The one with water

Water, I find, is an interesting topic of contemplation when in Italy. There are fountains running without fail, many of which are based on aqueducts which are centuries old -- over a millennia old really -- & they provide a constant supply of one of the most crisp waters you'll ever taste. Simultaneously, while showering & without notable cause the water will slow to no more than a drip for several long & cold seconds. The temperature likewise, seems to change at its own accord. I suppose it's one of those funny quirks about Italy: that while the ancient operates perfectly the modern falters, it seems to be a common theme here.

The one with mercato centrale

I recently visited Firenze, my favorite Italian city. The moment I stepped off the train at the San Maria Novella train station a smile took hold of my face, I instantly felt as though I was where I was supposed to be. I did; however, have to continuously remind myself to slow down as I walked through the city the first day. Life is so rushed normally, as Americans we go at a rapid pace & always have somewhere to be or something to be doing. I reminded myself several times that I had no agenda, & consciously slowed my step to the Italian lifestyle. Taking the time to take in & enjoy the city brought me much balance, I felt more aware, more alive, than I have in quite a while. One of my first stops walking around Firenze was my favorite spot: il mercato centrale. This is the central market, an indoor fresh market which I used to visit daily for my fresh fruit, produce, & bread.

It's within the area of San Lorenzo, & was constructed there as the Florentine population was growing in order to serve as the largest indoor fresh market. Sadly, as supermarkets made their way into Italian society, the use of the market declined; however, tourism as well as Florentines still living in the center have kept the market alive & active. The top section of the market was supposed to reflect that of a train station, there are huge windows lined with red metal & a green sky-lit roof; very sadly, the top portion of the market is currently being restored, but I look forward to the day I go back & it's open, beautiful as ever. The products here are so fresh, so delicious, it's nearly unbelievable: our American produce doesn't hold the slightest flame to it.

Walking through il mercato makes anyone hungry, the smell & look of all the fresh food is so inviting. Here are some pictures I took while strolling through.

I got dried fruit nearly daily when I visited, the Mele (apple) & Kiwi were my favorite!

As Americans, generally ignorant that our meat is part of what was a living animal, are generally scieved out at the display of whole or non-disguised animals. Pear & Pecorino Ravioli, absolutely Delicious!!

Sadly, the fruit vendor I used to go to was on the upper level & I consequently couldn't find him. While I lived in Florence, he would remember who I was, what I usually bought, & would throw in fruits I hadn't bought for me to try. One of my favorites was the little orange shown below. They're green on the outside during the fall, but turn orange during the winter. They're perfectly orange on the inside & slightly sour; they're my favorite orange in the world, & I was glad another vendor carried them.

The one with Starbucks

What is it about Starbucks which fuels my LOVE.....Is it the intoxicating smell of the best espresso west of Italy roasting as I walk in, the unmistakable relaxing decor, the brilliantly strong integrity of the brand, or the friendly & knowledgeable Barista? I honestly believe it's a combination of it all; that unique experience I can get only at Starbucks!

My obsession (note the bumper sticker I received above) is to the point that at the Starbucks near work, they begin making my latte when they see me walking through the door. Half of the staff knows me & EXACTLY what I get, since I come on a daily basis, & 90% of the time, get the same thing. What is that you may ask? A Tall Skim Latte....perfect espresso & steamed milk, it is beautiful. The strong robust espresso tasting subtly of oak & chocolate with a slight fruitiness which reminds me of Italy. One of my favorite Da Vinci quotes goes "Simplicity is the ultimate Sophistication", that theory comes through here as well as in other aspects of my life.

A cafe I frequented in Florence, Moyo, always served their latte with some fun design such as this & a small chocolate-covered hazelnut

Simply needing my caffeine fix every afternoon does not fully explain my addiction. To continue, I signed up last year for the Starbucks MyRewards. This originally meant that I used a gift card which was registered online to get a "star" every time I purchased. After 60 stars, I was upgraded to the Gold level: read free Birthday drink, free trials, a free drink every additional 15 stars, & a Gold card with my name engraved upon it!! But was that enough? Oh no, I also discovered that my Blackberry had a "Starbucks Card Mobile" Application. This fun little toy allows me to view my rewards, my card balance, reload my card based on debit cards I have stored within the app, & even pay at Starbucks locations within Target stores. If Starbucks' espresso was available via intravenous drip....I'd take it! I am certifiably hooked, I know this, & accept it.

This was posted on the Facebook "Starbucks" fan-page, better believe when I have children they will be dressed as this!

This is not however, a blind addiction. Before I became the Starbucks-crazed-woman I am today, I was an infrequent patron, & read the book "Pour Your Heart Into It". This is a book written by Howard Schultz, the owner of Starbucks, which illuminates the essence of Starbucks from a single shot of espresso, to each store, to the international Brand. I read this book while studying for my undergrad in International Business & Marketing; we had to choose from a list a book to read, & I jumped from my seat when I saw this one. It's a fantastic book which dives not into the marketing or business side, but rather into the Starbucks Brand, its roots, its integrity, its vision. I developed a respect & affinity towards Starbucks which was only reinforced as I continued to study it. If you want to know anything from a basic FAQ, to their current specials & nutrition, to a full history, or what their consumers are saying about them, visit their website. Starbucks.com is fully encompassing in every sense.

