Final bits and pieces

 End of the year dinner, Final Weekend and Cinque Terre

Classes were wrapping up, the bags were starting to be packed up and last minute things were being checked off the list as we approached the last week of our semester with Gonzaga in Florence.  The reality came to everyone at the end of the year dinner, which was hosted at a restaurant about a block from school.  Everyone got dressed up, took a huge group picture, and loved the open bar and food everywhere.  It was so fun to unwind and socialize with everyone and our professors outside of school.  The tears were unavoidable and the speeches were heart felt as everyone realized that time was rolling by and we had to savor every moment!

Gallo d'Oro Spring 2011

Roommates and Massimo!

Classes were done on Wednesday and finals started on Thursday leaving us with an awkward finals break over the weekend.  On Friday night, the beyond fabulous owners of Gallo took all of us up to Fiesole for an end of the year dinner!  It was so fun going out with the pensione and seeing the Gallo staff in a completely different setting.  They food was delicious and of course, the wine was fantastic!  Some people liked the wine too much and there was a 4^th person in megabed that night even though he didn’t realize it until the middle of the night.  I was so blessed to be in Gallo and have a family within my study abroad living situation. Our pensione got ridiculously close and it was really more like a little family that just got each other.  Our dynamic 

worked somehow the five very patient and incredible guys put up with the 13 of us girls. 

Gallo love on Mega Bed

Saturday morning, we got out of bed way too early to catch a 7 am bus to Cinque Terre for a day of hiking, sun, pesto, and gelato.  It was a gorgeous place and and we had perfect weather.  The coastal hiking trail was closed so we got to go more inland for some spectacular views.  We found a family from Spokane randomly, so that was fun to make a connection in the middle of Italy! It really never gets old. I would not mind going back there!!

On Sunday, we of course, got our Il Centro sandwiches and that afternoon, Sarah, Courtney, and I went to the Fiornetina football game.  We were able to get tickets at the stadium where we met a lady from Vancouver who hosted a basketball clinic that Rob Sacre, who now plays for GU, attended when he was younger.  Zag fans all over the world!

And the 4 hour hike begins

Our view at lunch

The cutest hike of my life

The group!

Going home

I am currently on the plane from Frankfurt to SFO looking back at the past 109 days of my life.  Everyday has been unique, memorable, and regardless if it was good or bad (even though I can only think of one bad day all semester), has created my study abroad experience.  I chose Gonzaga for Gonzaga in Florence and have always known that I wanted to study abroad.  The goodbyes in Spokane were difficult, but I knew then and still do that I am lucky to have so many special people in my life to have to miss! It wouldn’t be normal for me to leave my home in Spokane without any sadness and I cannot wait to pick up where we all left off when I return to Spokane in two short weeks. 

My travels, new friends, unique experiences, and memories have created a semester of a lifetime.  Leaving Florence and GIF was difficult, but almost inspiring at the same time.  I will look back at these four months as some of the best times of my life, but my life is far from being over and I have the power to create many more moments and amazing times like this in my life.  Gonzaga in Florence helped me prioritize my life, opened my eyes to the fact that travel is worth it and something I hope to continue to do throughout my life, and realized that you can make friends with anyone and time goes by way too fast! I am a SENIOR in college?  Was I not just a high schooler who didn’t even know what Spokane was yesterday? I am so ready to take on this summer and my last year of schooling and make it beyond memorable.  There is no reason to not take up any and all opportunities that come my way and let things happen when they are meant to.  I have more days when I just decided what I was going to do when I woke up this past semester than I have all of college. I like plans and itineraries and I haven’t had either for the past few weeks and have loved it! I hope I can keep the pressure off myself to have everything planned, especially as I enter a time of nothing but uncertainty.  Hopefully this time next year, I will have some plans for my post grad life, but I just hope that they are plans that make me really happy.  Plans that make me want to get out of bed everyday.  I want days to have moments worth remembering.  I want to have reasons to take pictures everyday.  If nothing else, I want to carry on my happiness and self-appreciation through the rest of my life.  I have 4500+ pictures to remind myself everyday of four months of borderline bliss and to prioritize in a way that brings me happiness. I refuse to fall right back into a routine.  Even though I have a summer of set hours, I also have a huge list of places around Spokane and the Pacific Northwest that I want to explore!  There is a lot to be seen in America and its time for me to see and appreciate my wonderful country!  I have become close friends with people I never once thought I would ever even talk to.  GIF broke down many of the walls that are up in Spokane.  Spokane isn’t cliquey, but people have their groups and it is easy to get comfortable in that.  I cannot wait to see the faces of my Florence friends in Crosby or Jack and Dan’s (or at LMU!).  I could go on and on and on about GIF, but I am going to leave it at this.  It’s not like I wont be talking about this for a very very long time.  I know my room next year will look like Europe vomited on the walls with all of the souvenirs and pictures I will have for decoration.  CHEERS, PROST, SALUT TO GONZAGA IN FLORENCE SPRING 2011!

Since January 3, 2011, I have visited...

I still have A  LOT to see!

