The Arena, Padova and Lake Garda

Its been quite the week, to say the least. Last Monday we did another little field trip for Art History. It was finally nice enough to visit the Arena (since it's outdoors). I had only seen the outside of the Arena, but finally I got a chance to see what it's like inside, and it is pretty cool especially when you realize how many people were killed in the Arena for the Courts entertainment… kind of creepy. Anyways, here's some pics!

Our teacher Andrea (aka Verona's coolest tour guide ever)

FUN FACT: This Arena is older than the Colosseum.. take that Rome

Andrea gave us a quick lecture on the Arena and although it does not open for operas or concerts until June, he was telling how they city os trying to get Lady Gaga to perform here. Now that would be a sight to see!

FUN FACT #2: Well, we all know that Leonardo Dicaprio is one of the most gorgeous actors and of course played Romeo back in the day. So naturally, he has a house right next to the Arena, above Dolce and Gabbana… HERE IT IS! 

He has the top two floors, they call the left balcony "Romeo's balcony"

I guess it only cost about 5 mill, so pocket change to this guy. Oh and don't worry, I'll let you know if he is in town :)

On Friday we took another field trip with Andrea to Padova which is near Venice. It was such a cool city and another perfect weather day. Andrea went to the University in this town -- University of Padova -- so he had some insider info. Basically, the university is the second oldest in Italy, first oldest being in Bologna. Padova had some pretty great professors that taught here, one, which I'm sure you all have heard of, Galileo Galilei. Crazy right? 

Here is the podium that he would use when lecturing about mathematics: 

Most tour groups don't actually get a tour of the University but since Andrea has the key… he got us in. We go to see a huge lecture hall that is mostly used for important meetings and such. But the walls were covered in coat of arms. I guess its common for birds to nest behind them too.

The Unicersity felt like it was straight out of a Harry Potter movie. Everything was so ancient and old. 

Another room we got to check out was where students (still today) take their final exams. It reminded me of the movie Old School, since **Spoiler alert** Will Ferrell has to take his final in front of professors and his dean. But the student just sits in the middle and there is a panel surrounding them who ask them questions for a few hours. Um, no thanks for me. 

The court yard of the school was gorgeous, and the coat of arms were hung all over the walls outside as well. 

Best thing about this University is… graduating. Pretty much once you have completed your degree - which is a huge deal because its mostly lawyers and med students - your college friends get to humiliate you for a day. Andrea was so excited because we got to see this in action. This one guy was dressed up in a fur costume with a fox mask on and pulling a fake dog around. All his friends and family were there singing and yelling around him. It was great!

Another guy had two huge bottles of alcohol taped to his hands and was told to chug them. Meanwhile they were pouring flour and milk on him and spraying him with silly string. It was so entertaining to watch! Their friends also write huge posters about all your secrets and embarrassing stories from college and post them on the side of the school for everyone to read. Could you even imagine? 

Andrea told us about his graduation. Since he was coming to Verona to work and leaving Padova, his friends covered him in Nutella. This was because Verona's patron saint is St. Zeno, from South Africa so he was black… and therefore they made Andrea black using tons and tons of Nutella. Its basically a day of fun rewarding you of all your hard work, if thats what you would call a reward. It was a good laugh, thats for sure. 

This weekend was spent here in Verona. On friday night we went to a discotecca for my roommate Lauren's 21st birthday! It was our first time at a disco in Verona, and was most definitely memorable from what I can remember. We slept in the next day and chilled out. That night we went to Mantova with some Italian friends we meet at the disco the night before and went to a really fun Irish Pub called Doolins. They were all saying how ironic it was that we were from America, going out with Italians to an Irish Pub. We had a nice glass of Guinness and got some fries and onion rings. I got tricked into eating an olive for the first time… I thought it was a mozzarella ball but it was a fried olive! So I can check that one of the list of foods I refuse to eat. Your welcome Mom. 

Sunday was a beautiful day, almost 60 degrees and sunny. With nothing to do, Lauren and I decided to go to Lake Garda. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL. I know I say this about everything but when you come from a state that is filled with corn fields and corn fields and more corn fields, I can't help but appreciate the mountainous scenery. 

Lauren and I packed a little lunch and sat on a dock for a few hours catching some rays and reading. It was a much needed relaxing afternoon on the water. There were sail boats everywhere too. Mom, you would have loved it!

We also ran across the coolest paddle boats EVER. Check it out, they have slides attached to them, every child's dream. 

The best part was seeing all the swans on the lake. There were so many of them and just like Chicago pigeons, they had no fear of humans what-so-ever. They would just swim over to you and pretty much beg for food, except it was scary because they were HUGE. 

The crazy thing is that Lake Garda was only a 15 minute train ride away from Verona… It will definitely be a place we go to on the reg. 

That night I got to Skype my parents and brother David. It was so nice to see David since its been a few months. We are all getting excited for their visit in March. Afterwards, I got to chat with some of my roomies for next year, Bridget, Jenny and Nora. Lots of crazy stories from them, as always. Overall, it was an awesome weekend!