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Lisbon and a Big Announcement

I apologize for just putting this blog up! I arrived back from Portugal last Sunday, but I am just now posting this. I’m sorry, my loyal subscribers, I’m sorry. However, here I go.

I went to Portugal last weekend! We arrived on the first day after something like 5 hours on the bus (AGH!). We arrived in Lisbon, or Lisboa in Portuguese and Spanish. In Portugal, they pronounce the ‘s’ with a “sh” sound. So, it’s Leesh-boa. Anyway, so we arrived and went directly to our hotel after a tiny little bus tour as we got to our hotel. So we kind of hung out there, ran to get coffee, and started our bus tour. Oh but wait. We’re in Europe and moving around isn’t that easy right now. PROTESTS. There was a demonstration going on so we couldn’t do the bus tour so we had to walk EVERYWHERE that day. We walked through the very hilly city, saw some shops, and headed up the hill to the castle. There we got an awesome view of the city. We could see the estuary of Lisbon and where some of the most famous voyages began and ended. In Lisbon, the buildings are colorful (most of the time) but the roofs are red. It created an amazing view. I’m actually posting a picture this time, you’re welcome, my loyal individuals.

So we left there, and walked through one of the famous neighborhoods of Lisbon where all the stereotypical, European houses are with the clotheslines draped across from building to building as you walk under them and the flowers growing in the window boxes. We left there and had some free time which we used to eat and have some amazing coffee.

The next morning (Saturday), we woke up and went on a real bus tour this time. We went with a tour guide this time. Se llama Paula. Her name is Paula. So, we rode around and saw some of Lisbon, and then went to another beautiful church. The funny thing is, churches and their beauty are becoming so common that I’m not appreciating them as much. I want that to stop. So we left the church and headed to a tower over looking where the Tagus River touches the Atlantic Ocean. It was, you guessed it....surreal. We left there, went downtown and down to Plaza de Comercio (that’s in Spanish, I don’t know what it was in Portuguese, maybe that) which means Commercial Square. That is where all the markets and things were back in the olden times when the harbor in Portugal was THE HARBOR in Europe. So after that we had free time. We enjoyed some wonderful strawberry orange juice and some good food as we overlooked this harbor. So surreal. We left there, got on the train and headed to Cascais to see the Atlantic Ocean from the other side. We rode a commuter train which is essentially subway above ground. We got there and immediately went for what we always do...coffee. We sat, drank our coffee, and stared in the direction of our beautiful and wonderful homeland, the good ole U.S. of A. We then hit the water. Was it cold? YES. It was like ice. We walked around in it so much that our feet became numb. We then stayed and watched the sunset and it was WONDERFUL. We finally left there, returned to the hotel, went to get some pizza, and returned to the hotel yet again to watch some American TV. They had a bunch of American TV channels on the TVs and we were EXCITED.

The next morning, we got up, packed up, and came back to Spain. Portugal was definitely a different kind of place to me, but I liked it. I’d like to come to the beaches of Portugal in somewhere other than Lisbon one day. So, that was Portugal.

Onto the serious thing I wanted to tell everyone. I apologize if it seems depressing, but to me it is. So, after an eventful week and events which I had zero control over, I will be moving to a different house with a different family tomorrow. I know, I know. I have absolutely enjoyed my time here at the Badanta Martinez household. It’s been amazing. Isabel is an amazing woman and I hope I can stay in contact. I can’t really go any details about what’s happened, but I’ll just say that my roommate and I could simply not live together anymore. That’s neither good nor bad, but it sometimes just happens. We decided to not live together anymore and our company (ISA) decided that it was the best decision for me to move out. Was I happy? Not really. But ya know what, life isn’t fair. You don’t always get what you want. However, I’m excited. I get to move in with a whole new mom in a whole new place. I’m moving into El Centro (The Center) neighborhood. It’s a single woman in her 40s who does work. I really don’t know any more details other than I won’t have a roommate. I really think this is the right decision after everything, although this isn’t what I pictured as my best option. I’m learning thought that sometimes when God’s ready to put you somewhere else, it’s going to happen whether you want it to or not. I’m supposed to learn something else now! I’ve also learned that in the moments in which you’re the most uncomfortable, you learn the most. I plan on learning a lot over here in this beautiful city so that’s just right! Anyway, this isn’t easy for me or my host mom. Thank you all for your support and I’ll make sure I pass along to my host mom that you all love her! She’s a wonderful lady and I’ll miss her very much. I don't care what my new host mom calls me. I'll always be Tahnee, dang it. Once again, thank you all.

God is in control and when that is the case, everything is perfect.

Photo Blog is being updated!