When I get a chance to use an example of CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility), I usually choose Starbucks. So many people criticized them when they began closing over a thousands locations nationwide; however, I was thoroughly impressed. Starbucks believed that they were losing quality control, which wasn't something they were willing to sacrifice; they closed all those stores, took tens of thousands of lost profits simply to protect the strength of their brand! What stronger show of integrity is there? Another Example I particularly like is the campaign they sponsored for Earth Day 2010. A few weeks beforehand, they asked people to "pledge" on the website the number of disposable cups they would save weekly by using reusable cups when they went to Starbucks (which also gets you a $0.10 discount). After you pledged, they showed you how many trees you would save yearly if you followed-through. Having one latte a day, I had the potential to save 7 trees. (!!!) I immediately went to buy my reusable mugs & have been using them since. I forget what the pledge Total was by Earth Day; however, in 2009, Starbucks served 26.3 Million drinks in reusable mugs -- that's quite impressive.

Another feat of integrity which is Love, is that no matter what Starbucks you go to, you will get the same drink which you know & love, hand made exactly the same way. I'm not just speaking about within the US either. I've been to Starbucks in London, Barcelona, Paris, Madrid, & Prague, as well as countless cities around the US, & I have yet to be disappointed once. The exciting thing too is that while all the drinks are the same, & the decor is unmistakably familiar, each countrie's Starbucks has their own colloquial pastries & goodies. There have been discussions on the forums to bring special items from other countries to our domestic Starbucks, & I sincerely hope they do, it's one of my favorite parts of trying international Starbucks\....well that & the simple trill of seeing Starbucks there!

Starbucks in Barcelona

I could go on for hours about my devotion to Starbucks, but I hardly believe that would be fitting. Let me know your thoughts on the brand, & of course any points of discussion would be highly encouraged!

The one in Malta

Three years ago to the day I spent my friend Sari's 20Th birthday celebrating in the historic city of Valletta, Malta. Malta is a small island nation between Italy and Northern Africa, the national languages are English and Maltese which is a hybrid of Italian and Arabic; we were there on our October break from College.


I was enchanted by Malta from the very first moment we walked out of the airport. It is a country of sandstone; it seems as though it was completely disconnected from our society of high technology & constant contact, as though it was lost in time. We were driven in an old shaking-cab to our hotel through Northern African-feeling streets surrounded by gorgeous Baroque and Neo-classical buildings. I felt so out of my element, & I couldn't have loved it more!

This is a view of Valletta from the Lower Barrakka Gardens; specifically, on the right is the Memorial Siege Bell. The left is a view of the harbor & that incredible blue water! At the Memorial Siege Bell was a beautiful monument to all the fallen soldiers of WWII. A plaque read:

"At the going down of the Sun

And in the morning we will remember them"

This is a line from Laurence Binyon's "For the Fallen" which is a beautiful & tragic eulogy which everyone should read! (Not being subtle, click the link, then come back to finish this!)

We went to a beach at Xemxija Bay (Also known as St. James Bay) which was your typical beach -- sunny, sandy, clear water, relaxing -- but Malta also had beaches like I'd never seen before!

Across from our Hotel outside of Valletta, in Sliema, were the beaches pictured above. It is one massive rock which the waves beat over & into. I had never, nor have I since seen anything like it. As college students we did the only thing which seemed right: we ran onto them! We hopped over the rocks and into the pools which were created from thousands of years of water washing over the marble smooth rocks. The waves crashed around us & we screamed with delight as the warm water washed around our legs. It was unbelievable, I felt so alive!

We (Lauren, Myself, & Sari as pictured above) went to get our favorite books, & sat a for a few hours reading, soaking in the sun & the sound of the waves crashing, as well as that incredible view. It's a unique memory which I would love to go back to; you should definitely consider it for your bucket list!

The next day we took a day-trip to the Medieval city of Mdina, in the center of Malta. It was an hour-long bus trip through the heart of the country which in & of itself was such a perspective change. The countryside was fields & fields of barren land, inhabited only by stone walls & cacti.

What buildings we did see were far off & bunched tightly together -- one of the things you see in very 'warm' cultures. Mdina is a walled city which is believed to have been founded in 700BC!! It had the same sandstone colored walls, buildings, & even bridges which the whole country seemed to be built of. There was even a bridge with a gate to get in! I was enthralled! Walking down the tiny streets seemed as though we were in a dream, we all stayed quite as though we may wake the sleeping city. The streets were all small, each building touched--connected to one another, & lamps on wrought iron extended above the doors. Stone balconies hung high above our heads, & vines ripe with flowers clung to the walls.

We passed a small jewelry store, & couldn't help but go in. After speaking to the lovely owner for some time, I had set my eye on what I would find out was the Maltese Cross. This is a very recognized symbol for Malta, which can also be found on the Maltese Euro; though when we were in Malta, they still had the Maltese Lira, which were so incredibly deflated that it cost about 10 Lira for a dinner out for three - including wine! The Maltese Cross, she told me, is said to symbolize the eight points of courage for the Maltese Knight:

Bravery

Contempt of death

Generosity

Glory & honor

Helpfulness towards the poor & the sick

Loyalty

Piety

Respect for the Church

I Loved the idea, & bought myself a white gold & crystal necklace which I still wear on a regular basis; it's delicate & meaningful, my favorite style!

