Mozzarella Farm & Firenze!

Thought I'd update on my past two weekends! On October 9th, our group went to a mozzarella farm outside of Rome! It was just a day trip, so we spent all of Saturday touring around the farm and leaning how mozzarella is made. It was so weird to walk into this factory-like building and see random balls of mozzarella casually floating in a mysterious liquid. We later found out that this liquid is a salt mixture; when mozzarella is first made it is completely fresh, free of any flavoring. But makers of this delicacy know, of course, that consumers today need that salty taste for any cheese they are even thinking for buying. So, the mozzarella remains suspended in salt water for a few days until ready to ship. Along the way, we got to see the female buffalo that create the cheese, as well as all the babies!!! This one was my favorite...

We then proceeded to eat a delicious lunch: first course was different meats and cheeses, and potato patties, second course was lasagna, third course was pork, and for dessert... yogurt made out of buffalo milk and ricotta cheese and honey! The latter was definitely my favorite; I may have to bring that amazing combo back to Loyola in January, my friends WILL thank me I'm sure. 

This past Saturday, Jackie, Rach and I went to visit our friends Ericka and Meaghan in Florence! We went inside the famous Duomo, climbed the 400+ stairs up the belltower (or "campanile", thank you Liturgy class), and had excellent food at Za Za's. I had linguine with a creamy mushroom sauce, it was delectable to say the least. We got to experience some of the nightlife in Firenze as well; we all went to a cafe where many American students studying abroad go before they go out to the clubs. We called it an early night, and so the three of us went back to our hostel to sleep, which was an experience in itself; I've never stayed in a hostel, and after this one, let's just say I wish I had just brought my entire bed with me, and maybe a suit of armor to wear in that bathroom. EW. Needless to say, it was a sporadic adventure and I'm so happy we got to explore Florence with our friends from school.

(Jackie - pictured right - made me do this) On the Ponte Vecchio!

Duomo

Together again!

Bell tower we climbed!

Amazing street artist sketching Mary

Tomorrow a bunch of us jet off to Dublin, Paris, and Barcelona until November 3rd for fall break! I will try and update when I can, or I may just have to wait until I get back to Rome, because I am not bringing my computer. I'm so excited! AND tomorrow is our last day of Italian!? I don't know how that's possible, because I can't believe it's been almost two months already. Okay, buona notte!

Oktoberfest!

First of all, small disclaimer: there’s no way I can do this experience justice with just words, but I’ll try. I can’t believe that Germany hosts this event each year, and furthermore, that my friends and I got to go on the weekend of its 200^th anniversary.

We departed from Rome’s airport at around 7:30 pm en route to Munich, Germany. The flight was very fast, and before I knew it I was setting foot in a country I’d never been in before. I honestly was overwhelmed for a few minutes thinking about this. Because I’ve been to Rome before, although I was ecstatic to arrive in August, it was different from the feeling one gets when arriving in a country that’s completely new. Germany was that for me. And this was just in Munich’s airport; I couldn’t imagine the awe I’d feel when actually on the Oktoberfest grounds! I give sole credit to Frankie, the only boy on the trip, for finding our way around/out of that airport because it was massive. However, he stopped being the hero of the trip when, at the stop we were supposed to get off of, he chose to have all of us stand at the ONE door that didn’t open. Needless to say, we all missed our stop, and then found ourselves hopelessly lost when we got off at the next one, because I mean it’s not like we were in a foreign country where none of us have ever been or anything…not to mention the language barrier we forgot about when we attempted to ask a strange German woman for directions. Fail. After an hour of tracing routes on our map (where did we even get that), arguing, laughing, and sprinting/chasing the next train, we finally made it to our stop…only to get stranded for about an hour in the freezing cold because the hotel took forever to send us a taxi! I have to admit I was scared for a few minutes, not to mention almost frostbitten. But looking back, I can’t help but crack up. Because these are the experiences we remember when abroad: the point is to get lost sometimes, and embrace it. Trust your instincts, trust your friends, be smart, and you’ll get to where you need to be.

Lost in Munich but it's fine.

Inside Hofbräu

Dawn about to break behind us the first day

Good morning

The next morning, we awoke promptly at 5:30am (take note the sun was not up) in order to make it to the tents at 7am if not before. Thank goodness our hotel was a short bus ride and two metro stops away, otherwise I’m not sure I would have made it. We literally ran up the metro steps at the Oktfest stop and found ourselves on the actual grounds. Tents, rides, and people everywhere. We secured our position in front of the Hofbräu tent, probably the most famous one, and the one all Americans flock to. At 8:30am on the dot, we were inside, and by 9am we had the most gigantic mugs of beer I have ever seen in our hands. I was so happy that I found Chuck, my friend from Stone Harbor, as soon as I walked in! We were all dancing to the band, chanting the “prost” (basically means cheers in English) song all day, and met so many new people. We explored for a little bit outside the tent, which actually turned out to be a mistake because every tent got so crowded by noon. But we found Ericka and Meaghan towards the middle of the day, finally! We hung out with them, and a bunch of our other friends from Florence, Rome, and Paris the rest of the day. Most of the Rome girls and I returned to our hotel around 7. After ordering the entire room service dinner menu for some reason, Kaylie, Rachel, and I called it a night and settled into our king size bed…yes, all three of us.

We slept in until about 11 the next morning, and got to Oktfest at noon, ready for round two. A few of us started off the day with some rides! Rachel, Kaylie, and I went on that ride that brings you straight up so high, then just drops you; we loved this ride because not only was it exciting, it provided an amazing view of Munich while we were suspended in the air. Next, Rach, Jackie, and I went on this insane rollercoaster that was Indiana Jones themed? Each seat spun, and it goes through this dark tunnel the whole time, through light up circles, there was fire at one point…it was CRAZY.

One of the rides! SO HIGH!

The rollercoaster!

Naturally we returned to our favorite tent, Hofbräu, right after the rides. Sunday was extremely fun; we got to spend more time with our friends from other places abroad, and unlike Saturday where we were standing and running almost all day, we all got a table! Goodbyes got, dare I say, almost emotional, as all the Rome people rushed out in the late afternoon in order to catch our flight home. Miraculously, all seven of us made it. We arrived home safe and sound at around 11pm on Sunday night.

I think that weekend will forever be the most epic one of study abroad for me, at least thus far. However, I can say in all honesty I won’t miss Germany’s cuisine. Paola’s dinner on Monday has NEVER tasted so good. Not sure what I would have done if I had to look at one more helping of bratwurst, sausage, or a whole chicken fresh off the barbeque spit. On second thought, if I could wash it all down with a mug of Okfest beer, it’d debatably be worth it.

 Stone Harbor does Munich

Reunited!