"Bologna"
i couldn't have been more relieved to hear that word. its not that i have a particular fondness for sausage made of various meats, its just that it meant that i was indeed back in italy, seated upon the right thirteen hour overnight train. good thing too because i've already missed my longest day of classes meaning my grades are going to take a hit. not a brutal beating, but definitely a bruise worthy punch. they're crazy about attendance here in study abroad land.
my flight on sunday was cancelled. not delayed, straight up cancelled. i was standing in the check in line at the airport, pretty content with how smoothly everything was going all weekend, then "PISE-CANCELLED" flashes on the screen. whhhhhhhhhhhhhat thefuck. is that even ALLOWED?!! they told us to check our accounts for a refund within a week. all twenty euros of it..
figuring out alternative travel plans without internet is a real fun time. as is becoming aware every other flight to anywhere in italy is completely booked. as is finding a place to stay for the night when you realize that the earliest train ticket you can get leaves at 7pm the next day (at the cost of 110 euros!). me + ryanair = never again. even getting those train tickets must have been a close call cause we ended up randomly dispersed amongst compartments in the very last car. whatever; since i ended up next to an old woman instead of Creepy McCreeperson, it was fine.
if i wasn't 100% sure before, i am now: i am an optimist. it'd be a lie to say i wasn't frustrated during this colossal mishap on my first unguided trip to a foreign country, but strangely, i didn't find myself stressed out, i had confidence it would all work out. it was actually kinda funny; i laughed. i try not to get too worked up about things i can't change if i can help it; dwelling on it can only bring you grief. dealing with it is a much more productive use of energy. this was actually kind of an interesting and (dare i say it?) fun adventure. i think some magical, mystical force realized i needed an extra day in paris, and the dealing with the tough stuff kinda gave me faith in my ability to handle trying situations.
ahh this entry's already kinda lengthy.. but but i still have to talk about the most popular tourist destination in the world itself! after the crazy turn of events, the trip seems to have blurred into this chaotic whirlwind of distinct memories in no particular order or arrangement. therefore, i shall employ the use of bullets. please don't expect any coherent train of thought.
*the arrangement of trees in paris is brilliant. they are planted in perfectly allotted locations and trimmed to remain a certain height. normally, i wouldn't go for this sort of uniformity and organization, but it had a neat effect. especially down the champs d'elysee. i don't know how i'd feel about it in warmer weather though. there is something romantic about bare, twisting tree branches in the right place. i'm normally a sunshine person, but there is a quality to paris that makes chilled air and grey skies seem appropriate. it compliments the architecture and the quiet, cool mood of the place. the bright light seemed almost unnatural at a point when the sun came out.
*the metro system is easy. SO easy. i got the hang of it way faster than back in new york. the separate compartments of a single train are connected via accordion type things, so when you sit, you can see up or down the whooooole train. this becomes rather trippy and enjoyable depending on the curvature of the path as you will see the entire train of dozens of people one second, then just the immediate cart the next. i hope that description made some sort of imaginable visual sense.
*i am in love with the 5th floor of the musee d'orsay. after all the renaissance art i've become familiar with, impressionism was a welcome breather. i love to see how artists were able to pick up on colors, like the purple in a tree or the reflection of a pink-orange sunset upon a cathedral face and exaggerate it to produce something surreal.
*seeing the mona lisa up close in the louvre was as hilarious as i thought it would be. i was more interested to check out the herd of people that i knew would be ogling it. they were like a thirsty pack of wild boars, and only procuring a picture of this painting from directly in front and center of it would quench 'em. they came from all over the world, stood before da vinci's portrait, and examined it not for it's colors or composition, but it's mona lisa-ness. the encounter with the famed work becomes about seeing the original of the copy - an issue i grapple with. i don't know what i should think at times and constantly wonder if my feelings are genuine or planted. i can't help doing a private mental case study of the quality and depth of my emotions during these rendezvous with artwork.
*going up the eiffel tower was a nice time. it was a bit foggy and cloudy, creating a gorgeous fading effect into the distance. but, for some reason, i felt my smile to be broader atop the unexplainably relaxing notre dame. i fell in love with its gargoyles - i'd enjoy one outside my window. things in the city must have changed so much over the years, but they're still here, looking out at it all. standing there, knowing they've been there longer than i alive, i couldn't help but have one of those euphoric, transcending moments where you space out and are amazed that you exist and are even around to experience such spectacular things.
*my new favorite sport is people watching. sitting outside a cafe, bar, or restaurant facing the street for muchhhh longer than necessary is great. new yorkers never seem to have time for such things. one month in europe, and i already feel everything, starting from my walk, slowing. it's all about savoring, as life should be.
*a nagging something at the back of my mind can't help but be mad for depriving myself a chance at fluency in a romance language by not choosing to study abroad in paris. in the period of a weekend, so much french came flooding back, so i can't even imagine what four months of immersion would do. however, at the same time, i found paris reminiscent of new york city while florence appears out of a fairy tale with old-fashioned vibes radiating off its cobble stone walkways and red shingled rooftops. i love paris, but language aside - italy's got what i want and needed at this moment in my life. i guess i am destined to know only bits of french and italian.
*my favorite encounter in paris was with the divineeee cuisine. i took it upon myself to eat gluttonous amounts in order to ensure i sampled a variety. that really deserves a whole 'nother entry though (avec beaucoup de pictures, of course) - coming soon. (as is an overdue florentine update).
fortunately, tuesday is the one day of the week i don't have to suffer through a 9am. and i just got an email that my italian class is meeting at this local university today. conversing with some students then, perhaps? yay! i'm excited to see what they're like and perceive how the language and cultural gap plays out between us.
Au Revoir / Ciao / Bye / Sat Sri Akal
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