Friday, March 29, 2013

Preview of Rennes!!

I will soon be back in Rome and will be posting a lot about my Spring Break but here is another preview, this time from my time in Rennes, France.

Sunday, March 24, 2013

A preview of Paris!

This week I am on Spring Break and I have/will be traveling to Paris, Rennes, and Prague! I don't have much access to a computer so I thought I would give everyone a little preview!

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

'Fratelli e sorelle, buonasera.'

Last week during the conclave, my friends, Annie, and I decided we would go to see the black smoke at the Vatican. Before we left I contemplated just taking a nap instead but thankfully I didn't. The square was FILLED with people from all over the world! We hadn't been there that long when all of a sudden, white smoke was seen in the sky rather than black! Everyone went wild, cheering and crying. Soon, the new Pope was announced and then he came out to speak. Although I am not Catholic, I still appreciated this amazing moment in history.  

After the Pope Francis I finished his speech, Janelle, Annie, and I went to look at all the news stations set up in the back of St. Peter's Square. All night we had been saying we wanted to meet Anderson Cooper.  Then as we walked through the crowds, I looked over and saw him across the square! In that moment, I didn't think about being polite and saying excuse me, I just grabbed Annie and Janelle and shoved everyone out of my way :) And I have to say, it was worth it! We were on CNN (in the background) and got a selfie with him!

All in all, it was a fantastic night! 
 If you look closely on the right side of the photo, you can see the white smoke! 

Waiting for the new Pope to come out!

Pope Francis I

Our selfie with Anderson Cooper! 

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Monday, March 18, 2013

My long lost tumblr

I haven't posted on my tumblr in a while but tonight was just a tumblr kind of night! 
Click here to explore my tumblr (aka how I feel in photos)

Outfit of the day!



Taken by: Anne Perri Cole
Taken in: Villa Borghese, Rome, Italy

Top: Forever 21
Pants: Gabriel Brothers
Shoes: DSW Shoe Warehouse 

Too many emotions...

So, my entire family has now left Italy making me the only American Perri left in the country. It feels weird. Before they came I kind of forgot what it was like to be around them so I didn't miss it that much…even while they were here I took it for granted. I took for granted the feeling you get when you are around people who have always been there. You don't have to worry or think, you just have to be. I miss that so much.

Despite all of these feelings, I told myself to be positive and enjoy the new week! I relaxed all morning in my apartment, watched the new glee, enjoyed my philosophy class, then I came home and ate dinner with Sophia. It was great!

After dinner I went to my place to get some pastries for Janelle, Travis, and myself for a tv night! When I walked in all of the workers greeted me like a friend! I picked three new pastries that Naomi (the woman who works the evening shift) recommended. She helped me pronounce their names so I could tell the cashier what I got. He laughed as I messed up every other word but it still made me happy to speak only Italian. As I paid, another worker came up and starting asking about my dad. He had went to get coffee here while he was here a few nights last week. It felt surreal to have my two worlds connect like that. After a few minutes of chatting, they told me they would see me soon. As I left I felt on top of the world. I stopped in the middle of the piazza near my house and just looked up at the beautiful night sky and I started crying. Not because I was sad or happy…just because I felt alive. I took control of my feeling this morning and turned what could have been a bad day into a great one!

After hanging out with my friends, I came back to my apartment in less of a good mood. It is just so difficult to have so many emotions in one day. I miss my family, my friends, and the familiarity of home; yet, at the same time I want to enjoy the time I have left with my friends here and focus on the special, little things that are happening to me everyday. I am beginning to realize that studying abroad (growing up) is pulling me in every direction possible and I just need to find a balance.

Treats and Sweets!

Nutella and Strawberry! 

La Mignon Pasticceria Gelateria Artigianale Di Carello Domenico
Km. 4100, Via Anguillarese
Anguillara Svazia, Roma
Tel: 069995503

Weirdos...






Saturday, March 16, 2013

Lunch with all of the Perri's!

The beautifully set table before we ate our many courses! 
 The women! 

The men! 

During our after dinner walk!  

Football fans! 


When in Rome do as the tourists do!

Last semester, I would look at my map of Rome and think how am I going to be able to get around such a big city, but once I got here I realized how close everything is to each other! In only three days, my family got to see almost every tourist area in Rome! 

Here's the brief itinerary that I made for when my family visited. It is a good option if you are only in Rome for a few days! 

Day 1:
The Aventine Keyhole (View of St. Peter's)
Giardino degli Aranci 
The monument to Vittorio Emanuele II (Free admission to museum inside)
Piazza Venezia (where the Vittorio Emanuele II is located)
The Colosseum (On the way you will see Trajan's Column)
The Roman Forum 

Day 2: 
Trevi Fountain 
Via del Corso (Shopping)
Spanish Steps
Villa Borghese (Rental Bikes for only 4 euro an hour or canoes for 3 euro for 20 minutes)


Day 3:
Campo di Fiori
Piazza Navona 
The Pantheon

The Vatican Museums (Including Sistine Chapel)
St. Peter's Cathedral

I know there is a lot listed for each day but if my mom can do it, you can do it! 

Colosseum 

Admiring ancient Rome

 Trevi Fountain

Trevi fountain first-timers 

The Pantheon! 

Spanish Steps! 

Lovely Find!

While we were in Martirano, we went to a neighboring town called Tropea! It was a beautiful beach town with cute shops and restaurants! My favourite was a ceramic shop that I bought a vase and magnet in! I can't wait to buy fresh flowers next year and put them in my apartment at school! Click here to view their website! 




Friday, March 15, 2013

High Five for Friday!

1. I was so excited to see another movie poster with Nicholas Hoult starring in it! This one is for Jack the Giant Killer!
2. Annie and I went shopping on Via del Corso the other day! It was really fun to look in all the shops, and Annie even bought something! 
3. After mom got home she sent me a photo of Sofie! I miss her so much! 
4. Annie's first experience of aperitivo! 
5. Some of the food we got to taste during our Tuscany day trip! More photos to come! 

An afternoon in the Jewish Ghetto!

After Calabria, we got to spend two days by ourselves. It was nice to relax and have less of a set schedule. I was so happy to show my family places that I like to go! It had a very different feel than the other days when we went to the tourist sites. 

The Mediterranean Sea!

It was amazing to see the sea and feel the sand on my feet! It has been cold and rainy in Rome so it was a nice change! 









My Papap's hometown!

While my family visited Rome, we also went to see my Papap's hometown Martirano, Calabria, for a couple of days too! It was unreal to see the streets my Papap walked on as a child! We even got to see where he lived (two different houses). It was the cutest town! Narrow, curvy streets that lead to breathtaking views! We stayed in a hotel up in the mountains! It was scary driving up the winding streets at night to get to the hotel especially because the temperature was so cold up there that there was snow on the ground, but the view was fantastic! The hotel was very cute and rustic, it was called Pietramone Agriturismo! For more information click here



My Papap's first house! 

His second house!



A World War I memorial in the center of town with a Perri listed on it! 


For more info on my family history check out this post! 


My family!

The first day my family got here, we went to lunch at Aunt Dora and Lena's (which is how we always start out our Italy trips)! It was amazing! We all ate until we couldn't eat another bite. The food was delicious as usual! After lunch, Johnny, Maria, and Andrea joined us for dessert. It was so emotional to watch my dad meet his cousins for the first time. There were a lot of tears and hugs. It was a fabulous, unforgettable day! 
 Back row: Tony, Mom, Dad, Maria, Maria, Johnny
Middle: Annie, Aunt Dora, Lena
Front: Peter, Andrea, Me
 The younger cousins
The men