Okay everyone, before I ride off to Portugal tomorrow, I decided to upload a little bit of my photo class projects onto my Photography Blog (tannersphotographyblog.com) if you'd like to go to them! If not, okay bye.

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"Ciao, ciao, grazie. Ciao, grazie, ciao": My trip to Italia

My trip to Italy. Whoa. What a whirlwind this was. I apologize for the length of this blog.

               

First, I left my house at 7:10 a.m. (still dark over here) in order to make my 9:30 flight to Milan. I catch the bus to go to the airport at around 7:45 and get to the airport around 8:10. I have no problem going through security or anything and then just wait on my flight. The thing about RyanAir (discount airline I flew with) is that they don’t give you assigned seats so everyone stands in line as soon as the gate is announced to get the best seat. So I stood, along with everyone else, and waited on my flight to board. Anyway, it did and I landed in Milan on time. I only had about two hours in Milan, so I rushed to the Metro in order to take the metro to the Duomo (cathedral). I only knew the way because of my wonderful friend Tara (woop woop shoutout) who is currently in Barcelona as I’m typing this. Anyway, I go to the cathedral in Milan. The outside is unlike anything I’d ever seen. I’ve seen quite a few cathedrals in my two trips to Europe, but this (fittingly being my first Italian one) was different. It’s actually the 4^th largest gothic cathedral in Europe (right behind Sevilla). Mind you, this is my first time in Italy, first time visiting a new city on my own, and also my first trip since I’ve been studying abroad. I walked in, paid the 2 euro to take pictures, and began snapping away. It was such an odd feeling in that cathedral. It was almost dark and gloomy. It was very interesting. The part that I was really wanting to see was a nail from the Crucifixion. Well, I start looking for a red light up high. Those were literally the instructions given to me by Tara. I finally find it and just begin staring. I then notice I’m THE ONLY one staring at what is quite possibly the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen. However, I just keep staring. I then decide to sit down...still staring. I begin to think. There I was, in the middle of Milan, Italy, by myself, and staring at a relic from the most important event in history to me...you know what, scratch that, to humanity, to the world, to the universe! I had a tiny little moment by myself in which it was hard to hide my emotion. I couldn’t get over the fact that there it was. That thing touched JESUS. That thing was used to CRUCIFY JESUS. “CRUCIFY, CRUCIFY” kept playing over and over in my head. I could go on, but I won’t. I then, discovering I won’t be able to get to other things if I don’t hurry, snap a few more pictures and exit the cathedral. I go back out into the square to see the beautiful sunshine just peeking out to see me. It was a perfect moment. For a split second, things got super surreal again. Then, reality snapped back (or was it the 9287352 African men trying to sell me “free jewelry”) in and I walked to the famous mall to the side of the cathedral. In this mall there was a small bull on the ground. What you’re supposed to do is spin on the bull’s testicles. Nope. Didn’t make that up. There’s even a divot from where people have done it so much. Why is this a custom? I truly have no idea. Maybe it means good luck? Maybe it doesn’t? I have no idea. So, after that, I walked around some more in that square, went to a souvenir shop, and headed back to the train station. There, I had Burger King, sat and rested, and boarded my train to Rome.

I get on the train to head to Rome and am slightly excited about this whole idea of “high speed rail through Italy” thing I’m about to discover. We start going and it is SUCH a smooth ride! I was very impressed, TrenItalia. After a beautiful ride through the Italian countryside and about 3 hours ride, I finally arrive at Rome Termini and meet my gracious little hostess, Claudia. We board the Bronx-esque metro and arrive at her house. After making a few phone calls to assure everyone I was in Rome safe and sound (because I wasn’t able to contact anyone all day), we left to tour a little and go get pizza. We walked by the Coliseum, Pantheon, and countless other historical relics of Rome. Then, onto the pizza. Not just any pizza, oh no. We went to Pizza Buffetto (sp?). This place was listed on all kinds of websites as a must-do, given awards, and covered in people. The best part about it is that it’s run by just old Italian people in a tiny little hole-in-the-wall restaurant. They stone bake the pizza, by the way. We all get large pizzas because the pizza is too thin to split and a pitcher of red wine. The wine was great and the pizza was better. So, there’s my first Italian meal. We then go home after just chilling at the restaurant for a while and go to bed because I have to get up and go to Florence the next morning.

