"Paradise isn't a destination; it's a feeling."

Paris may be the most beautiful city on Earth. I understand that may be a lofty statement, but after my weekend in France, I sincerely doubt that the beauty of Paris can be overestimated.

We spent out first morning at the Louvre! And in case you're wondering, 3.5 hours is not enough time to do the museum.

We saw so many masterpieces and numerous times found ourselves tearing-up. Sorry I'm not sorry that I cry in museums!

I finally saw the Mona Lisa! Despite the hoard of crazy tourists around it, it's still such an interesting piece to look at. 

We tried Angelina's famous hot chocolate after our time at the Louvre. I sure do love chocolate, but that may have been too rich. So. much. chocolate.

As we walked along the Seine, we all found ourselves humming "Our Last Summer" and acknowledging how blessed we were to be having such an experience. At the end of our walk, we purchased small watercolor paintings from a local artist.

We passed the eternal flame dedicated to Princess Diana. Even though I was only 11 when the tragedy occurred, I can still remember the international sorrow.

Our first afternoon was spent climbing the Eiffel Tower.  To say it was amazing would be a severe understatement.

Our first evening was spent on a Fat Tire Bike Tour. We saw so much of the city! Our tour guide was entertaining to say the least....it was so much fun! Part of the tour also included an hour-long boat ride down the Seine. Watching the Eiffel Tower light-up at night while drinking a glass of wine from a boat on the Seine was tremendous, spectacular, marvelous. All of the above.

The Louvre at night may be one of the most magical places on Earth.

Our second morning, we began at the Museum Orsay. On the way, we paused to pack jackets in our bags and Courtney dropped her retainer off the side of the bridge. Alas, we trooped-down to the river and went on a retainer-hunt. COLLEGE!

Our afternoon was spent at Notre Dame! The Cathedral is so beautiful and it's tribute to the Virgin Mary is spectacular. I lit a candle for my family and spent an hour in the cathedral praying. 

The remainder of our night was spent wandering the city. We saw street performers everywhere, including this amazing violin player. Because it wasn't the height of tourist season, I felt like we got to experience Paris as it's meant to be. The sidewalks were covered with families and couples strolling and it felt so lovely. No offense Florence, but Paris sure has you beat!

To end our week, we found pumpkin spice lattes and macaroons! What more could a group of college girls want?

Overall, it was such a great weekend. We laughed, we cried, and we had one of the most amazing, awesome adventures of our lives.

What Would Audrey Do?

This will be the question I ask myself all weekend: What would Audrey Hepburn do? As my friends and I venture to the city of Monet and the Bastille, I can't help but keep good ol' Audrey in mind. Here's to a classy weekend with the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Angelina's, the Louvre, and so much more!


I'd be remiss if I didn't acknowledge the happenings of the past week. Aside from the daily drag of classes (which seem to be increasingly painful with each passing day - and to think I'm normally the person loving class), there have been quite a few entertaining moments. On the side of hunger, this week was highlighted by one of my roommates cooking her mother's secret-recipe ravioli and my attempt at chocolate filled croissants (chocolate-bread-butter - what's not to love?). I was also fortunate enough to meet Guy Fieri, known best for hosting Diners, Drive-Ins, & Dives. He was kind enough to speak with us for a few moments and it certainly added some happiness to my morning (which was already fantastic as my class was visiting one of my favorite churches, San Spirito).


On a funnier note, I was the butt of many jokes today as my outfit turned out to be entirely inappropriate for the weather. Why bother looking at weather.com if it is rarely accurate? It just so happens that today, the weather forecast made no mention of extreme winds. As such, I chose to wear a flowy knee-length skirt. Low and behold, the wind was roaring and one-too-many italians may or may not have gotten a glimpse of Victoria's Secret. I would say I'm embarrassed but I'm sad to say that I've endured embarrassment far worse. I digress.


