Cappuccino

Cappuccino is so named because its color resembles that of the long, hooded robes worn by the monks of the Capuchin order- and that fact that a properly prepared cappuccino leaves a brown ring along the rim of the cup that looks a lot like a monk's cowl.

Little-Known Facts About Well-Known Places: Italy

Italian Air Force

The modern day uniform for the Italian Air Force was designed by Giorgio Armani.

Little-Known Facts About Well-Known Places: Italy

Being Sick

I've been sick for the past three days.  I have been suffering from Flu like syptoms that have made me stay in bed all day. :(

Luckily,  my mother has kept me company by playing Quiddler with me. Gosh, I love that game!! Sure it's not Scrabble but you also dont have to worry about losing all the little squares. :)

Ferragamo

The ruby slippers that Judy Garland wore as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz were Ferragamo pumps.

Little-Known Facts About Well-Known Places: Italy

Pasta

61 Pounds: amount of pasta that the average person in Italy eats per year

92 Pounds: amount of pasta that the average Sicilian eats per year

600: number of shapes of pasta

6.5 Billion: gallons of water (enough to fill 250,000 Olympic-size swimming pools) needed to boil all the pasta consumed in Italy each year

Little-Known Facts About Well-Known Places: Italy

Best Thing I Never Had

Love me some Beyonce any day. Been a fan since Destiny's Child :)

The top place in Italy for having your pocket picked is in the No.64 bus in Rome; its route runs between the Stazione Termini and St. Peter's Square (passing all of the "must see" historic sights). Thieves know that it is routinely packed with tourists. The easiest way not to look like a tourist? Local police suggest wearing a pair of oversized sunglasses.

Little-Known Facts About Well-Known Places: Italy

Going Away

Meg & Dia

"Going Away"
Please don't forget me, I'm going away.
I'm taking a taxi to Kentucky, where they don't even know
all about me; I just need to feel safe.
I've got a thousand sweaters, and shoes, and paintings to hide;
the skeletons in my way, (don't ask where) I'm going


I'm going away, I'm going my way.
Finally, it's my time, to be lonely enough. Unloved and I can't wait.
Dont forget what I said; don't forget my letter.
every night I pray for you.
I don't got a religion. Isnt that something? I miss those days.


I see that bottle; it's now ten years aged.
I've got the marbles I could sell for money;
got a pair of fresh shaved legs.
Wont you baby come with me?
I've got a extra space
in my car, in my heart, in my mind
Look there's the passenger seat by the boat that you gave
Don't know where I'm going...
Well he said, slow down; slow down;
Think it over; weve all got wretched closets.
A silly girl pride kills more than aids
lately I say come on, I've thought it over,
I don't wanna die here; I've no desire to get married.


I can't read the others anymore.
Alone; I must learn to race myself

I, I'm not going halfway
I'll find my way
I, I, Every night I pray for you,
Don't believe in Heaven or that it could be a happy place
I, I'm going away

Roman Holiday

Roman Holiday was the first American film to be made in its entirety in Rome. Paramount had frozen assets in Italy and the studio green-lighted the project specifically because filming there would allow those monies to be used.
Little-Known Facts About Well-Known Places: Italy

Broccoli

It was a family in Calabria- and their idea to cultivate broccoli- that financed James Bond films.  Albert R. "Cubby" Broccoli, who bought the initial rights to the Ian Flemming novels. and produced every 007 flick from Dr. No to Golden Eye, was an heir to the clan who had made a fortune when they crossed cauliflower and rabe and created  new vegetable they named for themselves.

Little-Known Facts About Well-Known Places: Italy

Paparazzi

The term "paparazzi" comes from Fellini's La Dolce Vita, in the film, Marcello Mastroianni writes a gossip column and Walter Stantesso plays his co-worker, a tabloid photographer whose name is Paparazzo.

