Roma day 1

Well it's only about 7pm still but I feel like I've done more than the average day... Plus I'm kinda bored and my feet and knees are sore from walking all day so I don't have a ton of energy. I feel like my night is going to be finding food and going to bed early, despite the other urge I have which is to check out the bar scene.. I got up at 6:20am and was out of my hostel in Naples by 7am. Got to the train station with the perfect amount of time to board it. I sat with three very serious looking businessmen, one of which never took off his sunglasses. I got to termini at 9am and had made plans to meet another gustie by a certain track at 9am. When it was 9:30 and there was still no sign of her, I decided to leave and go to my hostel with the idea that maybe she was unable to make it and I just didn't know because I'd been off wifi for a couple hours. I still have no idea what happened... I checked into my hostel and left soon after to start my day of sightseeing. My first encounter was very bizarre and freaked me out, I'm not going to detail it here but basically someone approached me and they were definitely scamming to try to get me to take out my passport. My flight response kicked in and I just walked away but it really shook me up. Then I saw the outside of the colosseum, roman forum, etc. went to piazza Venezia, walked around the Jewish ghetto, then the pantheon, (lunch), piazza navona, campo de' fiori, and the Spanish steps. A lot of sightseeing. And browsing in shops on my way back to my hostel. Sorry y'all but I don't know if I'll have souvenirs for you... Since my pack squishes everything I haven't bought anything anywhere else and Rome is cool but not enough to buy a bunch of tacky expensive souvenirs... Just warning you now not to expect anything. Tomorrow I think I'm going to go to the Vatican and do more window shopping. I'm seriously so tired, I'm hoping to go to bed early. 5 hours of sleep before this huge day? Yeah no. Plus the people in my hostel seem a lot less social.. So less to do. Dumb. Oh well. If you asked me right now I'd say yep I'm ready to come home. I'm going to miss the food and the ancient buildings but man do I miss my people at home!

Napoli

So Naples really hasn't been so bad. After eating a fabulous breakfast at my hostel in Sorrento, Jasmine, Amy (the Canadian twins) and I set out for Naples. A bit later than planned but that's okay. We got into Naples from the Circumsuvienta (the train that runs around Mt Vesuvius) around 11, and after dropping their things off at the train station (they were only exploring for the day) we eventually found the train we were to take to get to my hostel. It took forever to find. |The streets here aren't labeled extremely well, and if they are, they sometimes have graffiti over them! Naples is COVERED  in graffiti. I actually kind of like it, but not when it comes to misguided navigation. We asked three groups of people where to go, and after stopping for a milkshake at a place that advertised wifi, we finally located it. Down a dinky street that we had been circling around and whose street name was covered in graffiti. I took a picture. I was quite cranky and disliking Naples at this point but the reception at my hostel told us some cool places to go so we checked it out there.- We decided to walk toward the sea, in which there's a castle you can wander around in for free. On our way we got - shocker - pizza! I got one with anchovies on it, and the anchovies were too salty but besides that it was good. And only 4,50 Euro! Score. There were even a couple Italians who came in and sang for us, a theme in this region. (Also people, ranging from kids with accordians to three person bands, play on the circumsuvientus. kinda cool.) We continued down towards the ocean, stopping for a quick espresso (that had gelato in it! Really good actually) but we arrived at the sea. I'm obsessed with Mt Vesuvius and the ocean, so it was perfect. Well, I'm obsessed with mountains and ocean, to be exact. It was cool to see Capri in the background too. The caste we went in had beautiful views and a couple really cool art galleries. Made up for the lack of swimming I was doing, thats for sure. Seriously, if its this hopt I need to be able to swim every day... We walked through a posh area on our way back towards the centre of Naples, stopping for gelato (I got watermelon and Mt. Vesuvius apricot. Delish) and to take pictures of monuments. We walked around the historic center and the narrow streets, everything covered with graffiti and locals staring at us. Went in some beautiful churches. Only paid for food and transport today! Awesome sauce. Apparently Naples is not as dangerous as everyone says it is, according to my hostel. Just be careful, especially at night? I got a pastry that Naples is for (can't remember the name, starts with "sf") and an espresso and then parted ways with the twins. It was seriously so nice to be able to hang in a pack with them today. SO lucky, though they are definitely more pointedly tourists than |I am with their stopping in the middle of the street and pulling out the map and talking loudly about finding a tourist office. Hah. I get my "New York face" on (thats what I'm calling it), which basically just means I look like I know where Im going, am slightly bored, and cant be bothered with anyone coming up to me. Less annoying men today, though one said "I love you!!" as we were passing on the street. Clearly not. I've been told its because I look Swedish, though. Several European travellers have told me that they thought I was Swedish before I opened my mouth. Guess I look even more Scandinavian than I thought.. and apparently its not just the hair and eyes, its the facial structure? Who knew.

