Italy today, Switzerland tomorrow!

Ciao!!!

What another incredible week here in Italy. As we hiked the Piazzale Michaelangelo yesterday for our second time since we've been here, I was able to see the city in its entirety at sunset and it was the most beautiful view I have seen thus far in my life. If only my family or Ty was able to be there with me to witness a sight like we had. Luckily my family is coming soon, and I will be spending the summer with Ty!!

We spent last weekend in Sienna & San Gimignano, two cities enriched with history and BEAUTY!!  San Gimignano was that stereotypical quiet Italian town. It was a breath of fresh air compared to the hustle and bustle of Florence. My grandma reminded me that the crayon named "Burnt Sienna" in those 24 count boxes of crayola crayons was specifically named for the colors of the roof tiles in Sienna. My favorite part of that entire day trip was the world's best gelato we had. Absolutely amazing. I had two flavors, nutella and dark chocolate in a chocolate waffle cone. The line was out the door, so we knew that it was going to be delicious, which it was.

We ate at Trattoria Za'Za, famously known as Zaza's. So far this trip that was the best meal hands down. ALL my meals have been great, but there was something about this particular dish at Zaza's. I had gnocchi with shaved truffle and gorgonzola cheese. Absolutely incredible. Every bite was perfect. True, genuine, delicious, homemade Italian food.

I think it's so funny now how on a day where I only walk about 5 miles (The days that I have the most classes) I consider that a "bad" walking day, since we are SO used to walking upwards of 10.

We found our first batch of real american food at a restaurant literally called "the diner". We went for a late brunch and had our fair share of cheeseburgers, fries and milkshakes. We definitely took american food for granted at home, we ALSO took having free water at restaurants for granted. Water is more expensive than wine here, isn't that unreal? When I get home I'm ordering all the water I can possibly drink when I go out to eat.

We took a painting class offered by our school, where we learned to paint "fresco" style, as in painting directly onto plaster, like Leonardo DaVinci and many other famous painters have done. It was so fun, but of course painting is not my strong suit. I ended up just painting a flower, lol.

I am packing for our weekend in Interlaken, Switzerland! I am SO excited. This is our first weekend traveling, and I can not WAIT! I know its going to be snowing, so I'm heading right into a winter wonderland!!

See ya next week!

Finally feeling like a local

Hey guys!

Alright so I was definitely more optimistic coming into this trip about my blog, thinking I could blog every single day. The reality is I am DRAINED. Maybe I'm still not over my jet lag, or the 6 hour time difference? Not sure, but I definitely am going to make this a once a week thing. We have already booked our Spring Break ( traveling to 7 countries in 10 days), and two seperate weekend trips (Interlaken, Switzerland and the Almalfi, Coast). We got an INCREDIBLE price and it was too good of an offer to pass up! Somebody pinch me, because this experience still doesn't feel real. The fact that I am waking up in Italy every day for the next few months? I am so lucky & incredibly blessed! 

Today is the 12th day of being here and I kid you not it feels like 2 months! We have done SO much in these past 12 days, it feels incredible. So far we have traveled to two different Italian cities, Chianti and Bologna, and this Saturday we are heading to Sienna! Besides the winery in Chianti and the Italian food theme park in Bologna, we took a day of rest in between (literally sleeping till noon)... which I have never done in my entire life! (Ask Tyler or my family, this is unheard of!) I've begun to accept that it is just my body telling me how tired I am and the rest was much needed.

Last Friday, we traveled to Chianti, Italy to visit a winery. This trip was sponsored by our school (AKA FREE) which was incredible. We had a tour around the winery and it was accompanied by a perfect lunch of a meat & cheese first course, and a pasta as our second course. Of course, we wine tasted during the lunch, and I have to say now I am a huge fan of red wine. My parents are going to be so happy, now we can all enjoy red at dinner instead of me being the only one drinking white, lol.
We took a coach bus, and the roads here in Italy are so incredibly tight and small that the bus could not fit on the road, so we walked about 10 minutes towards the winery. It was a cold day, I was not expecting this country to be as cold as it is, but its such a crisp, clean air that I am definitely not used to!

Yesterday (Sunday), we went to Bologna, