ROMA: Dove vita vive su vita.

Roma: Dover vita vive su vita --- Where life lives on life.

Rome has so many different aspects to it that it is a difficult city to describe. It is full of ancient ruins, hundreds of years of history and the layering of different structures from different time periods makes it this giant patchwork of life. Essentially, life lives on life. Considering that Italians like to reuse buildings over and over again, only making changes when a structure is crumbling and needs repair, this layering of time is made possible.

It is strange to walk by a United Color of Benetton (a popular clothing store in Europe) and see that the store is being held up by ancient Roman columns. Or to walk into a mall that was intricately designed during the High Baroque period. Or even see the Trevi Fountain...still standing, with it's water flowing from the same aqueducts built in 1453.

And still...life lives on. The people currently living in Rome continue to live and pass the same beautiful structures everyday as if they were a part of ordinary life. Well, I guess I would do the same if I were them.

But there is something else fascinating about life in Rome. Have you ever heard of La Dolce Vita? I myself have not seen this classic film which takes place in Rome, but I can see why it was named so. Sure, it is probably almost as crazy at New York City and you will get run over by a Vespa if you don't keep your eyes and ears open, but there is something about slowly sipping your espresso at the famous Sant'Eustachio cafe while looking out of your fashionable "glamour" sunglasses and perhaps seeing a couple passionately kissing in the street. And there is something about walking past the Pantheon on a beautiful sunny day, hearning a saxophone playing throughout the piazza and seeing a horse and buggy pass you by. And...there is something about walking by the Trevi Fountain at night, seeing it completely lit up and surrounded by visitors and couples, young and old, who have come to throw their coin in in hopes that they will someday return to such a spectacular place. Yes, life in Rome is surely the sweet life.

The Pantheon

The Coliseum

Michelangelo's La Pieta

Vatican City

La vita e' troppo breve.

La vita e' troppo breve--Life is too brief.

My Uncle George was Mr. Holland's Opus meets School House Rock. He loved music more than anything and teaching it was his way of sharing his talent with the world. I'm not sure what his students thought of him or how he even acted in the classroom, but I do know the kind of man that he was during family gatherings and holidays. He would sit in the living room, while playing his guitar and singing some ridiculous song that he had just made up off the top of his head. He had serious talent, but somehow seriousness just wasn't his thing. He couldn't help but make some corny joke while helping himself to a second piece of pumpkin pie, at which my Nana would scoff "Oh George! You're bad!"-- and then she'd laugh. I can still hear his kind of stuttered laughter...it was the kind of laugh that you could recognize in an instant.

The only thing that he loved more than his music was his family. Of this I am sure because he was always there for his sisters, his brothers, his children, his wife and his mother.

He tried to teach me how to play the guitar once: James Taylor "Fire and Rain".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwugjyeSKx4

http://www.mathewsfuneralhome.com/obit18.html

Florence-to-do List

35 days left in Florence.

Despite the fact that I have been living here for almost 2 1/2 months now, there are still many things that I have yet to see and do in Florence and only a month left to do them. So, I made a list...

1. Climb the Duomo. Yes, I live next to the thing and I still have not climbed it yet. I have been waiting until tourist season is at its minimum.

2. Climb the campanile (bell tower next to the Duomo). Supposedly, the view is even better from the Duomo's neighbor because you can actually see the Dome itself when you climb the campanile.

3. See the David. Once again, I have been waiting until tourist season dies down...

4. Eat a full course Italian meal. I'm talking the full works: Antipasto, Primi, Secondi, Contorni, Dolci...don't forget the wine and espresso.

5. Try Bistecca alla Fiorentina. A Florentine specialty.

6. Go to mass in the following churches: Chiesa di Dante, Orsanmichele, Santa Croce.

7. Go to a bar in "L'Oltrarno" (the other side of the Arno). This is where the true locals hang out.

8. Try Gelato at La Carribe. Sicilian gelateria. I have become obsessed with this one type of Gelato called "Cassata Siciliana". It is gelato made with ricotta and dried fruit. SO GOOD.

9. Go back to the Secret Bakery. Bakery that is only open from 2-4am and is quite literally hidden. The men that work here make all the croissants for the bakeries all over Florence and will sell them to you for 1 euro. Delicious.

10. There are of course, numerous restaurants that I am dying to try: La Giostra, Il Latini, Cibreo, Gusta Pizza, Francesovini...

We will see how far my bank account takes me. I will keep you updated...

Ooh la la, Paris!

I have finally found the time to sit down and tell you about my short, but wonderful trip to Paris! It is an absolutely beautiful city and I was lucky enough to have a place to stay with a good friend from home who is currently studying abroad there.

The first thing I noticed about Paris was that it is a HUGE city. Coming from small little Florence, I was a little bit taken aback at first at it's size. Fortunately, they have a wonderful public transportation system. It's cheap, fast and takes you anywhere in the city in less than 30 minutes.

The next thing I realized was how elegant, how glamorous Paris is. Again, compared to Florence and other cities in Italy, Paris has got something about it that just makes it glitter. Yet it is not flashy or gaudy like New York...it's much more graceful, and the city's rich history only adds to it's elegance and delicateness.

Of course, I cannot tell you about Paris and without mentioning something about FOOD. Of course, the French are known for having the most wonderful pastries and breads and I can testify that this is most definitely the case. Now, don't get me wrong, I am Italian and I love almost all Italian food. But the French know how to make bread better than anyone (You know bread is the best when you eat a three foot long baguette by itself for lunch). The other thing that I must confess is that French pastries are way better than Italian ones. I ate the most delicious, buttery, warm "Croissants aux Raisins" every morning that I was there for breakfast. Can someone please tell me why Italians don't believe in butter?!?!

There are of course other things culinary delights that I had to try while I was there: french onion soup, crepes, omelettes, creme brulee... I successfully tasted them all, which, for me, was a large part of what I wanted to do while in France.

Venus di Milo (Louvre) Eros (Louvre)

The other part of my list of things to do while in Paris was, for the most part, completed as well. I saw the Eiffel tower (multiple times each day because Hillary's a beautiful view of it from her apartment), spent a good 2 hours in the Musee de Louvre where I had the pleasure of meeting the Mona Lisa (and many other priceless works of art) and I walked around the gardens and palace of Versailles, learning a great deal about all the silly things that the kings and queens of France used to do. I also got to experience the Paris nightlife, which like New York, never ends and never sleeps and I enjoyed the most peaceful afternoon in one of the lesser known areas of Paris.

It was, needless to say, a successful and enjoyable trip. After boarding the plane with my souvenir box of mini colorful French Macaroons, I realized that Paris had somehow found a small, special place in my heart.