Musings:
1. There is no ice - anywhere. That is an American thing. They figure that if something came from the refrigerator, it is cold enough.
2. A/C is rare. I guess one just gets used to the heat and stops sweating. I'm not sure if I will be here long enough for that to happen. I'm sure my hostess is wondering why I need a fan every night and I hope she never takes it back until I leave!
3. I'm not sure if it is everywhere, but when we ate dinner, they first served the pasta, then the salad and meat, then fruit or dessert. It seems that you don't drink with meals. Wine seems to be served before a meal - and probably after, also.
4. I was told that the fruits and veggies here are almost always organic.
5. I did look at some real estate prices. The lowest price I found for a small apartment was 120,000 euros. I think it was a very small apartment outside of the city walls.
6. Montepulciano is known for it's wine and special grapes - and is also very touristy. So, I understand that most of the shops will close in mid-September. I expect that the grocery store will stay open.
7. I love that they have trash containers all along the streets. I see people put out small plastic bags of trash in the mornings and the trash trucks come by and get them. I'm not sure if it is every day.
8. I have seen liter bottles of water at people's doorsteps. I don't know if they are delivered or where they magically come from. I want to find out more.
9. There are many dogs here and just about all are on leashes, thank goodness. As I said before, Seymour is the smallest dog I've seen so far.
10. Every place has allowed Seymour in, so far. Or if they have said otherwise, I haven't understood them.
11. I think that curly hair will be "in" soon. Many people here have curly hair. It makes me happy!
12. If you don''t have your own bag at the grocery store, they charge you 10 cents, which is about 15 cents American. Of course, I keep forgetting to bring my bag.
More later. My head is exploding with Italian words but few are sticking enough to use.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Pictures from Montepulciano
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Here is Seymour at Piazza Grande, where part of New Moon was filmed. I think he is waiting to be discovered.
These are some of the streets of the city
Not a good picture but the views are amazing
This view is from outside of my classroom. The person's head is my roomie Paulina.
This was my dinner and Seymour's one night in Rome - notice the chocolate for me and the better food for Seymour!
This was an amazing wine cellar. The place is filled with wine bars because it is known for it's special grapes. There are wine tastings everywhere! I have had wine every day.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Italian Class Day 2
First, I will post pictures later today or tomorrow. I am at Il Sasso, our language school where I can get internet but I forgot to bring my camera adaptor for my iPad. I really recommend that Montepulciano be put on your list of places to visit. It is hard to show it in pictures. I would describe it as a midevil city built on the top of a hill. The city is built above the stone wall and everywhere you go, you have to go either up or down a hill. I should get strong legs and lungs - or die - in the month I'm here!
Seymour is doing better with his roomie, Keirkacoo (or some name like that). They both ran to the door barking when Fiorella's sister came last night.
Seymour and I walked to the supermarket last night to get some food for both of us. Although there was a sign on the door with a dog and a line through him, I had Seymour in his sling and no one stopped us. I've also gone into restaurants with Seymour to purchase water and it has been fine.
I am not supposed to get dinner as part of my room cost so I bought crusty bread and cheese - LOVE the crusty bread here. After I ate, Fiorella came to my room and asked me to eat with them. You can not refuse, so I ate a little. Now I will try to just eat a little food so I have room in case she invites me again tonight.
I asked her if I could buy a fan for my room and she gave me her fan. What a difference it made! It was still hot until early morning, but the fan helped very much. This morning was actually cool. I usually walk Seymour at 7 am, then we eat at 8 am and school starts at 8:45 am. School is about 10 minutes from our house. Paulina, the other room mate is from Poland and has been so helpful in translating for me. She had a year of Italian before she came and is now taking a 4 week course. She has no trouble communicating. So, I just need another year, 3 weeks and 3 days and I'll be fine :)
For breakfast Fiorella made us a kind of grilled cheese sandwich, some wonderful homemade sweetbread and then gives us each a croissant to take to the school for break. BTW, Seymour is an angel at school. He just sleeps on his blanket/sling until break and then I take him for walks. He is still a crazy dog around the dogs on the street. He is the smallest dog we have seen here.
The Italian lessons go quickly so I have to try to study as much as possible and re-organize my notes at night. Fiorella is constantly trying to talk to me in Italian and I usually just nod my head "yes". Who knows what I am agreeing to!
On my next post I will try to describe the city and include some pictures. But I do have to say that the steets are very narrow. Only people who live in the city can drive here. The streets are so narrow only one car can get by. There are no sidewalks, so when a car or bus comes by, Seymour and I hug the walls.
