Firenze & My Birfday!!
Florence Pics Are Up: DEFINATELY CHECK ALL THESE SUCKA'S OUT:)
http://community.webshots.com/user/cruisek035
Florence: Home to Le David, the best Gelato in the world, the most embarassing experince everrrr, sketchy military guys, rose vendors who come up to you alll the time, the Duomo, a sweeeet marketplace, and all-around good times:)
So prepare yourself for the longest journal entry in the history of journal entries. It's been a long time since I've updated and I have so much to share. Scroll to the bottom of the entry for the juicy stuff;).
So we arrived in Florence, or as the mad Italians call it Firenze, on Thursday night where we all went out to dinner and took a brief but fascinating stroll through downtown Florence. We saw the Duomo, which is actually the Dome on top of the Cathedral in Florence (actually the 3rd largest in the world right behind St. Pauli's) and could swear it was fake. Its completely made of Italia marble and seriously looks like its one of those foam 3-D puzzles your brother builds after Christmas. It was huge and definately delicious. We ended up going to a bar because thats what Americans do when we get bored;). It turns out that Jenny Segale has a friend who is a bartender in a pub called Robinhood's ("We are men... men in tiiiightssss") so naturally we went there. While I had nothing to drink everyone else got pretty tipsy and had Absenta Shots (E5 a piece too, ouch). An absenta shot is lit on fire with what I think is sugar... which is burned above it (if that makes sense)... it seriously looks like a cocaine addicts best friend (other than coke of course). Carey in particular had a few too many (& Katherine who just slept outside on the steps of the hotel because the doors were locked when she got back) and was unaccounted for the following morning. We stayed at this junked out place called Hotel Castri which was worse than some hostels I've stayed in (& more strict because we were yelled at multiple times by admin for making too much noise) The location was prime though and thats where the regular price of E190 a night comes into play... whateva':). So that morning Carey comes stumbling into the hotel lobby where everyone on the trip is wondering where he's been. Turns out he got so wasted the previous night that he ended up on a train 30 miles outside of Florence and not remembering a thing somehow wandered back limping to the hotel in the morning. So the following day we did the whole tourist thing. We got to see the Uffizi museum which was mostly religious art work (still cool though in that respect) and we climbed the stairs of the Duomo to see a birds eye view of the city. That in particular was definately breathtaking. Saw the Santa Croce which is where Galileo and Michalangelo are buried. We saw the Ponte Vecchio which is the bridge that is so famous in Firenze. Originally it was a meat market until the Medicci family (the males were rumoured to have three testicles and thats where the family crest stemmed from...) got tired of the smell and turned it into the exact opposite, a jewelry center where gold was formed into beautiful creations. Inside the Academia we stopped and saw Le David (as I like to call it) and it was simply awe inspiring. Literally I stared at it for like 30 minutes with the rest of our group because it was just so perfectly crafted. Every detail of the body was accounted for including the viens on the hands and feet... it was beautiful. I also snuck in a few pics of it, wahahaha:). I had my own David experience later in the trip too... hehe. Florence is famous for its market as well which sets up every morning at 7am and stay open until late dusk. This market sells almost anything from cheapo rip offs of purses (LV was so LX) to Gucci wannabe sunglasses (which I so bought.. go EURO glasses!!! I was on the hunt for some for awhile) We hit up that place hardcore and we, me in particular, bought so much random crap. I got this new belt for super cheap, a leather anklet, and of course my Euro glasses. Not to mention this really tight blue shirt:). We of course stopped to get some world famous gelato and I must say it was definately the best gelato (and i assure you I know my gelato by now) I've ever had. It was so creamy and delicious I almost melt just thinking about it. INSERT PARAGRAPH GEEEEZ!