Cities (34): San Francisco, Florence, Rome, Fiesole, Siena, Prague, Interlaken, Bern, Verona, Montepulciano, Pienza, Montecino, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Venice, Edinburgh, Highlands, Dublin, Cork, Cobh, Connemara, Galway, Positano, Sorrento, Naples, Pompeii, Capri, Anacapri, Munich, Nice, Aix en Provence, Monte Carlo, Cinque Terre- Monterosso

Countries (11): United States, Italy, Vatican City, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Spain, Netherlands, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, France, and Monaco

When in Florence…

-       Climb the Duomo (do it as early as possible- that line gets long!

-       See the David

-       Visit the Boboli Gardens

-       Shop at the Leather Market and Mercado Central (get the dried fruit!)

-       Café Cavour (enjoy a cafe latte and wonderful pastries! This was my favorite place to start off the day!)

-       Watch them make paper at Il Papiro

-       Stay at Ostello Gallo d’Oro

     Eat at: Baldovino, Dante’s Pizzeria (free wine for students), Yellow Bar, Il Gatto e Il Volpe (get pesto gnocchi and enjoy the most delicious balsamic vinegar) and Gusta Pizza (BEST PIZZA IN THE WORLD!)

     Get gelato at: La Carria, Perche non, Vivoli, Carabe

View from the Duomo

-       Fiorentina football game (wear your purple!)

-       Dragoon at Kikuya

-       Boobs shot at Shots

-       Nutella cappuccino

-       Drink wine on Piazza San Michelangelo at sunset

-       Browse jewelry on the Ponte Vecchio

S  Some clubs:  Astor, 21, Twice, Space 

-       Il Centro (2, 50 euro sandwiches!)

-       Happy Hour at Mosto Dolce (get a Martelina)

-       Nutella bomboloni

-       Get lost

-       Secret bakery! (opens at 1 am)

-       Kebab

The last two weekend trips

Southern France (Nice, Aix en Provence, and Monte Carlo)

Thursday:

We loaded the school bus with our Il Centro paninos in hand and got ready for an easy 6 hour bus ride to Nice, France.  The ride over was absolutely gorgeous and we were thrilled to get in way earlier than anticipated.  We checked into a very nice hotel about a block from the beach and across the street from (park name).  GU did good!  Brit, Emily, Rachel, and I all shared a room and stayed up chatting and gossiping with a couple other people on the program.  It was nice to just enjoy eachother’s company and have a relaxing night after a long day of travel. 

Friday:

We woke up to a delicious French breakfast- hello endless, warm chocolate croissants!  After we had a little walking tour around Nice.  It was nothing special, but a good way to get an idea of the city were visiting and figure out the lay of the land.  The tour ended at the only American burger joint in the area for a lunch of wine and random French goodies.  It was actually delicious, but there were just too many people for that space.  After lunch, we explored the outdoor market, bought a box of perfect strawberries to take to the beach with us. Everyone did a quick change, bought plenty of wine, and headed straight to the beach.  It was SO nice to just lay on the beach (even though it was an uncomfortable rock beach) and soak up the sun with some of my best friends.  We had had a semester of going going going, so it was nice to just have time to relax and just be.  Some people had way too much fun on the beach and Everyone headed out to find somewhere to go for dinner (with our new sunburned skin), but with so many people and pricey places, it got overwhelming and it ended up being the three amigos (Sarah, Britt, and I) having dinner in a little Italian/French place.  That night, we just walked around the water and talked about life overlooking the beach.  Pretty sweet life.

Nice, France

Harbor in Nice

The wisteria was everywhere!

Had to hit up Wayne's Happy Hour

Saturday:

Saturday, too, started off with a delicious breakfast and then we hopped on the bus towards Aix-en-Provence. There we had a about an hour to go to the market and buy specialty foods, fruit, and other market goods like olive oil, herbs, and cheeses.  I was obsessed.  Somehow my French came back to me while interacting with the market vendors.  If I was to have studied somewhere else in Europe, I think it would have been Aix-en-Provence.  Of all the places I have been, it was somewhere I could actually see myself living.  It is full of culture, beauty, and much friendlier than I expected.  We enjoyed Nutella and banana crepes in the street and the best shaved ice of my life.  The man actually had a block of ice that he shaved along with about 40 flavors.  It was the perfect treat on a hot day like that! It also helped that I have a good grasp on the basics of French!  After the bus ride back, Emily and I had to go to buy our Longchamp bags in France because the price was right and it was a perfect souvenir and bit of luxury.  Happy Easter to me!  After that, a group of us went to a roof top bar at sunset.  We ordered overpriced drinks and watched the sun go over the Mediterranean only it was awesome because we were on a roof of course.  It was a really fun evening of reminiscing on the past semester and letting all of the embarrassing stories out.  This trend continued for the next 2 weeks!  After that, we went back to Wayne’s to get our burger fix because what else would you want to eat in Southern France… Oh well! The night ended with drinking on the beach with a huge group of people on GIF.  The weather was nice and it was nice to just be outside with everyone. 

