How Time Flys By...

I cannot believe that it is already time to be packing up my bags and heading back home. It seems like last night when I was trying to figure out how to bring all my stuff back with my Mom. I think this has been the fastest 6 weeks of my life. I have met so many great people and have learned alot about myself. Also, being put in a different country has been so much fun to learn another culture. It will be funny coming back home and actually know what others are saying, rather than trying to figure out what people are saying in Italian. I feel like I have learned so much history and I especially feel like Florence is my home away from home. I cannot wait to come back here and show my family where I lived, all of Florence, and my favorite places. I am actually sad to leave but I will always have these memories of this past summer. Thanks to everyone for keeping me in your prayers and enjoying my latest blurbs. I cannot wait to see you all again!!

Arrivederci Firenze!!

And it Ended With a Bang!!

The final weekend trip has just passed :( I'm sad to start thinking that I only have 5 days left. But no worries I am excited to come home and see everyone!
So the trip, we left Thursday to one of the 5 villages called Monterosso. Our hotel was like 15 minutes away by walking there. SO luggage and all we walked. The hotel was quaint and old, not much to say. But the town was not that touristy; at least not like some of the others. For dinner we went to a little restaurant by the water and I had pesto lasagna! I guess this area is known for their pesto and they do darn well!! After just watched the sunset over the water... so peaceful.
Friday was great; woke up and left for the 5 hour hike through all the 5 villages that make Cinque Terre. The first to legs of the trail were tough but nothing that would have killed me. It was gorgeous. We hiked along the hills that overlooked the water. The time passed fast as i was able to talk to friends and get to know others. All the towns were similar; bright colors, little marina, and bright blue water. When we finally got to the last town we headed down to some rocks and went cliff jumping!! I was a little nervous at first but finally pressured myself in jumping off the 15-18 foot cliff. So worth it! There was a larger rock many people jumped off that was probably 28 feet! They were daredevils... HA. We took a train back to the town we were staying in and got ready for a fabulous dinner hosted by GIF (Gonzaga in Florence). The dinner was delicious especially after going on that hike.
On Saturday morning I woke up to rain. There was a thunderstorm and it looked like it would not clear up. But by 11am we saw a break through in the clouds and it ended up being a bright sunny day! A group of us rented a paddle boat that had a slide on it!! It was so fun, I felt like a kid again! After we all just laid on the beach soaking up the warm sun rays. Don't worry this week we did not burn. Then again we had a nice relaxing dinner. I had salmon penne which was probably the best I have ever had.
Sunday we had to find our own way back so some of us decided to stop at Pisa since it was on the way back anyways. The only thing to do in Pisa is see the leaning tower, so we went there, luggage and all, and took the typical tourist pictures! All worth it! Something you have to see!
The weekend went by fast, which means this week will go by fast! I'm sad to leave Florence but excited to be home. This week is full of little events and I'm excited to just embrace what is left. But until I leave I will "live it up."