Lindalee, who is in my class and has been in Montepulciano on and off for the last month has been telling us the best places to buy bottled water, beer, coffee and food. Best means "least expensive".
The other students seem very nice. Most seem to be from Australia but there are 3 in my class from the USA.
So far, things are going well. I still wish I could find some summer clothes here! But I am not dripping as much today as yesterday!
Seymour is doing better with his roomie, Keirkacoo (or some name like that). They both ran to the door barking when Fiorella's sister came last night.
Seymour and I walked to the supermarket last night to get some food for both of us. Although there was a sign on the door with a dog and a line through him, I had Seymour in his sling and no one stopped us. I've also gone into restaurants with Seymour to purchase water and it has been fine.
I am not supposed to get dinner as part of my room cost so I bought crusty bread and cheese - LOVE the crusty bread here. After I ate, Fiorella came to my room and asked me to eat with them. You can not refuse, so I ate a little. Now I will try to just eat a little food so I have room in case she invites me again tonight.
I asked her if I could buy a fan for my room and she gave me her fan. What a difference it made! It was still hot until early morning, but the fan helped very much. This morning was actually cool. I usually walk Seymour at 7 am, then we eat at 8 am and school starts at 8:45 am. School is about 10 minutes from our house. Paulina, the other room mate is from Poland and has been so helpful in translating for me. She had a year of Italian before she came and is now taking a 4 week course. She has no trouble communicating. So, I just need another year, 3 weeks and 3 days and I'll be fine :)
For breakfast Fiorella made us a kind of grilled cheese sandwich, some wonderful homemade sweetbread and then gives us each a croissant to take to the school for break. BTW, Seymour is an angel at school. He just sleeps on his blanket/sling until break and then I take him for walks. He is still a crazy dog around the dogs on the street. He is the smallest dog we have seen here.
The Italian lessons go quickly so I have to try to study as much as possible and re-organize my notes at night. Fiorella is constantly trying to talk to me in Italian and I usually just nod my head "yes". Who knows what I am agreeing to!
On my next post I will try to describe the city and include some pictures. But I do have to say that the steets are very narrow. Only people who live in the city can drive here. The streets are so narrow only one car can get by. There are no sidewalks, so when a car or bus comes by, Seymour and I hug the walls.
Lindalee, who is in my class and has been in Montepulciano on and off for the last month has been telling us the best places to buy bottled water, beer, coffee and food. Best means "least expensive".
The other students seem very nice. Most seem to be from Australia but there are 3 in my class from the USA.
So far, things are going well. I still wish I could find some summer clothes here! But I am not dripping as much today as yesterday!
Monday, September 5, 2011
Montepulciano
This will be short. There is no wifi at the place I'm staying - or no fan! I am waiting for my first class to start. So much to tell!. This is a beautiful town but all hills. I am exhausted from dragging my bag and Seymour up the hills to find my room.
This is where part of New Moon was filmed. I will post pictures later. We just finished our placement test for class and I could not answer one question. I have never turned in a blank test before!
My host family is very nice but speaks no English. She has a dog and Seymour kinda gets along with him. He does growl and bark some. We'll see if that works out. Since there seems to be no A/C here, people leave their windows open all the time so it is very noisy. I am definitely outside of my comfort zone, but that is good for me.
Somehow I left my jeans at the hotel in Rome. How does one not see a pair of jeans? I will probably have to buy some clothes for summer because long sleeves won't cut it. Did I say it is HOT?? caldo ??
OK, we have a break now so I am going to find a grocery store to get Seymour some food.
More later
This is where part of New Moon was filmed. I will post pictures later. We just finished our placement test for class and I could not answer one question. I have never turned in a blank test before!
My host family is very nice but speaks no English. She has a dog and Seymour kinda gets along with him. He does growl and bark some. We'll see if that works out. Since there seems to be no A/C here, people leave their windows open all the time so it is very noisy. I am definitely outside of my comfort zone, but that is good for me.
Somehow I left my jeans at the hotel in Rome. How does one not see a pair of jeans? I will probably have to buy some clothes for summer because long sleeves won't cut it. Did I say it is HOT?? caldo ??
OK, we have a break now so I am going to find a grocery store to get Seymour some food.
More later
Saturday, September 3, 2011
First Full Day in Rome
This morning I had breakfast at the hotel. Seymour wasn't allowed in the restaurant so we sat outside. The weather was fine for eating outside. I fed Seymour some of the meat from the buffet and as usual he liked the spicy sausage best. I loved the crusty rolls they serve and will be eating many on this trip. The buffet was a bit expensive at 14 euros but I'm getting to expect that, at least around Rome and the other big cities. It will be interesting to see if prices are cheaper in the smaller villages.
