Today was the official end of classes and the choir concert conducted by the cutest maestro, Nino the chef, and this evening we had our farewell dinner, complete with molto, molto thanks and hand clapping for the amazing people who helped and taught us throughout this fantastic semester!

Cena was delicious! Lasagna, Helen's grilled chicken and peppers, plus Helen's TIRAMISU!!! Yum!

It's sad that this semester is coming to a close. It's been really fantastic; I've been a lot of places and seen a lot of things--I wish I had time to see more!!

Living in Sesto has been a really enriching experience. We really feel like we are a part of the town--even the mayor has been to a number of our events!

We are really fortunate to be a part of this program, working with such amazing people in such an amazing place: FLORENCE!!

My last final is on Thursday, and I leave Saturday, so I really want to make the most of my remaining time here. The last few weeks have been spent in studio working on projects and papers--just like in Ann Arbor! So, I really want to get out and enjoy the warm Italian weather before heading back to icy, snowy, cold Michigan! Plus there are so many things I have yet to see and do!! So, I am going to do them starting tomorrow!

Today we had our final studio review for the semester . . . that means we are another day closer to heading home, back to normal life . . .

I am pretty satisfied with my studio project. I had a good review, though, of course, there is tons of additional things I could do to make my project more complete and better. I really enjoyed working on it, so there is a chance I will go back to work on it some more after or during this weekend as I am procrastinating finishing up my Renaissance art term paper . . .

Fall Break has begun! And it's my birthday!

My morning was spent at the Uffizi gallery in Florence, and after a quick stop in Pisa, I'll end my birthday in Paris! :)

With our backpacks completely stuffed, we ventured out from the villa to the local train station to kick off our fall break. Our plan was to catch the 4pm train to a station in Florence, then wait for about a half hour to catch the train to the airport in Pisa. Our flight was at 8pm, so we were giving ourselves plenty of time!

We had it all perfectly timed out. We arrived on time and settled onto a bench to wait for our connecting train . . . and we waited . . . and we waited . . . and still our train did not come. It was past the time of the connection. There were Italians around waiting for the same train, so I wasn't too worried--I even used a little bit of Italian to ask someone if they were waiting for the train. There were no announcements about a delay or cancellation of our train. Eventually, out of frustration and concern that we would miss our flight, we caught the next train heading towards Pisa. The train was completely packed, so we ended up standing between car with all of our stuff on our backs . . . which kinda messes with your center of gravity! Eventually we made it to the Pisa station and found the train to the airport. It was actually quite simple to find, which is good to know when we travel to Barcelona for Thanksgiving. Turns out the train we were trying to catch in Florence was delayed 20 minutes . . . who knew!

We arrived at the airport, but thanks to the huge cushion of time we gave ourselves before the flight, we got there before the check-in desk opened, so we did some more waiting around . . . Then, finally checked-in, we grabbed some dinner--extremely bland panini from the airport cafe--then did some more waiting for our flight . . . and we waited . . . and we waited . . . it was past the time of our flight and again, no announcements about what was happening!

But, at least, we had some entertainment while we waited: a bunch of college students, obviously Americans, were also waiting in the airport. They were sitting on the ground in the terminal, sitting in a huge circle surrounded by all their bags, drinking straight from bottles of wine. So ridiculous! And so embarrassing to be associated with them!!

Eventually, we made our way onto the plane and landed in Paris at about 11pm-ish. The airport has a very organized system for picking up a taxi. Outside the doors, a huge line of people forms, and the taxis drive up, one after another. In a very orderly way, the waiting people catch their taxis and are on their way. Our taxi driver was really rude to us at first . . . we couldn't tell if he was angry with having to drive us, but once we were all settled in the car, he was super chatty and nice--so weird!!

We just made it in time to check into our hotel. Our room for four people, up narrow spiralling stairs to the fifth floor, was basically just a huge bed. There were two double beds, separated by about 6 inches, with about 18 inches of walking space around the perimeter. We had our own bathroom though, which made the whole room worth it! Plus, we were in a fantastic location: the Bastille district, which was very lively and ver international--more about that later!

Sorry, this is a pretty lengthy post with no pictures . . . clearly I am procrastinating doing any sort of real work!