What A Rough Life

Who would have thought that a trip to Southern Tuscany has more to offer than just wine and cheese... I just got back and our group went to Marina Grossetto. Since it was only 3 hours away we were able to spend the evening on the beach and exploring the small town. A group of us went to the super market and just got a few things for dinner then walked down to the beach to have dinner and watch the sunset. After finishing dinner we decided that it would be a fun idea to go in the water. So clothed and all we swam in the Mediterranean "Under the Tuscan Sun"... no punt intended :)
The next day we did a canoing trip down the river and then headed toward the beach. The weather was sunny with no cloud, probably in between 90-95 degrees, which means by the end of the day we were lobsters. But the beach was nice and sandy, the water was refreshing and it was worth getting burnt. And again when returning back to the town where we were staying at I watched the sunset on the beach.
Saturday we went to the winery, La Parrina, which was gorgeous and I was able to see how wine is made!! After the tour of the winery we did a wine and cheese tasting. Everything was so delicious and I wanted more! And again after wine tasting we headed to the beach :) Where most of us stayed under an umbrella since we were burnt from the day before. I guess that's what happens when you don't wear SPF 70!! There was a lot of routine to this weekend, but again went to the beach for sunset and dinner. What's better than take away pizza and wine on the beach?!?! Everything was basically beach centered this weekend but so worth it.
So to continue with the beach theme.. After checking out of the cabins a group went down to the beach to have Mass. That was very interesting. We were all sweating having Mass and vendors trying to sell us things, and pretty much every Italian trying to figure out if we were a cult.
The whole weekend we all kept saying "I love Italy" or "What a rough life we have". It was just all so relaxing and we are all so grateful for the opportunity we have of being in Italy. I cannot believe I have less than 2 weeks left... it's bittersweet. I am so excited to be back and see family and friends, but also I have grown so close to the people here and who wouldn't want to leave Italy?!
This week will be about doing as much as I can before I have to go home. So last night the roomies and I had a dinner at Il Gatto e La Volpe and just enjoyed each others company. But on or way back we found two of my friends from school wondering down the streets of Florence. They are backpacking all over Europe!! So tonight I will hear all their adventures over dinner. Anyways... I will update on my week or else after this next weekend!!

Check off seeing one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World

I cannot believe I am over half way done being in Italy. I feel like these have been the fastest weeks of my life. Reflecting back I cannot believe how much I have done and seen, it's crazy. Since my last post I have been to the Almalfi Coast and back. On Wednesday my Italian class had an apperitivo (drinks with nuts/chips) with our teacher at the Rowing Club under the Ponte Vecchio. We just all spoke in Italian and sipped some champagne. It was awesome and my teacher is so generous.
On Thursday we arrived in Sorrento for the weekend. Let me just say I will be going back there again sometime in my life. It is gorgeous... and we came in at sunset, so seeing the red sun set over the Mediterranean was absolutely beautiful. The next day a group went to the other side of the peninsula and laid out on the Almalfi coast. Unfortunately it was cloudy but that didn't stop me from jumping into the salty Mediterranean Sea. The next day we went to Capri. That island is so gorgeous (I know everything is gorgeous in my eyes), but no words can describe how cool this Island is. While in Capri I did one of the hardest hikes of my life; I climbed Mount Solaro which was a 6 mile hike, it's elevation is 1,300 feet if that puts into perspective. After I took a scenic chair lift done and walked down to the Blue Grotto. The Blue Grotto is one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World. It is a cave in that water that has maybe a 3 foot opening to get into but the way the sun hits the water is the most blue water you will ever see. It was gorgeous and something that you have to see in person!! After that fun filled day I was exhausted. But Sunday on our way back to Florence we stopped in Pompeii to see the town that was destroyed by a volcano eruption and everything is now preserved. I didn't realize that they preserved the WHOLE city, it was huge. A typical Roman city with an Amphitheater, Colosseum, and many houses. It was interesting to actually see a city in it's original layout and how they lived day to day. It was a very good experience, sometimes you don't realize how old things are. Pompeii has been pretty much preserved since 100AD!
Yesterday a few of us GU kids signed up for a cooking class and we had some amazing food... so now I can come back and cook some good Italian eating. I feel like that was a fun way to actually learn why Italians are so famous for their food!!
Everything has been so much fun. I feel like I am actually starting to capture a lot of the Italian culture. It will stink going home and not having it around. But so far this has been an amazing opportunity and I have enjoyed every second!!

What a Weekend

Time is just flying by right now. I love being able to see everything, but at the same time that means less and less time I have left. We had no organized trips this weekend so my roommates and I just did a little bit of this and that. Friday we started the day by going to the central market where I got a kilo, 3 pounds, of cherry's for 2,50 euro; so delicious. And after we made our way to the Ponte Vecchio. It is lined with jewelry shops and all are amazingly beautiful. Today was a touristy day so of course we walked the 463 steps to the top of the Duomo and had a spectacular view of all of Florence. Then headed down the street to see David at the Acadamia Galleria. It was so cool to actually see Michelangelo's work; the David was so big and tons of detail, you could see the veins in his hands. To top the night off a group of us went to the super market got some food for dinner and hiked to Piazzale Michelangelo, which looks over all of Florence, and watched the sunset. I believe that was the perfect way to spend a whole day in Florence.

