New Year, New Semester

Tessa and I returned from our 15 day trip to Italy last week although it feels like much longer than that. Did I really just have a 3 week break? Now that I've finished my first couple days of 2nd semester, it doesn't feel like it. Tess went to AZ last week and will be there thru the end of Jan, that means its a one man party here in BCN. Actually, its now a two man party. I took on a very nice Dutch roommate named Victor. He's a 2nd year student and only needs a place for 4 months until he graduates. He was in the same situation as the other students who went on exchange, they come back to the last semester and have to find living quarters for a very short term. He was a tax lawyer before school, not sure exactly what he'll do next. Originally, Tessa and I didn't want a roommate but as the dollar has decreased in value by nearly 15% since we've arrived, what used to be an expensive place to live became a ridiculously expensive place to live. And you know how I feel about getting ridiculous.The big trip to Italy was beautiful, fun, cold and pricy. It was surprising that even a low end place to stay was $90/night. However, the unbelievable pizza and calzones every 5 feet made up for the living quarters. We went to many of the highlights while we were there; Florence, Lucca, Siena, the Cinque Terra, Pisa, Tuscany, Assisi, Rome, Vatican City the Amalfi Coast and Pompei.View of the bridges of Florence from inside the Ufitzi Gallery.

View from the tower next to the Duomo in Florence.Tessa emitting fireworks out of her back on New Years EveUnlike Down AKA Kilo, we don't lean like cholos...we lean like Pisa's. If you don't know Down AKA Kilo, you are missing out of something...special. Elbows up!

Amalfi Coast. Not your typical Christmas.

Our favorite town was Florence, the best sight was the Sistene Chapel, the best view was in Ravello and our best meal was in Lucca...potato gnocci, YUM! The most beautiful countryside was Tuscanny, it was everything you'd expect. The Vatican was the church to end all churches, now I know where all the money goes. The best statue was David in Florence which only slightly beats out his La Pieta at The Vatican. The most picturesque village was Positano. The most beautiful gardens were in Ravello.Outside the Coliseum in Rome. The only time to get a shot without billions of tourists is at night.

The crumbling remains of what was the center of Rome.

Ravello. What a view!
Positano. Little town...Big New Years Party.

The biggest dump was Naples, what a hellhole! Trash was everywhere and the traffic was insane. The most touristy was Pisa, 5 million guys trying to sell you belts or leaning shot glasses. The biggest rip off was either the $27 we paid to park while at Pompei or the hotel with the "garden view" of concrete and construction workers. Actually, the airline that sold us return tickets then went out of business without returning the money was also a big ripoff.The trash lined streets of Naples.

The people in Italy were extremely welcoming and friendly. We had no problem getting around even though we had a rental car and drove everywhere. The hardest part about driving was not the roads or the other drivers, both were fine, it was the signs. Holy crap do they do a terrible job with signs. They have twice as many as they need in 1/4 of the proper locations. Does it really help to get a sign for a turnoff at the bend of the turnoff you are passing? No, I don't think so.
Last day in Italy at Pompeii. Mt. Vesuvius is in the background.

I'll load pics soon as I am heading to the gym. This semester I am going to get in shape. New Years resolutions #1.