Rome... gelato, piazzas, and little cars.

Piazza navona.

With the traveling, the start of graduate school and all of the other wonderful things in life that let me be out and about and not glued to a computer, I have not been updating my blog in a couple of weeks. :S

This summer has been busy for me, and I've been wanting to write tons of posts about everything I've done, so now I have to play catch up. Today marks a fresh start to blogging and I'm back for good!

Update #1: Italy and Spain
With my family, I traveled to Rome, Florence, Barcelona, Toledo, and Madrid. There's so much to say about all those experiences but I have to start somewhere...

Rome. What an amazing city. There are no words to describe how gorgeous it is. There have been millions of articles written about how fascinating it is, what to do when you're there, its intensely rich history, etc. So, I won't bore you with the details.

Yummmmmmy gelato.

Apart from all the go-to touristy things, just being in the city was my favorite part. With all the pizza eating, wine drinking, and gelato enjoying, I have to say Italian cuisine is one of my favorites.

Also the dozens of wonderful Roman piazzas were relaxing and impressively safe (even at nighttime). Not many great cities in the world boast so many safe, enjoyable plazas where families and friends can go to enjoy a gelato, a stroll or simply a good conversation.

Walking along the streets of Rome, another big impression is the cars. These tiny little things, most of them smaller than smart cars, park anywhere they want. The experienced Roman drivers can fit into practically any tiny space. But watch out for those motorcycles... you never know when one's going to turn a corner!

View from Hotel Medici window.

The tiniest of tiny.

Ciao da Roma!!!

Rome is one of the most beautiful cities I've ever experienced. It's so rich in culture and history, and the wonderful language and people add to the magic of it all. Here are some quick photos from my family's trip. More details to come, but for now... Arrivederci! We are off to explore!

Roma es una de las ciudades más hermosas que he visitado. Acá hay tanta cultura e historia, y el idioma y la gente es parte del encanto de la ciudad. Acá pongo algunas fotos rápidas del viaje familiar. Les doy más detalles después, pero por ahora ... Arrivederci! Nos vamos a explorar!

Via di Corsi

Vino della Casa

Sorella (hermana en Italiano)

Bizcochuelo de Leche Caliente

Los días de lluvia me dan un antojo de algo dulce.

Éste bizcochuelo de leche caliente lo hice con una receta Crandon, un instituto uruguayo que da cursos y distribuye libros con recetas muy populares.

Encontré muchas variaciones online de esta deliciosa torta. Pero, creo que ninguna va a salir tan rica que como la que hice hoy. :)

Acá está la receta del Crandon:

Horno:           350°F 30 minutos

Calentar 1/2 taza leche y 1 Cda. manteca.

Batir 2 huevos.

Agregar 1 taza azúcar y 1 cta. de vainilla. 

Mezclar y agregar 1 1/4 taza harina modificada cernida, 2 ctas. polvo de hornear, y 1/2 cta. sal.

Agregar la leche caliente muy rápidamente y verter en molde enmantecado. Hornear. 

Cinco de... What?

Cinco de Mayo is a pretty big 'holiday' in the U.S. It's had so much buildup that many people now think it's Mexico's independence day or something. Well, it's not.

Cinco de Mayo actually just commemorates a small Mexican victory over the French. Only in the state of Puebla is this battle celebrated.

So, let's be honest, Cinco de Mayo it's just another American excuse to drink. It's also a chance for Mexican restaurants to cash in on Cinco de Mayo's crazy events. 

Event, restaurant, and bar promoters have come up with 'witty' names for the day... "Cinco de Drinko", "Cinco de Chaos"... etc.

I frankly don't have an opinion about it. I have never been one to go crazy about a day that has nothing to do with me or most other people celebrating it. But to each his own, right? In the meantime... here's a video of my brother as a mariachi. Enjoy!

Santi, el Mariachi from Lucia Tolosa on Vimeo.

Graduation Day!

It's official... I'm a University of Florida graduate!

Ya es oficial... me gradué de la University de Florida!

Mis parientes y amigos probandose la gorra!

Go Gators!

What I'll Miss: CMIR and Weimer

Independent study group with Dean Wright
in the CMIR lab.

When I first heard of "Weimer," the name of the building for the College of Journalism and Communications, my first thoughts were that the name was a little funny. Little did I know that I would be spending most of my college times in weirdly-named place.                      

Weimer and I have had long, studious nights together. Weimer has seen the best and worst of me. And now that I'm heading off to graduate school to get my Masters' in International Business, I know I will miss Weimer. 

The College of Journalism and Communication has given me so much. I've learned so much from its professors. Never had I thought that I would be able to work with such amazing technology and equipment. WUFT has a full-fledged television studio, comparable to any local news station.

WUFT camera.

The CMIR Lab is one of the most interesting, new marvels held within the walls of Weimer hall. It's called the Center for Media Innovation and Research. Designed for all majors in the college, this news lab is the epitome of synergy. As the website says, the lab "will push the limits of digital media, providing an outlet for student and faculty projects that tell stories in new ways."

Because the lab opened this year, I have not gotten a chance to work in it as much as I would like to. I know this will be a tremendous resource for other students in the future. This is one of the many perks to studying in one of the best schools for journalism in the country. I will definitely miss my life as a Weimer girl.

                                                              

Gainesville Fashion Week: Model Confidence

Gainesville Fashion Week: Model Confidence from Lucia Tolosa on Vimeo.