My Life In Italy: If Looks Could Kill

OK, I admit that my blogging consistency is horrific and I do apologize to anyone who actually cares enough to read it lol.

In case anyone has yet to notice, I haven’t died from hypothermia!!! I can’t say we had much of a spring either since it jumped from -5 to 12 to 20 in the span of a little under 2 weeks. I’m definitely not complaining since it’s been about 18 and sunny for the past 3 weeks. This seems to have gone completely unnoticed by the locals… apparently 20 and sunny is still not good enough to leave your fur jacket, hat, and mitts at home! I wasn’t even going to attempt wearing flip-flops this early in case they sent a lynch mob after me.

I love this country, but sometimes I just can’t get used to the staring!!! Their ability to stare and gawk for an unnervingly rude length of time could be an Olympic sport. I often have to glance at myself in a passing reflection to double check that it’s not because I forgot to put my pants on. The worst part is that they don’t even stop once I’ve given them my sharpest “you better keep moving, or I will throttle you” look. It’s clearly not working. On a complete and utterly random side note, you’re allowed to bring dogs into shops and grocery stores. It kind of freaked me out the first time one of the little walking floor mops started sniffing around my feet in the produce section.

Alright, since Padova and Venice, I’ve been pretty busy with school, hanging out with friends, and settling into a schedule. The Wednesday after carnival in Padova was my good friend Antonio’s birthday. It was just he, Emily, and I for the celebrations since everyone else had exams. We met for a few drinks near Piazza Bra. Since we were the only customers in the joint, Antonio suggested a nice bar that wasn’t too far from where we were. It could have been my state of euphoria over discovering the All You Can Eat Sushi restaurant right next to the bar (not too far from my house), but I was apparently incapable of putting 2 and 2 together lol. I thought I was just being funny as Antonio laughed when I said it was quite the “sausage fest.” It took me another 10 minutes to realize it was a gay bar. Sneaky little rascal. We had a really great time with definitely lots of laughs!

Birthday boy Antonio & Emmy

A few days later, Marion’s friend Niall came for a visit and we spent the day showing him around Verona. We walked up Castel San Pietro since it was a perfect and sunny day. We had panzerotti (like a deep fried calzone) for lunch and then ate gelato in front of the ancient Roman arena. That night we discovered a pool hall, and thus have added it to our poker nights. That weekend me, Chris and Anna went to a city a little ways south called Bologna. We were really there for Anna to get her Macbook fixed at the only Apple store, but we decided to make a day of it! After walking the city we decided to have lunch at a real restaurant!! I had yet to eat at an actual restaurant since arriving and I decided to go all out with a steak. Well. I think any vegetarian (even a few meat lovers) would have retched at the sight. It was the most tender piece of raw beef I’ve ever seen lol. I don’t mean to be facetious but my mind was running rampant with thoughts of cannibalism. I couldn’t bare to insult the chef any further by asking to have the meat cooked a 3^rd time, so I manned up and did my best to finish it. I’m still convinced it was too tender to have been an animal…perhaps it was a chubby baby?

All kidding aside it was a nice day. Anna had a party at her flat that night and I finally got to see my love Elisa !!! Elisa is a German-Italian exchange student who spent a few months living with my family in Uxbridge back in 2008. It’s been a lonnggg time and it was so nice seeing her again. We will definitely be traveling together while I’m here!!