So this past weekend was quite an interesting one. For the most part it was good but it wasn't one of my favorite weekends. As time goes on I am starting to appreciate it more though.

Southern Italy is definitely different than Northern Italy, there are good differences and bad differences. People are much more friendlier but it can sometimes come off as being creepy if you aren't used to it. I got offered so many cigarettes and food and other such things. If I was a smoker I would be in heaven.

So there was a little trouble at first, I get on the train and its second class and it says that they don't need reservations but when they come around they tell me it is a special train and I have to get off. They let me get off at a station where I can get a train to where I wanted to go. I was all upset and thinking I wasn't going to be able to go where I wanted to but it ended up working out.

I made reservations for all the rest of my trains so there would be no problems. So instead of going to Sicily first I went to Pompeii first instead. I got into town early and found a cafe and changed and walked around the town a little. I got directions for the ruins but not good directions and ended up walking almost all the way to Mount Vesuvius, it was a nice view. People in this town gave horrible directions to the ruins and the only sign was right in front of the ruins.

Soon enough I found them and I spent a good 4-5 hours in the ruins. It was great, I had a lot of fun. It is so amazing to be walking in such an important place. I enjoyed it a lot. After that since all trains in southern italy tend to be late I decided to leave extra early so I didnt miss any trains.

I had to go from Pompeii to Naples and then from Naples to another train station. The last train station was kinda scary but I just did some homework and read. I am really getting into this one book i am reading for my class, it is about china, i don't know a lot about china and finding out about it has been interesting.

Anyway, in the train station the one difference I did see is that there was some homeless people but people were very nice to them. Some men came and brought them all food, it was nice. It made me see a real difference between the north and the south. Most people in the north are very unfriendly and stay as far away from homeless people as they can. While I see both sides I still think it is nice to give them food sometimes. It warmed my heart up a little.

So I had an overnight train then and it was with a group of italian girls and two guys. It was cramped but I didn't get any sleep the night before so I slept pretty well. To get to Sicily the train actually goes on a boat and then you can get off and get snacks and such and then from there you get back on the train and the train gets off the boat.

So I get in Sicily and its early. I find the tourism office and get recommendations and maps and such and walk into the main part of the city. I was in Catania which is the second largest city. It was a lot of fun. I checked out the fish market and other little things, most of the buildings were the same, they had at least 50 churches, it was beautiful. I checked out their big Cathedral and went to a couple parks. One I am pretty sure is a hang out for retired mafia men. It was funny.

I then had a earlier overnight train all the way back to Asti which is right by Alba. I left at 4:30 on Saturday and got to Asti at 10 on Sunday. It wasn't bad. I had a sleeper car for this train so I actually got to lay down and sleep. It was great. I had a room with a older man and two young guys. The one was obnoxious calling him girlfriend and talking very loudly but still nice and entertaining. He would call her and say "Amour Mi" over and over.

On the positive end I am definitely getting better at Italian, not able to speak complexly or anything but I can understand many conversations and also I am beginning to be able to put sentences together. I am glad to leave here with some knowledge.

My weekend was actually better than some girls who ended up staying in a biker hostel. I don't mean bicycles either, i mean motorcycles. It was quite a story. However all is well just busy. This week is crazy. We have our final test which I am so nervous about and a presentation. I am doing mine on Italy's role in the Holocaust during WWII. It is only 5 minutes. I am more worried about the test. It is so much information. None of us are doing well in this class, it is very difficult. I wouldn't be worried if our whole grade wasn't based on this test and the presentation only.

Other than that we have a few little trips this week with class and I am working with Jacki to make plans. If not I am not sure what I will do this weekend. I might go to France and just meet everything there on Monday we will see, it depends on Jacki and all.

I got a copy of the newspaper where they interviewed us today, I will bring it back home, our picture is in it. Its crazy, its just a local newspaper but I think it will lead to my fame. Anyway I need to get to work. I am putting up a picture of me in front of Mt. Vesuvius so you can get a little taste of Pompeii. Miss you guys.

Ciao