Trying to catch up.

Hey everyone.. Just to let you know im going to try to put different pictures on here and myspace so check both. Anyway i dont even remember where i left off.... I really have that feeling everyday that ive done more than i would in like a month in fairbanks. So I think when i left off last was the day I climbed the Duomo. Me and three of my roommates (the other three hadnt arrived yet) set off to eat. I had arrived before everyone else so already had found some interesting places and was familiar with our neighborhood. There is a tattoria on the corner from our street that sells really good pastry and piza and ive been trying to go everyday so they will get to know me. After stopping there and getting some fresh pizza with sausage we set off to see my favorite discovery, the church in the pictures i posted previously. The church faces a large very open piazza with a large man on horse statue in the middle and a couple small statues on the side. Surprisingly there is never lots of tourists there. (ive gone about 5 times. i cant get enough) The buildings left and right of the piazza have marble steps that people relax and eat on. Once youve walked through the piazza you reach large wooden doors that, when open, signify that you are allowed to enter. Inside these doors is a large room with four columns, just inside of the corners. In all four corners there are beautiful paintings that wrap around the corners. When i first came in here i thought this was all that was inside. Anyway i led my roommates to the wooden doors where i saw three obviously american ladies (a mother and two daughters that were about 25) I think im obsessed with this church beacause i just want to show it to everyone! Anyway I walked up to them and introduced myself. After talking for a little bit i told them how they had to see this church. They were interested so i showed them and my roommates to the doors. I allowed them to go in themselves so they could experience it the way i did. After they saw the church we talked to the girls and they wanted to see the duomo. We walked through the street market and went to the duomo. Our traveling partners took some time to look around the outside. We saw that tyhe line to get in was pretty small so we decided to enter. I hadnt been inside yet so i was excited. I had spent the last few days marveling at the outside and now was getting to enter. Going in was free, which surprised me. The girls had to put on paper covers because their shoulders were uncovered. As i entered i felt that feeling you get when you enter a huge open space. This was easily the biggest building that ive ever been in. Huge columns led up to the high ceilings. The walls (like everywhere in florence!) were covered in art and statue. As i walked towards the domed end i cauld a glimpse of the painting that covered the inside of the dome. It was breathtaking. People were staring up and crying. It seemed to me to be a visualization of Dantes inferno. The bottom layer was filled with gruesome images of death and pain, complete with a multi headed devil eating people.(i posted a picture in the previous blog) The top was beautiful angels and what looked to be Jesus or God. After walking around inside for a while we decided to climb to the top. We had seen people at the top previously when we only were familiar with the outside of this awe inspiring structure. (why cant we do things like this now? they didnt have cranes or machinery and they top anything ive ever seen over and over again) To climb to the top was 6 euro. We begain climbing and then we kept climbing and climbing. Along the way there were open areas with statues and metal relics. We reached a point where we walked around the bottom of the painting and i was within feet of it. Seeing it up close made me wonder how someone could come up with art like that. The detail and imagination was incredible. The top of the duomo wasnt much further. The top had people but wasnt too full. There was room to walk around and take pictures. It was cool to see florence from above. The city was much bigger than i expected. The hills were covered in castles and large, beautiful villas. After the duomo we parted ways with the ladies, who were from chicago. The next day i woke up again at about 7 (which ive been doing since i got here) You kinda have to get up early because the streets are so loud since were so close to the street market. Me and the roommates that were able to get up went to the fresh market to shop for last nights dinner. The market was a large two story building two blocks from our house. The bottom floor is full of meat, cheese, bread and other goods. The top is all veggies and fruit. Everything is brought in fresh daily. At an olive oil and vinegar booth a nice italian lady offered to let us taste some balsamic. She first gave us the regular balsamic then worked up to some that was aged 2 years, then 5, then 8, then finally 10. You can definitely tell the differnce. It was so good. Thick and kinda sweet it got better and better. We bought some. Since we are students we only got the one that was aged 5 years. We were going to make spaghetti so we bought fresh hamburger, bell pepper, feta cheese, bread, pesto, homemade noodles, onions and garlic, and a few bottles of vino (2 for 5 euro!) we also got large bushels of basil and oregano for only .70 euro each. We also got lettuce, tomatoes on the vine and some assorted cheese. The only thing not fresh was the red sauce, which came in a jar. When we arrived home we decided that me and jason (roommate from cali) would make the first dinner. We started by cutting up the garlic, (making sure to take out the bitter root) onions, bell pepper and basil. I poured some olive oil in and started cooking! We have 5 girls on the same floor as up that we can talk to through windows (including one in the kitchen) so we conversated with them while we cooked. Next we started the pasta water and put the hamburger in. While that cooked i made a salad with fresh cucumber, bell pepper, feta, vine tomatoes and ground pepper (thanks pops!) after that was done i put it in the fridge to wait. While jason was stirring the meat i cut a loaf of bread and put pesto and feta on it and set it aside, to be put in the stove when everything was almost ready. After the meat cooked through we added the redsauce, basil, oregano, a little vino and let it cook. Our stove is a gas flame range with an electric oven which seems to be typical italian, mismatched and up to no certain standard, which isnt necessarily a bad thing. While everything was being cooked we had appetizers of fresh salami, assorted cheeses with bread and olive oil and balsamic to eat. As everything was finishing up we set the table and opened some more wine. We made the salad dressing out of the excellen balsamic and great olive oil we bought at the market. It was a great feeling to sit down and eat our first meal all together, especially one that we made. All my roommates are going to cooking school and weve agreed to take turns making meals so this was only the first of many. Im excited because everyone is from different areas. Theres Jason the energetic skinny guy from Cali, theres will the hard partier (who had to get stitches already from his a drunken night) , Steele the one with the most experience and the most serious disposition who i share a room with, then theres anton whos going to berkely and is a fun guy, scott who lives in germany but is from pennsylvania, and mario who looks like jason giambi and has italian parents. Hes from new york but can read and speak italian so he helps up all often. Everyone brings something to the group and has different cooking styles we all get along and it should be a good experience. After dinner (which was very good if i dont say so myself) we went to our neighbors, the american girls, because they were lucky enough to have a nice patio to sit on. Even tho it was a simple meal it was very satisfying. Jason pulled out a nice Cuban cigar and we enjoyed that also. Great night.

