An Opera and Mahea's Birthday!

During the spring and summer, Firenze puts on a mini festival called "O Flos Colende" in which prestigious performers put on a show for FREE to the public.  Only in Italy do they put on free opera shows to the public.  Last night, I had the chance to see the Saint James Chamber Choir of Stoccolma, under the direction of Gary Graden, perform a few pieces composed by Francesco Siciliani.  These two hours would probably have to be the highlight of my time in Italy so far.

In all honesty, it wasn't entirely an "opera" but more so along the lines of a choir.  Either way, I've never felt so amazed just sitting in my chair and listening to all the voices smoothly blend and ring in the dimmed light setting of the Duomo.  The artistic masterpieces by Fillipo Bruneschelli lining the walls and ceilings, being surrounded by such talented singers...I feel as if I'm living within a fairy tale dream.  An artist's fairy tale dream.  I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to even be in the presence of so many talented people, both dead and living.  I'm still in a sense of shock to find myself living in Italy every morning.

After the opera, I met up with Mahea and some other friends to celebrate her 28th birthday!  Happy 28th Mahea!  We found an open restaurant and sat down to enjoy some pizza, pasta, and lasagna!  YUM! c:  One thing I'll never understand about Italy is the cover charge.  My pizza literally cost 5 euros but there was a 13.50 euro cover charge. >_____<;;  But the night was still young and the festivities had just begun.  We drank some wine because we be classy and headed to Red Garter to dance the night away.  Then we hopped on over to Twice.  I was very surprised to find that Italian men actually ask you if they can dance with you even in a club setting.  I mean there are some guys who just start to grope at your ass, and of course with my luck, that's the only action I got.  But compared to all the horny old men that try to hit on you on the streets, I have to say that young Italian men have got some class!

Once the club got boring, we decided to head back home but only after we got some fresh cioccolato cornetto!  In Italy, there are many bakeries that can only sell their baked goods to smaller restaurants and stores.  But during the night, they sell some of their baked goods for cheap to desperate and hungry club goers to make some extra cash on the side.  This is technically an illegal activity but I guess when times are rough, desperate times call for desperate measures?  Since this is illegal, there's a rule that you have to be quiet in order for them to even open their doors.  And sometimes if you're too loud, they'll throw water and eggs at you.  So we stood in line for almost an hour to wait for the bakery to open their doors and sell us their precious goods.  But with our luck, they were only selling pizzas that night and none of us were feeling pizza.  We just wanted chocolatey goodness.  ):  So we made our ways back home, empty-handed and hungry.  Maybe next time?