Hellooooo Lemoncellooooo

Ahh! I don't think I'll ever be able to fully keep my blogging up to date while I am here... there is simply too many wonderful things going on! Just when I think I've seen the most beautiful city Italy has to offer, I'm surprised yet again by another spectacular sight. It's nickname "Il bel paese" (The Beautiful Country) is well deserved! I don't know if I'll be able to choose just one city here as my favorite by the time I leave. In the meantime, I'll let you know what I've been up to in the past few weeks... (WARNING: Long blog post ahead!)

Siena & San Gimignano

Buildings in the Piazza del Campo in Siena

Some of the marble flooring
inside of the duomo

Inside of Nannini Bakery

Inside of the Piccolomini Library

Two Saturdays ago, I went on another school organized day trip to Siena and San Gimignano. What wonderful cities! They have a much more low-key atmosphere than Florence does, yet still so much to offer!  In Siena, we first went to a delicious bakery called Nannini for some Paneforte- a Sienese specialty. It was so good! We also got a little tour of the city, including the Piazza del Campo area where the Palio races are held every year. I think this is my favorite part of the city because it was really cool to see everybody (many locals, too!) hanging out on the sloped brick pavement chatting and picnic-ing and whatnot. I would love to see what it is like there during the Palio races! We also got a look inside of the Duomo and it's spectacular marble flooring. Since it is so intricate and delicate, it is usually covered up for most of the year, but we happened to be there on one of the very few days it was uncovered to get a peek at it. It was incredible! Inside the cathedral, we also got a look inside the Piccolomini Library where all of the original choir books and beautiful frescos are housed from centuries ago. The original books were so cool to see, it was my favorite part of the Cathedral. Before we left, we climbed to the top of part of the Cathedral walls to look out at the countryside surrounding the city. Pictures don't do it justice! It was absolutely beautiful.

Looking out over the buildings in Siena

Duomo in Siena

Best gelato ever!

After Siena, we went straight to San Gimignano to enjoy some of the world's BEST gelato (it was soooo good... and I have tried many a gelato since I've been here!) and some original, old fashioned medieval architecture. I really liked how cute and simple this town was, and the views were spectacular! We pretty much had time to wander and explore on our own for a while in this town, which was really nice. I loved just walking through the streets and looking at the cute houses and gorgeous views. It had a very home-y feel and it's a town I would definitely like to return to for a longer visit sometime.

Some of the views from San Gimignano!

Cinque Terre

Along Via dell'Amore

Beautiful blue water along the coast

I was soooooo excited for the day trip we took to see Cinque Terre- it was on the top of my list for places I wanted to visit while I am here. And it did not disappoint! For those that don't know, Cinque Terre means Five Towns, and that's exactly what it is... five small towns that started as fishing villages along the coast (Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterrosso al Mare). The only ways to get between the towns are to take a train or to hike, and I would say that hiking is the better option of the two! The first hike was more of a walk between the first two towns from Riomaggiore to Manarola, called Via dell'Amore, or Pathway of Love. All along this walk, there is graffiti covering the walls from people signing as they pass through, and rows of padlocks hanging from every crevice with couple's names etched on them to seal their love forever. So cute! :) I loved hearing people play accordion music as we passed through, and not to mention the spectacular views around every corner of the beautiful ocean ahead of us.

Locks of Love!

Best focaccia bread and pesto ever!

Along the hike!

A view of Vernazza from the trail

The next two trails we actually had to skip and take a train- they were closed down because of a landslide last year... But we got back to hiking again to go from Vernazza to Monterrosso after a quick stop for some focaccia bread and pesto- two things that Cinque Terre is famous for, and I am certain it was the best focaccia bread I have had since I've been here! I want more! The second hike was longer and took about an hour and a half, but it went by so quickly and I wish it went on forever! It was so beyond beautiful and I just couldn't get enough! The hike itself was great- it was so nice being outdoors in the beautiful weather and getting to be a little active to burn off some of those carbs! Plus, after every twist and turn you could see out to the ocean and also to the surrounding towns. We were able to see Vernazza when we looked back at it through the first half of the hike and the approaching Monterroso during the second half. I could have stayed up there and looked out at the scenery forever! Crystal blue water, clear skies, and the colorful patchwork of buildings that Cinque Terre is so famous for. Gorgeous! But, at the same time, we were very excited to get to the beach where we spent the rest of the day swimming, sipping Pina Coladas, and relaxing near the water before heading back home. It was one of my favorite days here by far, and I would love to go back there again before I leave!

