Much Ado about nothing

30.01.11

Well I've been here two weeks now and not too much to tell really. It's a much different environment in Macerata as everyone is either doing exams, or travelling (and so not actually in Macerata). We got a new house mate in our flat, which is making living here even more unbearable, so very much looking forward to leaving and getting my ass to Madrid.

Still spening all my time with Gema, and we have watched lots of really good movies recently, Black Swan was really good, as was one with Katherine Heigl in it (but I can't remember the name!!)

We went out on Thursday night to Tartaruga and I got a lot more drunk than I thought I had, and my friends told me apparently I fell over 4 times...so that's why I'm so bruised!!!

Anyway only one more exam left, on the 3rd, then I'm completely free, so hopefully can do some travelling before I head to Spain on the 10th Feb.

Here are a few recent photos of life here in Italy:

Torno a Macerata

17.1.11

Well, I’m back doing the longest journey ever, and it’s bringing so many memories back! This time I flew from Manchester, and so I slept at the girls’ house last night and Vicky drove me to the airport at a very early 4.15 this morning (thanks Viclarrr)!

No delay on the flight, just a delay of my brain from tiredness, so  bought a huge breakfast at the airport and just sat for a couple of hours before boarding the flight.

I was sat in a window seat, next to a young couple who were obviously going to Rome for a holiday. For some reason I was really envious of them, because they were all excited, like I should have been, but instead all I could feel was dread. I know this is really ridiculous, but even now as I am sat in Roma Termini waiting for my train, I can’t help but feel anxious for my return. I know the same people will be there, the people who made my 3 months fantastic, but I have had such an amazing time in England, I fear I am going to be really homesick over this next week, and then I have to plan my move to Madrid, in a very scary 3 weeks time!

There really is nothing for me to complain about, the weather here today is glorious, sunny and warm and I managed to get to the station with an hour and a half to spare for the cheap train (15 Euros as opposed to 30) so I have saved a bit of money (thank god, since I paid another £45 for the change of my flight). I am currently sat having an Americano in the cafe me and Gema often come to when we are in Rome, and I know I am extremely excited to see her, and all the other Erasmus, so I am trying to convince myself to stop feeling this sicky dread, as it is really stupid!!!

On the flight today I managed to stay awake (i was bloody freezing!) and the view was breathtaking! I’m not sure which mountainous area it was (since my geography skills are shocking), but we flew over a huge section of mountains, and I felt like we were so so close to them, so they must’ve been very high, it was incredible! (almost worth freezing my bum off on the plane!) Once I was off the plane, my suitcase came round first again, (they obv like my blue case in Italy), and I headed off to find the bus (cheap option again but much longer than the train). Every time I have had to get to or from the airport I have tried to find this bus, and this is the first time I have managed it (bit annoying since this is the last time I’ll be doing this journey), but I was well pleased with myself!

 Sitting here for the final time, I suppose it has been an amazing experience. I now can get planes, trains, buses and find my way round big cities without too much trouble. I can now carry three suitcases that probably weigh around the same as I (used) to weigh and you know what, I suppose I am quite proud of myself when I look at it like that. I’m sitting in this cafe, and I am listening to all the Italian people around me, and it is making me realise that actually yes, I do like living here, and yes, the language is beautiful. And yes, I am doing a degree in this and I need to perfect my language skills. So, here’s to the next three weeks and the adventures they bring!

A presto!

The final chapter...For now...

Wow I hadn’t quite realised how long ago I blogged! So much has happened since then! I am currently sat on the train heading to Roma Termini and almost died of a stressed-induced heart attack earlier...it seems Italy cannot handle 2 inches of snow and our bus taking us to Fabriano was driving at about 1 mile an hour...we made our train with 5 minutes to spare; STRESSSSS! But anyway it’s all good now and I’m on my way, getting very excited to see a certain someone and of course all the girls and the fam, it’s been faaaar too long!

Ok so to start, I went to Rome a few weeks ago, and it rained; A LOT. Gema and I set off at around 6am (grim times) and arrived to torrential rain. We had planned a day of shopping and sight-seeing and meeting up with her friends, but in the end we both just got very wet and mardy (but i did manage to buy some very sexual leather trousers from H+M). Despite the weather and bad start to the day, we managed to have a really nice time together and the journey home was hilarious...yes we did decide to provide the bus with in-house entertainment (by the form of Iphone singing from me and Gema) I think they loved it....

Then last week I continued the tradition of constant holidays and ventured out of Italy and into the Christmassy place that is Stockholm to visit my best friend Lara. It was such a nice few days and it made me realise how much I love my Manchester girls, and it was so nice because my new Erasmus friends came with me, so everyone met each other! There were 6 of us sharing a student room, which was fun at times (but I managed to bag the bed with Lara awoohoooo!)

We went ice skating which was so much fun and it made me really miss it, I’m definitely going to have a look in Manchester next year see what’s available! On one of the days we went to Skansen, which was absolutely beautiful, but my god was it cold! I think it was approximately -18 that day, and my God we felt it. Skansen had  a sort of Christmas market, with roaring fires every few metres, and thank God because every two minutes we were running to the next fire just to stay alive haha, but it was really beautiful so I didn’t mind too much (and we got yummy “hot dogs” to keep us warm so always a plus).

Arrived back in Macerata to University, deadlines and classes but I kind of enjoyed getting back into work, as to be honest, I’ve had none so far and felt really guilty when everyone else has been complaining about how much work they’ve had! Over Christmas I have a 30 page essay to write in Italian, so not entirely sure how that one’s gonna work but hey-ho!