Saturday was such an experience; we made a day trip to Venice. I was in awe the whole day walking around and crossing bridges over canals. Everywhere I looked the background seemed like backdrops to a picture or something you see in a picture frame. The day in Venice consisted of taking a water taxi and seeing Venice that way and then walking all around until we reached San Marco, unfortunately the church was closed but we were able to see a demonstration on the glass blowing, aka how they make Venetian Glass. It was so cool; a guy made a horse within 3 minutes and it was a detailed horse! We also walked through the gallery and saw all sorts of glass that has been made, it was gorgeous. After we took a little brake and stood by the Grand Canal to watch all the boats pass by and feel the breeze. The whole day was just gorgeous and something you just have to do.

Sunday I experienced a real soccer game. It was ACF Fiorentina vs. AC Milan... unfortunately Florence lost, but I did get to see David Beckham. The experience was awesome and people chanting in Italian. The games get so crazy there taht Milan fans had a seperate section that has plexi glass walls that are like 20 feet high and a little fence at the top that makes a "Y" so you can't throw anything over. Crazy, but so much fun.


This weekend has been such an experience and I have loved every second of it. This week we get to go to Sienna and then the weekend we'll be going to Sorrento, Pompeii, Capri, and the Almalfi Coast.
Ciao Ciao

Munchen...AKA Munich, Germany

I just returned from Munich, which was a blast!! I feel like I did so much within 3 days. Well first we left and the bus ride took 11 hours!! Didn't get to Munich till 1:30. That was horrible. But the next day we all woke up bright and early to visit Dachau Concentration Camp. It was very eerie... You walk through the same gates that the prisoners came through. The fence that surrounded the camp was frightening, I only could imagine how many people may have died in the area I was standing. I walked through the barracks where they slept and then off to what is called "Barrack X" where I walked through the crematory room, onto the gas room, and also the waiting room where it was there turn next to "take a shower". I think that was the hardest part of the tour to see where so many people have died. It was a great experience though although it sounds daunting. But... we returned to the city central and that is when I got my first bratwurst.. DELICIOUS.
The next day we went on a bike tour of Munich. I loved it I saw so much of Munich that way and riding the bike was just relaxing. We did go through the English Gardens where we warned that there is a part of the park that we will pass where people are nude. By far that was just really weird/awkward to pass people who were naked. Other than that the tour was beautiful, Munich is beautiful.
Sunday was our day to return to Florence, but first we stopped off at the Neuschwanstein Castle. Disney based their castle off of this one. We had a guided tour through it and it was crazy. There were only 16 rooms actually finished and the whole 3rd floor not even done. The King who lived there was only there for 170 days!! And right after the king died it turned into a museum....
Overall the trip was awesome!! I had a lot of fun... lots of sausage! But an experience that i could never forget. If you have the chance go to Munich!!

ZOOM Zoom zoom...

Well yesterday I got hit by a motorcycle... What an interesting way to start off a trip in Florence. No worries I'm ok physically but mentally I'm paranoid :) The traffic here is crazy people weaving in and out of each other and I'm pretty sure there is no speed limits. And people don't really stop for pedestrians.
But the story... I was walking (in a crosswalk) and all the sudden we (my friend and I) hear a SCREECHH!! This motorcycle was flying around a corner, where we happen to be, and runs into us. It hit my arm and then knocked over my friend. She's ok just some bumps and bruises. But a police saw the whole thing and gave the motorcycle guy a ticket. Funny part is, the moto guy spoke English, while the police spoke NO English. So it was interesting trying to give information.
Other than that everything has been amazing here. I am loving my Italian Conversation class. Today my teacher was talking about bakeries and different sorts of breads and she asked us if we had had the schiacciata yet. All of us were like no, so she says ANDIAMO. And we walk to a place get some bread and it was so GOOD! Basically I love being taught Italian in Florence. So many benefits.