"You know more of a road by having traveled it than by all the conjectures and descriptions in the world."

On the Amalfi Coast

Here we are again, back to my broken promise of posting once a week. Life has been incredibly busy and I've realized that with LESS than 1 MONTH left in Italy, I need to get out and make the most of every moment I have. Not to mention schoolwork is actually kicking into high gear. All of this combined means less time for blog writing. But regardless, I'm back, and I hope you're ready to hear about my trip to the Amalfi Coast and a couple of day trips I took this past weekend!

The quote by William Hazlitt that I chose to use this week is not only incredibly true, but also makes me laugh because the trip with my parents involved a lot of crazy driving and let me tell you: you truly don’t know what it’s like to drive the Amalfi Coast roads until you are on them.

Pictures are updated and are available on Picasa: https://picasaweb.google.com/100853123413362137278/LaDolceVita?authkey=Gv1sRgCI6NoeLsqoHy_QE#

In my last post about Spring Break I mentioned how I literally dropped Julie off at the departures gate, only to head down to arrivals and pick up my parents. To say I was happy to see them is the understatement of the century! I literally cried when I watched them walk through the doors and got to give them a hug! If anyone has seen the movie "Love Actually" it's a little like the start and the ending, when you watch people greet each other at London Heathrow. Just to be waiting and finally watch the ones you love walk through that door is a really amazing thing.

We got back to my neighborhood and my parents settled into their hotel before going to see my apartment and then heading into the city. We were up and moving right away to help them stave off the jetlag. The first day we visited the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, and the Vittoriano. Dinner was at a restaurant called Da Otello's where the waiters actually know me and were excited to see my parents. Early to bed that night due to jetlag but early to rise the next morning when my parents and I made our way to the Colosseum and took the subteranean tour that I had taken with Julie over Spring Break. The amazing thing is that every tour you take is slightly different information and every experience is different because of the people you share it with. After the tour we went to a delicious lunch with amazing pasta near the Colosseum. That night we tried a new place for dinner called "Cicia Bomba" which literally translates to "Fat Bomb," quite a comical name if you ask me. We all shared two delicious pizzas and a light salad before heading back to Monte Verde for the night. The following morning my parents departed for Florence and I went back to my normal Monday and Tuesday routine of classes, a short hiatus from what was essentially a two-week Spring Break.

Wednesday was an early morning as we departed for the Amalfi Coast. Our first stop was Pompeii, and as we drove my mom read descriptions of what we were about to see. She read a quote by an author who referred to Pompeii and Vesuvius as "the destroyed and the destroyer." To say that standing in Pompeii, in the shadow of Vesuvius, was haunting is yet another drastic understatement. I walked down the streets of Pompeii, stood in their kitchens, sat on their patios, all while always seeing the towering volcano in the distance, a constant reminder of its unnerving power and presence. It is not dormant and will sporadically begin to steam again, keeping the citizens of the area on their toes. I can't imagine living in a place that you know will one day face tragedy yet again. Fortunately, much of Pompeii has been preserved and stands as an amazing artifact of another time. The mosaics and painting are absolutely astonishing, perfectly preserved and some entirely intact. We even traveled slightly off the beaten path when we stumbled upon a fence that had been knocked down. My parents and I went all around what we assumed to be the remnants of houses, with staircases down into pitch-black cellars and secret rooms. At the end of our day we exited through the House of Mysteries, one of the best-preserved parts of Pompeii. I walked into a room on my own where I saw a glass barrier but an open doorway through it if you walked around. As I came up to the barrier I realized that it was a display case and tried to figure out what was inside it: when my eyes reached a face I realized exactly what I was seeing. My heart literally stopped for a moment as the body cast shocked me and sent me running out of the room in alarm. I had been expecting to see casts everywhere and hadn't seen a single one, so by the time we got to this house that was the exit, I had essentially given up hope of seeing one. The two that were on display here were terrifying, posed in a state of panic, mouths open screaming in fear or pain in their final moments. It was an eerie end to an eerie day. Pompeii is definitely a must-see in Italy. No matter how chilling, it is also incredibly cool to walk their streets and visit a town that was once quite the bustling place and will forever serve as a reminder of the tragedy of Vesuvius.

