Author Archive for Annalyse
Annalyse is a college student studying in Los Angeles who was born Sunny Side Up. Her love for life, enthusiasm, and humor are infectious.
Best costumes from Venice during “Carnival”
Carnival in Venice is an elegant costume party in the streets, along the canals and in private villas. Locals and visitors spend a fortune on costumes and entry to the 600 Euro Private Balls. Five thousand revelers crowded into St. Mark’s Square and chased away all the pigeons. Approximately 3,000,000 visitors come to Venice each [...]
A Dangerously Sweet Chocolate Festival in Florence
The pension where we students live provides breakfast and lunch, but not dinner, so most nights we eat at typical three course Italian meal at a restaurant; pasta, meat and a dessert. After inhaling such a large meal, we usually stroll around Florence. Last week we stumbled upon the famous Chocolate Festival in Piazza della [...]
I left my heart in … Paris
Last weekend I fell in love with a new city, Paris. For three euphoric days I ran around the City of Lights and, like most first time visitors, I tried to see all the tourist attractions. We climbed the Eiffel Tower in the teeth-chattering winter weather, fell into a trance listening to the boys’ choir [...]
Wine Tour & Tasting in Chianti
Wine tasting in the Tuscan hills is a “must” while visiting Italy. Three other students and I rented a car in Florence and took off for a 12- hour tour of the Chianti Region, home of the famous Chianti Classico wine. We began with a three-hour hike through the vineyards. The vines were [...]
Weekend in the Tuscan hills
By: Annalyse, College Correspondent in Italy Studying (Sometimes) For my second weekend in Firenze, my friends and I decided we wanted to have a truly Italian experience, so we rented a car. We rented a mini compact car from Eurocar, for 70 Euro for a day full of adventures. When split between five people, it [...]
Cliff Jumping in a blizzard in Interlaken, Switzerland
My first impression of Switzerland was the clean, invigorating Alpine air and incredible mountain scenery. But I was looking for high-adrenoline adventure. After our 8-hour bus ride from Florence with lots of other students, we checked into a spotless student hostel and bundled up for snow fun. The modern network of cog railways and cable [...]
Rome. Where the Pope has achieved both celestial and celebrity status
Rome and the Vatican I have to say that religious traditions in any country are a fascinating portrait of the local culture and a jumble of natives and tourists all scrambling towards the same goal. Italy, of course, is no different. After we visited the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel last Sunday, we joined [...]
Florence’s Sweet Spots and Italian Men
The hardest part about your first few days in a foreign country is trying to balance your need for rest after a long week with your need to absorb anything and everything all at once. It’s kind of like trying to soak up the culture through osmosis while running erratically from one spot to the [...]
First hour, first day in Europe at the Frankfurt Airport
The two weeks before my departure were a whirlwind of activity and emotions: stress, excitement, anxiety, parties, sad goodbyes, painful packing and uncomfortable unpacking. Great. I can order a beer at age 20 here. My jet lag remedy. I’ve heard some people drink a cold beer in a hot shower to minimize the agonizing [...]
