and then...

Weekend!

Friday was the "why is there only a half of the students in class...oh yea, Oktoberfest weekend" day. Seriously, the numbers were down, but us few brave souls that stayed back reaped the benefits of education by staying...or basically just stayed here in envy of those out of class. After class, Kadie, Kristen and I ate a delicious dinner at Giradino (tho I will say that I had a calzone with ham, cheese, mushrooms and egg...the egg was kinda raw and runny, but other than that it was great). We then enjoyed a terrifying hike through the dark up a hill to a monastery. Why the heck were we going up there, you may ask? The view and the cool lit church (I have picts on facebook, check them out!). And what a way to finish off the day than watching a Kathy Griffin Special! Oh, the good times!

Saturday was our day to explore...First stop, Ponte Tresa, Italy! That's right, cross another country off my facebook map! Kadie's seminar was going there to film a movie, so Kristen and I tagged along to explore. In the rain, we strolled through the streets and found a supermarket (ok, I know where I am going to be doing my Christmas shopping...no joke) and then happened upon the market. Wow...this thing was impressive. Though most of the stalls had knock off apparel (Nke or Puima socks...c'mon people, I can read that...), there were some cool ones with different tapestries and cultural do-dads. But my favorites had to be the food stands lining the market's edges. These had it all - breads, fruits, meats, cheeses, and a family favorite, olives. I was sort of told off by one of the merchants when I asked her if I could buy only 5 olives...and seeing that they were sold by the kilo, she wasn't too happy, and therefore didn't do along with the purchase. It's her loss of business, not mine! Oh, and there was another instance with this man who made me try on one of his jackets, and proceeded to inform me that "in Milano this same jacket was under the Dolce & Gabana name, and that it sold for like 400 Euros, but I will give it to you for 170. From Switzerland, I take francs! The states? I take dollars! I also take cards! What, none of those...how much money do you have...20 euros?!? How did they let you cross the border?!?"...yea, that was fun. He then proceeded to take the jacket off very quickly and forcefully hand me my bags and umbrella while mumbling something that I am sure wasn't nice under his breath. They love me!

So after returning to Lugano that afternoon, Kadie and I decide to take advantage of the rest of the evening and check out a festival that my Spanish professor recommended - Il Sagra Dell-Uva (The Festival of the Grape). I guess this is the prime/last harvesting time for grapes in this region, and they take them out with a bang. This thing was sooo much fun! It was in the small city of Mendrioso about 20 minutes away by train, and it covered multiple streets with the many food and wine stalls as well as shopping. I feasted on a crepe with ham and cheese (yummo) and roasted chestnuts...I'm not going to lie...I didn't like the nuts much at all. They sort of tasted like the cob of corn (you know, after you eat the corn...everyone sucks on the cob...don't deny it!). Before heading back, we trekked up yet another hill to another church (what's up with the churches up the hill here? really fit monks, I assume). Our coordination of trains coming back didn't work too well, which resulted in us sitting at the cold and barren train stop for an hour. Then we watched 10 Things I Hate About You (never seen it - good but very predictable).

Sunday...oh Sunday. How I love this day. Amen! Who ended up sleeping until 12:42pm that day? Oh yea, that's me! I spent my limited hours that day cleaning, researching, and cooking very yummy food. I must say that I made the best "brunch" ever (if you eat at 2pm, does that still constitute as a brunch?). I made a breakfast burrito (tortilla, homemade hash browns, eggs with peppers, onions, garlic, cheese and chicken) with a homemade salsa (tomatoes, red/yellow/orange peppers, onions, garlic, and fresh parsley) and French toast - all thanks to produce that only had a few days left...I should be in culinary school, I swear. Why am I wasting my time here? (Ok, I'm joking...for now...I guess we will see when grades come if that should be the truth...) I had some company for dinner, and made the most random bunch of stuff ever (lotsa pasta cuz that cheap and that's what I have on me). After everything was cleaned, I called my Grandma while everyone was over celebrating her birthday. I take she was very happy, and now everyone got to celebrate her day with her! HAPPY BIRTHDAY again GRANDMA!!!

I was sooo happy that I could refrain from hiking the hill all day...and then Kadie instant messaged me asking if she had left her adaptor at my place...so up the hill I went...I am too nice.

Well, we are officially all caught up...phew...that was a lot of typing. Hopefully I will keep up with this all week, and even post more links to my fabulous pictures!

Ciao Ciao!