Just pics..... at orientation.

I'll try to write some more tonight.... Been pretty busy climbing the duomo and shopping at the fresh market..... nothin special.Fresh food at the market.... and cheap wine. Climbing the Duomo (400 steps) was really cool.

Intense!

Wow! I feel like i've done more in these last couple days than i have in the last 3 months. I flew out of Anchorage Alaska Sunday at 1:20 pm. After a relatively easy 8 and a half hour flight ( which I got no sleep on) the fun began. First we landed in Frankfurt and waited on the tarmac while buses came to load us up and take us to the terminal. Once inside (which was full of smokers) we (my girlfriend Brittany) found our way to the baggage claim. After gathering our 300 punds of luggage we walked right through customs and up to the Eurail station, which was a huge glas and metal dome. We arrived about 5 minuted before the next train to firenze was to leave. We hurried on and settlled into some nice, big leather chairs. When the attendant came to check our tickets we found out that their were so many empty seats. We gathered all 300 punds and started the journey to the coach cart - which was only 4 cars away. After two cars of bumping into people that speak different languages than us we gave up and stood in the area where people get on and off. The first train was from frankfurt to Basel, switzerland: The thing that stuck out was how every available surface along the tracks, every wall and fence was covered in grafitti. (some of it quite good) There was even a G-Unit Germany tag. after the about 4 hour ride we arrived in basel where we switched trains. A canadian man that I had been talking too gave us a hand with the luggage and some tips on using the eurail. The next train we entered was older and much hotter than the previous. This leg of the trip was from Basel to Milano Italy. Switzerland was full of beautiful towns, homes and the greenest grass ive ever seen. I tried talking to an Italian couple and their kids but they didnt speak English and mu Italian is pretty limited. (although im pretty good with the basics now) When we arrived in Milano the Italian customs swarmed the sweltering train and stood around looking at paperwork while I sat sweated. Brittany was able to sleep on the plane and had slept on much of the train rides. I was exhausted and my brain was confused by the time change. We arrived in Milano at 5:45 PMlocal time, which was supposed to be 7:45 AM (Alaska time). The train station in Milano was huge and busier than the others we had been to. It was still hot out and by the time we found our train and loaded our luggage i was soaked in sweat again. During this train ride i was so tired i wasn't even enjoying the scenery anymore, which was so cool and surpassed my imaginations before the trip. On the way to Firenze I wouldnt let myself fall asleep, as Brittany already had and I had been subjected to months of stories about how I would be robbed blind at any second. I bought a panino at the train cafe, enjoying my first Italian food. I then began to worry about what we would do that night. We werent scheduled to checkin at our schools until the next day and had nowhere to stay. Luckily my step-mom had made a list of hotels close to the trainstation, and although we had no reservations it was a chance to avoid sleeping at the trainstation, which seemed to me an invitation for robbery. When we reached Florence we gathered our bags and tried to find a phone. Florence was hot and humid and the station was full of people. After a few attempts we figured out the phone and called the first on the list: hotel roma. ( http://www.hotel-roma-firenze.it/ ) The lady at the other end answered my "Parle Inglese" with a "si" and confirmed they had rooms available, only not at the quoted student rate. She said they would be 160 euro, which is about 200 dollars. We had no other options, plus splitting it it would only be 80 each. We hailed a cab and loaded up our luggage. We drove the five minutes to the hotel and the fare was 6.40. When we got out the fare jumped to 14. It took a few cab rides to realize they add tips and luggage charges themselves. (although not one refused the tips i offered) We arrived at the hotel and had new energy. We were finally here! the city was so beautiful. Huge stone building that you knew were there long before the country that i live in. Out hotel was beautiful also. When we checked in the kind desk lady took pity and lowered our