The Update

Well I'm in the home stretch here, today marks 40 days until I touchdown back in the States.  Since we got back from Milan, the weather has been really cold (in the 50-60s).  We just had our heat turned on this weekend because it is monitored by the government.  They control the time it goes on (3 times a day) and the temperature it is set at (20 degrees Celsius which is about 68 degrees Fahrenheit).  So its often warmer outside that it is in our apartment, therefore we are usually dressed up to go outside even when we're just staying in.

I had a great time celebrating my birthday in Italy, it is definitely a memory that I won't forget.  Thanks to all those who sent me birthday cards in the mail.  For those of you who haven't seen me in awhile, I'm including this ridiculous birthday picture of me, so laugh your hearts out!  Can't wait to see everyone at Christmas!

Milano....the equivilency of Beverly Hills

Last weekend we went to Milan, which is like the Beverly Hills of Italy.  The whole weekend was really cold and rainy but we still had an enjoyable time.  On Friday night our whole studio went out to celebrate my birthday the Italian way.  

 Milan's Cathedral.  This church is insane!

Some of the prettiest stained glass I have ever seen in a church

 The high alter area in the Cathedral.

 Bocconi University.  A research university of business, economics, and law.

 Price Waterhouse Coopers.  An accounting and Marketing Company.

Milan's one and only skyscraper.

 Armani Headquarters

Just in case you want to drop 50 euro on a cappuccino GUCCI has a cafe for that.

 Should have just bought a car!

Maserati anyone?

Viaje de descanso a medio plazo para Barcelona

The week of October 15, we had midterms.  Some people call it hell week...lots of sleepless nights but thank God for espresso!  We flew out of Italy for the weekend to Barcelona, Spain.  I really loved Barcelona and it was a nice reward after midterms.  Take a look at what we did!

 We rented bikes and rode around.  It was a great way to view the city!

Some interesting trees down a side street.

Got our first dose of Starbucks.  Italy doesn't have them anywhere.

 The front of Sagrada Familia.  Transformed by Gaudi in the late 1800s, and still remains incomplete today due to lack of private funding and some of the most challenging parts remaining.

 The back of Sagrada Familia

The full back of Sagrada Familia

One night we went to a dinner and dance show.  The Spanish Flamenco is a traditional Spanish step dance with music.  It was amazing how fast they can move their feet.

Park Güell a garden designed by Gaudi.  One of the largest in Southern Europe.

 Looking down at the entrance to the park.

 The park is full of mosaic tile work.

 A view overlooking the city of Barcelona.

 The Barcelona Pavilion designed by Mies van der Rohe for the 1929 International Exposition for the Germans.

Barcelona at night.

Day Trip to Siena

On October 5, we had our trip to Siena for the day.  It's just a small town on a series of three hills.  There's not a whole lot here and it wasn't one of my favorite cities, but the Cathedral is one of a kind.

 The front facade of the Siena Cathedral.  This is Gothic Architecture at its finest (Architecture that has a  strong use of decor/ornamentation).

 The inside of the Cathedral.  Every square inch is full or decoration.  This is the most heavily decorated church in all of Europe.

 The tile work on the floor is art.  Going through was like a corn maze.

 The dome at the top.

 Piazza del Campo, one of the largest open Piazza's.  Once a year people crowd this piazza to watch a horse race.  People fill the middle and the outside ring becomes the track.

This is how the Piazza looks during the horse race.

 Palazzo Pubblico, the house of the Republican Government of Siena.  You can go up in the tower to view the city.

The Siena Cathedral from the Palazzo Pubblico Tower.