Exchange Trip to Italy 2007...

TWo WeEks in ITALY...

So I was part of the BETA club in high school and found out about the opportunity to host an Italian student for two week, and then later in Spring brake I would be traveling to Italy to stay with her family for the same amount of time. Once again I didn't even think about it, I was so excited to host an Italian student, learn about their culture and of course travel to Europe for the first time!

This was the group that I traveled with.

I met Carly a great traveling buddy, which is still a great friend today!
wow! I still remember the feeling before getting on that 7 hour plane to Rome I was SO nervous because I was sick, and was about to travel over seas for the first time leaving my comfort zone, but I was very excited so I just took my antibiotics with me lol and got in that plane praying that I would get better, and I did! =) off to ITALIA!

When I arrived I was very impressed of how much Rome reminded me of Peru!!?!? except it had a lot of new things that I have never seen before. It was incredible to see how one can walk through the city and see the past  by staring at all the Roman ruins. The restaurants were all open and there were so many tables outside on the streets where the cars passed... it seemed that everything was combined and it worked out in some way... I loved it!  it was so European... so different from both Peru or the USA. I realized that I was able to understand a lot of Italian which was surprising. Later we got Gelatos YUM!  as well as the Pastas of course!

We only stayed in Rome for two nights but got to visit the coliseum, the ruins, the Vatican city, The Basilica of Saint Peter which was so impressive I actually met a family from Ecuador there it felt so comfortable to speak spanish again. At night we walked around the city,  I love big cities they are full of life at any time of the day and that is how I saw Rome.

Then we were off to Verona by bus which was great because we got to see the country side! we made a short stop in Florence visiting the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore a cathedral church and a market where I bought a leader white jacket! =) One thing that I noticed in Florence was how nice everyone was dressed.

Once in Verona! the families welcomed us and everyone went home with their families. My family lives in a Small town called Soave an hour away from Verona. it's so cute it has a Castle and it is also a wine town!

This picture is in the Castle of Soave with Federica, the Italian I was staying with.

The next morning we went to her school and got a chance to see visit the city, Verona is a BEAUTIFUL city. It has been awarded world heritage site status by  UNESCO because of its urban structure and architecture

 We visited the Arena, the ancient amphitheatre built by the Romans in which several annual fairs, shows, and operas take place.

Verona me parecia una ciudad de cuentos con los pinos altos, los castillos y sus puentes! 

 we spend the next few days visiting the city and learning about their culture. Their school was extremely hard everyone there learned and spoke atleast 4 languages! only in Europe! We also went to Lake Garda and Juliet's house which is so famous in Verona! One Saturday we headed to.....

VENICE!

I believe that the first time I saw a picture of Venice  was on a Plane on my way to Peru. I said to myself I have to go there some day! 

City of Water", "City of Masks", "City of Bridges", "The Floating City", and "City of Canals"

also been described by the Times Online as being one of Europe's most romantic cities.

Venice was beautiful so many stores full of beautiful colorfull glasses, and masks! I got to sees how they blow and shape the glass all in a matter of minutes. I bought a heart shaped neckles that I gave to my mom and a blue mask that hangs in my room today.  Me, Carly and Nicole decided to pay about $40 for a Gondola Ride! It was so worth it! I even got to row the Gondola but it was very heavy lol.

It is a shame that I didn't get to see the city at night because our group left early I was with about 14 high school students and like 3 teachers. next time I go I want to spend a few day there!

I would actually love to live in Italy for a whole year, learn Italian and study photography and art! <3