FIELD TRIP WEEK - South Tyrol, Alto Adige

Last school year for Field Trips Week (end of September), I went to Berlin with the 11th graders. This year, I was assigned to the 9th grade trip... to the Dolomites! I was really excited, as the Dolomites have been on my wish list of travel spots.

After about a 4-ish hour bus ride, we were in the Alto Adige (South Tyrol) area, very close to Austria. It actually felt a lot more like Austria than Italy and they speak German much more than Italian.

It felt so good to be up in the mountains with fresh air and cool weather. The sun was out for the week, raining when we got on the bus for the trip back to school on Friday (lucky!).

What a school field trip!! We had 39 students and activities included: mountain biking, high ropes course, handmade ziplining, forest games, bouldering, rock climbing on the side of a mountain, a 10-hour day hike, a night hike, waking up to watch the sunrise while on top of a mountain... ummmmm YES!

The view from my hotel room. I meeeeeeannnnnn... amazing!!

After checking into the hotel, we went to a high ropes course. It was quite expansive and I like how it was set up. We watched a video about clipping in and the harnesses were double-clips, so we could do it all individually instead of having a guide belaying each person one at a time. It was a lot of fun -- and all students participated and got up there!

Definitely a high-light of the week for me was watching the sun rise from behind a mountain while we sat at a cafe atop a mountain. Wow!! Definitely worth the 4:30am wake-up. From there, we went on a 10-hour hike... yikes!

We were on top of a mountain (having taken two different chairlifts up... and up!). The views were amazing. 360-degree view, surrounded by expansive mountains.

Two thumbs up!

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween 2015!

I decided on a last-minute costume of sorts for school on Friday... and glad I did! It was pretty funny surprising people throughout the day. I scared a few students, even though it wasn't supposed to be a scary costume. I shocked many when they walked past my desk and said hello to my 'normal side'... then got a surprise when they saw the rest! Hahaha. And others just stared or said hello to me after a double-take and some giggling.  :P

EXPO - American Pavilion's BRUNCH

The universal exposition has been going on in Milan since the beginning of last May. It ends the last day of October (tomorrow!). EXPO has brought millions of visitors to the city over the past 6 months. Preparations for the event started before I even moved here, more than two years ago.

EXPO 2015

Wikipedia article: EXPO 2015

It has been a really big deal (for good reason -- it's a HUGE event!) and many hoped that it would boost Milan/Italy's economy. Not everyone have been fans of having such a large project in the city though. It's been expensive to host and has brought many extra people to the area. During the opening weekend last May, there were protests, riots, and vandalism in various areas of the city. Throughout the city, there have been plenty of examples of the negative feelings:

Since opening weekend, however, the EXPO seems to have gone pretty well. Friends of mine from school that have gone have really enjoyed it... or said that it was too crowded, they didn't get to go inside many pavilions, it's too big to really see all of it in one visit, etc. Instead of going to the actual EXPO grounds, where countries around the world each have a pavilion and then fit the theme, Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life, I went to an American-style brunch instead! Perrrrrrfect.

I fully enjoyed going to a lovely brunch instead of braving the crowds of the full event.

Joining a couple friends from school, we went to brunch on a Sunday that was offered through the American pavilion and were really pleased. (We went in early September -- I'm still behind on posting to the blog!) People could also attend multi-course dinners led by famous chefs. Brunch took place on an outdoor patio overlooking the Duomo's plaza. It was great. (Oh, and there was also unlimited coffee, food, and mimosas... I enjoyed fresh orange juice.)   :P

Gorgeous day. Gorgeous view.

It doesn't get much better than delicious coffee AND a giant chocolate chip cookie!

Heath and Angela were the same two friends that I went out for dinner with on my birthday in August! We then stopped by Bar Luce for a drink:

Cemetery Visit - Cimitero Monumentale di Milano

I have read that there is a large cemetery on the north side of the city that is a great place to visit when in Milan. It turns up on lists of things to do in Milan. I finally made it there this past Sunday! I really enjoyed my time walking through the cemetery. It was a gorgeous day and so peaceful throughout the cemetery's grounds. The place is well kept and incredibly interesting to walk through.

Below are some of my favorite photos from my visit to the Cimitero Monumentale di Milano:

The main entrance:

Mom and Aunt Gail's Visit in Milan

Heart-shaped pizzas at my favorite place!

Photos of yummy pastries are a must.

Visiting Bar Luce within the Prada Foundation:

Mom, shopping the olive aisle in Esselunga. (Seriously, there's an entire aisle of olives.)

SHOES!

A gorgeous day in the center of the city   : )

Lots of walking = Tired feet.

Ordering aperitivo in Opera... through the window   : P

Venice - FAVORITES

This will be my last post of my time in Venice at the end of June with my mom and aunt. They are bits and pieces of my favorites from our 3-day stay!

Libreria Acqua Alta is the bookstore that I mentioned in a past post about an amazing bookstore that we stumbled upon in Venice. There are books ALL over... even a staircase made of books in the back that overlooks a canal! There are bathtubs and gondolas overflowing with books. I loved it. The Smithsonian wrote an article about this bookstore last year: Why Does This Bookstore Keep Its Books in Bathtubs?

I love this photo of Mom and Aunt Gail   : )   Le Sorelle! (The Sisters)

THE MOST delicious bruschetta I've ever tasted. (Twice.)   : )

These two weren't together on the water taxi but they are equally fabulous.

Gelatooooo!

Completing this set of photos with one of Le Sorelle   : )

Gorgeous Venice. Gorgeous Doors

This past trip to Venice was my favorite. I feel like we had enough time (over the two-night stay) to explore, walk, and enjoy. Venice is such a special city and I really, really love the details that are plentiful if you just look around.

Is this place for sale?? I love it!

We were waiting for the boat taxi to pick us up and go to Murano Island when this happened:

Not a door... but still gorgeous: