FUA Newsletter

Ciao,

I took part in the newsletter of my college in Italy recently by writing two articles and doing the editing for the edition. Since this is my first "published" work I figured it would be good to get some more feedback...

The link to the newsletter is:

http://www.apicius.it/newsletter/newsletter15/newsletter15.htm

If that does not work, here are my articles:

The Oltrarno

After you cross the bridge, flooded with tourists fulfilling their jewelry fix, you begin to enter a Florence of years past. You have just transversed the Ponte Vecchio to the southern side of the River Arno.

If you awake before the mopeds, mini-cars, and other motorists hit the streets, you experience the small town feel of Florence. At the newsstand there are several people talking politics over a morning cigarette. Furniture makers are lying out the plans for their days work in their shops. Storefronts are being swept to welcome in the neighborhood customers.

On the Oltrarno you go into specialty shops and are forced to speak Italian. The older woman behind the counter knows no English. Because of the small town atmosphere, you don't have to go far to find the things you need. On Borgo S. Frediano there are many shops, all catering to different needs. You can find bakeries, cheese shops, wine stores, delis, small produce markets and other stores which sustain the lives of the Florentines who live here. On the southside, contrary to the north, the stores are not catered towards tourists, but towards locals.

Staying on the south but heading upriver, you can find yourself on the famous overlook of Piazzale Michelangelo. From there, drift along Viale Galileo Galilei to Piazzale Galileo for exceptional views of Florence, with rolling hills filled of olive trees and grand villas in the foreground. Continue from Galileo on the meandering Viale Niccolò Machiavelli you settle at Piazzale di Porta Romana. You can enter the Boboli Gardens through Palazzo Pitti on Via Romana. The Garden is preserved to resemble the antiquity of centuries past, when it was owned by the Medici family.

If you find yourself in Florence for a weekend, venture to the south side of the Arno and explore. It will be a retreat from the crowded city center.

Vice Presidential Match-up

For many of us, this is going to be our first time taking part in a presidential election. This will be the most important election of our life thus far given the state of the world’s economy and popularity of the current administration. As part of our responsibility as United States voters we should be finding out as much as possible in regards to the election.

While the two candidates should be the primary focus in our decision-making, there should be some knowledge of their Vice Presidential running mates.

As we know, John McCain's running mate will be Sarah Palin. She began her political career as a member of the Wasilla City Council in 1992 and in late 2006 she took over as the Governor of Alaska.

Jesse Oney, a student of FUA who lives in Anchorage, AK described Alaskan politics as being, “very different from other states and national politics.”

Joe Biden, Barack Obama's vice presidential running mate, has an expansive career in politics. He began in 1970 as a County Councilman and was elected a Delaware Senator in 1972. He has been a chairman of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary and of Foreign Relations as well as the International Narcotics Control Caucus.

One of the two, Sarah Palin or Joe Biden, will be the next vice-president of the United States. Have you given them enough consideration in your choice in the election?

To learn more about the two candidates and their vice presidential running mates, I suggest checking out the popular D.C. based political blog, Politico. You can find it at; www.Politico.com

Ciao,

I have finished my midterms and officially on vacation, although I have been on vacation since September 3rd. 

Momma Meier and her friend Anne will be arriving in Florence tomorrow morning. Hopefully they will not have too much of a jet lag. I am planning on taking them out to show them the beautiful Italian city. After seeing the typical sites, in the city center, we will spend most of the time exploring the Oltrarno where there is a better feel for the culture. 

I just got a phone call... I'm going to an Italian Opera!!!!

FOR FREE

This past week my schedule changed slightly. I will no longer be taking classes on Tuesdays. I will only be taking classes Monday and Wednesday. I was enrolled in a non-credit cooking course Tuesday evenings but had to cancel. The course fees amounted to 75$ a class and although the food was excellent, the teacher was knowledgeable, and the wine was good, it seemed a bit much for the course. 

My Italian has been coming along recently. It is easier to understand those I talk to, but I still find it difficult to hold a conversation. Speaking the language is much harder than understanding it. 