rate to 120. We went to our room and got settled, looking out the giant windows at Firenze's noisy night life. Motorcycle and car engines revved, weird sirens screamed, and drunk people yelled. The building directly across the impossibly small street had red clay tile roofs and beautiful columns. Our room was very nice and we enjoyed the bidet that was provided. (makes you feel very clean). I went out by myself and explored a little bit. I brought back a couple Gellatos (yogurt and strawberry flavored) which were sooooooo good. We went to bed at about midnight. We woke up at about 6 and couldnt fall back asleep. We repacked, showered and went down stairs to get the free breakfast. I dressed a little differently than i do in fairbanks. No white shirt under the button up, just the wife beater and my black dress shoes. The waiters were in tuxes and the food was great. Fresh bread, different kinds of prosciutto, cheeses, croissants, cereal, orange juice and other food. I ordered a cappuchino which turned out to be the best ive ever had, which i kind of expected. After breakfast we loaded up and headed to our school check in. When we arrived i couldnt feel my passport. I got all worried and nervous but figured i would retrace my steps and if I couldnt find it there was no sense getting all worked up. I filled out the paperwork to get my room key, cell phone and instructions. The cab that picked us up and we swung by the hotel, where my passport was waiting on the counter. The scare convinced me to carry around a copy and leave the real one at home. We then took a cab to Brittanys apartment, or as close as we could get. We had to awlk a couple blocks as her apartment is in a building in the middle of the downtown market, which is awesome. On the way there we saw all the stores you hear about, Gucci, Farragamo, fendi, and all the rest. The street market was really cool. It was ON THE SAME STREET as the Duomo ( google it) which is the most amazing building i had ever seen (until we found THE most amazing building later). Its a huge building with an impossible number of detailed statues and painting all over it. I havent been inside it yet. Right next door to that was the medici building, where the statue of david is. And this is right in front of her apartment. (which has a really cool rooftop patio that loos over the entire plaza. After unloading her bags we walked about 4 blocks up through the market to my flat, which doesnt have the view hers does but still was in an excellent location. The duomo towered ower all the other builings, making it impossible to get lost, as we lived right next to the structure that dominates the skyline. We then set out to shop. I have never even imagined the amount of stores that exist in Florence. Every other door is full of designer clother or the best looking food and gellato you have ever seen. We stopped by a little cafe and bought some pizza which, once again as expected, was easily the best pizza i have ever had. we walked around and shopped for a few hours. I tried my hand at haggling and it worked out well. I was able to get some money off almost everything we bought. While looking for the arno river we walked into a large plaza with statues. At the other end was an ancient looking huge building. On a whim i decided to go in. Inside was the mose breathtaking building I have ever seen. It was a church called : Bsilica Santuaio della ss. Annunnziata . Please google it. It was huge and every inch was filled with art. The ceilings were so high up. The walls were covered in sculptures big and small. Different areas branched off and were dedicated to different saints or religious figures. the center ceiling was huge and domed and had a painting comparable to the sistine chapel. After taking about a hundred pictures we left. After some more shopping we returned to our respective homes and met some of the roommates. I am now at an internet cafe. I dont have my cord for my phone but i promise pictures. they are pretty cool. I had high expectations and so far everyone of them has been surpassed. The people are great (especially if you try to speak in italian) the food is amazing, and the buildings and ard is unbelievable. It seems like a dream. I wish my entire family was here to share my experiences. There have been things all day that have made me think of you guys and how you would enjoy them. Not trying to rub it it! Just saying come visit..... More later. Arrivederci

leaving Fairbanks behind.

