Benvenuti (Welcome) to Bergamo, Italy!

Ciao Tutti,
Well I have been in Italy for two days now and I have a lot to tell you all.  It took me 21 hours to get to Bergamo from Kansas City: a two hour flight from KC to Atlanta, then an eight hour flight from Atlanta to Amsterdam, a 2 hour flight from Amsterdam to Milan, then an hour bus ride to Milan Central Train Station, an hour train ride to Bergamo and last, a 20 minute walk to my apartment...carrying my suitcase.  Needless to say I was very tired and I am still jet lagged.  The airline managed to lose one of my two 50 pound bags and I just received it by mail today....ripped open, but it seems that nothing is missing, which is good.  So that was all an adventure in its self :)   One good thing from Tuesday night though, was that I had my first taste of Italian pizza, and it was molto buono (very good).  Thanks to my roommates, Marianna and Valeria, for getting the pizza for me when I arrived.

Yesterday Marianna showed me around Bergamo; where the university is and the supermarket, etc.  On our way back to our apartment we stopped at a bar (cafe) for lunch and I had my first Italian cappuccino, also very good :)   Here is a little about my apartment:  It is old, but very cute; my room is huge with a queen size bed and a window looking out over our street, Via Pignolo, which is a typical italian street with cobblestones and shuttered windows; there are few cars allowed on our street so it is quiet; we have a microwave (I was surprised) and a washing machine but no dryer; and there is no shower only a bathtub (going to take some getting used to).  All in all I really like it so far.

Today was very busy for me.  In the morning I went to the supermarket...alone.  This was a very interesting experience, for example people are very serious in the grocery store for some reason and I was just wandering around aimlessly, also there is no peanut butter (sad) only Nutella. I bought my first Italian bottle of vino (wine) and it only cost 2 euros!  After the store I want on a walk to Citta Alta (the upper and old part of Bergamo).  I did not know what I was getting myself into.  The walk was VERY steep, but it was worth it when I got to the top.  Citta Alta is the mediaeval part of Bergamo and it is on a hill surrounded by a wall and the view of the rest of the city is breathtaking.  The weather was not very good so the pictures are kind of grey but I thought I could give you a glimpse of the beauty (I will take more one day when the sun is out). Walking around alone in Citta Alta was very peaceful, there is a nice walkway along the wall with benches and trees. Today I discovered that  I am already starting to get my bearings in Bergamo, which is good.  Although, I am loving being here I am definitely in a state of culture shock, everything is SO different.  The buildings, the cars, the traffic signs, the language (obviously).  It is so odd to be walking around in Italy, it really has not sunk in yet.  A few odd things that I have noticed about Italians so far: they wear Crocks, yes Crocks; they wear puffy, shiny, winter coats; and their sidewalk etiquette is terrible.
So far, it is surreal  being here, I think I just walk around with my mouth open just staring at the amazing architecture and view that the locals see as normal. I miss all of you :)
Enjoy the pictures and let me know what you think!
I will post again in a few days if possible; I start my intensive Italian class on Monday, so that should be interesting.
p.s. If you want to comment, click on the red "comments" at the bottom of the post.
Ciao!

My apartment

The street that I live on, Via Pignolo

Una Chiesa (a church) near my apartment

Citta Bassa with Citta Alta in the distance

Torre dei Caduti in Citta Bassa

Beginning the walk up to Citta Alta...

...and up some more...

...more.

But the view was worth it

Citta Alta and the wall

Citta Bassa from Citta Alta

Citta Alta

Portway into Citta Alta, Porta San Giacomo

The wall

Citta Alta

Panoramic view of Citta Bassa from Citta Alta

Viale delle Mura, the walk way that runs along the wall

On the walk down I discovered this cool, mossy, stone stairway

Looking back at Citta Alta