When in Rome.....and Florence....

We arrived in Rome just in time literally they said 12:30 to 7, we were there at 7, to meet up with our program at the hotel and find out where we were living in Florence and what classes we were taking. Cooking classes, wine tasting, pizza making classes, dinner with Italians, and an Italian ballet were some of the activities we signed up for also during orientation which are throughout the month. After and large Italian buffet (yum) and a game of Phase 10, or what some people called Italian Uno, with another fellow Aggie it was off to bed in Roma. At orientation the next day we learned more about our program and then hopped on a bus to Florence. The drive on the way was beautiful and filled with hills, trees, and lots of gorgeous tuscan houses and rooftops scattered throughout. We finally started to realize, we were indeed in Italy. WHOOP!! After settling into our apartment and carrying all the luggage up the stairs....that was fun, we decided to explore Florence a little and eat our first Florentine meal on the river. We quickly learned that Italians have a lot of different eating happens then the U.S. including wine and taking there time. hahaha So after a 3 hour meal complete with wine, two courses, coffee, and dessert we added another reason to why we love Florence!! Today we went on a guided tour to the Galleria dell' Accademia and the Galleria delgli Uffizi with one of the art history professors at our school. We got to lots of art, but the highlights were the David sculpture by Michaelangelo and famous paintings like The Birth of Venus. After the tour and a bite to eat at a pizzeria we explored and shopped around the river scoping out what was there and how cheap we could get it, mentally storing things we needed before we left. haha Back to the books tomorrow for us. But hopefully it won't be too bad...I mean its Florence right....hahaha! Photography and Style and Culture for Brittni and Heather, Italian and Style and Culture of Italy for Stephanie, and Drawing and Style and Culture of Italy for Hannah. Goodnight from Firenze!! We will keep you posted on how it goes! Goodnight from Firenze, CIAO!!

Across the Pond

Our summer adventure began with a stop in London. After meeting Brittni at Heathrow and minding the gap on the tube we checked into our hostel and off we went.  After dropping off our luggage, we were off to Trafalgar Square where we took multiple photoshoots by lions, fountain, and statues oh my and some shopping on the side. And don't worry we found multiple coffee shops on the way to keep us awake the whole day. Tuesday we woke up bright and early and  planned for a quick ride on the tube, but it was closed due to the dead body found.....hahaha so instead a couple buses. We hit up the British museum, tower of London (saw the jewels and King Henry VII's armor!), and saw Wicked complete with British accents. Next day we went on the Aggie owned and operated Fat Bike tours, which included cute tour guys (one an Aggie!! WHOOP! BowWowChickaBowWowChickaBowWow) and Kensington Palace, Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace, Prince Albert statue, Prince Charles's Pad, Princess Diana memorial, Parliament, Westiminster Abbey, James Bond's birthplace, the site of the London Olympics,  and basically the whole city. And to top if off we wearing really cute clear rain ponchos and it rained the entire time. But it was awesome and we loved every minute of it, sign us up for Paris!! After drying off and finally getting some food, cause we forgot money on the tour, (oops...haha) we went to Harrods and the London Eye, which is the biggest ferris wheel in the world and we could see 20 miles each direction of London!! BEAUTIFUL!! The next day we went on a tour around London with AIFS then explored the Westminister Abbey, Kennsington Palace and the rose gardens of Hyde Park. We dined at the Texas Embassy (twice) hahaha snacking on chips and salsa and margaritas!! We also got great and cheap seats that night to the Phantom of the Opera, which was outstanding!! London overall was awesome and now we our on way to Italy!! CIAO!!