Being a statue in Pompeii

Ok, onto slightly less depressing topics! After Pompeii we started the drive to Sorrento, a town along the Amalfi Coast. After an hour of driving (between getting to Sorrento and finding our hotel), we made it to our bed and breakfast and were greeted by a note: "We're sorry we had to close the front desk for a bit, we'll be back in 20 minutes, please enjoy some gelato across the street on us." Not a bad way to start at all, especially since some people consider this place the best gelato in all of Italy. While I don't really agree with that, it was very good and a nice treat. Our room at the bed and breakfast was the next exciting thing- it was beautiful! Modern, comfortable, warm and inviting. My favorite part though was the bathroom- it was entirely covered in pale purple tiles! If I could have I would have taken that bathroom home in my suitcase, it was beautiful! We also got a fantastic dinner place recommended to us by the hotel owner. The restaurant, called Ristorante La Lanterna Due, is an adorable family-run place with amazing food! I got a huge plate of about 30 mussels for only 8.50 euro and they were some of the biggest and best mussels I've ever had (the Amalfi Coast is big on seafood). Two sons are waiters and the father bounces around talking to people (spending 45 minutes talking with us), and then the daughter or daughter-in-law serves the desserts, all homemade of course. It was absolutely delicious! They treated us to a fantastic rose prosecco- the son didn't even know its name because his friend makes it and just brings it to the restaurant, but we had it at other restaurants around there too and it's delicious- very light and fruity while also being rich with flavor. After dinner we were also treated to Limoncello and by the time we left we were clutching our full stomachs and abandoning all hopes of a walk around the town, we were too stuffed.

Amazing mussels

My favorite bathroom

Sorrento's main square

The next day we enjoyed a light breakfast at a nearby bar and then set out to do some shopping! We saw some small jewelry shops but spent most of our time at a place called Gargiulo Jannuzzi, run by a very sweet family whose daughter actually owned our bed and breakfast with her husband. The store had everything from statues to linens, but they specialize in gorgeous inlaid wood. It's a dying art form that is really famous in Sorrento but we found the prettiest and least expensive stuff there. They've had the store for generations and are a very nice family (they speak pretty good English too, partially for tourists and partially because the mother is from Australia and came to Sorrento on a cruise, met her husband, and never left- living the dream!). We bought several gorgeous pictures and enjoyed the fun conversations with the family (not to mention petting a friendly dog that visits their store- his name was Euro!)

Between shopping we stopped at another restaurant they recommended for lunch, Inn Bufalito. This mozzarella bar had absolutely amazing food and specialized in buffalo mozzarella and buffalo meat. We got two appetizers for three of us and it was basically a meal (an artichoke stuffed with vegetables and stuffing and a tower of fried eggplant and fresh buffalo mozzarella with tomato sauce). This was before our entrees of a pizza (good toppings but not the best crust) and amazing pasta with buffalo meat and a cheese on the side. We were again treated to rose prosecco and conversed with the owner who drew many of his recipes and inspirations from cooking with his grandmother when he was a child. It was the perfect end to our short but sweet time in Sorrento.