We made it!

Amalfi Coast

The Natural Arch in Capri

Inside of the Green Grotto

Just this past weekend I went on a trip to the Amalfi Coast to visit the Island of Capri, Positano, and Naples! It was such a wonderful weekend. I absolutely LOVED the island of Capri- it was so gorgeous, and there was so much to do! We got to the island by ferry, and then straight away went on a boat tour of the Island. I really love going on boat rides, and this one was even more fantastic because it took us to some of the most beautiful spots around the island. Unfortunately, the Blue Grotto was closed the day we went because it was too wavy... but we were still able to see the Green Grotto and the White Grotto, which I can only imagine are just as beautiful as the Blue Grotto. The water was so clear and bright! The boat tour also took us to see the famed natural arch in Capri and even drove us through it. Apparently it's also called the "Lover's Arch," and you get good luck if you kiss your lover while driving through it. Why does everything in Italy have to do with love...!?

Spremuta!

When we got back on the island, we got these drinks called spremuta which were SO good! It is like this freshly squeezed, lemony-orange slushy thing. Nothing better on a hot day! Then we had time to explore the island for a while on our own, and I was drooling over all of the beautiful gold, turquoise, and coral jewelry they had in all of the shops there. There was also a shop that we visited where this cute little old man makes custom hand-made sandals... Once again, I was drooling over how beautiful some of them were, but was able to resist. In that same shop, they also had Lemoncello tasting, which of course is what the Amalfi Coast is the most well known for! That's one thing that I wasn't quite able to walk away from ;) I also tried their Meloncello which I had never tried before, and it was really good! I may even like it better than the lemon. Afterwards, we ate at one of the best restaurants I've been to so far, (and I had some of the best fish I've had to far!) and we went on a chairlift ride over the island and got some of the most spectacular views. I think I really am obsessed with all of the gorgeous views Italy has of the ocean... I never realized before how green and tropical it could be! Those are the places here that have really been my favorite to visit... at least from what I have seen so far! :)

The next day we spent at the beach in Positano. It, too, was lovely! We went on another boat ride along the coast, and it took us cliff jumping and cave swimming in the crystal blue water! It was so much fun. Other than that, we mostly just spent time lying around on the beach. That night, we went to this bar that was on the roof of one of the Hostel's where people were staying- it was so cool! Since we were so high up, we were able to see the surrounding towns (including Naples!) all lit up, and we even saw some fireworks. It was really awesome, and now that I'm 21 I can't wait to find places like that to hit up back in Arizona! :)

On our last day there before heading home, we stopped in Naples for a few hours. Most people chose to take a tour of Pompeii, but since I am already going there with one of my classes in a few weeks I decided to hike Mt. Vesuvius instead. It was more like a steep, 20 minute uphill walk than an actual hike, but it was definitely worth it! We got to see all the land surrounding where the volcano erupted on centuries ago... it's crazy to imagine! At the top you could also see the massive crater left from the eruption... it was really awesome to see! All in all, it was a fantastic weekend, and past few weeks for that matter... I can't wait to see what other wonderful places Italy has in store for me to see!

Standing in front of the crater at
Mt. Vesuvius

Welcome to Wine Country!

Entrance to the Castello del Trebbio

Touring the wine cellars in the castle

Oh my goodness, so much has happened here in the past week- it's hard to keep up with all of the excitement! I'll start with this past Friday- Our school took a day trip to the Tuscan countryside to do some wine tasting in Chianti. Now that is my kind of field trip! It was absolutely gorgeous. We went to  Castello del Trebbio, which is this amazing 900 year old castle in the countryside that was restored in the 1960's to become a family-owned winery. While we were there, we got to tour part of the inside of the castle and the wine cellars, and learn more about what goes into making Chianti wine. They also make extra virgin olive oil there, and explained that process to us as well. Who knew that something as simple as olive oil could be such a complicated process! [For inquiring minds- apparently not all olive oil sold in stores is actually good for consumption... Something like 60% of the stuff sold really shouldn't be because it is too acidic. Even if it says "Extra Virgin", it doesn't mean it is. And there's not really a way to make sure it's good, which is problematic. But, basically the stuff that's actually good should always be Extra Virgin, and generally if it's more expensive, it's better for you. Sooooo there you go :)]

The beautiful Tuscan Countryside!