Catching a train to Rome at 7:50 tomorrow morning, where I will hopefully meet up with a |GAC friend whos there for breakfast and then have a day of sightseeing! Also, the life of not having a towel.. tshirts make for great hair towels and air drying is acceptable. Hah. Only three more days until I see things like clean clothes, a towel when I shower, not wearing my valuables strapped to my body, and encountering everyone speaking English! I am both excited and sad for Friday. This has been awesome, but given my financial situation, my mental state, and my extreme lack of fruits and vegetables here (WHERE IS THE SPINACH. NOWHERE THATS WHERE) and things liike the ability to put on clothes that havent been sweat in at least three times.. there is a lot to look forward to about coming home. C|learly Im on a hostel computer since I'm writing this much, and I also look forward to typing on a keyboard that is not on my iPod and is not Italian with the apostraphe and question mark in different places..

Sorrento

I like sorrento. I would come back here. Sorrento is across the bay of Naples from Vesuvius and is way safer than Naples (gearing up for tomorrow!......) they also grow insane amounts of lemons here and the rind is thick and soft so you can eat it :) Yesterday I got in to sorrento around 3pm and met a British brother and sister pair upon arriving, who kindly brought me to the hostel since they were going there too. I checked in and decided to head towards the city center. The guy at the front desk lied because it took about 29 minutes to walk there, not 10. I walked down this shop that had a bunch of shops (stopping for nutella gelato/nutella covered waffle, yum) and stopped in some of the shops. The lemons here are huge! Like large baseballs. Got dinner at an english bar where i randomly watched the wimbledon championships. I walked back to my hostel and ran into a couple people and we went for a night swim! The swim was beautiful, to see sorrento lit up and Naples lit up across the bay and mt Vesuvius looming over it all. So so nice :) Today I got up and went to Pompeii with a few Canadians from my hostel. Pompeii was seriously so cool. Ancient ruins and everything. I don't really know how to describe it it was so cool?? I'll show you all pictures when I'm home soon. Then we stopped for lunch, where I got pizza! Yum. Something I will not miss about Italy: hidden cover charges. Such a scam. Then we went to the top of mt Vesuvius, which meant a very bumpy trip up the mountain in a four wheel bus, pretty much. It was a very bumpy ride... And my Achilles was bothering me. The crater was cool, but I'm not going to lie that I probably wouldn't do it again because it was expensive to go up there. But I don't know, it was good. The views were awesome and I got some really nice pictures. Came back, went for a brief swim, am on here! I'm getting kind of worried about Naples because of all the negative things I keep hearing. I'm talking to the Canadian twins I spent today with because they're going to Naples tomorrow. I just don't want to get pickpocketed.. I've been very cautious as of yet but I've heard that people pretty much watch you all the time to see where you keep your items. I'm already planning on having my passport and credit cards strapped to my body all day.. Hopefully this will work out and I'm being this paranoid for nothing actually happening.. One more thing I will say is the Italian men here. If I had a euro for every time an Italian man hit on me since I got here I would have easily paid for my hostel over. Sometimes and at first it was flattering (no worries, I turned down all the getting-a-drink offers and motorcycle rides, though the latter is so much more tempting) but by this point it's gross and borderline harassment. Let me walk in peace! I wonder if it's the sweat dripping down my shins, the heat rash and bug bites on my legs, the lack of makeup, or the huge floppy tourist hat that's bringing them in... Seriously though. Especially if you could be my dad (or older! Seriously there was this 70 year old man with gray hair today! Not interested yo!) do not hit on me. Please and thank you. It's beyond annoying. Anywho. Wish me luck in Naples tomorrow! And obviously I won't be out at night and my hostel has free wifi so I will probably be writing tomorrow night too :) buona notte!

