Classes started officially this Thursday. I had intermediate Italian which was and will be challenging but I think ultimatly it will be better for me especially since I'm not taking it for a grade. I also had my first non-Italian class which was Business and Cross-Cultural ethics. There are people from all over Europe in my class and it is mainly discussion based so that makes for a good mix. I wasn't feeling to well so after dinner and class I went right to bed. I woke up feeling better on Friday, which was good because I went on a group tour to the top of the Lingotto Mall.
The Lingotto (which I've mentioned before) used to be where FIAT cars were built. They built cars vertically so the smaller parts are built on the bottom like steering wheels and such and the the top/roof was the test track for the cars. We got to walk around it and it was really really cool. There is also a really interesting ball/dome on top of the building equipped with a helipad and its a meeting room for important FIAT executives.
The view was disappointing because the weather hasn't been nice since Monday. It was hazy so the Alps we only slightly visible and my pictures only came out so so. We could see the Olympic bridge from the building and we can go walk on it so I may do that soon.
Next we got to see Giovanni Agnelli's (the former owner of FIAT)private art collection. I was amazing. There were 2 pieces from Picasso and a few from Matisse too. They were gigantic pieces of art, I can only imagine what their home looked like.
We made dinner later on and then ventured down town in search of gelatto from Grom. It's a chain and they have one in NYC too (highly recommend it). They do monthly flavors too according to which fruits are in season. Then we went out for a drink and then decided to head home, or so we thought...
We waited a while for the bus. When we got on the bus it took forever. Why? Because we took it to the total wrong end of town. I used my broken Italian to ask this group of guys how far away we were and then they called us a cab. 2 hours and 30 Euro later we were home!
Saturday morning we left for our weekend in Milano. The train was nice and only a 2 hour ride but once again the weather was gray and gloomy. We checked into the hostel and then went to il Duomo which is in the center of Milan. It was so gorgeous. The building was magnificent. The square it was in had tons of pigeons and guys scamming you helping the pigeons on you and then asking for money. Lucky for me I'd rather die than let one of those rats of the sky touch me. We went inside of il Duomo but pictures didn't come out too great. I said a little prayer for keeping my travels safe and then moved on to the Galleria. The Galleria had high ends shops, cafes, and hotels. Basically where I will spend all of my time shopping and dining once I marry George Clooney.
We then walked to the famous opera house La Scala. It was so unbelievable and grand inside.I would have loved to see a ballet there. They were preparing a stage for the next days performance. Then we walked through the museum and saw various costumes and instruments.
Next was Castello Sforzesco. Fun travel fact, museums don't charge you admission if its 30 min. before they close! That was really cool too. Someone raised a funny point that sometimes buildings don't last 25 years in the states (cough cough BATES) but all over Europe these accident buildings are everywhere. After we walked around a good bit we went back and hung out at the hostel.
Today we went to the church where DaVinci's Last Super is held. Tickets were sold out so maybe when Dad comes we'll plan ahead and go there. Then we went to the shop I read about on fashion blogs, 10 Corso Como. It. Was. Amazing. Itay's version of Henri Bendel only better! Everything there was so beautiful. Exactly the kind of art museum I enjoy. Too expensive for shopping but boy did I appreciate everything in there.
Tomorrow I'm going to explore downtown Torino by myself so I can shop and people watch. I can't wait and I'm going to try to meet some Italians so I can learn and assimilate. That's all for now but pics are up and more posts soon to come! xox
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