Wine Connoisseur 

After the tour of the cellars, we got to have a typical Tuscan-style lunch and taste some wine! We tried two different kinds, a 2008 and a 2011 Chianti. Our guide taught us the "proper" way to taste wine; how to hold the glass, then look at the color, swirl, look at how it drips, smell, taste, and what it all means. Too complicated of a process for me to really tell the difference more than to the extent of yummy or not, and they both tasted great to me! We then went on a walk outside to a nearby pond to take in the beautiful scenery and pick some fresh fruit to munch on. It was so good, and the view was unbelievable! It was so nice to see some greenery outside of the city walls- pictures don't do it justice.  I still have a lot more of the country to see, but I think this may end up being one of my favorite places in Italy! Our guide mentioned they also do weddings at the castle... too soon to start planning already? ;)

That night when we got back there was a festival going on- Festa della Rificolona (Lantern Festival of Florence), so me and two other friends decided to go out and celebrate with the rest of the city! This parade is a celebration of the birth of the Virgin Mary, and the parade of lanterns represents the pilgrimage of the farmers made before the break of dawn for the religious ceremony. Today, the city of Florence gathers and parades through the city holding paper lanterns in the air, and ends up in the Piazza Santissima Annunziata (which is the one right near our apartment that has the Basilica dedicated to the Virgin Mary) where there was a festival with candy, snacks, and games! It was so much fun walking through the parade and seeing all of the local families out and about and feeling part of the Florentine culture. And all of the little kids were so cute with their homemade lanterns! Part of the tradition, however, is that the kids spit spitballs and pellets at all of the lanterns to try and knock over the candle inside to set it on fire. I guess this is part of the tradition that dates back to the first pilgrimage and by the end of the night most of the lanterns are ceremoniously set ablaze, but if you know me and how I feel about spit, that was one part of the festivities I didn't enjoy so much. But all in all it was really awesome and so much fun :)

Danielle, Me, and Kelsey at the Lantern Festival

Classic.

The next day, I went with a group organized through the school to visit Pisa and Lucca! We didn't spend too much time in Pisa- just a few hours, which was basically just enough time to see all of the monuments in the Field of Miracles and take some classic tourist shots. Besides the leaning tower, there is also a Duomo and Baptistry which are really beautiful along with a monumental cemetery which is also pretty cool to see. Other than those monuments, there isn't really a ton much else to do in Pisa, but the tower was really so awesome to see in person. It almost seems unreal, like it could actually fall over at any moment. I learned though that they were finally able to secure it so it's not going anywhere, after many many attempts (and a lot of money spent!) to stop it from sinking. That was one of my favorite parts, seeing the base of the tower where you can see exactly how far it tipped downwards into the sinking ground! 

The base of the tower where you
can see how far down it has sunk

After visiting Pisa, we went right to Lucca, which is another small neighboring town just outside of Florence. It is sooooo beautiful! It also has much more of a local vibe to it with hardly any tourists, which was a nice change from Florence where there are always tour groups crowding the streets. [Listen to me, sounding like a local after only 2 weeks here ;)] Another cool thing about the city is that is still has the protective walls encircling it that were originally built way back when, only now they are more of a park-like promenade where people lounge around on a sunny afternoon. Which is precisely what we did! After getting a little tour of some cool places in the city and having some free time to get lunch, we all rented bikes to ride around along the top of walls and get a wonderful view of the city! It was so pretty. Looking in one direction you could see the humble town with beautiful gardens and adorable houses, and in the other the outstretched land that the walls used to protect against. I was so upset that my camera died in Pisa so I unfortunately don't have any pictures of the beautiful city to share :( One of my roommates took some awesome ones though, so when she is back in town I will steal some of the ones she uploads to add to my album on Facebook for you all to see! In the meantime, here is a picture I stole from online of the beautiful park on top of the walls!

