I don't really even know what else to say.
Observations:
-There is no word in Italian for "organized."
-The food and wine are world-class and super-cheap, everywhere you go. This is law in Italy.
-There is no such thing as a "scenic point" in Capri - the entire Island is an enormous scenic point.
-Firenze is the Italian word for Florence. Pisa = Pisa, Roma = Rome, Napoli = Naples, Capri = Capri, Pompei = Pompeii, Italia = Italy. These all are obvious. Firenze = Florence is not so much.
-Public transportation, like in all of Europe, is superb.
-The Leaning Tower of Pisa is the most expensive thing in the country. Climbing fee is 15Euros. Don't think twice - the pictures are cheesy, yes, but it is SO WORTH CLIMBING! Ever climbed a castle or a dome or anything with the small winding staircases? Imagine that, but on a sideways angle... feels like you've had too much to drink, but you haven't. The views from the top are just as good as the fun you'll have getting there.
-Italian and Spanish are by far the most similar of all Italic/Germanic based languages. I didn't have any trouble picking it up, without a phrasebook, in only a week. Plenty of English-speakers too.
-Always bargain in markets. This is a global rule.
-When the line at the Uffizi Gallery is all the way to the river, it won't take 1 hour. Nor 2. More like 2-3. Instead of waiting, for 4 Euros, go wait in the much shorter line at Door 1, and you will get a timed ticket for later. We waited for 2 1/2 hours, and after a line that long, it was hard to appreciate the Gallery for what it is worth.
-Go to La Galleria dell'Academia (Firenze, Michelangelo's "David"), the Vatican Museums (Sistine Chapel), and the Colosseum & Forum (Roma, next to each other) at the opening. Everything in Italy opens at 9am. The lines will be ridiculously short, and the sites are far more powerful when not packed deep with people. We did all of these within an hour of them opening and had a great time.
-If you see a Pizzeria charging 10+ Euros, keep walking.
-Don't go to Naples. Seriously. Just don't go. Reminded me more of Cairo than anywhere else in Italy. The best part about Naples is that from there you have access to both Pompeii and Capri. If you want to keep your budget cheaper, the hostels are great in Naples, but find a cheaper hotel in Sorrento and stay there. Sorrento is in between Pompeii and Capri (better access to both), is a destination in and of itself, and you also have access to Positano and the Almafi Coast. But yeah, Naples sucks. Avoid it.
-If you INSIST on staying in the hostel in Naples, and you're into the stench and pollution the city offers, then the one thing worth doing is checking out the Pizzerias. By far the best in Italy. Pizza is famous in Naples (more than the rest of Italy), and rightfully so. That said, still not even close to being worth a visit. The pizza is great everywhere else too.
-There is no such thing as too much pizza in Italy.
-There is no such thing as too much gelato in Italy.
-There is no such thing as too much wine in Italy. Okay, that's a lie, but my point remains the same.
-Get gnocci gorgonzola in Rome.
-Get ravioli in Firenze.
-Get fresh mozzarella in Capri.
-Take the cable car to Capri Town from Marina Grande in Capri.
Okay I think I am going to cut the list off there. I could go on for ages but in sum, we had a phenomenal week, saw everything we wanted to really (except for the Blue Grotto in Capri - it was closed the day we were there). Weather was great, and our timing could not have been better. We left London about 12 hours before European airspace was closed, and we got back into London about 24 hours after it was re-opened. Couldn't really have planned that better (though obviously it was pure luck).
ALSO, we were in Italy during their annual "cultural week." In essence, their tourism takes a hit after the Easter break, and before summer really kicks off, so they have a "cultural week" (which is really 2-3 weeks), and ALL of the cultural sights are FREE! That's right - we paid all of nothing to see the Colosseum, Pompeii, the Medici Chapels, Firenze Gardens, the Forum... the list goes on. The only things we paid for were the Vatican Museums (8Euros with student ID), Leaning Tower of Pisa (15Euros), Il Duomo in Florence (free to enter, but 6Euros to climb to the top), and the Great Synagogue of Florence (3Euros with student ID). Not sure if we paid for anything else that could be considered cultural. We probably saved 100Euros per person in total. Lesson: visit Italy a few weeks after Easter!
In non-Italy related news, the Blackhawks have started to turn it around. Down in their series 2-1, they outworked Nashville and were rewarded with a 3-0 win in Nashville on Thursday night to tie up the series 2-2. Then, last night, despite blowing a 3-1 lead late in the 2nd period at the United Center, they pulled off the improbable. Down 4-3 with 1 minute left in the 3rd period, Marian Hossa made a stupid move and took a 5 minute major penalty. Despite this, with 13.6 seconds left in the 3rd, Patrick Kane scored on a rebound from Toews and Seabrook on what was a shorthanded AND empty net goal. The Hawks pulled Niemi, but were shorthanded, so it was 5 on 5 with an empty net, and somehow they got the game tying goal. Then, to start overtime, the Hawks still had to kill off the final 4 minutes of Hossa's major penalty. Between some great Sopel and Madden shifts, and a few phenomenal saves by Niemi, the Hawks killed it off. In one play, Hossa joined the shorthanded rush out of the box, and deflected in a Sopel shot for the game-winning goal just seconds after the penalty ended. Final score: Hawks 5, Preds 4, in OT. Currently the series is 3-2 Hawks with Game 6 set for tomorrow (Monday) night in Nashville.
In the English Premier League, Chelsea just wrapped up their game today with a resounding 7-0 victory... completely dominated in every facet of the game, and now they are back at the top of the table, 1 point clear of Manchester United, with only 2 games left to play. Chelsea plays in Liverpool on May 2, then at home against Wigan to close out on May 9. Man U is at Sunderland on the 2nd and closes at home against Stoke. If the Blues win out, we win the Premier League (and I win a nice chunk of change from a bet I placed in Vegas back in August - no pressure!).
That's all for now. Back to classes tomorrow for the next month before finals.
Pictures are all uploaded on Facebook, from Italy.
Album 1: Rome, Vatican City, Pisa, Florence: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2707289&id=8623973&l=0c5130d956
Album 2: Florence, Naples, Capri, Pompeii: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2707687&id=8623973&l=b7cd4165de
Have a great week!
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