I don't really have much to say today, except that we have successfully completed our first full week here in Italy! On one hand, I feel like the time has flown by, but on the other, I feel like I have been here for a year already.
We didn't end up going to Cinque Terre, like I mentioned in my last post. Everyone decided it would be best to hang out locally this weekend, get settled in and really explore the city. I think it was a great idea because I don't think I'm fully adjusted to the time difference yet. I still somehow end up awake until 3:00 in the morning!
We spent the weekend exploring and shopping for souvenirs for our friends and family back home. We live right next to the pier, so it's a really busy area. They have little tents set up every day and they sell all sorts of goodies! In fact, this weekend was some kind of cultural festival, so we've been hearing music from all over the world 24/7. As I'm typing this, I'm listening to someone playing Native American... flutes, I think? They're beautiful. The great thing about being right next to the pier is that we get to hear all the noise! It's also a bad thing though.
Today was mostly a day to catch up on homework for our assignments due this week. I also did a little exploring on my own, on orders from my professor. I ended up wandering through some side streets by myself. It was fun, until some girl and her boyfriend started hassling me for money. I just kept walking and eventually they left me alone. Scary!!
On that subject, there are a LOT of people on the streets trying to sell you stuff. Over by the pier you have to be really careful because there are guys who will come up to you and ask if you want a friendship bracelet, then they tie it on your wrist before you can say no and they won't take it back, refusing until you pay an outrageous price for it. They do the same thing with flowers and a few other things too. I have been followed and one guy tried to physically force it into my hands!! You have to be very firm with them to get them to go away.
Also, funny story for today: Natasha and I went to get gelato at a little shop down the street from our apartment. Obviously everything is in Italian, so I just pointed to a flavor that looked good and asked the lady for one scoop. She put it on a cone for me and started saying something to me in Italian, and of course I couldn't understand her. So I just nodded and she gave me the cone. After we paid for them, I went outside and took a taste of mine. It wasn't even gelato: it was literally frozen nutella! Not nutella-flavored gelato... ACTUAL nutella. What a waste of 3 euros!! I'm pretty sure the lady was trying to warn me. Man, I need to learn some Italian.
Anyway, that's all I have for updates today!
(P.S.... I JUST HEARD THUNDER!!! I have a feeling it's gonna be a good night. Anyone who knows me should know that I LOVE a good thunderstorm. Mmm mm mm!!)
Here are some random pictures from my adventures this weekend:
We walked down the coast to Boccadasse last night and the moon was so beautiful!
This is the only beach within 20 miles that you don't have to pay to swim at. All the beaches are rock, not sand! So weird!!
Me and Natasha! On our walk down the coast.
Just a beautiful view of the signs on the big pier building.
If I remember correctly, this is a statue of Genoa's patron saint, San Georgio! Either that or it's Christopher Columbus. He was born here, in case you didn't know.
A beautiful lighthouse on the coast.
This picture doesn't do this building justice, but it was an ENORMOUS palace that we passed. I wanted to go inside so badly!
To be honest, I don't know what the heck this thing is. But it's a landmark of the area. I think it's like architectural decoration or something. Either way, it's beautiful! Especially right after the sun sets like in this picture.
Ciao for now!! Arrivederci! :)
You look beautifully happy! Glad to see you are enjoying your time.
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