But perhaps the coup-de-gras of the week goes to last night.
Warning: this story may result in heart palpitations for those grown individuals who are invested in my safety. Sorry, Mom & Dad.
Two of my roommates decided to venture out for drinks last night. They met-up with the guys who live upstairs and they all went to bars together. One of the boys who lives upstairs has friends from home visiting.....and therein lies the problem. You know how "some people just can't handle Vegas?" Well, Visiting-Idiots #1-5 can't handle Florence. By the time my roommates and company reached the discoteca, the gentlemen were a sight for sore eyes. As Short-Visiting-Idiot began to get violently ill, three of his cohorts rushed him back to the hotel. What, may you ask, happened to Idiot #5? Well, as he was dancing with one of my roommates, his friends left him. And this is where the problems begin.


My compassionate roommate noticed that idiot #5 was far too drunk, and lost, to find his way to a hotel. As such, she, with much effort, brought him back to our apartment. He quickly fell asleep and all was good in the world....right? WRONG. An hour and a half later, my roommate and I awake to find Idiot #5 walk into the door, back-up a few steps, and then proceed to drop his trousers and urinate all over the floor. Despite our yelling objections, Idiot #5 finished his business before walking back to our side of the room, lying down on the floor (banging his head on the dresser along the way), and falling back asleep.


Now you may remember, dear readers, that I did not accompany my roommates out to the club. Alas, I was awoken to a strange man urinating on my bedroom floor. To say I was furious would be perhaps the most severe understatement ever muttered from my lips. Despite my considerable strength, I was unable to physically throw this drunken idiot out the door (plus, my far-too-nice roommate insisted that we didn't because he was a friend of a friend). Alas, we let him sleep until morning, at which point we kicked his never-to-be-forgiven ass out the door.


If that's not a bedtime horror story to read kids going off to college, I don't know what is. On that note, buona notte amici!

A Weekend With Me, Myself, and I

This weekend, I did homework. I ate. I slept. When I woke up? I did some homework and then took a nap. And you know what? It felt great.

The view from Pienza was surreal. It was like looking into a painting.

I really have no shame about my lazy weekend. I feel as though the first three weeks in Florence were so go-go-go and I just needed a break. I felt so exhausted and behind on school work/grad applications and a weekend of TLC has fixed it all.


On Friday, I went to Pienza with the architecture students and we had a great day in a beautiful medieval town. No insane stories to share - just a good, relaxing day had by all.

Apparently, not everyone loved the field-trip......

I'll be sure to share exciting stories as soon as they happen. Arrivederci!

Look, Ma! I can cook!

I will openly admit to not being of the culinary persuasion. I don't pretend that I know what I'm doing in the kitchen. I insist on making lists for the grocery store and measuring out every single ingredient. But it just so happens that, tonight, I stepped-up my game.


Courtesy of Pinterest and a few Vegetarian-Foodie blogs, I found two recipes for Eggplant Parmesan and Carrot Fries. As I've never attempted to cook either of these before, I was extremely nervous. Luckily, my roommates (whom I was cooking for) were out of the apartment when I was frantically preparing the veggie feast. An hour of preparing and cooking later, my roomies and I sat around our living room table (we don't actually have a kitchen table.....#studyabroadproblems) and feasted on the fruits of my labor. It may not have been 4 star quality, but I don't think I did too shabby if I do say so myself.


In other news, my old roommate ventured back to the States today. I truly can't believe how quickly our week together passed; however, I'm pleased to say that we had a fantastic time and surely we won't forget this for awhile.....well, at least until the next bunch of shenanigans occurs.


I'm off to complete hours of homework before skyping with my younger brother, who is currently a freshman at the University of Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, with a 6-hour time difference, I'm forced to stay awake until midnight to begin our skype. Luckily, my teachers were kind enough to provide me with enough homework to fill that gap....so cheers to them.


Hope you're all loving the beginning of autumn in the states. It's my favorite season and I'm a tad distraught to be missing apple-picking trips and pumpkin spice lattes.......first world problems? Absolutely.

Fiesole, Venice, Verona....I'm beginning to lose track!

Hello again, friends! I apologize for my absence from blogging. With my old roommate visiting this week, we've been so busy that it's been difficult to find time for things like blogging, homework, classes, socializing.....well, maybe not the latter.


Last week turned into a flurry of activity. Between going to class, running around the city with my roommate, and scheduling time for eating/homework, it seemed as though the weekend came just in time! Thursday night brought with it copious amounts of wine and a night at the discoteca with a bunch of other students in our program. Apparently it was somebody's birthday, because, as I recall, we spent much of our time in the club atop tables in the VIP section with bottles of champagne being handed to us. I didn't hate it.....

