Amalfi Coast- Blue Grottos, Cliff Jumping, Boat Rides, Pompei and More

 Hi Everyone!

So I got back from my very own special MDW from Amalfi Coast, it was beautiful! We left on Thursday around 6 on a bus towards Rome to pick up more students to head down to Amalfi. We got to Rome in about 3 hours and then took a short stop to get some food and such. Then when we almost got to where we were staying there was a car accident that was blocking the whole road so we got a police escort to our hostel. Yes, I stayed in a hostel! It was actually very clean and is rated as one of the best hostels in Europe. Anyway, so we got to the hostel pretty late like 2:30 in the morning and we had to wake up at 7:30 the next morning to be up and out on the ferry. So when we got to the hostel we went right to bed; we meaning myself and the 10 other girls that I had to share the room with. It was a lot of people in one room there were 5 bunks and 1 single but we were all from the Bus2Alps tour and it was all girls (they do put boys and girls in the same rooms). So the next morning we took the ferry to Capri and we took a little boat tour of the island and the grottos. They were amazing! The blue grotto was so pretty but scary to go in and out of. We had to get into these very tiny boats and pretty much lay on top of each other, and our guide had to time our entering with the water shifting to pass under the tiny opening. After the boat ride we got a bus ride to the top of Capri aka Anna Capri. We had lunch there and did some shopping. Then we took a convertible top taxi down to the bottom and hung out by the water until we took the taxi back to Sorrento where we were staying with the hostel. Then we showered and hung out until we had dinner in the middle of town with the whole tour group. After many people went to an English Pub, but my friends and I were very tired and just went back to the hostel to hang out on the roof where they had their own bar. So Alyssa and I hung out up there which was beautiful scenery with a bunch of Italian locals and hit the hay early to be rested for Saturday.

On Saturday we went to Positano and laid out on the beach and again took a boat tour. This time on the boat tour we went to a beach right next to the public one but that you could only access from the water and we went cliff jumping. So the boat got as close to the shore as it could and we hopped off and climbed up the cliff to a 10 ft jump and a 40 ft jump! I was nervous to do the 40 ft one at first and just did the 10 a couple of times and a bunch of people from my tour did the 40 including 2 of the girls that I went on the trip on, Alyssa and her friend from home (west essex) Nicole. (Yes there are 2 different Nicoles) Anyway so they told me that it wasn't bad at all the worst part is just climbing up the cliff. So I decided when in Rome I mean Positano! So I gradually climbed up the cliff holding onto the side of the mountain to the 40 ft jump and made the leap of faith... it was so much fun! But I would not do it twice haha. So then the "captain" of our boat took us on a little tour of the island and allowed us to swim in a sorta grotto it was this natural arc that we got to swim though. It was beautiful! My camera is water proof so I got to take it in the water with me and take pictures as we swam through. Our tour guide for the weekend told us that this is the first time all year that they, or at least she, has been allowed to swim out in the water. So that was very exciting, and the water was not too cold, it was very refreshing. So then we got back onto land, ate some lunch, and sat on the beach for the rest of the day before taking the bus back to Sorrento. We had some dinner at the hostel and then went upstairs on the roof and hung out with the rest of the group from our trip.

On Sunday we woke up and checked out, headed onto the bus that was taking us to Pompei. Pompei was amazing in a totally different way then the rest of the weekend. It was so interesting to see this ancient town and how civilized they were that many years ago! So we had our own adorable tour guide that brought us into a different section of the city then the usual tours get to go. It was so cool and he explained everything to us it was great because we had the choice of whether or not we wanted to take a tour and I am so glad that we did because if I had not I would of been totally lost! After Pompei we took the bus back to Rome and then to Florence, I was back at my apartment around 11. I made sure I was in bed by 12 so that I was not exhausted to wake up at 7:45 for my 9 am class.