In the middle of the afternoon we left Sorrento and began the drive to Positano. This was the start of the infamous Amalfi drive and it is well worth the fame! I felt bad that my dad had to navigate the exceedingly curvy road and couldn't just watch the scenery, though he did a wonderful job with the intense drive, not being phased at all by the tight turns or narrow roads. While he was doing the driving, I was stunned at the protruding cliffs and fantastically blue water below. To say that it is one of the most beautiful places in the world can't possibly do it justice. Every moment of the drive and the next day and a half in the area was filled with moments of "This can't be real, it's too pretty to be real." Positano is supposedly the most famous city on the coast for its incredible views. I would agree with this, it's adorable and breathtaking all at the same time. The town is entirely built up a cliff, with all of the buildings tightly packed around a road that winds all the way down the cliff until it reaches the shore. We spent a lot of time walking the main street where you'll find tons of beautiful ceramic stores, lemon shops (they're famous for lemons, limoncello, etc.), and fashion boutiques. The trip also consisted of some "down-time" in our room, which was absolutely amazing! My dad had booked us into a room with a private balcony that overlooked the ocean. There were also two separate rooms, one with a bed for my parents and one that was the living room with a sofa bed and a separate bathroom that had a jacuzzi tub.

The view from our hotel room!

We ate dinner the first night at a restaurant on the beach, enjoying delicious and refreshing artichoke carpaccio- thinly sliced, raw baby artichokes that had been marinated in lemon juice and topped with parmesan shavings and salt and pepper. My mom got a pizza topped with every kind of seafood imaginable and my dad and I each got a delicious white fish cooked with tomatoes and potatoes. I also shared mine with a sweet little cat fishing for handouts (no pun intended).

The next day we took things slow, enjoying a leisurely breakfast before strolling down the main street again. We stopped at a shop called Vini e Panini and got enormous panini filled with Parma ham, mozzarella, tomatoes, and topped off with delicious bread. My parents and I took our sandwiches down to the beach and ate them while staring at the town and the ocean. I felt so serene and at peace, it was absolutely perfect! The day was also filled with a lot of shopping, especially for ceramics. Positano is famous for gorgeous, hand-painted ceramic pieces including bowls, plates, tables, and olive oil bottles. They are also famous for their homemade sandals, crafted for you as you wait. I chose a pair of simple sandals with a thin black leather strap that wraps around my heel and loops in the front. Getting to watch them be made and custom fit just for me was entertainment in and of itself. Not to mention the gorgeous pair of sandals I walked away with- I absolutely love them!

The view from our ocean-side picnic lunch.

We returned to the hotel before dinner in order to enjoy an incredible view of the ocean at sunset and delicious Brunello wine that my parents had bought on a private vineyard tour they took in Tuscany. We sat in awe at our lives and the wine paired with pecorino cheese, apple, and pear. It was the epitome of happiness and peace.

That night and the next day at lunch (it was just so good, we had to go back again), we tried another townie recommendation and ate at a place called C'Era Una Volta or Once Upon A Time. It was a family-run establishment with extraordinary food. Our samplings included: zuppa di pesce (fish "soup" but it was more like a lot of mixed seafood with a little broth), gnocchi, a special lasagna with zucchini and cream, and a pizza with bresaola (kind of like parma ham except less fatty, more tender, and more flavorful), tomato, and arugula. For desserts over the course of both meals we tried a pear and ricotta cake, so light and delicate yet wonderfully flavorful, as well as a chocolate cake and chocolate-filled pastries called sfogliatelle (my favorite pastry in Italy). These were two of the best meals I've eaten in Italy.

We slowly made our way back to Rome on Saturday, relishing in the breathtaking views of the Amalfi Coast. Our drive involved frequent stops on the side of the road and many picture-perfect vistas. Top it all off with a nighttime visit to the Trevi Fountain and my parents making a wish and you have one of the most amazing vacations ever. I didn't want it to end, especially as I took them to the airport and had to say goodbye. As I worded it to my parents in an email, "It felt like being a parent and watching your child get on a plane, except backwards. Basically, I'm used to being the one getting dropped off, not dropping off."

