a city of lights

i don't mean paris or new york, but florence, of course.

it normally isn't anything close to being a "the city of lights," but because the holidays didn't officially end until tonight, it has been decorated with the most beautiful christmas lights around the center. i was expecting to post photos of the brunelleschi's dome or the ponte vecchio for my first post featuring florence photos, but i wanted to introduce the city to you the way i first saw it:

glowing.

i wish my photos did the magic justice.

on my mind

it's been raining pretty much nonstop here, so i've been kind of afraid to take out my camera for pictures while i walk around in the city. i think i'm getting a better idea of where things are in the city (it's not supposed to be difficult, because this city is tiny). so, while i can't post pictures, here are some thoughts so far:

1. i'm really enjoying this multi-course meal business.

2. my host mother is danish, but she's been living here for more than 30 years and she's fluent in italian. she also makes delicious food (italian and danish!) and gives me the best tea for breakfast.

3. hot chocolate (cioccolata calda) here is insane- in the good way. it's so rich and filling. none of that watery stuff back home.

4. i bought a panino today for 2 euro. and it was huge and delicious.

5. yesterday i bought an entire pizza for 4 euro.

6. yesterday i stumbled upon the duomo (brunelleschi's dome) without realizing i was heading toward it. it is.. amazing. i hope i can take pictures (without rain) soon.

7. there is a fresco on my ceiling that is several centuries old.

8. thank goodness i brought boots.

9. i found my way home today without a map (go me!)

10. i also purchased a cell phone in italian today.

11. as much as i love it here, i miss home (though not in the painful, sad way). especially when my sister told me that my niece was on her pretend princess telephone saying,

"hi ate es. hi uncle david. wata dooeng. she in far far away airport?"

and especially when i saw that my sister snuck this in my italian dictionary before i left:

i love you, family. i'll be home soon.

(ps - raine calles me "ate es" (ate pronounced ah-teh, for respect towards older women) because when she first started talking she couldn't pronounce "celeste," just "es"). as far as i'm concerned, little kids don't get any cuter.

the trevi fountain at night

Rome

Well.. I am in Rome! As mentioned in my previous, super short post. I’m going to skip all the stuff about flying and getting to the hostel, but after that Chelsey, our new friend Nora, and I went to go find the Coliseum at night. We weren’t allowed inside since it’s closed at night but it was so pretty just seeing it glow.

a blurry Chelsey and me

decorations are still up from Christmas so a lot of streets are lined with these stars

Santa Maria Maggiore Church

Citta` del Vaticano

There was a line 3-4 hours long to get into Vatican Museum. We just went into the main square and looked around. Also, I think we’re going to be back at the end of the month for a school trip.. so I’ll let Stanford pay for my museum tickets ;)

Ponte Sant’ Angelo

first Italian pizza! (delicious)

Chelsey and a view of the city

Fontana di Trevi

daytime at the Coliseum

Everywhere was pretty much extremely crowded… probably because it’s Saturday and right after New Year’s so a lot of people are on vacation. Chelsey and I got some bread, salami and cheese to eat for dinner (trying to save money..) and now we’re just hanging out at the hostel, giving our tired feet a break. Tomorrow we’re off to Florence!

ps- NO JET LAG!!!!

ciao from roma!

after oversleeping, broken luggage, overweight luggage and many, many hours of flying, i am finally here. it's been rainy and cold so i pretty much have no photos right now. hopefully more soon? internet is spotty and i suck at blogging when actually traveling. bear with me, per favore.