Today, (Monday) I had my Arts of Florence class and I am actually starting to enjoy that class more and more. We went to another church and a museum to see some special statues and we were comparing works of art, like Michelangelo's David to another artists. After class Nicole, Alyssa, and our two other friends Hailey and Steph, and I went to this caffe Astor (that is actually a bar at night) and we saw some people from our trip, it was really cool to walk into a place here and actually know some people haha. We also happened to know Ronnie and J Wow from the Jersey Shore who just happened to be eating there too. The waiter even sat us in the booth right next to them, but thankfully they had just finished and when we sat down they were getting up. Then Nicole, Alyssa, and I went to the train station to get our tickets for this weekend. We are leaving right after class on Thursday to go to Alyssa's family in a town outside of Venice. I am so excited to go because we will be able to experience a real Italian family and culture! Alyssa's cousins are actually around our age and are very excited to take us out and about on the town. We are also going to go to the beach on Friday and Saturday and then we will be returning on Sunday during the afternoon.

Well Nicole, Alyssa, and I also just booked another trip to the French Riveria in a couple of weekends and that again is another beach trip =). I hope that I come back another race haha. But I am looking forward to the rest of this week I am going out with some of the girls tonight for a early night and then tomorrow, wed, and thurs I have class and then I will be leaving for Venice! (Thursday is actually an Italian holiday here and a lot of schools get off but unfortunately we do not)

This is just a harbor in Sorrento

 This is the coast of Capri

 This is the Blue Grotto

 This is the Green Grotto, how nice is the water?!

 This is poisonous coral that is in one of the caves.

 Me overlooking Capri

 The museum on Anna Capri

 Nicole and I on the convertible taxi drive down from Anna Capri

 This is in Positano when we were walking down to the beach

 Isn't that amazing, that's our great view on the beach

 jumping from the cliff

 aren't we just so cute

 Now I'm actually jumping from the cliff, sorry Mom don't have a heart attack

 In the arc.. there were no beaches to swim to we just jumped off the boat and got to swim through it

 Now as we were walking up from Positano, this was the view.

 Pompei ruins

 Our adorable tour guide! He told us to call him Grandpa, he said that he has a 6 year old grandchild.

 And here are some pictures from the bus when we were traveling on the country side

Hope that everyone had a great Memorial Day Weekend

xoxo

Classes are in full swing

So I will update you from Monday, Tues, and so far today.

Monday was my first day of class and it was art history of Florence. I have a woman teacher and she speaks pretty well English because for this class I am being taught by one of the institutes teachers. With this class everyday we have the early half in the classroom, a 15 or so minute break and then the latter part of the class we walk to different sites in the city that we are learning about. So far we have walked into a church and then she taught us a few special things about the city and showed us how it has evolved throughout the years. Today was my second day of class for art history and we learned all about the Duomo, which is the main cathedral of Florence. We learned about how it was constructed and re-constructed since it being built in the 1400's. It is a pretty interesting class and I am glad that I took it so that I can actually learn more about the culture here in Italy and be able to go into museums and things that I would of not of done or be able to do on my own. I just hope that the midterm and final is not too hard.

Monday after class a bunch of the girls and myself went to another market, this time it was a big outdoor/indoor market where there were little stands selling clothes, fresh fruit, meat, cheeses, etc. Since Nicole and I had already gone food shopping we really didn't get much at the market I just grabbed some cherries and we had lunch. After the market I went over to the park that is right at the corner of my block and did some reading for my classes it was very relaxing and I got a little bit of color sitting there =) Monday night Nicole and I met up with our friend Alyssa from West Essex and we went to this fabulous restaurant outside the Santa Croce piazza and got to meet Alyssa's friend from home that is here in a different program. After dinner it was kinda late so Nicole and I just stayed in to catch up on some rest. Nicole has been having problems with her feet and walking here because of wanting to wear sandals but the cobblestones are very uneven and hard on our feet and legs all day. So she was getting blisters and in a lot of pain, so we stayed in to give her feet a rest.

Then Tuesday was my first day of class for my management class. Like I said in an earlier post I have had this teacher before Gus and he is a very nice guy. The class is very relaxed and we are having no tests we just really have to participate and contribute to the topics of discussion. The class is about entrepreneurship and how it all started here in Italy. It is very interesting and like the other class we jumped right into the subject matter. Gus will actually only be teaching us for 2 weeks and then another Penn State professor is going to be teaching us for the remaining 4.

I have had a lot of reading to do already, but the thing that is really taking a toll on people is the fact of early classes and late nights. I want to get the most out of this experience here in Italy I want to go out with my friends and I dont want to be cooped up in my apartment. If I wanted to stay inside I would of just stayed home, so I know that it is just the beginning and we are getting into the swing of things but I am hoping that I will be able to figure out a schedule that it is good for my body and good for my own personal experience.