While my parents left over two weeks ago, this trip feels like it just happened yesterday! But since then, a lot has happened. As you all know from my previous post, I turned 21 in a day-long celebration that was beyond wonderful! I've also visited the quiet countryside town of Assisi, famous for churches of St. Clare and St. Francis. The following day I visited the Tivoli Gardens called Villa D'Este. These are gardens about an hour outside of Rome yet an entire world away. They're filled with fountains, flowers, and small pathways. Everything was in bloom and absolutely stunning. Not to mention that it was Culture Week in Italy, in which almost all museums are free, meaning we were pleasantly surprised when we were handed free admission passes, realizing that Culture Week was in more than just Rome. The icing on the cake of that day was some extraordinary chocolate gelato in Tivoli and a trip to an American restaurant in Rome called The Perfect Bun where we all shared nachos and onion rings and then each ordered a bacon cheeseburger that was served with fries. I entered and saw Heinz ketchup and French's mustard on each table. Oh American food, how I have missed you!

Assisi

Tivoli

This leads me to a final reflection to present to you all: I have exactly 23 days left of my semester. I don't know how this happened. In some ways, I am ready to come home. I miss my family, my dog, my friends, my house, American food/the ability to get many different styles of food, my mom's cooking, and many other things. In other ways, I dread leaving this place. I woke up in the middle of the night two nights ago after a terrifyingly vivid dream that I was back in the States and absolutely inconsolable. It seemed so real that I wasn't sure where I was when I woke up. Let me set the record straight: I like the idea of coming home, not the idea of being back in the States or leaving Italy. I wish I could have it all. I wish I could bring Italy with me to the States.

But for now, I'm relishing in my time here. The next five weeks of my life will be incredibly wonderful, involving making my travel dreams come true. This weekend I will be spending 4 days in Greece (Athens and Mykonos), followed by a weekend in Cinque Terre, Italy at the end of April (Google it, it's gorgeous!). And just when you think it's all over and school and travel have come to a close, I'll be checking out of housing and heading to the airport with a different destination than I had originally planned for May 14. Instead of flying back to the States, I'll be flying to Ireland to meet my dad for a weeklong vacation! With the top three places in the world that I wanted to go to being Italy, Greece, and Ireland, I'm on cloud nine! Italy: um, yes, most definitely check! Greece: check in two days! Ireland: check in one month! I am feeling beyond blessed.

So no matter how much I try, I can't stop the clock from ticking or the calendar from flipping to the next day, but I can cherish every single moment that I have in this beautiful place. Will it break my heart to leave? I think my nightmare the other night proved that. But I will soak up every last ounce of Italy in the next month and live each day to it’s fullest. Ciao and much love to you all!

Buon compleanno a mi e grazie mille a tutti!

Making a birthday wish!

Hi everyone! I promise to post a blog about my trip to Amalfi with my parents soon, but for now I just want to write a short little something about yesterday: it was my birthday and definitely one of the best birthdays ever!

I have to say how unbelievably wonderful I felt to receive such an outpouring of love from my family, my friends at home, and my friends in Rome. I started the day like any other Tuesday, with a quick trip to the market for some fruits and vegetables (side note- I will miss my open-air market so much when I leave!). I came home and then left again to meet some of my friends for a lunch of delicious sandwiches from a shop near school. They all surpised me with a wonderful way to start celebrating being 21- a bottle of prosecco and a carton of ananas (pineapple) juice to make a drink that I created one night called "Ananas mimosas." We sat in glorious sunshine in the park across from our school and enjoyed a fantastic sandwich, a fantastic drink, and fantastic company. After a quick class I went home to relax before getting ready for a wonderful night out with my friends.

All dressed up for a night out!

The whole day just kept getting better, as I was greeted in my apartment with balloons, Disney decorations, flower decorations, and real flowers from my roommates. Additionally, they had bought a tray of assorted pastries from my favorite gelato and pastry shop, Romagnani. I also got many emails and email cards from friends and family, making me feel connected to home even though I wasn't there.