The second night, after the initial Carey incident, we ended up going to this place called The Fish Pub which is right off the side of the market (the place definately caters to the American tourists and the many military guys that are in Florence because of the cheap drinks and the fact everyone spoke English). There we met some sketchy as crap military guys that kept hitting on the ladies here. Two of them in particular were super sketchy and ended up finding a way to stay in our hotel that night and the following night... so messed up. one of the guys was going after Emily while another was going after Alexis (the guy even had a portrait done of him and gave it to her... ...wow). That guy actually got so drunk the last night he was there he passed out on a bus and got all of his stuff stolen, feel bad for the guy but dang he was sketchy. Two hookups actually happened too... between military guys and Sarah Fogele (Aaron was actually a good guy though... a paratrooper) and Laura Fortuna (some nameless guy actually... ummm hypothetically Tom... whom apparently got a little too excited... ending it there for sake of nameless people who get kicked out of hotel rooms at 3:00am).
The third night, my birfday night!!!! OOOOOO YEAHHH!!!! (more or less) a large group of us went to this world famous steak place (Florintine steak is soooo gooooooood) where they had pics of Ben Affleck and the such eating there inside the restruant on the walls. I had a Za'Za Fillete and it was absolutely the greatest steak I've had in like 2 years. Like woah... I think Im getting misty eyed right now just thinking how good that thing was. That night we went out to Robinhoods again to partly celebrate my coming birthday at midnight:). It was awesome. All the guys has tequila shots including me which is like crazy. When the bartender lady poured the shots she broke out "the birthday shot glass" and it was basically 2.5 shots in one. Little ol' non-drinking Chris was like... "junk... how on earth am I supposed to handle this... wow... omg... hmm..." So we had a little "Chin! Chin!" action and gulped it down in one go. Everyone was impressed (not to mention me who was like... holy crap how did I just do that... Im still in shock). So then the rest of the night was just fantastic. I simply enjoyed the moment... did some dancing... as is my thang to do and just chilled with everyone. Im still wondering how I, little Chris who used to play with legos and nerf guns (wait I still play with nerf guns...ahem:) ), is 21 years old. I feel as if I should be turning 17 or something. When my parents called they were like.. we get to go out and grab a drink when you get back... WOW... Crazyyyy... how is this stuff possible. WEEEEIRD!
Thank you so much to everyone for sending me all the warm birthday greetings:) LOVE all you guys so much. It was awesome to open up the ol email inbox and read your nice messages:) Can't tell you how happy it made me:). Other than the like 10 smileys I tossed in these last two lines.
A Fantastic and Fabulous Start to Birfday Bliss...
Apparently Im getting wiser in my years because I came up with what I thought is the greatest idea of all time. The idea came to me suddenly as if in a dream. The universe was spinning in all the right directions apparently. In the market you can purchase these boxer shorts that are more or less skin tight and display in relative proportion the David's most prized poscession (ie... the penial was essentially aligned as was the buttock... :) ). So my thoughts... "how tight would it be to be wearing these boxers in front of the David statue or better yet the replica." The replica was placed where the original David stood before it was removed to be place in a museum for safe keeping. In other words, the replica stands in the center of Piaza Della Senoria. The biggest, most crowded, and most touristy piaza in all of Florence. So Jenn and I walked out to the piaza around 9:30am... TO DO this very thought. In the piaza was roughly 250 people. A group of about 40-50 American high schoolers were to the right while bus loads of eager Asian tourists (camera in hand mind you) were surrounding the replica. Of course there were the many, many passer-byers and vacationing couples that happened to be there because it was the center of Florence. So gathering my courage and my dignity I strolled around to the back of the statue. I take off my shirt and the crowd of Americans start yelling and pointing over at me. They are like "no freakin way!" By that point everyone's attention is grabbed by what I am about to do. So I drop my pants and I run around to the front of the statue. In nothing more than a pair of boxers and white socks (so added to the effect) I did the David pose much to the excitement of the crowd. They were going nuts. I got everything from cat calls to "holy crap I love you man", "that is freaking awesome." All this in 42 degree weather with the wind howling at my side. I had the hardest time keeping a straight face and was laughing almost 100% of the time because I was just that embarassed. Jenn was taking pictures and once she was done I darted back behind the statue but the crowd started to boo and motion back for me. I made an encore performance as everyone and their brother took a picture. Finally I put my clothes back on. People then started to come over to me offering me money because apparently they thought I was a street performer. I guess they couldnt understand that I did it all for kicks and for something to do on that day you turn 21 (check that off the list). All in all it was the most embarassing experience of my life. I told my mom I did this... she wasn't so excited:). Wahahhaa. It was nuts and Im so glad I did it. Ya'll should go check out the pics;).