So after class on Tuesday Nicole, Alyssa and myself grabbed a little bit of lunch and walked over closer to the Ponte Vecchio for some gelato and for this store where I found some great Italian bracelets. As we were walking up to the store the owner just happened to be locking the door so I was not able to go in and buy but I am planning on going back and looking around. After that we went to Puma and got Nicole some better shoes that are more like sandals but have an arch in them so that she can walk around better and it has been helping a lot! Then we came home and did some work in the park again, ate some dinner and then got ready to go out with a group of our friends from school. We went to 2 different places and the second one we only stayed at for a short time because the Jersey Shore was yet again there so it was crowded and they were staying in one corner of the place that was kinda of blocked off by their body guards. So we were there for less than a half hour and then we went home.

Today (Wed) like I mentioned earlier we had our art history class again and went to the Duomo which is not too far from my apartment, we pass by or like last night were right outside the Duomo all the time. After class my apartment minus one girl went to grab lunch and then go shopping. There is also a gelato festival going on this whole weekend so we were eating in the piazza of the festival but I think tomorrow we will actually get gelato because today they were still setting it all up. After shopping we came back to the apartment and I took about an hour nap and now I am here writing the blog and after this I am going to do my homework for my management class tomorrow then take a shower, eat dinner, and I would like to go out again for a little tonight with either the girls in my apartment or my friends here.

Tomorrow, I will be leaving at around 7 which is around 1 for you at home to take a bus to the Almafi Coast for the weekend with Nicole, Alyssa, and Alyssa's friend from home. We will be arriving there late tomorrow night and then waking up early around 8 they told us to start our tours and such there. We are going through a student program, so they have a whole itinerary for us and tours set up so that we can get the most out of our stay. I am really excited to go here I heard that this trip is a lot of fun from students who were here during the spring semester. I cant wait to go into the water and lay on the beach for my special Memorial Day Weekend.


I'm glad to hear that the weather at home is looking better and maybe it will actually be a good Memorial Day Weekend for BBQ's and the beach. Daddy I know that your birthday is coming up this weekend I will be bringing my computer with me so hopefully I will be able to blog before then, and I will definately be in touch with you on your birthday but Happy early Birthday. Love and miss you!

 These previous ones are all from a little church that we went to with my class

 Sorry for it being sideways again but this is a tower that families used to live in and for a time families would compete with each other to see who could have the highest tower

 This is in the piazza republica bell tower, if you notice it is to the right and not in the middle this is because it is being aligned with something else

 Chanel =) one of the many designer stores that they have here that I get to pass everyday on my walk to school

 Those were all pictures of the Duomo and the Baptister and the tower.

 These are special towers that are all throughout Florence that were made in the 1300/1500's that represent where Piazzas are.

 The gelato is so good and some places put cute little fruit or decorations on them. So far I have had vanilla with chocolate chips, nutella, and cantaloupe.

 This is the original front of the Duomo Cathedral that was replaced and this was Mary and Jesus that was on top of the front door

 This is a replica of what the old facade of the cathedral looked like.. pretty boring compared to todays

 These are two of the Apostles, if you look closely you can see they have books in their hands to represent them writing the New Testament. These were in between the 3 original doors.

 This was on top of the other door I believe this one was the sleeping virgin.

The Florence symbol

 Michaelangelos pieta of Jesus the moment that he got off of the cross, there are the 2 women holding him and then the man behind is Mico Demus which is the first sculpture to give Jesus a face and in this pieta the face of Mico is Michaelangelos.

 This is Donatello's Mary Magdalene, this is made out of wood and then a paste covering that was painted. It is so creepy looking because it was supposed to show her desperation from Jesus death.

All of those pictures above were from the museum for the Duomo.

The tower next to the Duomo

The front door of the Duomo now.

The doors to the Baptistery which is right in front of the entrance to the Cathedral the alters face each others

again sorry that some of them are side-ways and you have to "break your neck" to see them but I cant figure out after uploading them how to rotate I would have to individually go through before I upload them and twist and save them to my computer.

Hope everyone has a great Memorial Day Weekend <3