Little-Known Facts About Well-Known Places: Italy

Trevi Fountain

It was only recently that the city of Rome began to collect the money tossed into the Trevi Fountain on a daily basis - and only after it was learned that a homeless man was regularly stealing the stash from the water using a magnetized pole.  All Italian coins and euros end up in the coffers of the town council (most recently, they were used to subsidize a food bank); foreign currency is donated to the Red Cross.

Little-Known Facts About Well-Known Places: Italy

See, friendship is the booze they feed you. They want you to get drunk on feeling like you belong.

Why did I wait so long to watch Almost Famous? It is absolutely lovely of course. Love Kate Hudson as Penny Lane. It is awesome because this is the first time I knew almost every single song featured in the film. The film has a fabulous music selection and I would definitely watch it again just to listen to the songs.

Here is a list of all the songs featured in Almost Famous:

1. America - Simon and Garfunkel 2. Sparks - The Who 3. It Wouldn't Have Made Any Difference - Todd Rundgren 4. I've Seen All Good People: Your Move - Yes 5. Feel Flows - The Beach Boys 6. Fever Dog - Stillwater 7. Every Picture Tells A Story - Rod Stewart 8. Mr. Farmer - The Seeds 9. One Way Out - The Allman Borthers Band 10. Simple Man - Lynyrd Skynyrd 11. That's The Way - Led Zeppelin 12. Tiny Dancer - Elton John 13. Lucky Trumble - Nancy Wilson 14. I'm Waiting For The Man - David Bowie 15. The Wind - Cat Stevens 16. Slip Away - Clarence Carter 17. Something In The Air - Thunderclap Newman 18. Teacher - Jethro Tull 19. Mona Lisa's and Mad Hatters - Elton John 20. Tangerine - Led Zeppelin 21. Search and Destroy - Iggy Pop 22. Sweet Leaf - Black Sabbath 23. Go All the Way - Eric Carmen & The Raspberries 24. Misty Mountain Hop - Led Zeppelin 25. The Chipmunk Song - The Chipmunks 26. Roundabout - Yes 27. Bron-yr-aur - Led Zeppelin 28. Small Time Blues - Pete Droge 29. Hour of Need - Stillwater 30. Paranoid - Black Sabbath 31. The Rain Song - Led Zeppelin 32. Everbody knows this is nowhere - Neil Young 33. Future Games - Fleetwood Mac 34. Albert Flasher - Guess Who 35. Love Thing - Stillwater 36. Burn - Deep Purple 37. You had to be there - Stillwater 38. Reeling in the Years - Steely Dan 39. Dear Jill - Bloodwyn Pig 40. Love comes and goes - Stillwater 41. Voodoo Child - Jimi Hendrix 42. Slip away - Clarance Carter 43. Wishing well - Free 44. My Cherie Amour - Stevie Wonder 45. Looking at you - MCS 46. Cortez the Killer - Neil Young 47. The Oogum Boogum Song - Brenton Wood 48. River - Joni Mitchell 49. Easy to slip - Little Feat 50. Peggy Sue 51. Cover of the Rolling Stone 52. Colour my World


"I always tell the girls, never take it seriously, if ya never take it seriosuly, ya never get hurt, ya never get hurt, ya always have fun, and if you ever get lonely, just go to the record store and visit your friends"

Penny Lane

€ 3,000

Amount of money that is collected nightly from the Trevi Fountain

Little-Known Facts About Well-Known Places: Italy

I let my music take me where my heart wants to go.

The Pieta

The Pieta (found in St. Peter's Basilica) is the only work by Michelangelo that the artist ever signed.  Having overheard someone attribute the piece to another sculptor, he supposedly snuck into the chapel at night and carved his name in the band running diagonally across Mary's chest to eliminate any question.

Little-Known Facts About Well-Known Places: Italy

David

Michelangelo carved David from a flawed block of marble.

Little-Known Facts About Well-Known Places: Italy

lb

The abbreviation for pound is "lb" because in ancient Rome, the value of a sack of coins was determined by weight, weight was measured in libras, and the libra, in records kept in Latin, was written as "lb".

