Natalie's Ireland Semester: Italy

The Duomo

We arrived early in the morning in Milan to gray skies and lots of rain. I was excited for Milan because of the fashion, but I was forgetting a couple of things. Mainly, my poor college student

status that keeps me from purchasing the things

I long for, like a Gucci bag and Prada sunglasses, a Fendi scarf and Versace shoes.

Second, travelling with boys who do not care about any of the above.

Also, I never looked anything Fashion-y to do up… I probably should have tried to hit an outlet mall or something, but I can’t really afford anything other than food right now. Its hard not having a job and seeing your balance constantly plummet... I’ll just have to head back after I make partner somewhere and am rolling in filthy amounts of money. Anyway, Milan, not too terribly exciting.

We did see the Duomo though, which was absolutely incredible. By far the favourite between Notre Dame and St Peter’s Basilica. Had my first awkward English speaking encounter, trying to order water in the restaurant next to our hostel. Had first pizza too. Andy kept saying, this is so good, this is the best pizza ever, (side note, Andy always talks about how amazing everything is, which is funny, but his optimism and excitement is appreciated too) but to be honest I like Punch and the other place Joey and our families go—Pizza Nea—a lot better. They put more spices and ingredients on. For example, love the basil leaves and the Mt. Vesuvio tomatoes, and sun dried tomatoes when Joey lets me get them. Overall, as I was told, Milan, least favourite.

Inside the Duomo

The next day we got up early to get to Venice. Took a train there, and it was about 3 hours. It was rainy again in Venice, but really cool. It’s hard to believe how old it is, and that more of it hasn’t sunk already. We checked into our hostel and wandered around for several hours, taking lots of pictures and peaking in stores. Made our way to Saint Mark’s square, took more pictures, didn’t go inside of anything and made our way back. I’m sad to say I took a nap. Between waking up at 3:30am the day we left, walking around in the rain, and being sick, I just couldn’t keep going. Eventually woke up and went for dinner, a self-serve place that had phenomenal spaghetti con pesca, (with fish!!) So good. And, my first (of many) gelato—rum chocolate.

Venice

a channel

a market

a boat

gelato

The next day, another train. Another 3 hours. Florence. The weather there was fabulous. The entire city was so beautiful, so old and so gorgeous. Florence was basically the same strategy as all the other cities: 1) consult the various lists we had of must-sees, 2) look at the (a?) map, 3) wander, and 4) take pictures. We hiked up to Michael Angelo Plaza (I believe, but its hard to keep track) for its amazing vistas. More gelato. More pictures. More beautiful Italy.

I feel I should probably interject that I didn’t really want to go to Italy (or Paris for that matter) for break. I’ve never been super into Italy, and I don’t know anything real about Italian culture that doesn’t come from fictional-media works. Which is kind of surprising considering a) how much I adore Italian food, especially pasta. If not at house of fine foreign cuisine, and if I don’t get a salad, I’ll almost always order pasta. Hazelwood with the Engelharts: pasta (and of course the fondue). Bucca, I never get the chicken or veal or anything, its always pasta. I make myself pasta as a meal probably 5 or 6 days a week here. (and at home, but I did more stir-frys at home) PLUS, that doesn’t even count the days I eat penne for lunch and spaghetti for dinner. Anyway, Italy was not top on my list. Italy wasn’t even on the list. I ended up going because I was worried about travelling a lone and didn’t want to stay in Dublin.

I mention this because Italy absolutely blew me away and far exceeded any expectations I had. [With the exception of Vatican City]

I’ll finish with Rome and Paris tomorrow.