Biella è bella (Biella is beautiful)

Here I am with my good friends Ruben and Cecilia from Biella. We visited a nearby lake yesterday, which reminded me of how much I think Peter should buy me a boat. Just throwing that out there....

Gaia.... means joy

Gaia (pronounced Guy-uh) is the name of Giorgia's daughter, whose not yet two. It means joy in Italian! She's a whirlwind of activity and has plenty of demands. She has made my stay in Trieste a treat. She calls me 'Gnora', short for 'Signora' or Lady. Giorgia keeps correcting her to say Allison, but to no avail.

Please don't think my life is overly glamorous

So, I had to extend my stay in Firenze last week because my research was not going well and I needed a couple extra days. Unbeknownst to me, the two extra days I needed were the exact same as some Pitti fashion show, so all of the hotels were booked. The only thing I could find was a student housing arrangement where four rooms shared one bathroom with NO SHOWER CURTAIN! Plus, there was a big sign that said guests were obligated to keep the floor dry at all times... next to a mop in a bucket. Excuse me!? So, you can only imagine the primitive bathing experience, one hunkered over in a tub with the hose, afraid to touch anything because 12 other people share this bathroom - so who knows how filthy it is, not wanting to douse the floor with water, but taking a bath was out of the question. One morning I woke up and had to go, but the bathroom was occupied straight for over an hour. Ouch! It was disusting for other reasons I won't describe here. Then, if for one moment you think that I live glamorously, dismiss that thought and picture me, walking to the train station with extremely heavy luggage (because taxis in Italy are too expensive... for us students at 35 years old), including the rented laptop from the university, that keeps toppling off my rolly suitcase whenever I should strike a cobblestone at the wrong angle (every 10 seconds or so). I also have posters in tow, a purse, and a backpack, so the going is slow and tedious. AAARRRGGGHHHHH!!! When am I going to be a dignified dentist's wife and I can afford taxis and reasonable accommodations!!!??? That day is not today, my friends. I can only hope that I have given you a litle laugh at my own expense.

Fat rat in Trieste's lovely sea

Here I am with my greenie companion, Giorgia Romano, from 12 years ago! We served together in Biella. She and her husband Davide and daugher Gaia live in Trieste, a city east of Venice, on the border with Slovenia. Today we went shopping (don't worry Peter, I didn't buy much) and although the water and main piazza were clean and breathtaking, there was a huge RAT in the water. I'm talking enormous, swollen, dead, and disgusting. It didn't taint my impression of Trieste, rather it was amusing.

Sardegna with Sara

Here are a few pics from my trip to Sardegna with Sara, June 1-4. Along with her car, we took an overnight boat from Genova to Olbia, the northernmost port on the island of Sardegna. Then we drove down to Cagliari, the largest, southernmost city on the island whee Sara served 5 months of her mission 8 years ago. At the beach, the water and sand were indeed pure and clean, much more so than any I've ever seen in the United States!

Bologna is not spelled Oscar Mayer

The first university was founded in 1088 in Bologna, Italy. It is considered the oldest surving university, to our knowledge. I visited the city and was enamored with the many porticoes (covered walkways, heavily decorated arches). The pictures are of the porticoes, the main tower and the view from the top. I was having a bad hair day, so no pitures of me!!!

Scenes of Siena

Siena was gorgeous!!! Featured here is the tower of Mangiaguadagni (Eats profits), named after the tyrannical ruler who used the people's money to construct it. I climbed to the top and took a snapshot of the Piazza del Campo (of the field). Every July 2nd and August 16 they have the Palio, a bareback horserace around the Piazza. Also featured is the most amazing, most elaborate cathedral that I have ever seen. They would not let me take pictures inside, but here is the facade. WOW! I actually found the LDS church this morning after an hour of walking around. Last Sunday I was in Ravenna and couldn't find the church at all. So, I went to a catholic service instead! :) This week its back to research in the Biblioteca Nazionale di Firenze.

I'm actually working on my thesis now

Peter and I passed the 3 year mark! He was in Omaha and I'm was here in Florence, Italy when the big day came... and went (June 10). Florence is not so romantic when you're all by yourself, I've learned. :) A propos to learning, I've actually started my research in the Biblioteca Nazionale di Firenze (of Florence). YIKES! Talk about scary and huge and overwhelming. But, I pray my guts out all day long and I am fortunately getting into somewhat of a groove. The hardest part is knowing where to focus, what to take notes on, what to skip altogether, and how to best make use of my time and resources here. I'm staying in centro, between Piazza del Duomo (with Brunelleschi's dome) and Piazza della Signoria (the Uffizzi Gallery). So, the location is ideal, as I can walk to the Biblioteca Nazionale every morning in about 10 minutes. There's also a gelateria next door, which is obviously the most important point of reference. :) This weekend I'll go to Siena (the best preserved medieval city in Italy). Pictures coming soon...