Walls surrounding Lucca

The last day of the weekend, me and two of my other roommates decided to spend the day relaxing at the beach at Viareggio. It was so nice! And such a nice day. The beach was abound with men in speedos, naked babies and topless women bathing in the sun. Gotta love that free European culture! It was a beautiful day though, and nice and relaxing! The rest of this past week mostly consisted of going to classes, but I also went to another wine tasting on Wednesday, which was also my birthday! What a classy way to celebrate. I also went to a wine festival on Thursday that was set up in Piazza della Republica with a friend from class... I think that by the end of my time here I might have actually learned a thing or two about wine! It was really fun attempting to practice my Italian with all of the wine connoisseurs there and trying all of the local and home grown goods. How nice it is to just walk outside after class one day and be in the middle of a wine festival... I love Florence! :) 

Wandering the streets...

Replica Statue of David

The past few days in Florence weren't too eventful, but still exciting none the less :) The other day was the second day of orientation, and we got to learn more about the "fun stuff" of school, such as the activities they offer and optional trips you can sign up for. I signed up for basically everything they offered... why not!? Might as well take advantage of every opportunity! We also got to meet some of the professors to talk to them about the classes we are going to be taking. I'm very excited about all of mine- I'm taking the History of Ancient Rome, The Art of Florence, Archeology & Art of Ancient Italy, and of course Italian. I will get to go on a field trip to Rome for my Ancient Rome class, and on two field trips for my archeology class- one where we will get to do a dig, and another to see Pompeii! I am really excited for my art history class as well- When we meet for class, it will be somewhere new in Florence each time to learn about all of the beautiful artwork the city has to offer. It will be so cool to learn more about all of the beautiful buildings, sculptures and frescos first hand.

Candleholders along the
Streets

Hooks on the buildings
from horse races through
the city!

The professors and staff then split us into smaller groups to take us on their own version of a walking tour around the city. This was really handy because they took us to see where our school is and also pointed out some of the main Piazzas we should know to help us with navigating the (incredibly confusing) city. Our school has two buildings- the Palazzo Rucellai and Palazzo Bargagli. They are both really close to the Arno river and they walk between the two of them is so beautiful- there are lots of the super chic designer stores lining the streets on one side, and a view of the Arno river on the other. What a choice! Along the walk, they told us interesting tidbits about the city as we passed by. For example; Via dei Calzaiuoli, the main street which connects the Piazza del Duomo and Piazza della Signorina (the one with the fake David sculpture), has hooks along some of the buildings. These were used back when the Florentine would sometimes race horses down that street. How cool is that!?? They are all still in the same place today. They also told us which sandwich and gelato shops are the best to stop at- probably the most important tip they could give us! Once of the sandwich shops always has a line of at least ten people, and walking by always smells soooo goooood! That's a sure sign it's a gem.

Outdoor Marketplace Near
Our Apartment!

Over the rest of the weekend, me and Kelsey (my roommate) decided to take our own little excursion walking through the city and enjoying it. We started out all going to get paninis at the cutest little cafe we found right near our apartment. It was also right next to this outdoor marketplace that was set up for the Saturday. There were so many cool things- I wanted to buy everything! There were little stands set up selling cheese, wine, hand crafted wood and ceramics, paintings, olive oil... and so much more! I was able to resist, that is until later in the day, when we walked back around the square to where the main marketplace is. I ended up caving in on my first weekend here and buying a leather jacket. What can I say?? I bargained for a good deal, and Florence is well known for it's leather. Plus, I wear it well ;)

Walking the Streets of
 Florence!

In other news, today was actually the first day of class! It was exciting getting to meet some of the others in the program, and the classes I had all seem awesome. Today was The Art of Florence, Ancient Rome, and Italian. I was right to be excited about them- I find it fascinating to learn about the history behind how Florence and Rome came to be, all while living here. Be excited... I'm sure I will have some very interesting "artsy" insights to share with you all once we begin to learn more about everything ;) And since we had classes, today was also my first day navigating through the city on my own. I only had to stop and ask somebody for directions once, and although he didn't speak English, he was super helpful and took me right to the street I was looking for. I'd consider that a success on my part :)

So, not too much of an exciting update to share today, but the next one should be far more interesting! Back to back day trips coming up this weekend... One to Chianti, the other to Pisa & Lucca. Wine country awaits! Stay tuned!