Florence day 2

Yesterday was pretty low key. After I wrote yesterday I headed to Uffizi, where I ended up waiting in line for an hour in between an Argentinian couple and a girl from the Canary Islands, who had a long conversation with me awkwardly in between. Then had ait of an adventure finding an ATM (note that the Uffizi doesnt accept credit cards, only cash) but the museum was cool! I wish I knew more about art because that would have made it better, but ah well. Its okay. I also can affirm that overall,  like sculptures better than paintings. It took about three hours for me to get through the museum. Then I went back to the hostel because myfeet hurt and booked my hostel in Rome and my train Naples to Rome. After that I went to this shopping area (where they mostly sold belts, purses, tgacky jewelry, and scarves so it wasnt that diverse a selection) with this English guy Alex and went to this place by the duomo that Sharon (person who I met in Spoleto who lives in Florence) recommended for apertivo. Meaning I got a drink and a snack like buffet for 8 Euro, whcih is really good for dinner. Then I pretty much came back and hung out at the hostel. There was this other Australian girl and Canadian girl staying in my room that aftera while, I realized I didnt really like but the internet kept cutting out so I ended up talking to them anyway..

And my train to Naples leaves in 45 minutes! (Where I will then be taking a bus or train or somehing to Sorrento). Let the adventure continue...

Venice and Florence

We will see how this goes as I am typing on an Italian keyboard in my hostel in Florence... Venice was pretty good. I met up with Anyeli and over two days explored Piazza San Marco *I didn not know it would be so familiar frm movies I have seen..), including a tour of the Basilica. I went to the Galleria dell,Accademia (got totally lost on the way there there to.. its Venice) which was basically Venetian paintings of Jesus and his crucification. It waws interesting though. And air conditioned... went to the beach in Lido (an island nearby Venice) which was awesome and I have never seen so many me in speedos or older women in bikins in my life. I kind of like it though. Its like what you wear here doesnt coincide with age as much so it doesnt matter.ashion is fashion. We wanted to go on a gondola ride but its like 80 Euro and sp[lit two ways thats way too much., And we never got in contact with Jacob and his girlfriend in time.. had gelato three times in two days, got hit on by the waiter (becoming a theme for me here.. especially when I am sweaty and have no makeup on so its very unexpected. hmm) at the restaurant we went to, etc. The hotel room was super nice too. o to Hotel Bernardi if youre ever in Venice!

FLorence.. well I got here around 11am yesterdaty,. My hostel is on the fouth floor of this little building and its right by the duomo. Met some pretty cool people here, actually. Morte so than the other hostels Ive been in. I did a LOT of walking ye3sterday. I went in the duomom climed up the tower next to the duomo (all 400 some steps of it, even with my tendinitis..)(oh I have achilles tendinitis by the way. Yuck) went to the piaza that has all of the statues by the Uffizi, walked to this historic bridge, wemnt an found another church (I liked it way more than the dumo, actually. less touristy...) and walked ho9me. Also I found passion fruit gelato and it rocked my world. Seriously. I met a Kiwi girl in my hostel and we went to the grocery store and then later I went to this swanky dive bar with a mediocre Italian rock band with a couple other people, which was a very hilarious expereince, actually. I got a drink called an Amicgo. I wish I remembered what was in it because it was good!~

And then this morning I woke up with the sun beating down on my bed. I showered with my no towel situation again and then its now! Im planning on checking out the Uffizi and the shopping area today and then hopefully figuring out my hostel in ROme situation tonight. I leave for Naples (and then Sorrento just have to switch from the train to the bus) tomorrow. I can't believe I'll be home in six days! Time is going by so fast.

Sorry this is typ[ed so poorly. This keyvboartd is not super difference but I had a hard time finding some of the keys and I want to get moving. Ciao!