So we came back to Verona and I celebrated my birthday peacefully. Went out for pizza and gelato... came back and talked to my parents before I fell asleep. Jenn got me this freakin awesome Chievo Verona Flag (local futbol team) somehow. It owns:) and Im much appreciative:).
We started our new classes today as well. Finance 3000 is going to kick me in the "whojahs." We are reading essentially 60 pages of finance a day. Our teacher is hardcore. I did get a 93 in my last class though... sooo thats pretty cool:). Go ME:). More to come and lots of details to ensue but I will end it here. If you've read all this... you are now my best friend in the whole world. Just write "Goat herders like red wine" in the comment portion and just like that you- are it:) my new bestest friend in da' whole wide world:).
BRAVO: Goes out to everyone for making me feel special on my birthday:). I heart ya'll;)! BRAVO! BRAVO! BRAVO! Special "Hollas" go out to my Veronian roomate, Patrick for bringing in my birthday with style, Alexis for being such a sweetheart, Jenny for taking mad pictures and being such a damn cool gal, and my parents for birthing me into this world 21 years and a day ago:). BRAVO! BRAVO! BRAVO!
UNBRAVO: Goes out to sketchy military guys who stalk our lovely ladies. UNBRAVO! UNBRAVO! UNBRAVO! Not to mention Carey for getting so trashed he ended up on a train 30 miles outside the city of Florence and somehow found his way back to Hotel Castri in the morning the following day. UNBRAVO! UNBRAVO! UNBRAVO! Also goes out to the @$$ military guy who ate the rose vendors rose and spat it in his face when he was drunk... guys like him giving Americans a bad name. UNBRAVO! UNBRAVO! UNBRAVO!
Song of the moment: Everyone - Happy Birthday! :)
Another great song: The Servant - Liquify
Another great song: Straylight - Existentialism on Prom Night
Another great song: June - You Had It Coming
Quote of the day: "Hey Chris Happy Birthday, and be sure to keep your clothes on this time" -Martin (our faithful fatherly figure out here in Verona. He loved the David pictures actually:) )
http://community.webshots.com/user/cruisek035
Florence: Home to Le David, the best Gelato in the world, the most embarassing experince everrrr, sketchy military guys, rose vendors who come up to you alll the time, the Duomo, a sweeeet marketplace, and all-around good times:)
So prepare yourself for the longest journal entry in the history of journal entries. It's been a long time since I've updated and I have so much to share. Scroll to the bottom of the entry for the juicy stuff;).
So we arrived in Florence, or as the mad Italians call it Firenze, on Thursday night where we all went out to dinner and took a brief but fascinating stroll through downtown Florence. We saw the Duomo, which is actually the Dome on top of the Cathedral in Florence (actually the 3rd largest in the world right behind St. Pauli's) and could swear it was fake. Its completely made of Italia marble and seriously looks like its one of those foam 3-D puzzles your brother builds after Christmas. It was huge and definately delicious. We ended up going to a bar because thats what Americans do when we get bored;). It turns out that Jenny Segale has a friend who is a bartender in a pub called Robinhood's ("We are men... men in tiiiightssss") so naturally we went there. While I had nothing to drink everyone else got pretty tipsy and had Absenta Shots (E5 a piece too, ouch). An absenta shot is lit on fire with what I think is sugar... which is burned above it (if that makes sense)... it seriously looks like a cocaine addicts best friend (other than coke of course). Carey in particular had a few too many (& Katherine who just slept outside on the steps of the hotel because the doors were locked when she got back) and was unaccounted for the following morning. We stayed at this junked out place called Hotel Castri which was worse than some hostels I've stayed in (& more strict because we were yelled at multiple times by admin for making too much noise) The location was prime though and thats where the regular price of E190 a night comes into play... whateva':). So that morning Carey comes stumbling into the hotel lobby where everyone on the trip is wondering where he's been. Turns out he got so wasted the previous night that he ended up on a train 30 miles outside of Florence and not remembering a thing somehow wandered back limping to the hotel in the morning. So the following day we did the whole tourist thing. We got to see the Uffizi museum which was mostly religious art work (still cool though in that respect) and we climbed the stairs of the Duomo to see a birds eye view of the city. That in particular was definately