In Tuscany and Its Wines this week we tasted three different wines. Two of which were Tuscan and the third from the region of Piedmont, Italy's northern most wine producing area. We tasted first the Rosso di Montalcino, the little brother of the second wine, Brunello di Montalcino. The two wines are made from 100 percent Sangiovese grapes although the Brunello is made from only the best grapes of the vines. The Brunello must be aged longer and is a much more complex wine than the younger, both figuratively and literally, Rosso. The third wine was a Barolo and, according to my professor, Massimo, the most elegant wine. Personally, I enjoyed the Brunello the most, it was a wine that does not need food for accompaniment, just good conversation.

There is finally a heavy bag in the palestra, besides that, there is not much in the way of equipment. I usually get my exercise from runs, there are four main routes in which I run. The cobblestones are taking a toll on my legs though and there aren't many areas where its avoidable. 

This weekend I look forward to preparing for my midterms. It will be the first weekend in a while where I will stay in Firenze. 

It's time for a run so ciao for now and quench the thirst for knowledge.

History of Siena's Duomo

As requested, a brief history of Siena's Duomo. The current structure was erected during the 13th century. The Sienese used black and white marble, symbolic of black and white horses of the legendary city's founders, Senius and Aschius. Under the choir of the church, an ancient narthex was found from an earlier church which contains late 13th century frescoes depicting the Old Testament and Christ's life. Inside the Duomo there are many sculptures by famous artists of the time, such as; Donatello, Bernini, and the young Michelangelo. Michelangelo's Saint Peter, Saint Paul, Saint Gregory, and Saint Pius all stand on the altarpiece of the church. Many of the original sculptures, paintings, and stained glass windows have been moved to the nearby Museo dell'Opera del Duomo. The Baptistry, unlike other duomos of its time, is located underneath the main part of the church and its walls are adorn with beautiful Fresco paintings.

Ciao for now, and live well

Just one picture from Venezia. This is the typical thought of Venezia, the gondola rides.

I was finally able to upload pictures from Venezia, the trip I went on last weekend. I should have time to email them in the next few days. 

Today I went to Siena, a city south-south/west of Firenze. I was not on camera duty today since my battery was dead but will try and have those pictures uploaded soon. Siena was an interesting city. It was the first city in which I went into several of the historic, tourist attractions. 

The friends I was with and myself purchased a pass to enter into Siena's Duomo, Gallery of the Museo dell'Opera, the Crypt, and the Baptistery. The intricate detail and effort that was put into every aspect of the sites is incredible. The Duomo Nuovo was the most impressive because of all the history enclosed within. The Baptistery was built and sculpted by some of the most famous sculptors of the time including Donatello (my favorite teenage mutant ninja tutle).

While waiting for some friends to arrive Nick, Alessandro and I went to Piazza Del Campo where the famous horse race is held. 

There is an interesting exhibit in one of the churches that we visited in Siena. St. Cathrine's head is preserved and open for viewing. It goes to show the power of religion if a woman's head is preserved and open for public viewing. It is quite amazing really. 

It is a quiet night in Firenze, much of the frequent company is off to the Amalfi Coast with the school for the weekend. 

Tomorrow will be filled with textbooks, internet articles, and hopefully a run. If it is nice out, maybe some studying on the dam in the Arno will be in store... I must work on the olive oil skin tone the locals enjoy so much.

So, Ciao for now and live freely

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Taking Florence for granted

After being in Florence for over a month it is surprising that I have not found time to visit the main many museums available in the city. Soon I must make time to visit the Ufizzi Gallery and the Accadamia. It is easy to pass by several famous sites throughout a day in the city. I regularly pass over the Ponte Vecchio, walk through the ancient city walls, walk by the Duomo, and enter a few of the grand Piazzas. 

I do enjoy the privilege to go to many of the famous spots in the city such as the market on the central park on Tuesdays and famous views such as; Piazza Michelangelo and Fiesole. 

School has been keeping me busy. Because a 3 credit class only meets one day a week for a 2.5hour block, there is a lot of out of classroom work that must be done if the course is to be taken seriously.

For now, the fun has arrived and there is still work to be done. 

Ciao for now and continue to live well