Little-Known Facts About Well-Known Places: Italy

Cafe

In almost any cafe in Italy, the price of coffee, a cocktail, or a glass of wine varies in relation to where you drink it: lowest if you order and stand at the bar, higher if you want to sit at a table, and highest if the table you choose is on the sidewalk or terrace, rather than indoors.

Little-Known Facts About Well-Known Places: Italy

$$$

From the late 1920s to the late 1930s, the Italian government, in an attempt to encourage population growth (and to force single men to wed as soon as possible), levied what was known as the Bachelor's Tax, forcing unmarried adult males to pay up to doubld their normal income tax, plus a fee of 155 lira.

Little-Known Facts About Well-Known Places: Italy

Always.

"Wake Up Alone" is my favorite Amy Winehouse song. Just thought I would share. - Although "You Know I'm No Good" is my message to the world "Wake Up Alone" is more personal. Still, I will never forget the first time I saw the video for "You Know I'm No Good" on VH1.  From then on I was hooked on Amy Winehouse and became one of her biggest fans. I Still Miss You.

A series of 265 circular mosaic portraits that depict every pope since St. Peter are mounted in a continuous line on the frieze that runs above the columns and below the nave windows of the Basilica di San Paolo in Rome.  Only the image of the current pope is illuminated, but visible just beyond that are a handful of vacant spots.  The story goes that once they, too, have been filled, the world will come to an end.

Little-Known Facts About Well-Known Places: Italy

As of 3 minutes ago...yes this is the appropriate song. Congratulations my friend.

Currently Reading

I decided to re-read Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling.  The last time I read this book I was like in 6th or 7th grade.  The book is better than I remember it to be! I've been going to Sacramento with my mother because of some UTI business and I've been reading to her on the way there.  However, I dont think I will be waiting for her to keep reading because it is so good! I will not be writing a review on Harry Potter because I feel like everyone has read the books.  If you are like me and have only read one or two I suggest you read all of them! I ordered some new books from the library.  I'll get them soon and write reviews on those. :)  

 I HEART SUMMER READING!!

I saw you the other day and I thought...

THIS
  You asked me why I never text you anymore. I simply said I moved on.  The way you looked at me really made me believe you have missed me.  I wish I could say the same. Still, this song will always be our song.

The Pope III

"As soon as a new pope is elected, the requisite vestments must be immediately available to him, so that he can quickly put them on and step out onto the balcony overlooking St. Peter's Square.  However, since no one knows in advance who the new pope is-and, hence, what size he is-eccelestical tailors must make and supply the Vatican with three complete sets of vestments-one small, one medium, and one large-to assure that they have one on hand that will fit."

Little-Known Facts About Well-Known Places: Italy

The Vatican II

Vatican City has its own citizenship, issues its own currency and postage stamps, and has its own flag and a large diplomatic corps.

Little-Known Facts About Well-Known Places: Italy

Listen.

The Vatican

26: Languages in which the radio station at the Vatican broadcasts.

.2: Square mileage of Vatican City (roughly 128 acres).

558: People who currently hold Vatican City citizenship.

0: Income tax rate for citizens of Vatican City.

Little-Known Facts About Well-Known Places: Italy

The Pope II

"Pope Benedict XVI definitely has an eye for fashion; he has been spotted sporting Santos reading glasses from Cartier (when he isnt wearing sunglasses from Gucci or Serengeti) and listening to his papal white, custom-engraved ('To His Holiness...') Apple iPod while rocking brown Geox walking shoes.  All this brand association makes marketers very happy, given the pontiff's millions of devoted followers."

Little-Known Facts About Well-Known Places: Italy

The Pope

"The red shoes frequently worn by Pope Benedict XVI are believed to be Prada."

