I'm Back!

Gah! I have been really slacking on posting ever since I got back from Copenhagen, and I am very sorry. I know it is bad because when I finally clicked on blogspot conveniently located in my bookmark bar for easy access I had that super guilty dread feeling. It is the exact same one I get after going MIA for a couple weeks from the gym or a yoga class because I know exactly how hard it is going to be and how pathetic I and going to feel huffing and puffing away flailing my noodle arms or desperately trying to at least touch my big toe. I hope that successfully described the icky feeling I got. The only way to deal with a dilemma such as this is to tackle the beast head on leaving all rationality behind. So, here I go!
Since I got back to Pavia I took my last exam(Linguistica) which went really well :) and started all my new courses. (Warning: super geek is coming out) I am really juiced about all the classes I am taking this semester mostly because they all have to do with my major specialization. I am also taking espanol which is really bizarre because 1)It is Spanish from Spain so the professors speak with the lisp and I will get points taken off if I don't do the same(sorry Mexico, I won't be able to rep you this time around) and 2) because it is taught in almost all Spanish with a little bit of Italian explanation. It is pretty strange being taught a foreign language in another foreign language! So far I really like it though!
Also another tidbit of newness in my life is my knew gourmet endeavors. I decided to stop making the boring same old stuff I always make and experiment with new ingredients. Last time I went to the grocery store I bought crazy stuff like trout, beets, asparagus, cauliflower, faro and seafood mix for spaghetti. I had no premeditated meal plans so it has been pretty fun improvising and seeing what comes out of it. So far it has all been delicious and well worth the gamble.
Also last news flash from Pavia, SPRING IS SPRINGING. These are the definitive signs I have been collecting over the last two weeks:there is rain instead of snow, I am able to go outside without a scarf or mittens without immediately keeling over and dying, last Saturday was so sunny that it made my hair hot to the touch, I am barefoot in my house right as we speak, and I swear I smelled flowers on my way to school yesterday. Lets just hope Mr. weather stays on the right track for his own good and my sanity.

Copenhagen Sparknotes

I survived the sub-zero temperatures of Denmark!! Hooray! It has just taken me a while to dethaw, that is why it has taken me so long to post. This picture is for my mom. I couldn't believe how chubby this little guy was, I guess he was just trying to keep warm.I thought snow in Pavia was hard core, then I got to Copenhagen and found out what real snow is like. Luckily I never slipped and actually fell on my booty, but I came close a ton of times.
Here is the beautiful harbor. Every building was painted a different amazingly vivid color. It was so cold that the water was frozen over. It reminded me of that episode of Sinbad when they go to the ice caves and fought the giant walrus. That may seem like a stretch, but I am certain that at one point their ship couldn't sail because the water was iced over, just like in the harbor of Copenhagen.
Here is the famous mermaid. She was so little, but really pretty. I read the real story of the little mermaid and it is actually a pretty sad but much more interesting than the Disney version. I would recommend checking it out, Hans Christian was quite the story teller.
And here is a second mermaid statue. I feel bad for this one because even though she is three times bigger and nuder than the other one she still is not famous.
Mmmmm and here is one of my favorite places in Denmark, the bakery!!!
These are the super delicious Danish birthday pastries, my mouth waters just thinking about them!

Away I Go

Annnnndddd, I'm off! Tomorrow I am flying to Copenhagen to visit my favorite Danish person in the whole wide world. I'll be there until the 9th of February, so I don't think I will be posting much. It should be 5 days jammed pack of fun, snow, and relaxation. Plus I get to celebrate Favorite D's 20th birthday with her and help her move into her first apartment in the city! I can't wait. See you later alligator!

a closer look

Sometimes I don't even see the beautiful things that surround me until I start looking for something to take a picture of. The oddest things turn out to be beautiful.
This is the cushion of our dinning room chairs here in Pavia. I think a the people before us must have had a pet lion or something because they are really shredded to bits, but they are still comfy to sit on, so I don't mind.
Somewhere in the London Underground I found this wall. The combination of the rust and mold formed from the water falling from the pipes above is so cool!...I hope it wasn't giving off toxic fumes.
This was a very sad day. I finally finished my jar of Skippy, but I think it made a nice picture. Luckily a week later I got me Christmas package which had another jar of joy inside!