goodbye rome, hello home

Italy was amazing. Truly bellissimo! If you ever get the chance, you should go and experience the art...

the architecture...
the food...
the fashion...
and the wonderment of the entire country that is Italy!
I went with my friend Maria, a tour guide named Jasper and what I thought would be five other college students. One was, but she was in her late 30's, and the rest were well over 50. Not that I discriminate against age or anything, but I thought I would be traveling with people in my own demographic range. Still, traveling with them was a blast, proving once again that age is nothing but a number and friendships can be made over copious amounts of limonciello. Five thousand miles and a 12 hour flight later...
I was in the country of spaghetti and Dolce & Gabbana.

Our first stop was in Florence, which from a distance, looks like Beverly Hills with it's Spanish-inspired orange brick and white buildings against a brilliantly blue sky, but a thousand times prettier.

According to the history of Florence, the Medici family, which produced three popes, dozens of Italian rulers, and numerous commissioned works of famous renaissance art, is solely responsible for making Florence the city that it is.

The city is home to a statue on every corner and a fresco on every wall. There's the David...
the David...
and the David.
Even the finger of Galileo...
and Venus on the half shell!
The next city we visited was Pisa and yes, I can definately say, the tower does lean.
And yes, the scary view is so worth it!

There's a church (a total understatement if there was one) right next door filled with Christian, Judiasm, and Muslim influences, showing that people of all different backgrounds can actually live together in harmony and create something tremendously beautiful.

After several days of filling up on pizza...
and gelatto (heaven in a cup!)...
we finally made our way to la citta eterna, otherwise known as Rome, the eternal city.
It's a city where the modern world and the ancient world mix, creating a place where time seems to have no power.
And there I was, walking on the same land Jesus, Caesar and Lizzie McGuire walked!
And then, just like in a classic Hollywood movie, it rained on Good Friday.

Unfortunately, back home, it wasnt a particularly good Friday for my boss Alice and her husband Azten. He and his friend Vinny were taken into custody on two counts of first degree murder with a million dollar bail set for each, because of a botched drug deal back in January.

It rained two more days back in Rome. Even during Easter Mass at the Vatican with the Pope...
which a nun told me was God's way of showing the vistors at the Vatican, that there were people out there in the world who face many trials and tribulations and it's our job to pray for them and help them in any way we can.
So, right there, in St. Peter's Square, with a nun from Guam, I prayed for Alice and Azten.

Understandably, my boss went through a period of denial, anger, barganing, depression, and before just settling into Kübler-Ross's final stage of grief, acceptance, she found out her husband was innocent. According to unnamed sources, it's a case of trying to put the blame on someone that unfortunately has to go to court and though I cant really get into details, let's just say everything with my boss, her husband, and their family, will be alright.

Talk about the power of prayer, huh? But if you think my prayer doesnt really prove anything, consider this fact: when I left, the euro was worth $1.64. When I returned, it was worth $1.50. I totally helped pay off the national debt with all the shopping I did, so...you're welcome U.S. You can thank me with another trip. Maybe Paris...or even London! I'm not that picky...

what's wrong?

I'm supposed to be leaving on a jet plane to Denver in a mere matter of hours to catch an international flight to Italy and though the premise of it all seems adventurous and exciting, I can't seem to get in the mood.

What's wrong with me?

Everyone I talk to keeps asking me if I'm excited, if I'm thrilled, if I'm ready. I think I'm ready. I mean, sure, I still have to pack and get ready (I only have my shoes packed so far) but I have everything I need. Passport? Check. Camera? Check. My Italian phrase book? Check. I got everything I could possibly need to have a great time in Italy. But I'm still not excited.

Last weekend, I attended another First Fridays event, with Hadassah. This time, the theme was "A Night In Hollywood" which wasn't as glamorous as I thought it would be. Instead of classic Hollywood where all the stars and celebrities hang out, we ended up on the boulevard where all the drag queen prostitutes and iconic film characters mingle. Still it was a ton of fun, with mile a minute laughter. And the guy that noticed my date and I having the time of our lives? It was no other than fashion footwear businessman, Phil Touche.

I had interviewed Phil for my article on First Fridays, and doing as acquaintences do, he greeted us warmly, and complimented our "put-together outfits". In fact he loved my G-Star coat so much, he wanted to buy it right off my back! Talk about wearing the right thing at the right time. I declined the offer and instead accepted his invitation to a fashion show, sponsored by the Southern Arizona AIDS foundation.

The following Sunday, Hadassah and I arrived at the university of Arizona grand ballroom which had been transformed into a fashion show extravaganza. Tall models, flamboyant hair dressers, and snooty waiters were all there ready to entertain and criticize our every move. It was so much fun! The clothes were amazing...even the dress that had over 2000 condoms sewed on! Who'da thunk thin rubber could be so classy?After the fashion show and the mad grab towards the $300+ goody bags, we were invited to the after party at Level. Usually the nightclub isn't open on Sundays, but for such a fantastic event for such fantastic people, they made an exception.

The club was packed. Local celebrities were in tow, such as Toni from Toni & Guy Hair Salon, Chuck George from Channel 13 news and some model I saw on a local magazine two times. Phil introduced me to one of the organization workers of the event who in turn introduced me to everyone worth knowing in Tucson. It was so surreal and so unbelievable, I didn't want the night to end. In fact, I think its one of the reasons why I haven't been as excited to go...

With so much going on in Tucson and so many new people to see, things to see, and places to go, I feel like I'll be missing out on so many things. I know it doesn't make sense, considering I'm off to Italy, but then why can't I be excited? Is this normal behavior? What's wrong with me?

goodbye home, hello rome

So, I've decided I need a break. Life has just become too overwhelming with work, school, family, friends and everything else in between. Judging by the lack of posts on this blog and the comments I havent left on your blog, you can kinda sorta tell something is up. And it's not a bad something, it's just...stuff, you know?

In fact, spring break couldnt have come at a better time this year. In exactly one week from today (okay, more like eight days), I will be granted two weeks of vacation from work, from school, from family and everything in between. No, I wont be at Daytona Beach trading tips on how to excel in the drinking game of quarters, but rather, I shall be strolling along cobblestone streets and ancient ruins in the wonderful boot-shaped country of Italy!

It's been about six months of hellish preperation (the trip organizer is a middle-aged woman with a thick Middle Eastern accent, and try as I may to keep an open mind, I can only understand everyother word she said, making the trip enrollment process twice as long and twice as hard), but finally, finally, it's almost here! I'm going with my friend Maria and six other students from the University of Arizona. I havent met any of them, but I am hoping to God and crossing my fingers they arent nerdy travelers who wear four-foot long backpacks and velcro.

Already, I've been preparing myself for Italy. I've eaten at the Olive Garden four times last week, watched many Italian films such as The Lizzie McGuire Movie, and even went to the opera to a three hour performance of The Magic Flute (ok, so it wasnt an Italian opera, but the atmosphere was very much the same). I'm ready for fun and adventure...the only thing is...is Italy ready for me?