We had to get to the train station to purchase a train ticket to Chiusi-Chianciano for tomorrow morning. It took a train and a subway to get to the train station but this time we got a small map of the stops from the hotel. I could have used that last night!
Here is Seymour waiting for the train.
And here is one of the trains. Many are filled with graffiti. I like the graffiti on the trains but not so much on many of the buildings.
I read a travel guide about how to purchase tickets using the automated machine and that worked well. I upgraded to 1st class at a total cost of 22.5 euros vs 17 euros - mainly because I am really hoping for A/C. I'm on a quest! I am tired of dripping! Our train leaves at 8:22 am so I have already asked for a wake up call for 6 am. There was one good result in not sleeping for the past 24 hours, I acclimated to the time change pretty well. Now I'm just always tired.
Seymour and I wandered around the train station and stopped at McDonalds for a grande Coke which cost 2.2 euros, or approximately $3.00 and it wasn't as "grande" as the ones we get back home. Not really complaining just sharing the prices over here. The bargain was the 24 hour transportation pass at 4 euros. You can use any of the intercity trains, subways or buses as often as you want within 24 hours. It will still be good tomorrow morning to get us to the train station. BTW, the train station is like a mall. Two stories of shops.
We then went to the Colosseo stop on the subway and when you get off you are right across from the Colosseum. It is so awesome to see.
And here is tourist Seymour posing as usual.
I really wanted to go to the Trevi Fountain again but didn't have the energy to do it. Hopefully we will go when we end up in Rome at the end of our stay. I always loved the old movie "Three Coins in a Fountain" and it was this fountain that was featured.
I found a grocery store so took Seymour back to the hotel and went to get some goodies - crusty bread, cheese, chocolate, cookies - and dog food. Obviously, I didn't need anything else for lunch or dinner today!
I have felt very safe here. I think it helps to have Seymour. First, they don't know if he is a mean dog (yep, he'll lick you to death) and second most people seem to be dog lovers so they have a soft spot for him.
Luckily Seymour doesn't know how long he'll be on this trip because he seems to want to get home. He jumps up on me and when I ask if he wants to go for a walk, he runs back into his crate - he wants to go alright and he is willing to suffer another 16 hours in his crate to get home. Hopefully he will get along with the dog we are going to live with for a month and he'll be happy again. Or the dogs won't get along and we will be staying in an apartment and eating the Italian version of Ramen Noodles for a month.
We are off to Montepulciano tomorrow to meet that dog - and his owner. I will talk to Seymour about being on his best behavior.
We had to get to the train station to purchase a train ticket to Chiusi-Chianciano for tomorrow morning. It took a train and a subway to get to the train station but this time we got a small map of the stops from the hotel. I could have used that last night!
Here is Seymour waiting for the train.
And here is one of the trains. Many are filled with graffiti. I like the graffiti on the trains but not so much on many of the buildings.
I read a travel guide about how to purchase tickets using the automated machine and that worked well. I upgraded to 1st class at a total cost of 22.5 euros vs 17 euros - mainly because I am really hoping for A/C. I'm on a quest! I am tired of dripping! Our train leaves at 8:22 am so I have already asked for a wake up call for 6 am. There was one good result in not sleeping for the past 24 hours, I acclimated to the time change pretty well. Now I'm just always tired.
Seymour and I wandered around the train station and stopped at McDonalds for a grande Coke which cost 2.2 euros, or approximately $3.00 and it wasn't as "grande" as the ones we get back home. Not really complaining just sharing the prices over here. The bargain was the 24 hour transportation pass at 4 euros. You can use any of the intercity trains, subways or buses as often as you want within 24 hours. It will still be good tomorrow morning to get us to the train station. BTW, the train station is like a mall. Two stories of shops.
We then went to the Colosseo stop on the subway and when you get off you are right across from the Colosseum. It is so awesome to see.
And here is tourist Seymour posing as usual.
I really wanted to go to the Trevi Fountain again but didn't have the energy to do it. Hopefully we will go when we end up in Rome at the end of our stay. I always loved the old movie "Three Coins in a Fountain" and it was this fountain that was featured.
I found a grocery store so took Seymour back to the hotel and went to get some goodies - crusty bread, cheese, chocolate, cookies - and dog food. Obviously, I didn't need anything else for lunch or dinner today!
I have felt very safe here. I think it helps to have Seymour. First, they don't know if he is a mean dog (yep, he'll lick you to death) and second most people seem to be dog lovers so they have a soft spot for him.
