Spannochia and Florence

The Duomo in Florence

Julia, me, Kylie, Laura, and Ellen in front of the Duomo...

Me on top of the Duomo in Florence (430 steps up. Whew!).

MOM I GOT A PICTURE OF DAVID'S PERFECTLY CHISELED REAR. JUST FOR YOU!

View from the Uffizi Galeery's window

Farmer's Market we stumbled upon

Ellen and Laura in Siena

The salting room

Desiree and Laura foraging for chestnuts!

Ellen and I at the Monastery

A Cinque Sinese pig!!!!!!!!!!! Delicious prosciutto :(

The old villa we stayed in

Carmen showing us the garden. She was so cute!!

Desiree warming up her olive oil at the tasting

Me at the Castle "only know to God"

Last week our class took a trip to Tuscany and spent 5 days on a farm. Instead of having class, we went on tours of the farm which taught me more than anything a classroom is capable of. Included in the tours, we got to taste cured meats, honey, wine and olive oil and then eat 4 course meals that were made with food fresh out of the garden. On our free time we were able to hike to a castle that was "only known to God" and ruins of a monastery that burned down hundreds of years ago. Me and my friends Desiree and Laura spent 2 hours foraging for chestnuts that we are going to shuck and make chestnut flour out of this week. The following weekend 8 of us went to Siena and Florence. Siena was a day trip so we mainly wandered around the city, had lunch and went into the Duomo, which is the most spectacular Renaissance cathedral I have seen yet. In Florence, we went to see Michaelangelo's "David" at the Accademia, Botticelli's "Spring" at the Uffizi, we climbed the Duomo and went to all of the open air markets we could fit in. Busy busy busy but in the best way possible!

The Best Weekend Yet!

This weekend was by far the best weekend I have had yet in Italy! Friday, my roommate Desiree and I took off for the Amalfi Coast. We stayed in Sorrento, which is a small coastal town on the Mediterranean Sea. Sorrento is where Saint Antonio was buried, so I dedicate this weekend to Grandma Tank. Friday night we had an amazing dinner in a small fishermen village where we found a boat builder (the old man in the picture is what I imagine Conor to be like 50 years from now haha kidding.. kind of). The next day, we hopped on a public bus that drove all along the coast and lucked out with an absolutely beautiful day. We stopped in Positano and Amalfi where we wandered around the quiet streets, since tourist season is officially over. We even ran into a man making his own paper in a quiet artisanal shop. Sunday we went to a lemon orchard and tasted some limoncello (not a fan) and then headed off to Pompei (the city that was buried in ash from a volcanic eruption for over 1500 years and was refound in the 1700's). This archeological site was 100% mind blowing. The houses were decorated in mosaic tiles and beautiful paintings that put modern art to shame. I will post more pictures soon, but I am off to a farm in Tuscany for the week with class and then Florence next weekend!

Mi Piace Cioccolato!!

Three of my roommates and I hopped on a train at 5:45 Friday morning and took off for a chocolate festival in Perugia. Our hostel was a 20 minute train ride from the city of Perugia in small town named Torricella which is on Lake Trasimeno. We had read some raving reviews about the place, but writing did not give justice to the absolutely amazing hostel. After a long day of walking the hilly landscape of Perugia and eating a ton of free chocolate we were pleased to be accommodated with a free ride from the train station to the hostel. Upon arrival we were offered a free dinner in the common room where a huge table was set and about 20 guests were gathered around meeting and eating. The next morning we got free cappuccinos and a delicious breakfast. Saturday after walking by the lake, we headed back to Perugia for MORE chocolate!

Perugia!!!!

The mini metro into Perugia.. Kind of reminded me of a chipotle burrito on tracks..

Everybody loves a little chocolate.



They even had artificial chocolate for dogs...

Chocolate demonstration. We got to eat what they made!

Julia, Maricruz, Desiree

Our lovely hostel!!


My favorite place in Italy so far...

We got back to Rome Saturday night, then decided we were going to go to the Vatican museum early Sunday morning, because it was the only day of the month there was free entrance. When we got there, there were TONS of people and we thought it was because it was free to get in, so we went through security and then followed a huge mob of people into St Peters. Before you knew it we were getting herded into seats and the entire church was filled with people. I heard a security guy say, "Everyone make sure you have your red tickets!" Red tickets? For what? We sat down and then realized mass was about to begin. This was not part of the plan, but even better. We got brochures and found out that this mass was dedicated to praying for the continent of Africa and mass was going to be given by the POPE! The mass was given in about 10 different languages and all of the music was with an African choir and African instruments. IT WAS AMAZING!!!! After mass we were leaving and found out there were thousands of people seated outside the church as well. Talk about being in the right place at the right time!

Home Sweet Home

After 2 weeks of playing tourist and visiting all of the must-sees of Rome, I finally feel settled and have adapted to my weekly routine. I have even been cooking full meals for myself, which may seem hard to believe for all of you who know I am not talented in the kitchen. Tonight me and two of my roommates (Desiree and Maricruz) made a pizza from scratch, a fresh salad, then went all out and set the table and poured ourselves a glass of Proseco to finish it off.






































Here is my apartment and the view out my window Monday through Saturday!


















Friday was World Food Day and our professors got our class invited to the Opening Ceremonies at the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and also to a lecture on localizing agriculture and urban farming in the United States. It was really interesting to hear the many different viewpoints on how to alleviate hunger. That's all for now!

More Pictures from the First Week!

Cooking class with Nicoletta!!