Amsterdam

Ciao tutti!! Last week was fall break and I visited Paris, Amsterdam and Dublin. It was amazing! I saw the Eiffel Tower and walked around the Louvre in Paris.

Paris

There was a carnival going on while we were in Amsterdam that was full of out-of-this-world food trucks.

Bram Stoker

And the Bram Stoker festival was going on while we were in Dublin. We visited the “fire garden” which was an art instillation in tribute to the book Dracula.

Bram Stoker

I completed so many items on my bucket list within fall break that I thought I would dread returning to Florence. But I felt the exact opposite. It was a relief to finally be back in my own bed here in Firenze.

beautiful florence

Fall break gave me a refreshing new view of this marvelous city . It made me want to explore and discover all the hidden gems that I have yet to see in my stay abroad. With this mentality I made it a point this week to go places and see things, and I may have found my favorite place in all of Florence. It is the church of San Miniato Al Monte. It overlooks the whole city and is set in such a peaceful atmosphere away from the hustle and bustle of the center. It is molto bello!

S. Miniato

Wednesday I went to the Fiorentina vs Napoli soccer game. The whole stadium was bursting with energy and passion. People from Napoli were restricted to one area of seating, separated by these metal panel walls to keep fights from breaking out. They climbed the walls even still! One man stayed at the top of the wall holding the Napoli flag and yelling at Fiorentina fans. Pride for your team and where your from is huge here in Florence, and needless to say it was an experience.

Soccer game

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. Halloween is just now beginning to catch on here in Florence, so not many people dressed up, but we managed to keep the spirit.  To celebrate I watched Hocus Pocus and then went out with my friends as Marilyn Monroe.

halloween

I’m so lucky and blessed to have this experience and to have encountered the wonderful people and friends I have made here. My time her in Firenze is almost over, but I will make the most of the days that are left!!

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Shelbie is a student at Austin College studying at Florence University of the Arts during the Fall 2013 term.