Luckily Seymour doesn't know how long he'll be on this trip because he seems to want to get home. He jumps up on me and when I ask if he wants to go for a walk, he runs back into his crate - he wants to go alright and he is willing to suffer another 16 hours in his crate to get home. Hopefully he will get along with the dog we are going to live with for a month and he'll be happy again. Or the dogs won't get along and we will be staying in an apartment and eating the Italian version of Ramen Noodles for a month.
We are off to Montepulciano tomorrow to meet that dog - and his owner. I will talk to Seymour about being on his best behavior.
We Made It To Italy!
What an experience already! The good news is that Seymour traveled like a trouper. He was in his travel crate for over 16 hours due to plane delays and never made a peep or had an accident. We had about 10 minutes to spare in Paris and I headed to the restroom, put out the pee pad, put him on the floor and said "pee". I guess he had performance anxiety and nothing happened. Anyway, he finally got back to normal once we got to the hotel.
Now for the rest of the story. All planes were full. Seymour's crate didn't fit under the seat in any plane but it was worse in the plane to Paris. No one seemed to care. I had an aisle seat but the speaker for the TV's was under the seat in front of me so I had to change to a middle seat to be able to get him part way under the seat. So, for over 8 hours my legs were cramped and constricted. I couldn't sleep so about 3 am (our time) I found an episode of Glee on their TV. I started watching it and about 10 min. into it the flight attendant came and turned it off saying "sorry". I am thinking there was a "lights out" thing going on. So I sat and tried to sleep until "lights on" came about 5:30 am.
Once we got to Rome I saw no signs for going through security or showing passports, etc. I finally asked someone and he sent me through a door that just took me outside. So, no one looked at Seymour's paperwork or my passport. Now I'm worried that when we go to leave they are going to ask how we got into the country!
I then followed the train signs, coming back to where I started 3 times and again had to ask for directions. Now, remember I'm trying to keep my spending to a minimum so I decided to take the train instead of a taxi that would have cost close to $100. After hours of walking I got to the train station and bought my ticket for 8 euros. That was the cost of both trains going one way. There were no signs showing which train I needed to take, so again I asked for help. I knew I had to get my ticket stamped before I got on the train, so I put it into the machine and it got stuck. After much time trying to stick things into the machine a man who worked there opened the machine to get to out.
Finally we were on the train and I had no map but looked at each stop. When it seemed that I had been riding a LONG time I asked someone where my stop was located and found I had missed it! I had to get off the train, go up and down stairs (I carried Seymour and my bag up and down more stairs than I thought I could ever climb) and I got to the right platform. Now my train ticket was no longer legal but I didn't care. I just wanted to find the right stop this time. Making a long story a bit shorter, People who only spoke a little English really helped me out. They directed me when to get off the train, how to find my next train and how to read the train maps. By this time it was 11 pm and dark and I still had to find my hotel when I got off the train. My trusty GPS got me there!!
Thanks to my sister, we are staying for 2 nights at a Marriott in Rome. I totally forot that in many hotels here the electric or A/C only works when you put your room key into the slot in your room. After stumbling in the dark for awhile I did remember that. It is hot here and I would gladly trade 2 of my long sleeved shirts for a fan. I have spent more time dripping sweat than anything else. I wouldn't be surprised if people didn't take pictures of "the profusely sweating woman" to show their surprised friends at home.
As to Seymour, he was a bit mad at me for awhile - wouldn't come out of his crate and when he was in it he layed with his butt to me. He has now forgiven me and we have taken a few walks around the hotel. I took him down to breakfast and fed him some meat and he is back in his crate waiting for our next walk.
Although every part of my body is yelling "no", I plan to take the train and subway into Rome to check out the sites. We do have a view of St Peter's church from my balcony, which is nice.
I am hoping to figure out how to take videos and put photos on my blog using my iPad. I just found out that there is an app you can use to upload pics into a blog since the iPad doesn't work with google to all that right now. So it looks pretty blurry but this is the view from my balcony. That is St Peters' in the middle. Also, please ignore the typos. I see them but can't figure out how to fix them. I guess I should have tried blogging on my iPad before I left home!
More tonight
Now for the rest of the story. All planes were full. Seymour's crate didn't fit under the seat in any plane but it was worse in the plane to Paris. No one seemed to care. I had an aisle seat but the speaker for the TV's was under the seat in front of me so I had to change to a middle seat to be able to get him part way under the seat. So, for over 8 hours my legs were cramped and constricted. I couldn't sleep so about 3 am (our time) I found an episode of Glee on their TV. I started watching it and about 10 min. into it the flight attendant came and turned it off saying "sorry". I am thinking there was a "lights out" thing going on. So I sat and tried to sleep until "lights on" came about 5:30 am.
