A month in already?

So, sorry it’s been so long, but frankly I hate technology and feel so self-centered just writing about myself for paragraphs (don’t get me wrong though, the world still revolves around me).
The first week here was fantastic in virtually every way. I live on a floor of 22 students in Oltrarno, a working-class section of Florence. In this neighborhood, prices are lower, the people are friendlier, the crowds are smaller, and you are more able to get a genuine Florentine experience. Orientation activities were the normal rigmarole of horrendous bonding exercises, early-morning mandatory introductory meetings, and late nights at every bar the city had to offer.
By the second weed, the first full week of class, I was able to get into a really enjoyable daily routine. Let me describe the average weekday. Unfortunately, my classes normally start at 9 am—now waking up for 9 is one thing, but I have to get up around 7:15 because the bus station is a 15 min. walk from my apt., which is a 30 min, bus ride from campus. With the way the Italian transportation system works, that 30 minutes can rapidly change into 50 minutes. Now a bus pass coasts 23 euro a month, yet surprising few students actually bought them. Friends got caught 3 times without validated passes, and were fined 45 euro each time! Now though, my spiteful heart revels in watching more recent arrivals get trapped in the same predicament.
I cannot begin to explain how beautiful the campus is though. It’s like acres of olive groves, giardino secretto’s (literally, walled secret gardens), 500-year old villas, and cypress allees. The cafeteria is actually pretty good, but no one really cares because there is a café in one of the buildings that has 50-cent espressos—and they are good! The only negative aspect of campus is the aptly named “valley of death,” a steep path down one hill and up the next that connects the entrance/cafeteria with the classrooms.
Classes are interesting. The two art history classes (one on Tuscan gardens and landscapes, the other on Michelangelo, Raphael and Da Vinci) are both perfect. My history class on Renaissance Italy is fine, but a little boring, and finally, Italian is quite often the bane of my existence.
The first weekend here, I went on a NYU-planned trip to Lucca, a walled, medieval town about an hours ride from Florence. It was soooo awesome. We took a quick guided tour and were then left to wander about the town. A group of us climbed the “Tower of the Trees”—a 7-century old tower that now had 7 oak trees planted on top. From there, we got the most amazing views of Lucca. The sun was shining through the clouds, low-lying mists shrouded the rolling mountains that ring the city, snow could be seen on the distant Apennines, and the many bell and castle towers of the city stood proudly over a sea of terra-cotta roofed buildings.
Next weekend, I went down with6 friends to Rome. The train lasted almost 4 hours, but was less than 15 euros. Although hostel accommodations were awful (they lost our reservations and we had to go into separate rooms), the trip was indescribably great. First, we visited the Trevi Fountain at night, then went to dinner and had a few bottles of Roman wine. After dinner I had gelato that was so good that it made me rethink my atheism—literally, only some type of creator-figure could have made a dessert that transcendently wonderful (I had mascarpone, chocolate and strawberry, and passion fruit). Piazza Navona was next, with my favorite of Bernini’s fountains, and then we met up with some friends-of-friends for refreshments. To close out the night, a large group of us went out to Campo Fiore, an American bar and club section of Rome.
The next morning, everyone got together reasonably early, and visited the Coliseum. We had an amazing Bill Nye the Science Guy-esque tour guide. After that, we continued to tour up the Palatine Hill. Thankfully, the weather was perfect—55 degrees, sunny, with a light breeze. The view of Rome was fantastic from the ancient ruins atop the Palatine—you could even see the dome of Saint Peter’s in the distance. The final part of the tour left us to wander through the Ancient Roman forum. Before heading back (one night was enough in a hostel, and the Vatican, to our dismay, was closed on Sundays) we climbed the Spanish steps.
The following weekend, Pisa was the destination of choice. I took the obligatory picture of my holding up the leaning tower. In the cathedral, there is actually the mummy of Saint Raimondi—creepy! Lunch was great—4 coursed for 15 euro. First was a balsamic glazed salmon on a bed of mixed greens followed by béchamel and ground veal lasagna. The main course was a quartet of meats—pork loin, organic chicken, beef, and a house made sausage. Finally came a banana and apple cake. Hilarity did ensue when we realized that the water cost 2 euro a bottle. Luckily, we were seated next to the bathroom, which allowed for covert runs to the sink to fill up the sole bottle we actually paid for. As soon as we stood up to leave, the heavens opened, and it poured as hard as I’ve ever seen it.
The next day basically the entire floor got together to go to the Fiorentina Game (Forze Viola!!! or, in English, “Purple Strength” after the team colors). Ghillardino saved the game by scoring the only goal for either side with only 2 minutes left.
That brings us up to this week. Unfortunately, I’ve come down with a cold, so have been playing it safe and trying to recuperate—although that didn’t disallow me going out to spend money on sweater and 160 euro on a pair on Italian shoes.
It’s amazing over here, and I sincerely will try to write more. Ciao belle!