breathtaking. Saw the Santa Croce which is where Galileo and Michalangelo are buried. We saw the Ponte Vecchio which is the bridge that is so famous in Firenze. Originally it was a meat market until the Medicci family (the males were rumoured to have three testicles and thats where the family crest stemmed from...) got tired of the smell and turned it into the exact opposite, a jewelry center where gold was formed into beautiful creations. Inside the Academia we stopped and saw Le David (as I like to call it) and it was simply awe inspiring. Literally I stared at it for like 30 minutes with the rest of our group because it was just so perfectly crafted. Every detail of the body was accounted for including the viens on the hands and feet... it was beautiful. I also snuck in a few pics of it, wahahaha:). I had my own David experience later in the trip too... hehe. Florence is famous for its market as well which sets up every morning at 7am and stay open until late dusk. This market sells almost anything from cheapo rip offs of purses (LV was so LX) to Gucci wannabe sunglasses (which I so bought.. go EURO glasses!!! I was on the hunt for some for awhile) We hit up that place hardcore and we, me in particular, bought so much random crap. I got this new belt for super cheap, a leather anklet, and of course my Euro glasses. Not to mention this really tight blue shirt:). We of course stopped to get some world famous gelato and I must say it was definately the best gelato (and i assure you I know my gelato by now) I've ever had. It was so creamy and delicious I almost melt just thinking about it. INSERT PARAGRAPH GEEEEZ!
The second night, after the initial Carey incident, we ended up going to this place called The Fish Pub which is right off the side of the market (the place definately caters to the American tourists and the many military guys that are in Florence because of the cheap drinks and the fact everyone spoke English). There we met some sketchy as crap military guys that kept hitting on the ladies here. Two of them in particular were super sketchy and ended up finding a way to stay in our hotel that night and the following night... so messed up. one of the guys was going after Emily while another was going after Alexis (the guy even had a portrait done of him and gave it to her... ...wow). That guy actually got so drunk the last night he was there he passed out on a bus and got all of his stuff stolen, feel bad for the guy but dang he was sketchy. Two hookups actually happened too... between military guys and Sarah Fogele (Aaron was actually a good guy though... a paratrooper) and Laura Fortuna (some nameless guy actually... ummm hypothetically Tom... whom apparently got a little too excited... ending it there for sake of nameless people who get kicked out of hotel rooms at 3:00am).
The third night, my birfday night!!!! OOOOOO YEAHHH!!!! (more or less) a large group of us went to this world famous steak place (Florintine steak is soooo gooooooood) where they had pics of Ben Affleck and the such eating there inside the restruant on the walls. I had a Za'Za Fillete and it was absolutely the greatest steak I've had in like 2 years. Like woah... I think Im getting misty eyed right now just thinking how good that thing was. That night we went out to Robinhoods again to partly celebrate my coming birthday at midnight:). It was awesome. All the guys has tequila shots including me which is like crazy. When the bartender lady poured the shots she broke out "the birthday shot glass" and it was basically 2.5 shots in one. Little ol' non-drinking Chris was like... "junk... how on earth am I supposed to handle this... wow... omg... hmm..." So we had a little "Chin! Chin!" action and gulped it down in one go. Everyone was impressed (not to mention me who was like... holy crap how did I just do that... Im still in shock). So then the rest of the night was just fantastic. I simply enjoyed the moment... did some dancing... as is my thang to do and just chilled with everyone. Im still wondering how I, little Chris who used to play with legos and nerf guns (wait I still play with nerf guns...ahem:) ), is 21 years old. I feel as if I should be turning 17 or something. When my parents called they were like.. we get to go out and grab a drink when you get back... WOW... Crazyyyy... how is this stuff possible. WEEEEIRD!
Thank you so much to everyone for sending me all the warm birthday greetings:) LOVE all you guys so much. It was awesome to open up the ol email inbox and read your nice messages:) Can't tell you how happy it made me:). Other than the like 10 smileys I tossed in these last two lines.
A Fantastic and Fabulous Start to Birfday Bliss...