On her second night in Florence, my roommate and I climbed to Piazza Michelangelo and watched the sunset over the city. What a way to start your first weekend!

On Friday, I traveled with my Villa & Garden class to the quaint town of Fiesole, home to one of the many Medici Villas, numerous quarries, and the best ravioli I've ever tasted. We spent the morning studying the Medici Garden before heading to the community center for lunch. After feasting on tortelli in an herb and butter sauce and a salad dressed only in olive oil and salt, we ventured into the woods to speak with a stone mason who has worked for the past 60 years in the quarries on the mountain. He demonstrated traditional masonry methods and explained his experiences. Afterwards, we hurriedly hiked back down the mountain to catch our bus.....which ended-up arriving 45 minutes later.

Villa Medici in Fiesole overlooks the city of Florence. 

That evening, my roommate, myself, and three other girls from school dined at Il Gatto e La Volpe (The Cat & The Wolf), and, much to my surprise, it was one of the best meals I've had while in Florence. We began with spiced foccacia bread with balsamic vinegar and olive oil. For our antipasti, we feasted on bruschetta and prosciutto with melon. For my main course, I had four-cheese gnocchi in a cream sauce. Everything was washed down with the house white wine. Suffice to say that the walk home quickly developed into a painful waddle as my stomach was too full to allow my body to move any faster.

We rode on the Grand Canal in Venice, allowing us to see the city as a Venetian truly would!

My roommate and I then spent our Saturday in Venice. We rode down the Grand Canal, drank Bellinis in a Venetian restaurant, and watched a glass-blowing demonstration. After walking the city for two hours, we also decided to explore the markets, which was fun for my soul but painful for my wallet. On the bright side, I purchased my first gift to bring home. Get excited, Mom!

At the glass-blowing demonstration, the craftsman created this horse, from a lump of hot glass, in less than 3 minutes.  Impressive?

Sunday, we ventured to Verona and Lake Garda. I believe this may be my favorite day thus far. Verona is a beautiful historic city, known best as the location for Shakespeare's iconic Romeo & Juliet. The town is meticulously preserved and celebrates its architecture and culture. We walked through most of the city, stopping at the houses of Romeo and Juliet, touring the cathedral of Saint Anastasia, and walking around the Verona colosseum. As if that wouldn't have been sufficient, we then headed to Lake Garda, the largest lake in Italy. Nestled in between the mountains with picturesque beaches, Lake Garda is the destination of choice for many wealthy Europeans on holiday. We rode across the lake on a boat just in time to watch the sunset over the ruins of Tiberius's palace. To say that it was perfect would be an understatement.

The sunset over Lake Garda was absolutely breathtaking.

All in all, I had a wonderful weekend. Earlier today, I toured the Palazzo Medici and was lucky enough to view their private chapel, which is ornately adorned with frescoes detailing the nativity. Tomorrow morning, I'll be climbing the Dome of Santa Maria Fiore (The Florence Cathedral....colloquially referred to as the Duomo) and this Friday, I'll be headed to Pienza. Here's to an exciting week! Arrivederci amici!

Have you ever shaved your legs in a bidet?

I can't say I'm proud of it, but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do. And when my roommates and I clogged our shower, flooded our bathroom floor, and realized two of us still needed to shower/shave.....we went to drastic measures.


Upon entering our Florentine apartment, we were wary of the bidet. Uncommon in American households, the bidet was a tad too ominous for us and, thus, we ignored it......until last night. As the realization slowly sank in that we wouldn't be able to take a shower longer than 5 minutes, we realized we needed to discover new ways of shaving. It was then that my roommate and I donned our bathing suits, crouched over the open-ended bowl, twisted the faucet, and shaved our legs using the water from the bidet. Though debatably not the weirdest thing I've ever done, it certainly is very high-up on the list. But, you know what? My legs have never been so smooth.


In other news, my dear old roommate, Erica, came to visit for the week! We spent our first evening out at an array of bars (Joshua Tree, Uncle Jimmy's, & Twice) with a bunch of other people from school. It was an average night for us, complete with too many drinks and overly assertive Italian gentlemen. After a tough morning, we wandered around the city today in an attempt to help Erica acclimate herself to the area. And, now? We're making delicious homemade quesadillas for dinner. A quality first 24 hours in Italy? Why, yes, I think so.





