Day 87 - Buona Domenica!

Here they say Buona Domenica! (Happy Sunday!)
Yesterday was a splendidly sunny Sunday in Rome.
Something to celebrate indeed!



A man was seen selling roses for a euro each in Piazza del Popolo.

A woman was seen cycling near the Giolitti gelato shop.

Stephanie was seen gorging the warm golden sunlight.

Day 86 - Caprarola, Villa Lante and Bomarzo

Hm... I love this format.
This is a Cornell field trip that we went on, on Satruday. None of the Prof. except one came, so it was a very relaxing trip. Not to mention that the weather was drop-dead-gorgeous. I took in a motion sickness pill in the morning as was pretty much asleep throughout the trip, with or without my eyes closed. There's one thing I really want to forget about these days... it makes me want to sleep all the time, wishing that it would be found somehow.

Day 84 - Goodbye to Siesta Days

Guess what? Just as the weather is about to get warmer, school life is finally getting buzier! With tests, papers and final projects coming up, I have been cooking less, sleeping less, and blogging less. Not that it is bad, since that's why we pay so much to go to Cornell. But, qualche volta, I do wish life is more like this...


Dog and owner, napping at Largo Argentina on a blessedly sunny afternoon (*sigh* such lucky lucky creatures!).

Day 80 - Papal Easter Mass

The Papal Easter Mass at the Vatican is the pinnacle of Easter Sunday celebration for the Catholics. Thousands of people pour into St. Peter's square to see the Pope give his blessings...


It was pouring rain, but these believers are not to be deterred.


From very very far away, I did see the pope as two-pixel dot. But people watching was fun too. Some sang, some yawned. A couple of children got dragged into the Mass too... some curled up in their parents lap, others in a plastic-bubbled prams. The older ones are nagging or find their own amusement. Poor things... they must be bored da morire.


For the most part, the Vatican Easter celebration is like a gigantic communal TV-watching event (and that's the Pope singing hymns in Latin).

(Get your eyes off my daughter, you heathen!) I think I was rude to snoop around with my camera. But hey, I wasn't the only one!


Mommy... somebody's stalking me...

Day 61-69 - The Northern Trip

After almost two weeks of laziness, passport hunting, and dilly-dallying on Photoshop, this post is finally up!


Bella figura of Torino. Tall, lanky and expensively furnished woman.
A lil' too manly for some people's taste though.


Look closely, these are no ordinary roll cakes...
They're towels!!!


I thought that this combination of gray, lime, deep blue and a dash of burnish red is inspiring...


Cheers from Vicenza!


This colorful shop in Venice sells natural pigments for painting. These powdery tints are derived from natural stones. The shopkeeper looks like a messy artist, but he really is a sweet guy. He gave me discounts after I took his pictures and chatted to him.


Fancy a romance with a cute army officer?


*Weeeeeeek*


This is how esteemed Phd. doctors of the University of Padova graduate...


And who says pigeons are sloppy, messy dirty little creatures who can't walk in line?

Day 73 - Chronicle of My Domesticated Existence

A bouquet of fragrant freesias and a fried spring rolls.




It's not often that you see women accordionist around!

Day 70 - I'm Back!

And am in love with Rome more and more. I will be back blogging more photographs on Sunday. The weather has been pretty nasty throughout the trip, so I will need to absorb and photosynthesize a few day's worth of sunlight to get back to my normal level of bubbliness. Cheers!


Gondola boats bobbing up and down the canal of Venice. Romantic and charming as it seems, these boats will take a good bite of your wallet. A 40-50 ride minutes on these costs you about 80 to 95 euro plus tips!!!