friends in venice

Sorry all.  I haven’t been writing as many updates as I’d planned.  But life here has been uneventful in an eventful kind of way.  That doesn’t make sense, huh?  Things have been busy, though there’s somewhat of a set schedule.  Class is from 10am-3pm (roughly).  People usually trickle out of class at various times, sometimes even close to 5pm, and wander around or head straight back to the apartments.  Florentine streets are full of carts and stands selling leather bags, wallets, clothing, jewelery, hats, Italian trinkets, etc.  Last week, Hannah and Jeremiah were in Florence, so after class, I would go hang out with them.  Lots of walking around and exploring, Jer and I shot people (with cameras, not guns!), lots of eating dinners, and lots and LOTS of good gelato!  Then when the weekend came, the 3 of us headed off the Venice!  Beauuutiful city, with all the rivers and canals.  We took some good advice and stayed away from most of the touristy areas, and purposely got lost around the back streets.  So lovely.

Hannah and Jer are extremely happy to be in Venezia!

Jeremiah found a creepy friend

And then he pretended he was Spiderman

Look what we found.  Mr. Vampire was excited.

Vampire got hungry.  Sorry

The next day we went to Murano, a small island just off the coast of Venice famous for their glassblowing.  Saw a lot of BEAUTIFUL creations.  Very tempted into buying very pretty glass jewelry, but refrained.  These people were trying to rip off some tourists as soon as we got off the “waterbus.”  They led us to this glass factory and tried to make us pay to see a glassblowing demonstration, even though according to our research, they’re usually free!  We got out of there and walked a little more, and sure enough, found a free demonstration.

He made a long vase with a round bottom, and a horse.  So amazing how he shaped the heads, arms, and legs with such simple movements.

Venice was really beautiful, with all the water surrounding it.  Our second day there was our “water/boat day.”  We went around Venice/Murano via the vaporetto, or water bus, because it was considerably more affordable than a gondola ride, which can be around 80~100 euros…about $100+.  So pretty, Hannah started dancing along the water.

I had a BLAST with these two, and I’m so glad they came to visit me/travel on their own.  =P  As much as I love the other students in this program, there’s nothing like the comfort between friends of many years…or that of a sister/roommate for 6ish years!  But now they are gone, traveling through Rome, while I am back at my Florence apartment slaving away editing photos that I mostly hate.  I am learning that photography is so much different than painting/drawing…and its harder than I thought!  This weekend I’ll also be going to Rome (though by then, Hannah and Jer will be back in the States), with a group of people from the program.  We’re taking a day trip, so it’ll be pretty packed!

That’s all for now…sorry for the lack of picture uploading.  Internet makes it slow for me to upload photos, but on top of that, I’ve been pretty busy trying to keep up with this class.  I’m also already starting to get sick of pizza and pasta.  The first thing I’m eating after I get back is either soondubu or pho.  Some sort of spicy, soupy jjigae.  One of the girls I live with made us Indian food….homecooked with crazy spices…it was SO delicious.  I was the happiest I ever was in DAYS!

Okay…that’s all for now.  Ciao!

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