So, all that’s left for me to say is how weirdly excited i am to return to Doncaster, to get a cuddle off my Daddy (yes I still call him my Daddy) and see my sisters and friends! I’m actually excited to go out round Doncaster because I’ve missed Julia and Katie and Sarah and Britt and Vic soooo much (yes girls you get special mentions today) and i was gutted I missed everyone’s birthdays; so drunken merry times ahead and I cannot wait!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

(pictures to follow)

Italy in five days...

What an incredibly busy week I have had! In five days I managed to visit over 7 places in Italy and can safely say I am still totally in love with Macerata and my life here in Italy.

Thursday 11.11.10 - Bologna


Thursday was the start of the trip and we began it at the early time of 8.30am. We got a train to Bologna because we needed to meet Gema's friend Aida there, and also her parents were picking us up from Bologna. We arrived an it was really cold, much colder than Macerata, and to be honest I didn't like it at all. It is a completely grey city, and big, but not in a good way, and it just made me so much happier that I am doing my Erasmus in Macerata. Anyway, we had a wander round, and BIG NEWS I ate my first macdonalds since I was about ten years old...crazy times haha!
 

In the evening we met up with Gema's parents and they took us out for an amazing meal...so delicious but stupidly expensive! After the meal we said our goodbyes to Aida, and made our way to Venice....

Day 2

Venice was our next stop, and again it was pretty cold, but nice and sunny in the morning. I was really excited to see Venice, but it wasn't as beautiful as I had expected it to be, it was a little bit dirty and run down, but we had a fantastic day none-the-less.

Best bread ever!!!

That night we travelled to Verona, as we found an amazing hotel online and of course we wanted to see the famous balcony!! When we arrived in Verona we went to the hotel and got changed for dinner, and of course had a bit of a photoshoot in the hotel room....LOVE IT!





We were really hungry so we went to the town centre to find a nice restaurant and decided to eat in the main square. We sat outside and EVERY SINGLE GUY who walked past looked like a model! Definately fell in love a few times!!!

JOHNNY DEPP!!!!

Best pizza ever! NOM!

 

Day 3

The next morning we woke up nice and early and had a walk around Verona. We visited the famous balcony and I fell in love with the wall just outside the Balcony...it was a bit graffiti wall where loads of people had written love hearts and messages to each other!

In the afternoon we went to Modena for lunch, but there was nothing in the city, so we continued on to Florence, it was quite a drive so I of course slept the whole journey (as I did for every car journey!!) 

Florence was a bit of a nightmare, we spent 3 hours circling trying to find a hotel. We finally found one at midnight, dumped our suitcases and went out for dinner. Ate, then completely zonked out in the hotel.

Day 4

I loved Florence so much! So much to see and do (and amazing shopping!!!) We had a great time and took lots of photos! And I bought some amazing trousers from H+M always a bonus :)







 

6.11.10 ... POORLY week

So this week has been somewhat uneventful as I have been struck down with flu! So my lovely friends have been to the rescue with an endless supply of pizza, ice-cream and of course laughs (sorry for the cringe factor!)

Monday night me and Ezgi stayed in and watched a film (seriously had to recover from Halloween...hangover from HELL) and got pizza...Tuesday night saw the same...as did Wednesday (Although with a slight variety as we added ice-cream).


Thursday I was feeling more humane, so we decided to go to Tartaruga, but only lasted an hour, then went to buy food (I see a theme occurring here....) and i got my hair in a bobble BIG NEWS!
 

Friday we had another film night, and slept at Gema's...then today we woke up nice and early and spent the day in San Bernadetto del Tronto and had an absolutely perfect day. We wondered round the shops, had a nice leisurely lunch, and then hit the beach. We finished the day with ice cream, then a nice english tea. PERFECT!!!!

halloweeeeeeeeeen

Had a brilliant halloween in Macerata and everyone made such a good effort to dress up! I went to one of my friend's houses with Gema and Ezgi, and we all sat and did each others make up, and my god did we look grotesque!!!

 FRIGHT NIGHT!

31.10.10

Seriously shit at this blogging business but I will try and improve...

So what has been going on in the world of Italia? Well this week saw the first home sick tears appear, woke up on Monday morning to rain and cold...automatically reminding me of Manchester and home, and I just felt so depressed all day. It also didn't help I had four hours of Spanish straight, so of course my mood deteriorated somewhat and I decided that perhaps an early night would be the cure for my ailment.

I woke up on Tuesday feeling much better, although the weather was still very cold and I had five hours of class. Tuesday evening we went for a drink in Caffe Centrale, but only for a couple of hours due to the fact Tuesday is a dead town in Macerata, so me and Ezgi decided to go back to mine and watch a film instead.


Wednesday is my day off University so I went to the supermarket and bought lots of yummy food, and had a nice lie-in and TV catch up! Wednesday night we went to 4porte and had a really fun night..we had drinks at Gema's before hand and attempted to learn the dance to Alejandro...ahhh if only we had a video :)

Thursday night we decided to go to Tartaruga (10 euros entrance...but of course we get in for free as we know some boys who can get us on a VIP list...ohhhhh yeah) and it was such a good night; although literally every single guy wanted to talk to us, it got a little tedious even for me!!!


Friday night was brilliant, we had a girls night at Gema's filled with boy talk, ice cream, pop corn and cookies. We watched to brilliant chick-flicks and saw lots of Ashton Kutchers body in "Spread" so we were happy girls :D

Last night we went to LOLA, a club outside MAcerata and again got in for free (ahhh the perks of being a girl) and we got a lift there and back too (no taxis for us) So another free night!!!


Tonight is halloween and i cannot waaaait! We have face paint and we are going to go crazy!!! Photos will follow...