Until next time, dear readers, arrivederci!

"I'm not getting sweatier - I'm getting sexier!"

Hello, dear readers! I'm delighted to inform you that yesterday's trip to Cinque Terre was a huge success. My roommates and I managed to drag ourselves out of bed at 6 AM and by 10:30, we were beginning to walk through the first of five towns in Cinque Terre National Park.

Who wouldn't want to spend a day hiking along these cliffs?

There really are no adequate words to describe the natural beauty of the Cinque Terre landscape. The five towns along the coast are separated by breathtaking cliffs and a shimmering turquoise ocean. We hiked as much as possible between the towns, finally reaching Monterosso and spending the end of our day relaxing on the beach with some gelato. To embrace a cliche, it was a perfect day......though naturally, it wasn't devoid of entertainment.

The towns are nestled into the terrain. The homes are painted in bright, citrus colors and are constructed such that they almost always have views of the water.

Fun Fact: I have never hiked before. It has always seemed appealing and interesting enough, but the opportunity has simply never arisen. I'd received advice from friends who had studied abroad that the hiking was amazing at Cinque Terre, so suffice to say that I was excited for it. Little did I know that hiking between the third and fourth towns would be quite so difficult. As my friends and I struggled up seemingly endless stairs and stumbled down rubble-ridden hillsides, we quickly began to question our idea of a "leisurely hike." Drenched in sweat with shaking muscles, we laughed and joked our way along the cliffs. At one point, one of the guys turns around and goes "On the bright side, I'm not getting sweatier. I'm getting sexier." By those standards, that was the sexiest afternoon of our lives.

This guy did a backflip off his paddleboard when he got to shore.  Impressive? Me thinks yes.

I suppose the last thing I'd like to add would be a brief comment on Italian aquatic gear. Quite simply: whoever designed Speedos should be wholeheartedly ashamed of his/herself. That is all.

My roommates and I in Monterosso after a relaxing afternoon at the beach.

Hope you all enjoyed a lovely weekend! It's back to work & school tomorrow. On the bright side, one of my best friends is visiting Tuesday and we're off to Venice and Verona next weekend!

Ancient History? I think not....

Whenever I was in a class that discussed Ancient Roman history, I was always fascinated by the landscape. I adored hearing about the soldiers trek through the mountainous terrain to conquer another enemy. I envisioned endless valleys densely covered in trees and dotted with vineyards. I could smell the wild fruit trees and feel the arid soil beneath my feet. And today, dear readers, I was fully immersed in the iconic Italian countryside.

Castello del Trebbio was originally owned by the Pazzi family, known best for the Renaissance-era conspiracy against the Medici family.

Our school organized a lovely trip to Chianti, a region of Tuscany renowned for its vino rossi (red wine - in order for a wine to be considered Chianti, it must be produced with a minimum of 80% of the Sangiovesi grape, a native Italian grape that originates in this region). We spent the late morning touring the 900-year old castle and enjoying a traditional tuscan lunch of antipasti, cheeses, bread and olive oil, and wine. Much to my excitement, we were also treated to a wine tasting of a lighter, 2011 Chianti and a 2008, 3-year reserve Chianti. Though I'm not particularly prone to red wine, I must admit that it was delicious.

The Tuscan countryside is just as beautiful as I'd imagined. That Debra Messing movie "Under the Tuscan Sun" just doesn't do it justice....

Following our lunch, we walked through the countryside, taking in the natural world around us. As we walked, or should I say, trekked, I couldn't help but feel very scholarly. As I wound my way through the fruit trees and olive groves, I found myself thinking that these were the same hills that had been traversed for thousands of years, that these were the same fruits eaten by those who lived here centuries ago. And as I spiraled deeper into my thoughts, I felt as though Thoreau would be proud of me and my Walden-esque experience in the valley on this particularly hazy September afternoon.

Not only does Castello del Trebbio have a few vineyards, but it also produces extra virgin olive oil. YUM.

Tomorrow, my roommates and I head to Cinque Terre to hike through the 5 towns. Hopefully I'll have fantastic adventures to discuss soon thereafter! Ciao gli amici!

