Pisa, etc...

This past weekend I went to Pisa, and took my tourist shots by the Leaning tower! It was sooo fun actually being in a place that I had only read about for years! Our group had a great lunch in the main piazza and got to see not only the tower but also the really gorgeous duomo in the center of the piazza. It was my first real trip outside the city of Florence, aside from our orientation in the hill country of Tuscany, so it was a momentous occasion!

Everything for me in Florence is going amazing! I love all the food, culture, wine of course and gelato! I really think this experience is going to make me, and has already started if i must say, so much more independent and comfortable in travelling and living life on my own and the way I want to. Which is great!

This Sunday I head for the Chianti Wine country for a wine tasting and a special visit to a villa in the region. Then next weekend I'm off to PARIS, la ville extraordinaire! Then I think I'm off to London the following weekend! Next week i'll also get to see my first Italian opera with my school, which should be amazing. And of course, I'll keep you all updated on my Italian escapades! Ciao! xoxox

Finally have wifi! Ciao from mia casa!

Yesterday i FINALLY got wifi in my house, so I'll be able to update more frequently now. This past week has been pretty intense, it was my first week of classes so I started art history, film, and of course am continuing with Italian. Classes are pretty long and I have them everyday so I get tired easily at night. The meals that Giovanna cooks are amazing too--this past week we had veal soaked in white wine sauce, risotto, lots of pasta, and of course gelato--so I slip into food coma pretty easily haha! It's been great being in Florence and learning to navigate things on my own. Today I went to a good leather market in the center of the city, called San Lorenzo markets, and bought some cute leather bracelets, only 5 euro for 6 of them! I climbed to Piazza Michelangelo as well this week and got to see Florence in its glory from a birds-eye view. Tomorrow I head to Pisa for a class trip with my Italian teacher. In the next coming weeks I'll be travelling a lot--to Chianti, Paris, Siena, and maybe Rome! I will keep you all updated on my escapades, ciao for now!

Lovin' Florence

So Florence is amazing. I'm loving it here, studying abroad was the best decision. This past weekend I did a lot of sightseeing and of course, ate great Italian food and drank classic Tuscan wine. On Friday I had my usual 3 hour intensive Italian class, and then my friends and I went out to a great little traditional restaurant Coquinarius. I had such good rose wine with simple cheese ravioli and some "crostini"-basically bruschetta with basil and olive oil topping. Giovanna made fresh salmon and vegetables that night. I also got to take a great run around the park near our apartment, overlooking the Arno river! It was fabulous.

On Saturday I saw the David at Galleria dell'Academia, for the first time of my life. It was absolutely breathtaking. It's hard to really describe the emotional reaction this piece of Michaelangelo gives you...also you can't take pictures of it, not that I could do it justice if I had. Also, our class saw an exhibit by Robert Mapplethorpe, a renowned photographer. I feel so fortunate to be in Florence studying this incredible art and history. We had a great lunch at Trattoria Za-Za- I had good appetizers of prosciutto and a delicious veal sauteed in white wine sauce. That night I went out clubbing with my roomates at a really fun club called Space! We had drinks at Oibo and Caffe Begallo to start out and then finished with a night of dancing. It was lots of fun!

Yesterday I woke up lazily and had an American brunch at a restaurant near the Duomo called Angels. I got to have an American burger with fries, and it was really good! Then my roommates and I walked around the San Lorenzo markets and shopped for awhile, and had gelato too. Giovanna made a great pasta pomodoro and I fell asleep satisfied and in love with my new city. Thats all for now, will write again soon! XO Lily

Recap on First Week in Florence!

Hey guys!

So this past week has really been a blur of sightseeing, getting acquainted with Firenze, and eating mucho wine, pasta, and pizza! Florence is a beautiful, historical city that is basically a living museum with so much to learn everywhere you go. This whole week I have had limited internet so blogging has been hard but I get wifi in my homestay on Monday so that will all change soon! My house is great. I live with a really sweet signora (Giovanna) and her husband (Piero) and two girls from Gettysburg. Every night the meals are impeccable and dinner can last upwards to 3 hours! I've had intensive language classes all this week but I'm really learning fast so I can understand most things so far. So far my favorite restaurants I've been to this week have been I Fratellini, where my language class and I went on Monday. I got a 2 course AMAZING meal for only 10 euro, including the red wine! Also I Pizzaoulio--great marghertia pizza and wine for only 11 euro! Also, I'm planning on taking Art History and History of Italian Cinema along with Italian of course, for my 3 classes.

