more to come

there will be pictures of the market and the caffe i have coffee at every morning to come.

Boboli Gardens

So this last weekend I went to the Boboli Gardens, it was amazing! I was there for more then 2 and a half - 3 hours and I still didn't really see all of it. So here are a few of the many pictures I took, they were from my point and shoot and the sun was strange and not really around much that day so I apologize. I'll go again before it gets too cold so don't worry better pictures will come.

I have no idea what this is, or was but it's pretty amazing. It looks like the foundation of something, but it looks like it's sloping. Interesting and beautiful.

(Below) One of my favorite gardens I saw was this one, the Lemon Gardens.



















This is the palace that is in front of the gardens, I believe built for the Medici Family, though what isn't around here? (above)




(below) These cool fountains that were not running that day for some reason. They are at the lemon garden bridge gates.






And this is this pretty amazing Neptune Fountain. (Below Left)



The first major view of the gardens. (above)









These fountains were pretty neat, they were slanted just enough to let gravity work but not enough too look really slopped. Below is what their faces look like.

She was one of my favorite statues.

This Statue is HUGE! (Below) Probably two mes in height!

and I love how it's at the end of a long hedge corridor. I think these hedges were made out of Bay leaves.

Update about updating

There will soon be an update, probably this weekend with more photos!

Ciao tutti. Ti amo!

Some pictures

If you keep going down this street and turn right there you are at my home.






The Duomo, very close to where I live, not that anything in the city is really that far. It's a pretty small city actually.









This photo needs tweaking but this can show you how big the S. Croce is. I walk by this everyday!






A better picture of S. Croce.




The Piazza that it's in.







This is at Palazza Michelangelo where a copy stands, there are more then 2 in the city I believe. He was moved from his original spot because his stand was struck by lightning and his had was damaged in anti-Medici riots.










This is the view you will see climbing up the long stair way to see Palazza Michelangelo. AMAZING! Compleatly worth the long steep treck.








A couple of the girls and I went out for and beer and appetizers. By the by, never eat/drink in touristy areas, way too much money.

I Made it

I made it to Italy! It took me more then forever to get here.
I flew to Denver from Tucson and stayed there for about 5 or 6 hours then flew to Frankfurt, Germany which is a 10 hour flight. Then in Frankfurt my plane was an hour late getting in so I missed my flight to Florence and had to wait another 2 hours or so. Then flew directly to Florence from there, but because of the mix ups with the flight my bags went missing. I was in the Florence airport (which is tiny BTW) for about another hour or 2 to fill out a forum letting them know they were missing and where to take them once they were found.

I did eventually get them back though. The big bag I got back 3 days after and the smaller one a day after that. Thank God for clothes!

But the city is pretty amazing! It's made of cranies and knooks. The people are pretty great too, I live across from a cafe where a very nice man tends and owns, he and I try to communicate even though it's difficult. I will soon learn more Italian though, thank goodness.

It is pretty expencive here though, more then I thought, but I'm so happy to be here non the less!

Everyday I pass the Santa Croce (I believe), and I'm just a few minute walk from the Duomo! It's AMAZING!

My apartment has large open rooms, and me and 5 other girls live on the first floor. I share a room with a girl named Daveen, she's small and sweet. The other girls are pretty great too, we're all from amazingly different places and background. Though I am the only one from west of the Mississippi.

Well I've spent enough time in the computer lab time to go get some more things done. Hopefully pictures will follow soon.


Ciao a tutti!

Erin

Shopping

So I ordered my new digital SLR camera that I've been wanting for ever. I have a brand new HUGE suitcase, bra, jeans, and house slippers. I think all I need now is my ticket, some film and some momory sticks! I'm also going to recive a free camera bag from a friend of my father's family, or I guess he might now be family. I'm not sure, but THANKS KURT!
I'm sooooo excited, I'm finally getting nervous, and realizing that it's actually happening.
Right now I'm in Arizona spending time with my mom and some friends that I haven't seen in quite some time, before I leave.


Oh my gosh, it's getting here. oh my gosh 3 more weeks!

Visa

My mom called me a few days ago and my Visa arrived. WOW that was fast, I've got to say. Only about a week after I sent the stuff in, they called me and told me to send them an envelope to send it back.

For a few days I was thinking that I was only going to get $800 for the semester abroad, but the stupid lady at Westminster says, oh no we don't know how much we'll give you until you do this and this. Well why didn't you tell me so!? JESUS! I hope they still have money to give me. And I'll be going to fast web all month. I did write a few essays and enters some art competitions, but nothin'. ah well.