5 out of the 6 roommates out celebrating with me

The plan for the night was to go out to a restaurant called Dar Poeta, supposedly the best pizza in Rome. Sadly, when we showed up at 7:30 with a group of 10, we were met with an hour wait. What to do? Go stroll around Trastevere, one of the cutest parts of Rome, famous for its small cobblestone streets and restaurants, and grab a drink before dinner. We went to a bar that served a drink in a tiny chocolate cup and then to a different bar where my roommate offered to by me a delicious mint-chocolate drink called an "After 8." Thanks to the cries of my friends going "it's her birthday!" they actually gave me the drink for free. Afterwards, we slowly made our way back to Dar Poeta where our table was ready. My friend and I shared two pizzas: a Taglialegna (mozzarella, mixed vegetables, and sausage) and a Dar Poeta (mozzarella, zucchini, sausage, garlic, and chilli pepper- spicier than my friends assured us it normally was). Regardless of the spice, both pizzas were fantastic but the Taglialegna won by a landslide- it was delicious! For dessert, we shared what I called my "Italian Birthday Cake"- a calzone stuffed with ricotta and Nutella. To say that it was tasty is the understatement of the century. It was magic. The other part of the magic with this dessert: when it came out my friends all started singing, and then others in the restaurant started singing, and then everyone applauded, even the Romans who had been staring from the other room as these crazy Americans made a very vocal display of celebration. While I blushed instantly out of embarrassment, I can't tell you how funny and wonderful that moment was.

Being sung to by the restaurant

After the restaurant we went to a place called Long Island Bar, where they let me be the bartender! I was able to mix two drinks that my friends and I all shared, one fun, fruity drink and the other a mojito. It was so great to get to be a bartender on my birthday. While we were all sitting at the bar, some of my roommate's friends came, all dressed in suits and ties, to sing happy birthday and celebrate. I honestly don't know most of these guys that well, but to see them all come out fully dressed up was absolutely hysterical and flattering!

Learning how to bartend.

The final part of the night I decided that I wanted to do something inherently Roman, something I could only do on this birthday because I was spending it in Rome. Several of us went down to the Pantheon and then to my favorite spot in Rome: the Trevi Fountain. Not only is it incredibly magical at night, but it is the ideal place to make a birthday wish. I can't imagine a better way to start my 21st year.

At the end of the night, I couldn't help but be filled with such happiness. As cheesy and sentimental as this is about to get, I have to put it out there: I am the kind of person who lives for those around me. My family and my friends mean everything and more. I would do anything for the ones I love and I am beyond thankful for what they do for me. And more than just what they do, but who they are. I am so unbelievably blessed to have incredible friends at home and in Rome who fill my days with laughter and fun. On top of that, I have a family who loves, supports, and encourages me and fills my life with such happiness. To all of you, my friends and family, know that you have made my birthday wonderful in the same way that you make my life so great every single day. Thank you for everything. I love you all!

Stay tuned for a post on my trip to Amalfi soon!

“It is solved by walking.” “Most of my treasured memories of travel are recollections of sitting.”

Julie and I at the Colloseum

This post brings about something new, the use of two quotes for titles, as neither is adequate on its own but together they are ironic, hysterical, and totally fitting. The first quote, a famous Algerian proverb, accurately describes the main method of transportation during my Spring Break trip in Italy- walking. The second quote, by Robert Thomas Allen, also summarizes the other side of this part of the trip: on the final day while sitting on the grass in the shadow of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Julie and I asked each other, “Should we go explore a little more?” “Nah, that requires walking.”

