Free in Florence

10 Free things to do in Florence - 



Not my creation, but more things for MY Florence Bucket List...





http://www.italymagazine.com/10-things-you-can-do-florence-free





Have done the San Miniato (will do it again), and Piazzele Michelangelo at sunset... This time I will look for Collodi's grave.

More glass info for Murano

Great article... with some beautiful samples!

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/19/travel/murano-italy-still-sparkling-after-700-years-.html?_r=0#

Can you Castle?

How many castles do you think we will see on our study abroad trip?







Here's one...
VIGNOLA
La Rocca in Vignola has the "famous spiral staircase designed by Jacopo Barozzi (1507-1573). This architect, known as "il Vignola", was later to design a number of important churches in Rome, and Palazzo Farnese at Caprarola, 60 km north of Rome. 

The remarkable thing about this staircase is that it is 

self-supporting, as it is built with no supporting pillars 

but all the weight is carried by the outer walls. In 1562 

Barozzi published a treatise on architecture, "Regola 

delli cinque ordini d'architettura", that continued to be used until the eighteenth century. In his home town of Vignola they are so proud of their famous son that years ago the local “pasticceria” created a chocolate and coffee cake in his honour, the Torta Barozzi. The recipe is a well kept secret and the cake can only be bought in very few places in Italy, so after your visit to the castle you might want to buy one in a box to take home. 
Description of the castle or “rocca” of Vignola (24 km south-east of Modena)"

A leather making demonstration possibility in Florence

http://www.pierotucci.com/en/leather-factory/71-0-Italian-Leather-Workshop-Tour.htmlhttp://www.pierotucci.com/en/leather-factory/71-0-Italian-Leather-Workshop-Tour.html

Shopping in Firenze... I can't WAIT!!!

Sundried tomatoes vacuum packed to take home... I used ours all year long. Sweet as candy!

Mushrooms...







leather handbags, earrings... love love love this place...


http://www.visitflorence.com/what-to-do-in-florence/shopping/san-lorenzo-central-market.html

Making better Movies

Since we will be using the iPad mini for recording information, video, photos, and sound on our study abroad trip, here are some tips on how to create better videos.

http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2013/05/90-videos-that-will-help-you-make.html#.VUYSW6ZFNNo

I so recommend freetech4teachers. You can search for other topics. Most are very hands on articles and lots of samples and educational applications for teachers. GO VISIT!

Happy Movie Making!

Red or white - Rosso o Bianco?

3-minute wine course

http://everybodylovesitalian.com/wset-3-minute-wine-school-italy-presented-tim-atkin-mw/

Montepulciano, Italy

Modern day Baccus - god of wine

Montepulciano view of wine tasters

VOGALONGA

This will occur the day after we leave...

VOGALONGA – 24th May, Venice Taking to the Venetian waters on the 24th May will be a large gathering of boating participants for the annual Venetian event, Vogalonga. Vogalonga was started in 1974, originally as an alleged protest by the local rowing clubs against the rising number of motor boats. Today, the event is a lot more good natured, with local rowers and private boaters coming together to take part. The course spans 32 kilometres and covers the San Marco Basin, the Island of Burano, the Grand Canal and Punta della Dogana. - 

See more at: 

http://www.italymagazine.com/featured-story/whats-italy-may-2015#sthash.6SwFLBAd.dpuf

Getting Ready for Italia!

Last week, we met with and filmed video greetings from Valdosta Mayor, John Gayle.

Yesterday, we filmed greetings from the VSU President, Bill McKinney, and 

COEHS Interim Dean, Brian Gerber.

Schulyr, Dean Gerber, Nancy, Greg, President McKinney, Jordan, Shakela, Dr. Marciano (Program Director)
and Center fro International Programs Director, Dr. Niklov.

It took Dr. Marciano a few takes using the new iPad minis. The Italy Study Abroad Program has secured the iPads through a technology grant from the College of Education and Human Services. The iPads will be used to videotape, audio record, and photograph the sights and sounds of Italy, as we observe early childhood development and its relationship to school, culture, and cuisine. The culminating course projects will be a multimedia presentation by each student.