Pisa/cinque terre

I left spoleto yesterday around 10am and got to Pisa (after much sweating on trains for 5 hours). The leaning tower of Pisa was actually really cool, and I actually laughed. I can't believe it's leaning that much... Long story short on my way back to the train station I got lost for like two hours and was not too happy with everything I have here on my back. And I left my travel book at the villa :( which actually really really sucks. Got on the train at Pisa and went to corniglia. There are like 385 steps from the train station up to the town but I talked to a very nice couple from Philly. My hostel was really nice! Even got a towel :) I ate at this restaurant overlooking the ocean and I got pesto spaghetti and pasta and the waiter brought me wine that he made himself. He was really nice but kinda creepy. Got up super early this morning and ended up taking a train 2 hours later (long story). This trip could be labeled "how well Rachel rolls with the punches when things never go according to plan". Went to monterosso where I wandered the streets hungry looking for wifi and trying to sightsee all at the same time. Left monterosso around 1, got to vernazza at 2:15. The cinque terre should include something about it being a natural staiastet. Brutal. In vernazza I went swimming! It was the greatest thing ever because spoleto doesn't really have natural water. Got gelato on my way to corniglia. Took the train corniglia to manarola since the trail was closed, went up the huge hill to My hostel, the guy felt so bad for the pool-like sweat on me that he gave me an extra shower token for free. I went to the ocean after settling in and jumped off a rock into the ocean with a couple from Illinois! Don't worry mom and dad, I would go swimming in huge waves alone. Ate dinner (fettuccine with mussels, squid and pine nuts and a glass of prosecco) and had my first random drink ever sent to me- limoncello. Either they felt bad for me or thought I looked really good in my target flips flops, athletic shorts and no makeup (and air dried ocean hair) than I thought. Now I'm chilling in my hostel, going to use my shower tokens in a minute. Actually I've found that Italians so far are really nice and helpful and not rude to my English speaking self. The hostel guy is so nice! He's going to print off my train tickets too. Venice tomorrow! Yaaaaaaay :) and I'm meeting up with Anyeli and Jacob and his girlfriend. I think we're going to beach it up there too! And see stuff too:) of course. 10 days until I fly home? Weird.

Bye spoleto

This town was awesome. This experience was exhaustingly awesome. Hopefully I will get my shoes I need to hike tomorrow before I leave spoleto in an hour. Off to Pisa & the cinque terre! Also, our last two performances were bomb. Can't wait to see the video.

Last full day in spoleto?

Well we had our first performances yesterday. I'm in three pieces and some are spottier than others but today they will hopefully be better. It was over 100 degrees yesterday which was pretty miserable, but it was overall less miserable than the dress rehearsal - for many reasons... We went to this opening dinner of the festival on Friday and last night went to the osteria Andrea was opening, rossobastardo, the name of the wine from the winery we were at. Exhaustion though. The food at the villa has been fantastic and yesterday I was fortunate enough to take an hour long nap. Score. We leave spoleto tomorrow! Crazy that this experience will be changing into a new one tomorrow. I'm getting a ride to Florence where I'll take the train to Pisa and then I'm off to the cinque terre! Hopefully I won't die of heat while hiking on Tuesday... Then Venice for two days, Florence for two days, sOrrento for two days, Naples for a day, and Rome the two days before I fly home! I have a feeling all of that is going to go by so fast. I have all my hostels booked except for Rome and almost all my trains booked too. Wonder how that bank account of mine is doing... I have no idea what the wifi situation will look like at any of my hostels but I hope I have some. Thanks to my fam for lending me an iPod charger! Wish I could write more about the dancing part (especially) of spoleto. This just means I'll have more to say that you don't know for when I get back though! And let's cross our fingers that my lack of Italian language skills won't be too awful as I travel... Losing my translators tomorrow :/

Villa

Wifi is going to be more spotty now that we moved to the villa. Today is dress rehearsal! And we're also going to work more on our duet/trio pieces which means the trio I'm in will be working in the hot sun in the afternoon! Sphera and Calder are pretty much done and Stephan says they're going to be really good. I wish I could post some pictures from my iPod to show what these sculptures look like! It's a lot of drilling counts and John king our composer is awesome. Also Italians walking by keep stopping and watching and telling us it's beautiful and clapping for us, some from their house windows. It's awesome to be in a place where the art is so openly appreciated. And Calder is right in front if the train station so we always have an audience. I can't believe it's already dress rehearsal! Also last night I found a bug that I think is a scorpion in our bathroom. It was exciting...? Out in the countryside and it's beautiful! Olive trees everywhere and mountains overlooking the city. Loving this villa view :)