Just some of the spices at the market in Aix en Provence

BEST shaved ice ever.

Crepes in the street 

Our fine purchases

Rooftop bar

Sunday:

We got out of the hotel (and not soon enough in the eyes of the owners- GIF left their mark on the hotel and I don’t think they stand a chance of being allowed to stay there again.  Oh well that’s what happens when 100 college students on their last weekend trip stay in a luxury hotel.)  Anyways, that morning, we got to go to Monte Carlo, Monaco for a taste of luxury.  We hoped on a silly red train that gave us a narrated tour of the city.  That was shot and allowed us to see a bit of the city before we got a chance to explore on our own.  We went to the market and got a delicious lunch of 4 cheese (and avocado from the market) panini and Oranginas, which we ate on a bench.  We saw a car show and just enjoyed walking around.  Three of us did a speed visit of the aquarium before we headed onto our last bus trip of the semester! Michael and I watched a copious amount of The Office, which helped us get through the last 2 hours of the bus ride.  When we got back, Sarah and I ventured across the city and got our last Gusta Pizza and La Carraia gelato. 

Monte Carlo casino

Munich

I have fallen behind in keeping this updated, but here is a look my trip with the school to Munich, Germany two weeks ago

Two weekends ago, we went to Munich, Germany.  The bus ride was long and we fell asleep immediately once we got to the hostel.  Well no, I take that back.  We fell asleep after we got a little talk from the hostel staff where they taught us how to use the keys for our rooms.  Apparently none of us listen well because it took us about 200 attempts to figure out the door situation.   That next morning, we woke up for a bike tour of Munich.  Unfortunately our hostel was super far away from the center of the city, so we had to make mental notes of exactly where we were in relation to well anything. Easier said than done in a city where you cannot even begin to read the street and building signs.  Anyways, we got to the bike tour and were led around the city on cruiser bikes by British tour guides.  Bike tours are an awesome way to see a lot of a city in a short amount of time! Plus this one ended at a beer garden, so we were happy campers!  We all got our German lunches and pints of beer.  There isn't a better way to enjoy beer than in the sun with your friends in Munich, Germany.  Only thing was after that, the bike tour was a little more interesting and challenging... Once the tour was over, about half of the GIF group went to the famous Hofbrauhaus to enjoy liters of their beer. I'm really not a huge fan of beer, but these two were hilarious.  Once we were done, everyone headed out to the Strong Beer Festival.  It was pretty far away, so the walk there let us see a lot of the city we would have probably missed out on seeing.  The weather was perfect, so the constant getting lost was alright.  When we finally arrived by some miracle, we got our 'free' liters with out ticket and had beer on the benches outside.  There were so many Germans dressed up in the traditional outfits and loving life.  Little did we know that inside, there was an even bigger group of people drinking beer, wearing outfits, and dancing on the tables.   It was so fun to see and experience.  Oh and of course to make new German friends!  The night ended with us having to take our good friend back to the hostel because he couldn't stand up straight let alone walk across a foreign city.  Munich won.

The next morning we woke up to something much different than a day of drinking some of the best beer in the world.  I first realized that my camera was dead.  The automatic focus was already broken and something inside the body must have finally given up. RIP Nikon D40 :( We woke up to visit Dauchau concentration camp which is right outside of Munich.  When we arrived, the sun was shining, the birds were singing, and the trees were showing off their new spring green.  Needless to say, it did not set the tone that one would associate with a concentration camp.  Our 2.5 hour tour  took us around the museum and grounds with the best tour guide I have ever had.  He was intense, passionate, and knew his stuff.  Without him as a tour guide, the experience would have not have been nearly the same.  All of us were awe struck by his expertise and appreciated his presentation of such a sensitive subject. After the tour, we noticed that there was a community built right next to the camp.  We saw children playing their Saturday morning soccer literally 100 yards from the walls and didn't even know how to react.  It is obvious that people are informed in Germany, but do their best to not think about it.

After the visit to Dauchau, we got back to the city center of Munich for a subpar German lunch, Starbucks (obviously!), and a chance to do some souvenir shopping.  This lead us to a perfect afternoon. We made our way back up to the Olympic Stadium and Park.  The BMW Museum was in the park and we walked around the lobby looking at the cars and picking out which ones were were going to buy.  After that little bit of BMW heaven, we went to the park, sat by a little pond, soaked up the sun, and people watched.  It was pretty ridiculous just how prime the people watching was.  We eventually made our way out of the park to find dinner and out hostel.  Of course we end up at a place called American Sandwich and get 'Mexican' food.  Our night ended by watching The Office wedding episode and being interrupted by a random, very drunk man in our hostel who came into our room because he heard the music playing in the episode and thought it was a party.  Whoops!

The next morning, we got on the bus to stop in Fussen, the castle region of Munich to see the Neuschwanstein Castle, which is what Sleeping Beauty's Castle is based off of.  It was on my Must See list of Europe and I was happy to cross it off! The area was gorgeous, the castle was incredible, and we even got to take a horse drawn carriage up to the castle.  It was the perfect pit stop for a day that was spent on a smelly bus.