Excited...sort of

Wheee! I'm getting excited for the trip.

Or better put, people around me are getting excited for me...which is making me excited too. Haha...labooooo.

 Courtyard of Student Apartment                Student Balcony, Paros

Hopefully I get to pack the right amount of stuff...I'm still wondering how I'll survive without my beloved cd/dvd collection.

I'll still be bringing my globe phone (forever roaming), but just in case, here are my contact info for the next 3-4 months:

Itinerary

2005 Italy Session
General Itinerary

-FRIDAY, 2nd of SEPTEMBER
Students arrive in Pistoia independently and take a taxi to the Villa
Rospigliosi, Via Santomoro 51. You may not arrive at the villa earlier
than the morning of the 2nd of September. Sleeping accommodations at
the villa will be double occupancy (possibly triple in the very large
six-person rooms). Our hostess, Signora Rustici, is willing to
accommodate special diets within reason. If you’re in need of a special
diet you must contact me well in advance of the program starting date.
At the villa we have three fantastic cooks preparing delicious Tuscan
country dishes. After dinners we will discuss the events of the day,
read Dante and have a seminar on Renaissance music. During our days in
Pistoia we will make many excursions to other important cities and
towns. They include: Venice, Pisa, Florence, Lucca, Prato, Siena and
Rome. Your program payment includes train and bus fare to these
locations, as well as to Rome.

-SUNDAY, 11th of SEPTEMBER
We take the early morning express train to Venice where we will stay
for three days and three nights--Need I say more...

-FRIDAY, 23rd of SEPTEMBER
Leave for Rome on the morning express train. We’ll be in a pensione
with an excellent location, very near the Piazza del Campidoglio, the
Palatino, Piazza Novana, and the Pantheon. These Three days students
will largely be on their own. You’ll be prepared for self-guided tours
of the city and will have occasional meetings with the instructors at
some of the more important locations. We will have a full day in depth
tour with an archeological architect who will help us reconstruct the
ancient city in our minds and imaginations. However, it’s mostly a time
for your selves, away from the tighter scheduling of the previous three
weeks. A time to set your own pace.

-MONDAY, 26th of SEPTEMBER
Students fly to Athens with their prearranged ticket. Remember, this
flight from Rome to Athens must be a part of your round trip ticket
arranged at the time it was purchased. Like all air fares, you are
responsible for the cost of that part of the journey. It is not
included in the program costs.

In Athens students will stay for three nights at the hotel Attalos in
colorful Monasterakie with roof-patio view of the Acropolis and close
proximity to the historical Plaka district. In Athens there will be
guided visits to important sites and museums.

-THURSDAY, 29th of SEPTEMBER
We'll take the morning boat from Piraeus to Paros . The boat trip takes
about five hours and will give you a chance to prepare your thoughts
for island life. Once on Paros you’ll be taken to your apartments.
Built in Kykladic style, each room has private bathroom, kitchenette.
These rooms are single occupancy unless a double is agreed upon in
advance or later requested. The Aegean Village is located in the
village of Paroikia and about a three minute walk to the Center.

The cost of housing while on Paros is included in the cost of tuition.
Again, meals during this time are not included.

-MONDAY, 12th of DECEMBER
Program ends. Packing day...

Contact info

Following are the important phone numbers and addresses pertaining to
your odyssey. Most of the contact information pertains to Italy where
we are traveling so much. On Paros the best contact number is that of
the Centers which is: (+30) 22840.23.287

The Aegean Center has a designated cellular/mobile phone for emergency
contact that is active on a continual basis in both Italy and Greece.
This phone is for receiving emergency calls only. The number is of
Greek registration and as such one must dial as if calling Greece no
matter if we are in Italy or anywhere in Europe. The Center's emergency
mobile phone number is: (+30)6-944-644-155. I repeat that this number
is for emergency use only and is available on a continual basis.

OTHER NUMBERS:

PISTOIA
• The Villa Rospigliosi, / John Pack:
Via Santomoro
51030 Candeglia
Pistoia, Italia {show this to the cabbie at the Pistoia train station}
Tele: (+39) 0573.450.201

VENICE
• Hotel Domus Cavanis
Via Dorsoduro 912/A
0100 (Venezia) Italy
Tel (+39) 041 522.6230
Fax (+39) 041 528.0043

ROME
• Hotel Arenula
Via S. Maria De’ Calderari 47
00186 Roma, Italia
Tele: (+39) {06}687.9454
Fax: (+39) {06}689.6188

ATHENS
• Attalos Hotel
Athinas Street 29
105 54 Athens, Greece  
Tele: (+30) 210.2801 / 321.2802
Fax: 324.3124

The following numbers are to be used in emergencies ONLY

• Again, the Center has a designated cellular phone that is active and
accessible at all times in either Italy or Greece for emergency use
only. The number is: (+30) 6 944 644 155
This should always be the first number you attempt to reach in the
event of an emergency.

I repeat: These numbers are to be used as emergency access number only!

In Italy:
• Alba Spampani (the mayor's office of Pistoia) Comune di Pistoia
Palazzo Comunale
Piazza del Duomo
51100 Pistoia
Tele: (+390) 0573.371.216
Fax: 0573.371.289

In Greece:
Use the listed school phone number
**30-22840-23287

Europe travel news aside, *chaos!!!* Just when I've (finally) finalized my (life) plans, and decided on pursuing my MS degree in Sydney, I receive news which is making me reconsider Iowa again. Principal Financial Group is offering a half scholarship, with guaranteed summer internship at their office, provided I study at the University of Iowa's actuarial program. Hrmmmm...nothing's decided yet, but I'm all confused again! :(

berneepearlee's birthday celebration tomorrow! Baboy-Circles-Buffet-here-we-come! I can't believe you didn't agree to my daydress idea!

Off to play tennis...I love Polo Club!!! <3