A day in the sun

Last night was super fun & super delicious. Great food, fantastic wines (we WERE at a vineyard after all) and there was dancing and singing and I am officially a wine ambassador! Got a certificate to prove it :) the Italian countryside around spoleto is gorgeous too. Tiny towns surrounded by fields and vineyards with beautiful mountains in the background. Today I started the day with a 4o minute nosebleed so we were late to rehearsal. Oof. I'm okay though. Worked outside the duomo with Sharon and then had lunch. I've gotten super into eggplant here. Worked at the sphera and the Caldor after lunch until late, then had a chill dinner at the place we normally have lunch at near the hotel. Booked my hostel for Florence! Finally. I'll be there July 6-8. Then it's off to Naples & amalfi and Roma! Actually not super interested in Rome but I have to see some of the historic stuff I suppose. Super exhausted. Bedtime.

Spoleto (free day)

Today has been a free day. Slept in and walked around the aqueduct! (google it) wandered in some souvenir shops and got lunch. Now I'm sitting in a cafe! Super chill day. Such a fan. Spoleto is a cool town. Lots of narrow streets and a huge uphill. Gelato shops everywhere and intense sun every day. It's either gotten cooler or I'm just getting used to the heat. Most people speak at least limited English which is nice. Everything except restaurants shut down from like 1-4 for siesta! Plus it's hot then. Italians dress up and wear huge heels- even on these cobblestone streets! Spoleto is really pretty and I really love it here. I feel like after I leave I'll like other places but spoleto will hold a special place in my heart. Especially since I'm dancing at the sculptures near a park, across from the train station, and across from the duomo I feel like this place, in a weird way, kind of belongs to me. I love this :) also I have tab lines! Get ready Minnesota! I'll be kinda tan by then :)

Sunday!

Yesterday we didn't start until 11am. We basically finished both of the two dances. Yesterday at the sphera I really felt like it was a true stephan rehearsal because we added on the entire last part of the dance and the first time we ran it was when we were showing it! We ended early and had more time before dinner. There was a big game in Italy (verses England) and the bells were ringing like crazy and people were going through the streets singing the Italian national anthem, which is pretty cool. At dinner whenever there was a good part of the game we could hear shouting both within the restaurant and all around the city. It was sweet. Got nutella gelato after and went to bed. The wifi wasn't working in the hotel so that's why I didn't write anything last night.

Yesterday! (Saturday)

Got home at like 3:30sm last night. Yesterday we worked in the studio and at the sphera. We went to this talk about the sculptures, where we were supposed to hear the curator talk about our performances. That did not happen. Instead our awkward waiter from the night before kept coming up and talking to us. He pushed his mom too, which made the bad flirting even less okay. We went to the place that serves five courses - last night we had a ton of vegetables for our antipasti (necessary, I feel like all I eat is pasta, cheese, fancy meat, bread, and gelato) and then we had gnocchi (ong so delicious) and Italian sausage and cookies and wine. Then we went to the curators party! Which was so fun. Danced from midnight-3am with Stephan, the other dancers, and some Italians! It was the most fun night I've had in Italy as of yet :) also we've come up with a few dance moves, the most funny of which was Stephan's "jean-Luc" impersonation that was accidentily made up at rehearsal. Also I loved dancing with Adriana, one of the awesome women working with us from the Italian side. She's great! Well anyelis done showering which means its my turn! I'll write about today later tonight- leaving for dinner in an hour :)

Day 4 (again): Internet problems

So I typed the first one at 1am and was going to go to sleep once anyeli got home! Instead, we planned Venice. We're going July 4-6 and got a decently priced hotel room in the city. Had immense trouble booking my super economy train fare. Legit took like two hours to book and a lot of laughs ("Rachel, what if we're out late and were like, 'we gotta take our boat back'" oh so fun. Will be exhausted though. But mom, Venice is back on the list! I'm going! Then Florence, Naples, Pompeii, Rome, home! Gosh will be excruciatingly exhausted tomorrow.... Lots of espresso. Our coffee machine shows up that at the courtyard by far. Hotel breakfast! Also I've been eating the spoleto cake for breakfast. So cool!