Today I flew out of my hometown of Fairbanks to anchorage Alaska. I'm staying overnight here with my dad who is wearing a very stylish Indiana Jones hat at the moment. This is the first step in the final March to Italy. Tomorrow I fly to FRANKFURT Germany where I will take a train to Italy, through Switzerland.
I spent the last few days running errands, putting my things in storage, and saying my goodbyes. Since only a few of my close friends are still in Fairbanks I spent most of my free time with my sister and brother in law and their daughters.
My momma also got a good chunk of my time as well. Last night I had a thanksgiving - going away Dinner with a few family members. I'd much rather have a small meaningful get together than a large gathering. Anyway since thanksgiving is an American holiday I wanted to have one before I left. My sister and momma did a great job making it. Saying goodbye this morning wasn't too hard. I'm too excited too be sad about leaving even tho I will miss my family.

Hopefully ill have some interesting stories soon.

One week to go......

This is my introduction. A little about me and how I ended up where I am: one week from moving to Florence Italy for about a year to attend Apicius Culinary arts school. I will be updating this page as much as possible. Anyway, here's a little background info.
I was born in Fairbanks Alaska. I grew up in the hills in a log cabin where i spent most of my time playing either with my imagination or my older brother Ian. I went to an elementary school across town that my parents had to drive me to every morning. I met my best friend Matt there, a person that I still hang out with today and that i bounce all my ideas off. About when I was in 6th grade my dad moved to Asheville, North Carolina. That was a big change for me, although I had been out of Alaska I had never lived in a different place. Instead of flying there we drove down through Canada and explored a large number of the 50 states, going down to florida before settling in NC. Although I had already found a taste for reading history books in elementary school, meeting so many new people and seeing so many different landmarks, little shops, natural beauty, and regional differences caused me to fall in love with traveling. After High School I went to UAF for a few years, alternating between living in my own places and living on campus. The whole time I was enrolled there I felt uninspired, bored, and disillusioned with college. I felt like I was just going because I was supposed to go to school, because I was expected to. While I loved a few of my classes and enjoyed reading the text books I did not do well. My attendance was horrible and I dropped many classes. Finally in the spring semester of 2007 I decided to stop wasting money and not go to school until I found something that would inspire me. My mother has always encouraged us to go to school and get a degree but was I was doing wasn't working. I quit school and got a real job at a furnace company and was ready to learn a trade. In the back of my mind I knew that It wasn't me and that I wouldn't be satisfied with my life unless I was doing something that i at least was interested in, if not enjoyed. My father came up to visit a few months into my new career and I think he was disappointed that I wasn't going to school, just like mom. About a month later he called and offered to send me to a culinary arts school in either Paris, New York, or Italy. He said that he and his wife had been talking about ways to kind of give me an opportunity to get back on track. I was shocked. I had become accustomed to the idea that I would be out of school for a while, seeing as I had already taken out student loans and had no inclination in taking on more debt. After about a day or two I knew what I would choose: Italy. Italian history, especially Roman, has always been one of my favorite subjects, and then , of course, there's the food. Everyone loves Italian food. The next few months involved hours of paperwork and preparation. To be honest I felt like it was too good to be true. I didn't tell my friends until I had seen the plane ticket!My step mother, Jackie was the engine that pushed this trip along. She did paperwork, made phone calls, researched, and generally helped me along every step of the way. The last couple of months have been a rush. I have always loved cooking, even making up my own recipes as a little kid. ( one was some lasagna noodles and about two pounds of cheese, for those of you who are familiar with "sean's special recipe") While I had thought of owning a restaurant I had never thought of going to cooking school. Now I am one week away from flying to another continent to lean the secrets of wine, italian cooking, and one of the romance languages. This is my first blog of what I hope is a successful endeavor. I want to thank my entire family, most especially Gary, Ellen, Jacque, meadow, bill, and Ian. Thanks to my friends and the people whos services I have used to help this dream come true.
You have all made what would be an easy departure a difficult one. Ciao!