Once we got to Rome I saw no signs for going through security or showing passports, etc. I finally asked someone and he sent me through a door that just took me outside. So, no one looked at Seymour's paperwork or my passport. Now I'm worried that when we go to leave they are going to ask how we got into the country!
I then followed the train signs, coming back to where I started 3 times and again had to ask for directions. Now, remember I'm trying to keep my spending to a minimum so I decided to take the train instead of a taxi that would have cost close to $100. After hours of walking I got to the train station and bought my ticket for 8 euros. That was the cost of both trains going one way. There were no signs showing which train I needed to take, so again I asked for help. I knew I had to get my ticket stamped before I got on the train, so I put it into the machine and it got stuck. After much time trying to stick things into the machine a man who worked there opened the machine to get to out.
Finally we were on the train and I had no map but looked at each stop. When it seemed that I had been riding a LONG time I asked someone where my stop was located and found I had missed it! I had to get off the train, go up and down stairs (I carried Seymour and my bag up and down more stairs than I thought I could ever climb) and I got to the right platform. Now my train ticket was no longer legal but I didn't care. I just wanted to find the right stop this time. Making a long story a bit shorter, People who only spoke a little English really helped me out. They directed me when to get off the train, how to find my next train and how to read the train maps. By this time it was 11 pm and dark and I still had to find my hotel when I got off the train. My trusty GPS got me there!!
Thanks to my sister, we are staying for 2 nights at a Marriott in Rome. I totally forot that in many hotels here the electric or A/C only works when you put your room key into the slot in your room. After stumbling in the dark for awhile I did remember that. It is hot here and I would gladly trade 2 of my long sleeved shirts for a fan. I have spent more time dripping sweat than anything else. I wouldn't be surprised if people didn't take pictures of "the profusely sweating woman" to show their surprised friends at home.
As to Seymour, he was a bit mad at me for awhile - wouldn't come out of his crate and when he was in it he layed with his butt to me. He has now forgiven me and we have taken a few walks around the hotel. I took him down to breakfast and fed him some meat and he is back in his crate waiting for our next walk.
Although every part of my body is yelling "no", I plan to take the train and subway into Rome to check out the sites. We do have a view of St Peter's church from my balcony, which is nice.
I am hoping to figure out how to take videos and put photos on my blog using my iPad. I just found out that there is an app you can use to upload pics into a blog since the iPad doesn't work with google to all that right now. So it looks pretty blurry but this is the view from my balcony. That is St Peters' in the middle. Also, please ignore the typos. I see them but can't figure out how to fix them. I guess I should have tried blogging on my iPad before I left home!
More tonight
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Last Minute Preparations for Italy
I am still doing last minute packing and trying to figure out how to get everything into my carry-on. It wasn't hard to get the clothes I wanted to bring into my suitcase but my electronics, plugs, adaptors and misc. stuff is not working out as well. I'm just hoping they don't tell me that I have to check my bag. It will defeat the whole purpose of packing light!
But I wanted to share a couple home made things I'm bringing. One is a clothes line. Yes, they sell things like this but why pay the high price? I had a lot of elastic hair bands that I make into my own clothes line. I tried it out in my bathroom. Not bad, if I do say so myself!
I also wanted more secret pockets, so using what I had in the house, I sewed a little change purse into Seymour's sling. I was afraid it would be like the Princess and the Pea, and he would find it uncomfortable to sleep on it. I am using it as an extra blanket in his crate to save room and to give himn something soft to sleep on in the plane. As you can see from the 2 pictures, it is not so secret since the stitches show on the outside, but hopefully it will work.
OK, time to get back to the packing.
And as usual, Seymour is sleeping.
But I wanted to share a couple home made things I'm bringing. One is a clothes line. Yes, they sell things like this but why pay the high price? I had a lot of elastic hair bands that I make into my own clothes line. I tried it out in my bathroom. Not bad, if I do say so myself!
I also wanted more secret pockets, so using what I had in the house, I sewed a little change purse into Seymour's sling. I was afraid it would be like the Princess and the Pea, and he would find it uncomfortable to sleep on it. I am using it as an extra blanket in his crate to save room and to give himn something soft to sleep on in the plane. As you can see from the 2 pictures, it is not so secret since the stitches show on the outside, but hopefully it will work.
OK, time to get back to the packing.
And as usual, Seymour is sleeping.
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