Andiamo a domani!

So tomorrow we go to Florence, my home base for the next four months. Can I tell you that I'm ECSTATIC?!
Today was our second orientation meeting, which means we were introduced to Florence and our housing. Rome is incredible. It's huge and around every corner there is a monumental portion of history. This is where you come to be inspired. It's where you learn about human civilization. The greats became great in Rome. So why am I so excited to leave Rome for Florence?
The people of Florence are (as I've been told) much more inviting, and the city is much more "home-y." As a historical center, no buildings can be added or torn down, only the insides can be renovated. This place looks exactly as it did five hundred years ago! But more, it's the birthplace of the Renaissance. And as for its size, the ISA staff does not even consider it a city and will only call it a quaint town. It's famous for fashion - Gucci started here, maybe even was born here? The Duomo, The Uffizi, The Academia, Santa Croce, The Boboli Gardens, The Pitti Palace, and, of course, the Ponte Vecchio are all found within walking distance of my apartment.
The staff showed pictures of the ISA office and bragged that they are located right by the Ponte Vecchio, arguably the symbol of Florence. I flipped - I live in the same building as the ISA office! I know, now I'm bragging. I'm just overwhelmed by this opportunity. I'm convinced that this is one of the best decisions of my life, and that going with a program like ISA (and going without anyone I know) is the way to go. Message me if you want to talk more about it. I'm free to just be who I want to be, have made fun/chill/hilarious friends, and am convinced that I am smack dab in the middle of a few of the most fascinating places on earth.
My roommates are great -- Jess and Leyla -- and both are a few years older than me. They are so laid-back and level headed but are constantly making jokes. Last night (after getting lost...adding another thirty minutes of walking to a day filled with TEN hours of walking) we laid with our backs on Jess's bed, feet in the air, legs pressed against the wall in a 90 degree angle. We laughed and stretched and ached. It's simple things like that that bond people together.
We've already talked to our neighbors about having dinner parties and movie nights at our place. Also, because we're right above the ISA office, we're planning to utilize the space as much as possible (especially for the free electricity ;). The girls are both hospitality majors, which includes a great deal of cooking courses and restaurant know-how. Both are incredible chefs and would love to work in the restaurant business one day. God is so good to me -- now I can learn! This is the deal: They cook Italian specialties, and I watch, contribute a few euros for my portion, and then edit their papers when it comes time. Perfect trade-off? I think so.
Anyway, today was the Vatican, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica. Mind-blowing. I can't describe it. No one can. The Sistine Chapel is the most amazing art I have ever seen in my life. It took Michaelangelo four years to paint this masterpiece that is HUGE!!!!! And he did it by himself. I was told that DaVinci was propositioned to do it but told the Pope that it would take ten men and fifteen years to complete, so then Michaelangelo was forced to do it instead. Every posture, every facial expression plays into the greater meaning. The sequence of frescoes on the left side are depictions of events in the life of Jesus, and on the right are frescoes of Moses's life that parallel Jesus's life. Amazing. Incredible. Praise God! The Last Judgment was frightening, honestly. But the sections make a face, as if it were the face of God. Google it. It's so legit. Unfortunately I couldn't take pictures there -- the Swiss Army Guards constantly shout, "NO TALKING! NO PHOTO!" Oh well. Go see it if you can...You could spend days there.
St. Peter's Square is HUGE. Thousands gather every Wednesday night to see the pope make a speech. Apparently it's like a pep-rally...each section of Italy cheers for their region. Funny funny, and they roar when the Pope begins to talk. Unfortunately, he's on vacation on the outskirts of Rome tonight or I'd totally be there to witness this.
And then the Vatican museum is just a bunch of ornate rooms in the Pope's house decorated by incredibly famous artists (Botticelli, Raphael, even Salvador Dali had a painting in one), simply for Papal pleasure.
Please look at my pictures on Facebook -- I want you to share in some of these amazing sights.
Anyway, when I get to Florence tomorrow I'll probably won't be able to blog as much. I've been lucky to get free internet at the hotel (because I found an unlocked network in a stranger's apartment) and a lot of free time after packed days.
Again, thanks for caring, and I hope you enjoy traveling with me!