The drive home from Urbino winded through the mountains, going up and up until we noticed snow on the ground . . . we made a quick pit stop, and the snow began to swirl all around us . . . My first snow of the season! 

Thinking I should work on studio . . .

Turns out our studio review, which was scheduled for this Wednesday, was bumped back to next Wednesday.

So, that gives a pretty intense next week . . .
Monday: Thesis Prospectus due in the AM, Italian oral exam in the PM
Tuesday: Renaissance Art Midterm
Wednesday: Italian written exam and big-time studio review
Thursday: Ren Art to the Uffizi in the AM, flight to Paris in the PM--plus my birthday!
Friday+: Fall Break!!!

Plus this weekend we are heading east to Urbino and Gubbio . . . should be fabulous!

So, just a funny little story . . .

We were buying train tickets in Verona to head back to Florence. Our professors suggested one direct route, but it was expensive--35 euro or so . . . A few people bought those tickets, but, some of my classmates did a little more research and found a regional train for 11 euro which would drop us at our local train station. So, the rest of us who hadn't already bought the expensive tickets went the cheap route. The cheap train required a change in Bologna, which was fine . . .

We got to Bologna, and since it was a quick connection time, ran to the train heading in the direction of Rome which would go through Florence. It was a Eurostar train, "the fastest train in Italy," which seemed like a strange train to take since they are usually quite expensive, but some of us swear when we bought our ticket, it said Eurostar . . . so, after getting booted from a few seats, we figured out we were supposed to have seat reservations and then finally we figured out we we're supposed to even be on that train . . . so, after talking to one of the train workers, we had to pay an additional 11 euro each to ride the Eurostar, though we ended up standing between train cars the entire ride (which wasn't too long . . .). We eventually got back to Florence and Sesto . . . just with a little setback.

We had our first studio review on Ground and Sky this week, so to celebrate, we grad students took some cues from the undergrads and hung out in the villa basement with a couple of bottles of wine. It was a fun night, and the undergrads were impressed that we were "out" and not working in studio . . . but that can only last for so long . . .

Photos of some of the beautiful things that surround us as we study in the villa. 

So, we've decided our fall break, and it is so exciting!

We're heading to Paris for three days, where we'll do a whirlwind through architecture sites, including Villa Savoye and Versailles, plus your usual Parisian fare. Then we're heading to Ronchamp the site of a famous chapel by Le Corbusier. It's one of those things you always learn about in school, but through slideshows . . . can't pass up seeing the real thing!!

After Ronchamp, we'll cross the border into Switzerland for some action in the Alps in Interlaken. Since we'll need to relax after all our travels, we're heading to Vals, to the Therme Baths designed by Peter Zumthor. We're going all out and spending the night in one of the luxurious rooms, one where, to get to the baths, you can cross a bridge in your bathrobe (we're hoping the bathrobe is included . . .) With a few days left of the break, we'll travel to Zurich, take in the sights and catch the sleeper train home to Florence.

In other travel news, we also scheduled a trip to Barcelona, one of my favorite cities, over Thanksgiving! So exciting! :)

Stay tuned for photos of these fabulous places! :) :) Back to working on thesis . . .

Back in Sesto, a number of us architecture students were burning the midnight oil in studio, hurrying to get some work done before meeting with our instructors on Monday afternoon . . . We heard a huge BOOM that shook the entire villa . . . We weren't really sure what is was, so we just kept working (nose to the grindstone, nothing stops us--nothing! well, almost . . . ) . . . BOOM--we heard it again . . . Then someone realized it was FIREWORKS! We all dropped what we were doing and took off with a mad dash, seriously running, to the terrace where we had a perfect view of the fireworks. We could feel the reverberations of the explosions and the sounds were echoing through the villa and off the mountains beyond. It was fabulous. Nothing like taking a studio break at midnight for fireworks in Italy . . . ah!

. . . the craziest thing I have seen in my life!

Eventually, I will post some videos of this crazy, crazy carnival. Unbelievable!!

. . . and a comfy bed a home.

The five of us who returned to Pietrasanta realized we weren't up for traveling to Carrara the next day, so, exhausted, with another rash decision, we caught the last direct train back to Florence, literally running to the station, with only minutes to spare.