           

Okay, so everything that’s happened to this point has happened on February 28^th, all in one day (the day the Pope stepped down, remember?). I get up and catch my 8:35 train to Florence. Another great train ride and I get to what, in my opinion, could be a contender for the most beautiful city in the world. I’ve seen Paris, southern France, northern and southern Spain, northern Italy (as of this point, yes), the beautiful southeastern United States, but NOTHING compares to this. It is just like I stepped into a painting. It’s quintessentially Italian. That’s the best way I know to describe it. Okay, so once again, I’m in Florence by myself. Which this idea, being over here and all, is really not that bad to me. I actually quite like it. I can do whatever I want whenever I want. The first thing I do in Florence is hit the cathedral because, according to Claudia, it’s beautiful. It’s once again a whole other experience when it comes to cathedrals. It’s a COMPLETELY different style than Milan or even Sevilla for that matter. Quite frankly, I don’t even know what style it is. I get in and begin my super touristy time in the cathedral by buying the ever famous audioguide. This is just a cordless phone-like contraption that you press numbers and listen to the facts of the object you’re looking at. It’s quite convenient, but in addition to its strap around my neck, my backpack, and my huge Canon strap around my neck, I am one word:  TOURIST. I don’t care though. I spend LOTS of time in that cathedral looking at everything. Once again, please add me on Facebook if you’d like to see pictures because it’s just easier on me that way. If you’d like me to post pictures and things if you don’t have Facebook, just leave me a comment or shoot me an email (nbeck1@utk.edu) and I’ll try to start doing it. The cathedral in Florence has a GIANT dome that at which, once again, I simply stared in amazement. It was just wonderful. I left there and began my journey of looking at other things. I just start walking toward the eventual goal of the Piazza Michelangelo (Michelangelo Square) in order to see the view of the city. The fun part is just walking through the streets, shops, and restaurants on the way. So I make it to the top of it (FINALLY) and see one of the most (here is this word again) amazing sights I’ve ever seen:  the city of Florence. By the way, Florence is in the middle of Tuscany, so that’s the scenery that surrounds Florence. I can see several cathedrals, basilicas, and other important historically relevant buildings. I come off there, eat at a restaurant and a couple cafes (wonderful cappuccino) and then head on back to the train station for my ride back. I spent a total of like 8 hours in Florence. So then, I get on my train back to Rome and here I go!

                
Okay, so that was March 1^st. I had spent two whole days in Italy and the best was yet to come because I had 2 whole days left in Rome! I get back, meet Claudia at her house, and have dinner there. I then set off to meet my friend from school, Will, who is studying abroad in France. I then meet his friend, Brandon, also studying in Pau, France. So, we meet up, go have a drink, and call it a night to meet in the morning. The next morning, we met at a metro and headed to the Vatican. The Vatican wasn’t the madhouse I’m expecting it is now with Conclave. It hadn’t started yet when I was there. That day, we saw St. Peter’s Basilica and the tomb of St. Peter. THE Peter from the Bible. You know, PETER. That was yet another “amazing” or “surreal” or “awesome” moment. We leave the gold plated Basilica, pay the 8 euro student discount price to go to the Vatican Museums with only one goal in mind: The Sistine Chapel. After what seemed like miles, we finally entered the chapel. Whew whew whew. I can understand why so many people would like to see it. It’s a masterpiece if I’ve ever seen one. One could probably spend like half a day to a day just in the Sistine Chapel because the ceiling tells the entire story of the Bible from Creation to Resurrection. It was fascinating. We left there, got some quick food, and moved on to see so much more. We walked along the tiny streets to find the Spanish Steps, walked up them, and continued walking to a park off to the side. This park was cool because it was only locals. We then watched the sunset there. To watch the sunset over the Basilica in the Vatican was a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I can now say I’ve done it. We then went and just chilled out, drank some wine, and watched movies at the house. That was quite fun in itself.

               

So that all took place on March 2^nd. Now, onto March 3^rd, we had another awesome day. We met up kind of late and hit the Coliseum. That place is also something else. It’s just like you walked into a movie or travel show just walking around it. We then hit the Roman Forum. This was the old city. We spent lots of time just strolling through all the ancient ruins and wondering about what this was and what that was. It was great. As we left , we headed toward the Pantheon. We ate along the way, did coffee, and assorted other things then the day was over. We decided to split up, rest a while, and meet up later for dinner and that we did. I then met back up with Claudia. We (all 4 of us) then went to eat at another tiny little pasta place. Also some of the best food we had there. Then, the night ended by us all going home. Claudia hung out for a little while and off to bed. I left her house at 4:50 a.m. and headed to the airport and before I knew it, I was back in my house.

               

Overall, it was a wonderful trip to Italy. It’s something I’ll never forget. Really. It’s also not the last time I’ll be in Italy. I can promise you that.

Photography Blog

Just a quick post here about this new blog. I have to start a photography blog for my photography class so I figured I'd go ahead and link it to this blog. I have no idea how much I'll be posting to it, so whatever. Click here to go to it. The address is tannersphotographyblog.blogspot.com.