freezing as we went into the many different churches, theaters, gardens, etc. Filaberto ended our tours rather early so that we could have enough time to enjoy the festivities that were beginning around 3 pm.
My friends and I went to a small restaurant for lunch. We walked in and all sat down at a round table. In the background Bold and the Beautiful was playing, so that made me laugh out loud, literally. Hearing the American actors dubbed voices makes any show more interesting. As I glanced around I noticed the cutest 7 year girl sitting a table all by herself eating lunch. She finished soon and took her plate into the kitchen. Then she re-set the table and told this older gentleman to come and take the table. I believe that he also worked at the restaurant. He began a conversation with my friend Kacey and soon enough - through broken English and Italian - we had a bottle of Red Wine sent over to us for lunch. It was very funny and he continued to talk to us for the rest of our lunch. After we finished, he got up and gave us all kisses on the cheek and sent us on our way.
Carnival was upon us. Families were bringing out their kids and parent were dressed up as well. Every girl is a princess and every little boy is either Spiderman, Batman, or Superman. There were street vendors selling different kinds of fried foods and candy. Street performers were on every corner yelling over their loud speaker systems to drown out the people next to them, and in turn yelling to drown out the people next to them. Music was coming from the remaining loud speakers and people would randomly break into dance.
Now, all of that was amazing...but my favorite part of Carnival is the interaction between everyone. There are two things that are socially acceptable. Throwing confetti and silly string. You can silly string anyone you want and everyone thinks that it is hilarious. Whitney got into a confetti fight with an 80 year man. This morning I woke up and I was still finding confetti in all of my clothes.
If you ever have a chance, go to Italy for Carnival. Forget New Orleans and go to Italy. It's a once in a lifetime experience.
Miss you all,
Audrey
Yesterday was Carnival. For those of you in the States - Mardi Gras/Hallowween. For me, it was never anything that I looked forward too. Fat Tuesday usually was something that I only celebrated in French Class, and this would have been the first year that I could have attended Muncie Gras - holler for BSU.
Okay, so yesterday our group headed to Ascoli Pecino for the day. When we arrived around 9 am we took a quick tour around the city. It mostly reminded me of Macerata, but it's a flat down in between the mountains and the Adriatic Sea. It was fairly warm so we weren't freezing as we went into the many different churches, theaters, gardens, etc. Filaberto ended our tours rather early so that we could have enough time to enjoy the festivities that were beginning around 3 pm.
My friends and I went to a small restaurant for lunch. We walked in and all sat down at a round table. In the background Bold and the Beautiful was playing, so that made me laugh out loud, literally. Hearing the American actors dubbed voices makes any show more interesting. As I glanced around I noticed the cutest 7 year girl sitting a table all by herself eating lunch. She finished soon and took her plate into the kitchen. Then she re-set the table and told this older gentleman to come and take the table. I believe that he also worked at the restaurant. He began a conversation with my friend Kacey and soon enough - through broken English and Italian - we had a bottle of Red Wine sent over to us for lunch. It was very funny and he continued to talk to us for the rest of our lunch. After we finished, he got up and gave us all kisses on the cheek and sent us on our way.
Carnival was upon us. Families were bringing out their kids and parent were dressed up as well. Every girl is a princess and every little boy is either Spiderman, Batman, or Superman. There were street vendors selling different kinds of fried foods and candy. Street performers were on every corner yelling over their loud speaker systems to drown out the people next to them, and in turn yelling to drown out the people next to them. Music was coming from the remaining loud speakers and people would randomly break into dance.
Now, all of that was amazing...but my favorite part of Carnival is the interaction between everyone. There are two things that are socially acceptable. Throwing confetti and silly string. You can silly string anyone you want and everyone thinks that it is hilarious. Whitney got into a confetti fight with an 80 year man. This morning I woke up and I was still finding confetti in all of my clothes.
If you ever have a chance, go to Italy for Carnival. Forget New Orleans and go to Italy. It's a once in a lifetime experience.
Miss you all,
Audrey
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