Apparently Im getting wiser in my years because I came up with what I thought is the greatest idea of all time. The idea came to me suddenly as if in a dream. The universe was spinning in all the right directions apparently. In the market you can purchase these boxer shorts that are more or less skin tight and display in relative proportion the David's most prized poscession (ie... the penial was essentially aligned as was the buttock... :) ). So my thoughts... "how tight would it be to be wearing these boxers in front of the David statue or better yet the replica." The replica was placed where the original David stood before it was removed to be place in a museum for safe keeping. In other words, the replica stands in the center of Piaza Della Senoria. The biggest, most crowded, and most touristy piaza in all of Florence. So Jenn and I walked out to the piaza around 9:30am... TO DO this very thought. In the piaza was roughly 250 people. A group of about 40-50 American high schoolers were to the right while bus loads of eager Asian tourists (camera in hand mind you) were surrounding the replica. Of course there were the many, many passer-byers and vacationing couples that happened to be there because it was the center of Florence. So gathering my courage and my dignity I strolled around to the back of the statue. I take off my shirt and the crowd of Americans start yelling and pointing over at me. They are like "no freakin way!" By that point everyone's attention is grabbed by what I am about to do. So I drop my pants and I run around to the front of the statue. In nothing more than a pair of boxers and white socks (so added to the effect) I did the David pose much to the excitement of the crowd. They were going nuts. I got everything from cat calls to "holy crap I love you man", "that is freaking awesome." All this in 42 degree weather with the wind howling at my side. I had the hardest time keeping a straight face and was laughing almost 100% of the time because I was just that embarassed. Jenn was taking pictures and once she was done I darted back behind the statue but the crowd started to boo and motion back for me. I made an encore performance as everyone and their brother took a picture. Finally I put my clothes back on. People then started to come over to me offering me money because apparently they thought I was a street performer. I guess they couldnt understand that I did it all for kicks and for something to do on that day you turn 21 (check that off the list). All in all it was the most embarassing experience of my life. I told my mom I did this... she wasn't so excited:). Wahahhaa. It was nuts and Im so glad I did it. Ya'll should go check out the pics;).
So we came back to Verona and I celebrated my birthday peacefully. Went out for pizza and gelato... came back and talked to my parents before I fell asleep. Jenn got me this freakin awesome Chievo Verona Flag (local futbol team) somehow. It owns:) and Im much appreciative:).
We started our new classes today as well. Finance 3000 is going to kick me in the "whojahs." We are reading essentially 60 pages of finance a day. Our teacher is hardcore. I did get a 93 in my last class though... sooo thats pretty cool:). Go ME:). More to come and lots of details to ensue but I will end it here. If you've read all this... you are now my best friend in the whole world. Just write "Goat herders like red wine" in the comment portion and just like that you- are it:) my new bestest friend in da' whole wide world:).
BRAVO: Goes out to everyone for making me feel special on my birthday:). I heart ya'll;)! BRAVO! BRAVO! BRAVO! Special "Hollas" go out to my Veronian roomate, Patrick for bringing in my birthday with style, Alexis for being such a sweetheart, Jenny for taking mad pictures and being such a damn cool gal, and my parents for birthing me into this world 21 years and a day ago:). BRAVO! BRAVO! BRAVO!
UNBRAVO: Goes out to sketchy military guys who stalk our lovely ladies. UNBRAVO! UNBRAVO! UNBRAVO! Not to mention Carey for getting so trashed he ended up on a train 30 miles outside the city of Florence and somehow found his way back to Hotel Castri in the morning the following day. UNBRAVO! UNBRAVO! UNBRAVO! Also goes out to the @$$ military guy who ate the rose vendors rose and spat it in his face when he was drunk... guys like him giving Americans a bad name. UNBRAVO! UNBRAVO! UNBRAVO!
Song of the moment: Everyone - Happy Birthday! :)
Another great song: The Servant - Liquify
Another great song: Straylight - Existentialism on Prom Night
Another great song: June - You Had It Coming
Quote of the day: "Hey Chris Happy Birthday, and be sure to keep your clothes on this time" -Martin (our faithful fatherly figure out here in Verona. He loved the David pictures actually:) )