Before I start in on the crazy adventures of the two Julies in Italy, there are many new pictures up on Picasa. A blog post to follow shortly will describe my week with my parents and our adventures in Rome and the Amalfi Coast, and those pictures will be up soon too. So far only pictures of Spring Break are updated at https://picasaweb.google.com/100853123413362137278/LaDolceVita?authkey=Gv1sRgCI6NoeLsqoHy_QE#

Three weeks ago began the extravaganza that is Spring Break. Julie arrived in Italy on an early morning flight and I went to the airport to pick her up, meaning not much sleep for either of us (even worse for her due to jet lag). Sadly, this was an incredibly rainy day from start to finish. Undeterred by the wet, we took it all in, with a trip up to my school (one class stood between me and Spring Break), around a park, and down to Trastevere for some delicious gelato. Feet thoroughly soaked and hair poofing into a giant frizz ball, we still enjoyed a delicious dinner near the Pantheon, sharing a pizza and pasta carbonara. We went back for an early night so that we could make the most of the next day.

Our next two days were jam-packed with Roman adventures! We spent our first full day at the Vatican, an unbelievably impressive sight. While it is pretty easy to get there by bus, finding the bus stop to get on and finding the right bus stop to get off can be difficult. Thankfully, a kind old woman showed us what stop to get off at and walked us half-way to the museum. It was incredibly sweet of her and definitely helped us find our way. After an odd tour of the museum in both English and Spanish, we decided to climb St. Peter’s, only to arrive as the clock chimed 4:30 and they informed us, “No, the Cupola is just closed.” Fortunately, we were standing right behind a large student group whose director managed to express that his group was supposed to climb and the guard begrudgingly let them in. Julie and I turned to each other, shrugged, and became students for twenty minutes as we waited in line and passed another guard checkpoint. Once we got up to the ticket counter, they just assumed we had been let in and didn’t question why we purchased tickets separately from the group. This sneaky little act got us up to the top of St. Peter’s for breathtaking views of Rome, with half of the city covered by a dark cloud and rain while the other half was sunny and nestled under a rainbow. It was picture-perfect. 

The following day we took a tour of the Colosseum. My sister had told me about a recently-opened addition to the standard tour that involved going underneath the Colosseum and up into the top levels. The underground parts have been recently discovered and excavated and allowed us to see where the slaves used to work to run the entire show. It was unbelievably eerie to walk where so many people had once worked. Not to mention we felt like VIPs, as these exclusive parts of the tour take you to places where no one else is allowed.

By far one of the best parts of our three days in Rome was doing what I call a "Midnight Monument Tour." After our day at the Vatican, we went off to the airport to retrieve Julie's lost bags before heading into Trastevere for a fun dinner at a restaurant called Da Otello (where the staff actually know me and greet me now!). We arrived at about 9 or 9:30 and were definitely there at "local time," as the place was cleared of early-eating tourists and filled with Romans. Some people were even seated at 11, showing just how late Romans sometimes eat. After a yummy but late meal, we decided to venture into the city and see the Trevi Fountain at night, followed by a desire to just see everything else too! We hit the Pantheon, Trevi, Colosseum, and the Vittoriano. By the time we made it home it was well after 1 am and we were incredibly tired, but the chance to see everything glowing in the moonlight (not to mention spared from excessive crowds), was an amazing opportunity!

While we had a great time exploring Rome, I was very excited to hit the road and start 5 days of travel throughout Italy. Our first stop was Venice after a very early-morning train ride. Managing to find our way with basically no directions or map, Julie and I arrived at our adorable hotel. It was only about a 15-minute walk to both St. Mark's square and the Rialto Bridge. As it was a Sunday, St. Mark's basilica was closed, however we were allowed up into the museum which boasts incredible views of the square below. The rest of the day was spent wandering the streets of Venice, looking in every shop imaginable on the hunt for a beautiful mask for Julie and a watch for me (success with the masks but not with the watch), and attempting to stay warm in the progressively colder air. We chose a spot on the Grand Canal for dinner, enjoying some tasty seafood but desiring to clutch the space heaters just to stay warm.