We continued to wander through the city, & eventually came upon the boundaries of the city: a tall wall which dropped abruptly about 100 ft and looked over the countryside towards Valletta. Naturally we climbed up to see the view!

It was breathtaking. I believe we sat for 10 minutes without uttering a syllable....then we started speaking & didn't stop until the after the sun went down. Staring out at the iconic countryside, speaking with your friends, enjoying the sun & breeze -- it was perfect. We didn't even realize how much time had gone by until suddenly we saw the lights of Valletta off to the left. Our trip to Malta was filled with unreal moments, & realizations about what friendship is.

Memories with friends are timeless & impossible to put a price on -- cherish yours!

The one with Firenze

I am so excited at this moment! My cousin (who's a sophomore in college) just called me to let me know that he has decided where to study abroad next year: Italy -- Florence! For those of you who don't know, I studied & lived in the heart of Firenze for two semesters (a collaborative 10 months), it's relatively unprecedented as most study-abroad students only go for one semester -- it simply never crossed my mind to choose one!

This being said, it's a very bitter-sweet moment. Sono inamorato con (I am in LOVE with) Firenze to an extent I cannot begin to explain; I feel as though the city is a part of me, the culture, the very stones which make up the ancient buildings acknowledge me as if to say "you're finally here". Due to this adoration, I am both excited to share my understanding of the city, culture, & experiance as wel as all the best restaurants with him, while simultaneously I feel a twang or remorse & jealousy that he'll be there & I will not.


I will live in Florence one day, but until then, it is the pain of being separated from a loved one which I feel when I think of mia Firenze.

Here are some of my favoriet memories/places of the city:

One of my favorite pictures from my entire travels! These are my roomates from 2nd semester, we were on the way back from clubbing to our apartment, & I learned a really cool trick about the Duomo from a guy I knew, so I HAD to show my friends (can figure it out?) Kristen (my love on far right) asked a passer-by to take this picture -- I'm dead center, the only one in a dress :)

The picture above on the left is of a "la Pieta" on Via di Greci, which was directly adjacent to Via di Benci where my apartment was. In addtion, one night/morning when we were out particularly late, we decided to hop over the Arno which was just down our street, & walk up to Piazza Michelangelo to watch the sunrise. The picture to the right is what I got on the walk back across the Arno -- Perfetto!

I because accustomed to waking to rining bells from the nearby Santa Croce, Basilica San Maria del Fiori, & the numerous other churches close-by; when paired with the sweet smells of espresso & cornetti drifting on the air, it couldn't have been more picturesque!

Ponte Vecchio -- the only post-WWII bridge in the city -- timeless

Directly across from my apartment was one of the most popular bars at the time, "The Red Garter" upon walking in, you'd see the sign above. We were the neighbors, we Loved them! <3>

My sister came to visit me, & one night I took her first to The Red Gater, and then after with the owner of the Red Garter, we went to a place which if I'm remembering correctly was called "The Red Dragon" nothing compared to the underground club "Blob", but it was still a cool little late-night bar, where -- as is aparent from the picture above -- my sister & Francesco kicked my ass in pool.

A night out in Florence would not be complete without a stop to the "Secret Bakery". There were several around the city; they were bakeries which baked during the night for the many small bars (coffee spots) around the city, they were open between 2-4 in the morning to sell hot Cornetti, Pizza, & other fabulous late-night food. You could only find out about them if a local told you where to find them: Thank God I had lots of Florentine friends, because there could not have been a more perfect end to my nights!

Clubbing in Florence was like nothing else! The night life was part of the culture, so in the spirit of cultral integration, we went out...A LOT! Above to the left is a picture of my friend G & I at Twice, he promoted it, so we were there before that party started. To the right are my roomies Erin, Lauren, & I at Astor, which was a popular bar during my 1st semester in Florence. Space, YAB, Maracana, Full UP, Central, The Lion's Fountain also topped my list of fav fab places to go!

Finally, I cannot speak about the places I love in mia Firenze without including Piazza Signoria! Above is a picture I took of Cellini's "Perseus Slaying Medusa". I walked through Piazza Signoria half a dozen times every single day -- easily. During the evning, you would walk through to see groups of friends meeting up & congregating while musicians played under the arches of the Galleria degli Uffizi. The melodies would articulate eloquently through the piazza & we would grab a gelato before sitting around the statues of the Renaissance to listen & chat quietly.

My cousin is coming home next weekend & I don't know if it's myself or him who's more excited to speak about everything! I hope to teach him helpful phrases which will help him in everything from ordering in a restaurant, to getting a drink, to grocery shopping, to silly little idioms. I'll joyfully share my Florence-street-savy with him & look forward to the next time I'm in "my city"; perhaps that will be visiting him!

Piu di qualcosa, mi lamento il sole Italiano.