At Long Last...

*Edited 16 September 2011, 4:08 p.m.*

I know you've all been anxiously awaiting any sort of anything. Well here it is.

I've been in Italy for about 3 weeks now. Here's a quick summary:

• Arrival in Italy, no sleep for first 36 hours
• Cartoonishly idiotic, loud, misogynist roommate in hotel
• "Do you think I should've used a converter for those speakers"
• "The breakfast here better not be some bullshit Continental breakfast, they need to get off their fuckin' asses and cook us some real food"
• No internet, no computer, no camera
• Kind Peruvian man in internet cafe
• Medieval/Renaissance frescos, architecture everywhere
• Comfortable, cheap apartment with Italian students
• Cafe, gelato, pasta, pizza, panini, etc...
• Replacement laptop

And now I'm here.

So as much as I try not to be a typical, food-obsessed American, I cannot help but mention the food here. In short, the produce is local, delicious, and economical. I have been mostly living on peaches, pears, plums, and the like because of this. Even with the poor Dollar-Euro exchange rate, I'm saving tons of money on food. Because of this, I am experimenting with going vegetarian (pescatarian?). Two of my roommates and one of the other Californians from the program are vegetarian, further easing any transition. Updates on how that goes to follow. 

But I haven't just eaten at home. I've also tried some panini, some pasta, a few slices of pizza, plenty of gelato, and more than my share of espresso. It's all been delicious and totally incomparable to anything in the States. Particularly the coffee, which is stronger and more flavorful than American style coffee. I have benefited greatly from a roommate with a Southern Italian background and penchant for cafe moka.

 Though sitting and eating restaurant-style meals here costs too much to do almost ever, taking things to go or eating standing has proven affordable. Special shout outs to I Fratellini for their memorable panini, Il Procopia for their award-winning gelato, and Pugi for their fresh pizza. The keynote dining experience so far though came during a 3.5 hour eating session in the small Tuscan village of San Gimignano.

First of 5 courses from the post-Siena, San Gimignano feast. Photo credit Maggie Larimer. 

My God. This was, without a doubt, the most food I've eaten in one sitting. Ever. Well, excluding perhaps the 3 pound sushi challenge. This true Tuscan-style meal came after a day long trip to Siena, and seemed as if it never would end. Crostini and bruschetta, then more crostini, then soup, then meats, so many meats, and finally tiramisu. Nobody can do this more than once a season.

But enough about food!

Let me just share some scenery. Words won't do it justice, and neither will these pictures. It'll have to do:
(Disclaimer: though I haven't taken many of these photos, I've shared the view in person with the photographers)

The facade of the Duomo di Firenze. Restored ca. 18th century. Photo credit Maggie Larimer.

Arc in Piazza della Liberta. Photo credit Maggie Larimer.

Lo Spedale degli Innocenti, a former orphanage, in Piazza della Santissima Annunziata. Constructed early 15th Century. 

Il Duomo di Firenze down the street from Piazza Annunziata. Constructed early 15th century.  Photo credit Maggie Larimer.

On the left, la Basilica di Santa Croce, burial place of Machiavelli,  Michelangelo, and Galileo. On the right, the tower of il Palazzo Vecchio, constructed 16th century.  Photo credit Maggie Larimer.

Firenze at night from Piazza Michelangelo. (From left to right) Il Ponte Vecchio, il Palazzo Vecchio, and il Duomo all prominent here. Photo credit Maggie Larimer.

I have a collection of pictures from Siena, but I am getting tired of doing this at the moment, so they will be up later.

Overall, beautiful vistas are not hard to come by here.

On another note, I have a follow up from my previous post.

Italy isn't known for being a progressive, civil rights oriented state, but I have gathered some interesting facts in conversations with my Italian roommates. In regards to women's rights, women in Italy surprisingly have the right to choose an abortion during the first trimester of pregnancy. This is, as we know, a hot topic in the States and unknown in many states. This right, along with the right for a woman to initiate a divorce, came during a liberal wave of thought in the 1970's. This liberal tendency has reversed in more recent years. Though Italy lags behind most other nations not too preoccupied with rebellion, famine, or crippling poverty in women's rights, they are surprisingly liberal here. Italy does not allow same-sex marriage either. Many states (including California) disallow same-sex marriage or restrict it, but most allow domestic partnerships. Italy has no domestic partnerships either. This becomes even worse when considering the prohibition of adoption for anyone, heterosexual or homosexual, outside of marriage. Overall, Italy seems rather more conservative leaning.

This is not to say that there is no liberal impetus among Italians though. Florence is (unexpectedly) full of graffiti, most political in nature. Communists, anarchists, and even neo-fascists have a strong presence and tag their respective symbols all around Florence. The following are from the same tagger, an anarchist, on the same street nearby Santa Croce:

In English: "The degradation is the politicians - do not suck our blood"

In English: "If you grow free, you will live free"

In English: "Renzi (is) true degradation". In reference to the Florentine mayor, Matteo Renzi.

In English: "The smile of our children will be our revenge"

Here is an example of something more artistic:

Nearby Piazza Della Republica. Photo credit Georgina Coffey.

Feel free to skype me or contact me some other way to learn more about anything you've read here. I'm sure I forgot a ton, but so it goes.

Arrividerci!