Relentless Rain

You know, as someone who spends the vast majority of her year in Bristol, Rhode Island, I'd say I've become rather accustomed to rain. Rather, I've become so used to rain that donning a pair of Hunter boots and my North Face seems like an everyday activity. However, I will honestly say that, after continuously checking the Florentine weather and seeing no rain, I was unprepared for Florentine weather.


Not only did I neglect to bring rain boots, but I also didn't consider that the cobblestone streets are the perfect setting for hidden puddles. Just when you are sure that you've finagled your way out of every deep puddle on the street.....BAM! your foot is entrenched with mucky water and your shoe is damp for the rest of the day. Now, this may not seem so bad, but unbeknownst to you is that I have a minimum of a 20 minute walk to class and, subsequently, home. So, when one weather-ignoramus like myself gets her shoes soaking wet in the beginning of the day, she spends the rest of her meticulously-scheduled day walking with wet shoes and contracting blisters comparable only to those I've seen on the hands of my friends who row crew. Suffice to say that my feet hurt so badly that no pair of shoes seems friendly.

See this sky? Know what it's saying? "Hey there....just when you think I'm not going to, I'm going to downpour and ruin your day just because I can. Do I care that it hasn't rained in Florence once all summer? NOPE!"

Moving on, the rain has brought another dear friend, the common-cold. After four days of rain, my body gave me the royal "screw you" and bestowed upon me a cold that two days of Dayquil and Nyquil have yet to murder. Though I wholeheartedly acknowledge that things could be worse, I still feel the urge to publicly vent about these happenings via a public website. Ergo, today's post.


I'm going to stop writing before I become increasingly negative. Though I'm intensely aware of how lucky I am to be in Florence around such a vibrant culture, I am currently inclined to think only of my soaked socks and sniffles.


May the days ahead of you bring dry shoes and sunny skies!

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood......

Well, it's another picturesque evening in Florence and I have just a few minutes to write before heading out with my friends for our first adventure with apertivo, a speciality offered by many local restaurants. Apertivo allows for an unlimited dinner buffet with the purchase of a glass of wine......suffice to say that it is a college student's dream.


Earlier today, my roommates and I ventured around the city in an attempt to get our bearings before classes start tomorrow. Our classes are held in two different buildings, Palazzo Rucellai and Palazzo Bargagli. Luckily, the walk between the two brings us by the Arno River, the Ponte Vecchio, and the Uffizi gallery.


On the way home, we walked through the piazza at the end of our street to find a plentiful farmer's/artisan's market. Local merchants were displaying everything from fresh breads, wines, and aged-cheeses to handmade jewelry and oil paintings. As I meandered through the tents while eating my limoncello sorbet gelato, I couldn't help but feel as if I were on the right track to becoming a little bit Italian.


Well, until next time, arrivederci gli amici!

A nearby piazza houses an ornately-adorned carousel

Oh, What a Night!

Buona Sera! It's a rainy afternoon in Florence.....which provides me the idyllic opportunity to blog about last night's adventures!


Our evening began with a lovely dinner at a small pizzeria near the duomo. I had a delicious flatbread with eggplant, gorgonzola, and provolone (I must apologize for not taking a photo.....my friends and I ate it too quickly) with the house Pinot Noir (also scrumptious).  We then ventured to the Old Stove, an unfortunately Americanized bar near the Duomo. Though the odor of liquor hung in the air, the bar provided wonderful opportunities to meet other study abroad students. After a brief stint at Stove, we stopped in at a few small bars before landing at Twice, a discotheque about 10 minutes from our flat.

My roommates and I before heading out for the evening

Twice consisted of a small entry hallway and an open dance floor, adorned with small platforms and a crowded bar towards the back. As we entered the hallway, dim blue lighting set the stage for the dance floor, which was packed with Italians and Americans alike, all dancing to the flickering of neon lights. The music was largely American Top-100, but much to my surprise, it seemed entirely familiar to the Italians. The club stayed just as packed until the early morning hours, at which point we decided to head back to our flat. After hours of dancing and a concerning amount of wine, we thought it might be wise to head home.

Who wouldn't stay out all night when they could be seeing this?