Little-Known Facts About Well-Known Places: Italy

Traditions

"During the period from December 27 to December 31, store windows throughout Rome are filled with red boxer shorts, red underpants, and red lingerie.  According to tradition, wearing red underwear on New Year's Eve and throwing it out the next day will insure good luck in the coming year."

Little-Known Facts About Well-Known Places: Italy

My Birthday, My Blog, My Room

Pizza

"Modern-day pizza was invented when Don Raffaele Esposito, a Naples restaurant owner, layered a traditional flatbread with fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil - ingredients he chose because they were red, white, and green, the colors of the Italian flag."

Little-Known Facts About Well-Known Places: Italy

Little-Known Facts About Italy

Hey there friends! As you all know, I will be going to Italy soon.  To get everyone in the Italian mood I decided to share tidbits from my one of my favorite books, Little-Known Facts About Well-Known Places: Italy by David Hoffman.  Expect an Italian related fun fact everyday.  Facts will vary from food, film, fashion, art, history, architecture, people, etc. Enjoy!

Fact Number One:

It fluctuates, but the Tower of Pisa currently leans almost 13 feet to the south.  

It's Official.

It has been official for about a week but I would like to announce that I have officially graduated from the University of California, Davis. It feels great. I am happy that I made it but now the world seems pretty big and I feel pretty small.

As you all know, I will be going to Italy in October.  There is still a lot of planning left to do but I am still going to be around for 2 months. I ONLY HAVE TWO MONTHS!!! You better hang out with me now or else you won't see me in a while.

As for the blog, even though MIA is no longer IN UCD, I will still post random stuff on here because I have so much free time and I must do something. Be prepared for book reviews, pictures - because i finally found my camera!!- and well, we will see what else. 

I have much to write about my final quarter in Davis. Hopefully I get to share it all with you. Love you guys!- Mia

This is me with my celebratory bottle of sparkling wine. :)

My Love.

He's huge! - 5 Months

Feel Like Doing A Survey?

What are your current obsessions?

The Big Bang Theory, fixing up my room in Napa, and Italian slang.


What is your weirdest obsession?
The fragrance of the new and old book smell - also socks. My roommate no longer permits me to buy socks.


What are you wearing today?
Green tank with a white skirt.


What’s for dinner today?
Protein Shake - my birthday is coming up. :/


Why is today special?
It really wasn’t.


What would you like to learn to do?
Speak Italian fluently, play the piano, play the guitar, and how to speak French.


What’s the last thing you bought?
Some hoop earrings. =)


What are you listening to right now?
Quagmire from Family Guy…Im watching tv.


What is your favorite type of weather?
Cold enough to wear a sweater but not so cold that I can’t drink coffee outside at Starbucks without shivering.


What is your most challenging goal right now?
Making all my stuff fit in my small room. Also, perfecting my grammar.

If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be?
Florence, Italy or New York City.


What would you like to have in your hands right now?
Frank- Amy Winehouse


What would you like to get rid of?
------------------------------


If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?
Paris, France.


Which language do you want to learn?
French, Russian, Finnish, Japanese.


What do you look for in a friend?
honest, loyal, intelligent, understands my sense of humor and doesn’t take themselves too seriously.
Who do you want to meet in person?


Beyonce, John Stewart, Adele, Adam Sandler and Mariah Carey.
What’s your favorite type of music?


Pretty much everything. I like soulful stuff and blues. I also enjoy pop and music in other languages like Spanish or Italian.


What’s the favorite piece of clothing in your own closet?
It’s a dress I have not worn yet. I bought it at Pac Sun. I’ll put a picture up soon.


What is your dream job?
I would love to sing for a living. Anything that would require me to travel would be nice too.


Any favorite models?
Not anymore.


What would you mostly likely spend $100 on?
Clothes or Food.


What would you like an endless supply of?
Clothes or Books


Girl crush?
SHAY MITCHELL.


Describe your personal style
Romantic.


Do you admire anyone’s style?
Khloe Kardashian.