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:

My 30th birthday... in VERONA!

It was pretty special to spend my 30th birthday in Verona!!

Yummy creme brulee after a delicious dinner:

...Something was very funny...  

lovely VERONA, ITALIA

From Abruzzo, Angela and I took the train to Verona. What a great city! I really like that Verona IS a city, yet it is small and incredibly walk-able. We arrived late in the evening, had a full day the next day (my birthday!), and then just the morning of the day after... and it seemed like a good amount of time to explore and see the sights.

Below are some photos from our full day as we walked around:

Verona's arean (coliseum) is great... it is central in the city and there are often shows and concerts in the evenings (of course... there were no shows the two nights we were in town... but shows surrounding our time there! ha... next time.)

One end of the arena/coliseum:

We walked past a few libraries!

This one is the antique archives and communal library:

Library and Archives:

the piazza in front of the duomo:

Piazza Erbe:

makin misshaps in Milan - whoops!

Sheesh. Seems that since returning to Milan a week ago, I'm extremely accident prone.

• Arriving back to my apartment the first afternoon with luggage in tow, I tan over my big toe with a suitcase as I tried to squeeze everything through the door... the toe is still cut.
• Making the bed with newly washed sheets, I stubbed my second toe (same foot) badly on the corner of the bed.
• ...That toe is now completely red and purple, swollen, and does not want to bend.
• Purchasing local honey from the town's fresh dairy vending machine for little gifts, I tried to buy 3 not realizing that there were only 2 left (...3 euro gift to the vending machine. D'Oh!)
• My bicycle tipped over while filling water bottles at the park today and the chain came off.
• ...Because of the chain on (off!) my bike, I slowly limped home... in the rain.

The good news?? --

Some pieces of me are hurt but nothing too bad!

I fixed the bicycle chain!! First time ever attempting that and I figured it out  : )

Tomorrow I leave Milan for a little beach vacation with a friend and a visit to my Italian cousins!

My cousins live in Alba Adriatica - within Abruzzo.
After 3 days with family on the beach, Angela and I will be heading to Verona for a couple nights - where I'll be on my 30th birthday!!
...After that... back to Milan to prepare for another school year at ASM.

A couple Google Maps screenshots of where we'll be. The red marker furthest west is Milan... to the east is Verona... and south is Alba Adriatica!

I hope that when I return to Milan (as a thirty year-old!), Milan will welcome me back kindly, safely, and accident-free. -- Here's to a great second year ahead!

Robert's birthday - Cinque Terre!

Happy birthday to Robert! One of my favorite people and a dear friend. I feel pretty lucky to be able to write that after just a year in Italy with him and Mary. There was a great group of friends from school that went to Manarola to help celebrate with this amazing guy. We all went to dinner at Trattoria dal Billy. Everyone has told me that this is the best restaurant in Manarola... with amazing seafood. The food was amazing and just never stopped! We were served family style and I cannot even begin to count how many different dishes we had. It was all pretty delicious.

Jesye, me, Robert-the-birthday-man...

Sunday morning was Robert's true birthday. We enjoyed some time by the water and then grabbed coffees before climbing back into the Birthday Bus to head back to Milan...

(I mean, really... how is this even real?!)

"Cappuccinos! Capp- capp- uccinos!"

The great weekend wasn't finished yet! We arrived back to Milan... grabbed some birthday gelatos (because dinner the night before apparently wasn't enough - HA!)... and met up again later for pizza at Lo Chalet right in Opera. 

Birthday candle pizza!

Happy birthday to Robert   : )

more than once in a lifetime - YEAH!

Two weeks after going to Cinque Terre with my good friend Julie... I went back again! Robert - a great friend and colleague of mine in Milan - was celebrating his birthday with a weekend in Manarola. Perrrrrfect. Robert and his wife, Mary, have become dear friends of mine... we laugh a ton, have good conversations, and I know that I can go to them for anything.

Other friends from school - Heath and Jesye - and I jumped into the Birthday Bus (as Mary appropriately termed it) with Robert and Mary... and in less than a 3-hour drive... we went from Milan to lovely, amazing Ciiiiiiinque Terrrrrrrre! (AND arrived in time for a gorgeous sunset.)

We were told that the apartment had a grand terrace and sea view... sure did!!!

We'll jump to that!

With Heath... each having a moment   : )

Dinosaur walks for Manarola!

The top two levels of the orange one was ours for the weekend!!!

apartment crawl, part 2 - Opera

After the Grant Wiggins PD, there were plans for part 2 of the Apartment Crawls...

(Part 1 was while I was in Denver for Lenny and Lexey's wedding...)

There is a good number of teachers new to ASM this year... and most of us live in the small town of Opera near the school. During the apartment crawls, we visit 3 or 4 apartments in an evening... starting at one with some drinks and snacks... then all walking over to the next apartment of the evening... etc. It's fun -- a nice, relaxed social evening and a great way to see everyone's place.

...Having seen 4 other teachers' apartments so far ...it makes me realize that mine is pretty boring. Small. And not the greatest. BUT... I still like mine. It's cozy and feels good. And the balcony view is awesome too! Each apartment seems to have its pluses and minuses.

Heath's apartment was first up for the evening and Angela brought him a birthday cake as a little belated celebration! (When she asked him how old he was turning... he told her 83...)   : P

(Some of us didn't wait for the candles before eating the cake... hehehe...)

Angela and Heath!