Day 4: haven't sweat this much in a WHILE

Today was a really long day. We started in the studio, did a short photoshoot with the work we made yesterday, ate lunch. I had the strangozzi again, a spoleto type of pasta that is amazing. Then we went to work in the hot sun and I cannot tell you the last time I sweat that much. I felt like a frying pan - though surprisingly I only burned yesterday around the outline of my sports bra. Stephan was really testy today too. I was really missing Jeffrey today and his involvement with the last sk project. I also got gelato, again! Technically frozen yogurt but regardless it was amazing. Got ready for dinner (already repeating outfits..) and got dinner! Tonight I got hen and eggplant and rose and lemon sorbet, all of which were awesome. The worst part about dinner is tonight we ate from 9-midnight. I can't do that and dance all day and get up at 8:30 and be pleasant and awake. Not when it takes 20 minutes to walk home and getting ready for bed and everything. Also I have had zero free or alone time so far. Haven't had time to buy a journal yet and I left dinner early so I've been home almost a half hour by myself. I really like most everyone and especially my roommate but legit the most alone time since Tuesday. Spoleto is bumping right now though. Blaring club music out of gelaterias but the kids are just standing outside in walkways and the street. Bizarre. I really want a journal. Writing in my itouch takes forever!

Day 3 in a very short paragraph

It's 2am. And I'm getting up at 8:30 tomorrow so this will be brief. This morning we warmed up in the studio and headed to the big sculpture we were on yesterday to work. Six hours in the sun! On uneven pavement covered in gravel and a bit of worn-down glass. My body was covered in dirt and dust by the end of the day. We worked a lot on shapes and making our bodies contour to the angles of the statue as well as lyong and sitting on the pavement! Ate rabbit for lunch, which was interesting. Had salami and cheese and bread and wine and pasta and meat and candied almonds and limo cello at the restaurant. Priorities (according to Stephan, jokingly I think): food, us, then dance. Hah. The food we've had here has been fabulous. And so so much of it. Tonight was the smallest meal we've had at 3 courses? Yeah. Got gelato after which was amazing. One thing I don't like is that we eat so late! Lunch at 2, dinner at 9.... Not used to this. And I only got a little burned being in the sun all day today! OCD about my sunscreen :) and I know how to say 75 (my room number) now. SCORE

Day 2!!

Today was awesome. We started later since Stephan wanted to let us sleep in because of jet lag but we did a warm up in this beautiful studio and then started working. We worked a lot with lines today! Created phrases and all that. We took a break for lunch (I had veal) and then I had my first gelato(I got coconut. They also had nutella gelato and you'd best bet I'm going to be getting that sometime soon! We worked more and then went to one of the sculptures! It's cool. Working there tomorrow. We ate dinner at 9 (5 course meal!) and I had such an uncomfortable food baby after. Also I like the red wine here! Maybe it's because it's legit good and maybe I just don't like cheap red wine. Hung out with my roommate a bit and now were sitting on our balcony and now going to bed! I love everything here. Dancing, food, getting to know people, chatting with Stephan, seeing this beautiful small town. I only don't like how hot it is.,. It was 92 today! Seriously though, so far, this is bliss. :) We start at 9:30 tomorrow. Will be in the sun for a good part of the morn! Ready to heavily apply sunscreen and soak my clothes with sweat :)

Day 1

Today has been such a long day. Flew all day yesterday, then got to Rome! After a long detour in the airport ("follow the signs" my ass..) I found the train station and got to Roma termini. Wandered around the station for a while, then found a place nearby that had relatively cheap pizza, free wifi, and a bathroom I didn't have to pay for. Took the blosteringly hot train to spoleto (sweat through my shirt, I was actually dripping) and located my town. Spoletos pretty, small but big enough, historic, and bordered by mOuntsins! Got paired off for hotel rooms, my roommate is angeli and she's super nice. Went on a long walking tour of spoleto where we saw the sculptures we'll be dancing with. Ate delicious meats and cheeses and bread and olive oil and cake- some of which is regional to spoleto, and drank fancy wine. I was falling asleep and my contacts were bothering me too. These are going to be long days! It's like 100 degrees and sunny here. Did I mention my hotel room has a balcony with a beautiful view? :)