Randomness in Vicenza

Teatro Olimpico
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Well hello everyone!  It was so nice to hear from all of you!

This weekend, I hopped on a train and went to a small town called Vicenza.  It is in the northern part of Italy, and it was chilly there!  I stayed with a guy I know through one of our mutual friends.  His name is Pat, he's actually a 2nd Lieutenant in the US Army (yes, he's american), and is based in Vicenza, but lives just outside of the city.  So relax everyone, this was legit.  I got to see the American Army base.  It was weird, once I got past the gates, I felt like I was back in the U.S., there was a theater, a Subway, Burger King, Taco Bell.  It was odd...  Great guy, he picked me up from Vicenza, and cooked for me, then one of his friends was having a small party, so we went there.  The party was an interesting mix of people.  Some random americans, some other Army people, and then some Italians as well.  Pat is quite the charcter though I will say.  He was such a good guy, not the typical macho "Army Man".   I was however, mistaken 3 times for being Patrick's friend, Pete's, wife.  We walked into the kitchen together, and were talking to some man, and he says "Oh Pete, it's so nice that your wife is here to see you, etc."  And Pete and I just look at each other, like what?  Do I look like I'm old enough to be married?  Cripes people.  Pete is not married, so I wasn't mistaken for his actual wife.  Later, I was mistaken for his fiancee and girlfriend.  Which is really weird.  He was about 2 inches shorter than me, let's get serious people.  Apparently it's a big deal to be married in the Army....Marriage=disgusting

Marriage = disgusting

Just inside Teatro Olimpico
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We went up to Monte Berico, it's not really a mountain, I would say less than a mountain, more than a hill.  But the story behind it is that the Virgin Mary appeared there when there were bad times for the Vicentinos, who had been suffering from a terrible plague for years.  The Madonna promised that if the people of Vicenza built a church on the top of the hill she would rid them of the plague. The Vicentinos kept their promise and the church was built in 3 months.

The original church later became a sanctuary.

A view of the city! It is so Cute!
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Then, on Saturday we went to a winery in a town nearby.  Quite possibly my favorite thing about Italy is how they let you try everything.  And I mean everything.  Like at the open air markets (which are everything, and my new favorite) if you're not sure if you want to buy something, you can just try it, doesn't really matter what it is, bread, cheese, wine.  So at this winery, there is obviously a ton of wine everywhere, and if you want to try a certain kind, you just ask them, and they pur you a glass.  Wow.  So we sampled a couple kinds, I even made a purchase for you Dad.  :)  But, my favorite part is what I call the gas station.  Do not be confused, the following all takes place inside the winery, not at an actual gas station.  The locals all have the huge 5 liter jugs (slightly larger than a gallon of milk) that they whell in on carts, and they have them filled.  So there are these little stands that look like the thing you pull your car up to.  There were about 5 of them, of all different varieties of wine, and you choose which one you would like, and they fill up your jug!  Ha I wish we had those in America.  It costs about 70 Euro cents per liter.  So that was a fun stop.  That evening, Pat was headed to Bologna with some friends, so I hitched a ride with them and then hopped a train back to Florence.  It was a nice break from the city!

Palazzo Chiericati, Vicenza'a Museum
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Today, Sunday, I went to an Opera.  It's ok if you're thinking "Whoa, who is this girl?  Leah now goes to operas?"  I am just that sophisticated.  OK, actually it was confusing, I had no idea what was really going on.  I had to read the synopsis online.  haha.  But we all went to "La Boheme" which is the Opera that the musical/movie "Rent" is based off of.  Despite being utterly confused because it's all opera style, AND in Italian, it was a very good show.  It is, however, cold out.  Two weeks ago it was nearly 60 degrees, and now it's like 30-40.  Kinda reminds me of MN, which stinks!  Oh well.  I've taken a new liking to travelling solo.  At first it was kinda scary, but then I realized that people are so hospitable, and just willing to talk.  Plus, it's SO easy to meet people in hostels, because everyone staying there is doing the same thing.  It's great.  Well, I have a ton of homework to do!

Vicenza Piazza at night!
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Until my next adventure, Ciao!

Love you and miss you all!

Leah