The Rialto Bridge

After an early night and a relaxing morning filled with a quaint breakfast at our hotel, we made our way back to the train station (via a gondola ride across the canal for only fifty cents and then a short walk the rest of the way) and departed on a train to Bologna. Having spent two days in Venice before, I recommended that this trip have only one day in Venice and then a chance to try a new city. Bologna was right on the way from Venice to our next stop of Florence, so we decided to pick there. It was also described as a true "Foodie town." Unfortunately, I didn't find that much food. Mostly, the town was cute but quiet. It's not exactly a major hot-spot for tourists, so we found ourselves a little bored. And by a little, I mean we kept saying "Hmm, so what should we do now?" Our hotel was very nice and incredibly located, just a short two-minute walk to the center of town, Piazza Maggiore. We visited the Neptune fountain and the main church, San Petronio Basilica, which was probably one of the largest letdowns. It was supposed to be a main tourist attraction in the city, but it wasn't even completed! The church had many walls and cathedrals that were completely barren, with some other walls even partially painted but then randomly stopped. Ironically, the church was about to celebrate the 300th anniversary of its completion. Needless to say, this was hysterical and disappointing all at the same time. Julie and I also climbed one of the famous towers, an incredibly daunting task. Its never ending staircases spiraled up the building like the inside of the Three Broomsticks in Harry Potter. While the view was beautiful, it was an exhausting trek filled with remarks of "We're almost there!" for twenty minutes straight. After the tower, we got so bored that we decided to go out in search of other churches, including one with a basin where the man who condemned Jesus washed his hands after making the announcement. After several churches, we found our way across the city to their university. It was about 4:00 pm and students were rolling joints and drinking beer in the streets. Needless to say, this school is a little different than schools at home or even in Rome. It was quite an interesting sight.

Climbing the tower in Bologna.

Sadly, we were starving by about 6 and nothing was open to eat until 7 at the earliest. We walked into a restaurant at 7:05 and were the only ones in the entire place, that is if you exclude the staff eating in the back. "Reservation?" they asked. We looked around at the 50 empty tables. "No," we replied with confusion. The man looked around at all the tables and wondered where to put us, before sticking us at a little table against the wall. Hmm, that must have been really hard- should we put these silly Americans at open table number 1, 2, 12, or 30? Oh what a pickle! We later realized that each table was labeled with the names of people who had made reservations. However, several groups came in half-way through our meal without reservations but it took until most of the way through dinner before anyone was seated near us. Needless to say, it was awkward. Mostly because we got our food right after ordering (pretty yummy homemade green raviolis filled with rabbit and topped with smoked goat cheese) but then finished and waited 45 minutes for the check. Our plates had been cleared, we had finished our drinks, and no waiters would even look over to our table. Julie and I couldn't help but laugh hysterically at the length of our wait as every table around us filled up. When a waiter finally looked over, he asked if we were doing ok but I didn't understand so I said "Si" and he walked away before I said "Scusi scusi, the check please." He smiled and nodded, but honestly: would we have just sat there for 45 minutes without ordering anything else and not wanted the check? Oh what a night. At least we laughed it off!