Last night I got my first entry into Florence at night--we all went out to Santa Spirito for drinks, a quaint little piazza on the right side of the Arno if you face away from the Ponte Vecchio. I'm going to go out with the girls living in my house this next coming weekend, and celebrate my birthday again! Being 20 in Florence is awesome, I definitely feel independent and I love it! Ciao for now, I'll write again when I can!

Orientation Excursions in Hill Country

So now that I have more internet access..to describe my week-long escapades in the foothills of Tuscany:

The first day I arrived to Florence (September 8th) I was very jetlagged. We had a great lunch in the middle of Santa Croce, the neighborhood where my school is and I had my first pasta dish and vino rosso. That night we took a private bus to our main site, Pescia, about 2 hours away from Florence with all the commuter traffic. Our first dinner as a group was at the Villa's private restaurant, Il Poderino...I had the best homemade linguini and of course, vino vino vino!

Wednesday, the 9th we all had breakfast together and started intense italian classes in the morning. Afterwards our group walked down the hill to the main piazza in Pescia and had the one of the best lunches of the trip, complete with risotto, salumi (fresh salami and prosciutto), classic tuscan wine, and a great fruit salad. We then had a walking tour of Pescia and I had my first gelato in Italy--SO good!! We saw lots of churches and beautiful views of the village, and that night we had a festa (party) with local italian men. I had lots of wine and traditional italian pizza and pasto pesto!

The next day we had intense italian language classes and our excursion for the day was to Collodi, hometown of Carlo Lorenzini where the Pinocchio Park is located. We saw a gorgeous garden that spanned many acres and flights of stairs, pictures are on my facebook! Then we took a private bus to a quaint village called Montecarlo (all these towns are hillside towns in the heart of Tuscany) for a great dinner and one of the best desserts I've ever had, called zabalogni, and a visit to a great local theatre.

Friday we went to Stiappa and Pontito for a long walk through the countryside. That day we had the best lunch of the trip at Carla al Laghetto...the food was impeccable and wine was flowing everywhere. I got tipsy and had a big food baby!

Saturday was our last day of orientation. We had our usual intensive italian classes and got our family assignments. I have a great family, the signora is named Giovanna, the signore Pietro, and I am also living with 2 nice girls from Gettysbury College who are also American and very fun! Saturday we took a trip via train to Pistoia and saw the local piazza and church (duomo) there and spent the night at a local hotel. Sunday was my 20th birthday so on Saturday-into Sunday we all went out and celebrated at a local irish pub and I had likely the strongest drink known to man. It was called "nigrone" and had 4 different kinds of alcohol. More to come later about my birthday festivities and my first few days in Florence! I'm loving it here! Ciao for now! xoxo

First Views of Tuscany and Florence

Starting Life in Italy!

CIAO!

I haven't had internet access for the week of orientation in Pescia, so today is the first chance I have had to update my blog. I only have a few minutes before I go to class, but to fill you in briefly (more to come soon): Italy is absolutely gorgeous. I'll tell you all in more detail about my orientation week later today when I have more time- of course generally, Tuscany was beautiful. We traveled to many hill towns in the mountains, not just Pescia but also Collodi, Montecarlo, Stiappa, Pontito, and Pistoia! We took many long walks as a group and had amazzinggg vino, formaggio, i dolci, etcetera! The desserts were some of the most amazing I have tasted, it's crazy how Italians can make a meal turn into a 3-hour affair. Anyways, I have to go now, but when I get internet next I will describe in more detail my first full day in Florence which was also my 20th birthday, and my travels in the countryside. Arrivederci per ora!

Lily

Getting ready!

So as of right now, I leave for my semester in Florence in a mere 4 days! Packing has been a crazy process, it's not too easy getting everything you need for 3 months into 2 bags that can only weight 50 pounds! I'm getting really excited for the trip, it should be the experience of a lifetime.

I'll use this blog as a way to update everyone on my adventures in Firenze and elsewhere in Europe. Ciao !

XO Lily