We will visit seven schools in Italy, meet with teachers, share some American Children's Literature, and teach some songs. In each classroom, we will also observe how children and teachers interact, materials, and other aspects of Italian culture and cuisine.


See Program Details at www.valdosta.edu/studyabroad/italy.php.

Monte Bianco, Anyone???

This won't be open until June 2015...

Man...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gMJmh1Icvs

Travel safe and Smart

Luggage, Backpacks, and Phones-

Another great article with details on keeping your belongings (and you) safe.




Please read:

http://thesavvybackpacker.com/pickpockets-europe/

Buon Compleanno, Roma - April 21

Yesterday was the birthday of the city of Rome.  Some of it looks like a Hollywood set... and it have been the setting for hundreds of movies.

Thanks to Dominic and Frank for the clip and info below:

http://everybodylovesitalian.com/roman-coliseum/

We will be there soon!

Scarves - MANY looks for easy travel

I can't get by while traveling without a scarf or two, and a light wrap. Even the hottest days turn cool in the evenings.

Here is a 7 minute video to demonstrate how to use the scarves we might buy throughout our travels.



Scarves make GREAT souvenirs and wonderful gifts for yourself and are lightweight and SMALL enough to carry easily.

https://www.facebook.com/donna.fanpage/videos/vb.184431874142/10152638654424143/?type=2&theater

Getting Ready for Italy - Creating a Travel Blog

 I have created a separate blog for the day-by-day entries of our VSU Study Abroad Trip.

http://italy15vsu.blogspot.com

Using Blogger, I will have it created in a few minutes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rA4s3wN_vK8

More style information

La Bella Figura.... more


http://www.panoramitalia.com/en/lifestyle/fashion/imperfectly-perfect-bello/2919/


http://www.panoramitalia.com/en/lifestyle/fashion/dos-don-ts-italian-fashion/2949/


And beware of FAKES.... YOU could be arrested for purchasing counterfeit items.

http://www.panoramitalia.com/en/lifestyle/fashion/faked-italy-knockoff-fashion-big-business-country-quality-wares/2916/

Climbing Brunelleschi's Dome at the Duomo in Florence, Italy - Bucket List for 2015.

WHO is going to join me???  463 steps... Ahh... that's nothing...

The doors open at 8:30 AM... but we'll go by 8:10 or so.

Here's a video of a gentleman who climbed a few years ago...  INSPIRATION!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohB1sNzpBe0





Read about the process of building such a structure


Brunelleschi's Dome: How a Renaissance Genius Reinvented

Siena Dinner

I am SSSSOOOO excited. We will be joining members of the Selva (Forest) Contrade for dinner one of the nights we are in Siena.

They will show us the museum and the shrine and church of the contrade. Dinner will be excellent...  - a Tuscan beef stew, finished by the Kiss of Siena for dessert!

Another night, we will revisit a place Ray and I found through Rick Steves last year, Trattoria Papei.

 Here is Rachel Ray visiting the same place, behind the city hall.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rj15c2cKH1k

What's not to like???????

Budget Meals

GREAT article. We will be doing LOTS of this kind of "picnic" lunch runs to make the most of our budgets.


http://thesavvybackpacker.com/eat-drink-budget-traveling-europe/

MANGIA!

 So many tasty treats.... and you can take "to go" containers and find a cozy spot out of doors.

Dressing like a European... WHAT to pack - What NOT to Pack

This one is more for the guys...   Good tips.


http://thesavvybackpacker.com/how-to-dress-avoid-looking-like-an-american-tourist-in-europe/


And ladies... for you:

http://thesavvybackpacker.com/womens-european-fashion/

How to Flush in Italy...

These are ancient toilets in Pompeii...

To save you some precious time... and to clear up confusion...  Here are tilts you may encounter in Italy...

Straddle...

foot pedal

PULL   

 push...

push on the wall   (Big for #2, small for #1)

another push

toilet and bidet

 tank above with pull chain

tank above with a PUSH valve

We ALL have to GO...

NEVER FLUSH ANYTHING 

OTHER THAN TOILET PAPER!!!