FERRARI

Ciao ragazzi! 

Okay, so I'm going to get straight into it. Enzo Ferrari was the MAN! If you're not familiar with him have no worries. I don't mind sharing the very brief history I learned about him. 

Enzo Ferrari (1898-1988) was the owner and founder of Ferrari. He maintained ownership of the company throughout his life. During the post second world war period  Italy became less rural and more industrial. The Italian economic structure change contributed to Ferrari's success. Ferrari began with the production of a very small prototype released in 1946, and first driven in 1947.  Like most Italian business, the Ferrari company was family ran.  

According to the tour guide, the black horse was originally painted on the plane of a war hero. Ferrari met the parents of the war her. The mother told him to paint the image on the car and it would bring him good luck and protection. Surely he did. The 'rosso' Ferrari red color, and yellow background was chosen to represent Italy.

Enjoy the photos: 

My relationship........

(refer to title of entry) …….with nature.

One of the best gifts I received before traveling to Florence, Italy was my camera. It has allowed me to capture some of the best sculptures, window displays,  art, and architecture. My relationship with nature has become a lot stronger since I’ve had it. I am not sure if it is the camera that is completely responsible for this, or my photography professor, but when I was in America, I never thought  twice about going to a garden and taking photos.

Today, my photography class took a trip to the Boboli Gardens in Piazza Pitti (Pitti Palace). The Boboli Gardens were purchased by Eleonora, the wife of Cosimo I de’ Medici. Ones social status was a big deal in the 1500’s, so the Medici family did their best in order to extravagantly express their wealth. The Boboli Gardens was just one of many representations of their fortune.

60% of the world’s most famous artwork is in Italy with 1/3 of it being in Florence. Here are a few shots I took at the Boboli Gardens.

UPDATE

Never  in a billion years would I have thought  I would be, 1) studying abroad in Italy, and 2)  learning so much in the short time that I have spent here. Sometimes you really have to take yourself out of a comfortable environment in order to truly realize not only what you have in front of you, but also the opportunities that lie ahead.

I came across a great quote yesterday replying to an email a mentor sent me. It reads, “ A vision without action is a daydream. Action without vision is a nightmare.” Although I am still a tad bit unsure of what career path I ultimately want to pursue in life, I certainly have a vision for where I would like to end up and the lives that I want to positively impact. I am a firm believer that the obstacles that God has allowed me to overcome are a part of his plan of action for me. I never question his motives. I have great faith that God is going to use all those around me in a powerful way to change this world we live in, as long as we are patient and continue to walk down his path.  So if you have a solid vision, hold tight and keep faith because if it is meant to happen, God will make way for the action.

I know this post did not have anything to do with Italy, but it has just been something I have been thinking about a lot lately.

Always remember, “beyond the sky is the limit.” – JPIII

Ciao bella,

Victoria

Italian Food (Mangiare)

Fried chicken, sweet potatoes, and collard greens, is what I won’t be having for Sunday dinner. It’s only been about a month here and I am already a bit tired of eating pizza, risotto, and or pasta every day. I know you’re probably thinking “ there has got to be more to eat then pizza, rice and pasta” well yeah, and salami, however I don’t eat red meat.  I'm joking, but I do miss American food, and I must admit , the pasta , well everything here, is very organic and fresh. 

Most of the restaurants serve 3 courses so allot about 3 hours for your typical Tuscan meal.

 I’ve noticed that Italians take their time with everything. They eat very slowly, and when they walk, they like to enjoy the scenery and coast. Me on the other hand, if I’m hungry, the meal is gone in 60 seconds, and being at Howard, I was always taught to walk with a purpose, so I’m nearly racing back to my apartment every night. I had to slow down though, I could tell by some of the looks I was being judged by my rather fast pace.

Any who, I’m done for the night.

Ciao bella.