I have no conception of the Italian language; everything I try to say in Italian comes out sounding like muddled Spanish. So you may ask, "What is that phrase at the top of your blog?"Thanks for the inquiry.
It is Italian and means "the beauty of doing nothing." I found it in Elizabeth Gilbert's book, Eat, Pray, Love, that I am reading for my travel writing class. The phrase comes from a conversation between Elizabeth and a Rome native in a local cafe. They are discussing the difference between Italians and Americans, and her friend explains that Italians are the masters of il bel far niente. I would settle with being a student of this beauty. And that is what I hope to be these next couple months.
Things are starting to come together for my trip. My visa has been approved, my travel bag showed up in the mail, my text books are ordered and my mind is racing. I found out that my family will be coming out to Rome after the program with Walsh is over and we will be jumping on a cruise.
"Some people have all the luck," that is what a member at the YMCA told me when I was explaining to him my plans in Rome. I feel more than lucky, I feel blessed.
18 days.
Here's the skinny on my program: http://www.walsh.edu/index/romeexperiencefalli2.htm .
Six Weeks Away (30.6.2010)
Here goes nothing ...
Hello blog-world. Nice to meet you.
Rome is six weeks away and I haven’t had time to even think about it. I need to start planning weekends and Maria has been on me about plane tickets … so I made the most logical step and started my blog for Rome. First thing on the check list completed!
I was looking at pictures from my trip to Spain in 2008. To the right is a landscape in Zestoa, my favorite spot of the trip. Seeing the picture made me smile instantly. I cannot wait to be out exploring again.