Piazza Maggiore at night

The next morning we had a wonderful breakfast at our hotel before departing for Florence! I was really excited to go back to Florence, having not done much the first time there and ready to explore it more. One of our first stops was the Uffizi after an hour-long wait in line behind a girl who wouldn't stop staring at the silly Americans (Italians stare a lot and I'm more used to it but she was a little extreme with it). Unfortunately, both Julie and I felt the art was lost on us. While the sheer enormity of the collection is impressive, the majority of the pictures are all dominated in one style and are very similar religious scenes. I can appreciate good art, but after 20 rooms of similar pictures, they all begin to blend together and it is hard to distinguish them and appreciate them. After the Uffizi we wandered the streets for a while, finding a gelato shop that I had been dying to try. I got dark chocolate and blueberry, which the employee happily scooped and remarked "That's my favorite too." No offense to Rome, I love its gelato very dearly, but this was THE BEST GELATO I'VE EVER HAD! The chocolate was the most pure essence of chocolate and the blueberry, more of a sorbet than a gelato, was like eating a handful of freshly-picked berries in the middle of the summer. I was in gelato heaven. Later that day we climbed to the top of the Duomo, a simple hike compared to the tower in Bologna the day before. The views were absolutely stunning and completely worth the climb. Florence is a beautiful city surrounded by the Tuscan countryside, making the Duomo a perfect place for picturesque vistas. The day was topped off by another awkward meal. We enjoyed some gnocchi in pear and gorgonzola sauce while quietly wondering where the spinach was that we had ordered on the side. After another 30 minutes of not being approached by any waiter, not even to realize that we had not even been served bread, we laughed at the hilarity of the situation: how could this happen to us two nights in a row!? Even the couple behind us remarked that they had waited 20 minutes for their bottle of wine, something wasn't right. A mid-20s Italian woman approached our table remarking "It's not like the states, you have to wave him down to get his attention." While it was sweet of her to offer advice, did she think we hadn't tried? We'd made many attempts but could barely even find our waiter. We finally got his attention and he came over crying "Mademoiselle!" with a huge smile. "The check please." He brought it back almost instantly, of course they're fast when they want your money. The spinach was on the bill, so before he could walk away I said, "No, we never got the spinach." "Huh (cocks his head to the side), no spinach?" As he started to walk away, I called after him, telling him that we didn't want it anymore, and he said "No no no, you pay the thirty euro, I pay the other four." Toto, we are not in America anymore. No "I'm so sorry!" No "Would you still like it, it's on the house." Instead of being angry, we just laughed at the lack of service, but by the time we left the restaurant we were a little annoyed. Just because we are two young American girls traveling alone doesn't mean we aren't just as much paying customers as the adults. Oh well, a Peroni and a nutella-covered waffle by the river with a view of the Ponte Vecchio ended the night on a good note.

At the top of the Duomo

At the top of the Duomo

The next day we left the hotel early for the Academia to avoid a long line to see the David. We didn't wait more than ten minutes before we were let in. The David was quite a sight to behold, enormous and virtually perfect. We sat in awe for about 20 minutes, also enjoying overhearing a lesson from a nearby tour guide explaining the history of the statue. The rest of the day was spent shopping for leather (I bought a bag that I am completely in love with), exploring the city, and trekking up to the top of Piazza Michelangelo for beautiful city views. 

The views from a hill near Piazza Michelangelo

The next day, completely exhausted, we packed our ever-growing bags and boarded a train to Pisa. After a half-hour walk to the Leaning Tower, we were thoroughly tired and had one thing in mind: dropping our heavy backpacks and purses. As the Tower was €15 to climb, we decided to pass, having already seen beautiful views of Tuscany from Florence. The entire day was spent taking pictures, enjoying the warm weather, and laying in the shadow of the Tower while writing in our journals and people-watching. I couldn't imagine a better way to relax on the last day of our trip.

Our seats for the afternoon- perfect way to spend a day in Pisa

We made it back to Rome that night and essentially crashed into our beds. After sleeping in the next day, we toured around Rome a little more, hitting the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, and Piazza Navona. It was a perfect ending to the most amazing Spring Break ever! Sadly, the next morning meant an early wake up to take Julie to the airport. It was hard to say goodbye and watch Julie go through security to fly home. I was so happy that she was able to come to Italy, it was amazing to see her and spend 9 days exploring Italy together! Thank goodness for Skype at least keeping me connected to everyone at home while I'm here! I’m looking forward to seeing Julie and all of my friends in College Park when I arrive back in the States!

Thankfully, I discovered the best medicine to help you get over the sadness of your friend leaving: seeing your parents! After Julie walked through security I went right down to the Arrivals gate to pick up my parents! My next blog post will feature everything that we did on our trip together! I hope to get that up by the end of the weekend! As always, thanks for reading!

At a fountain in the Palatino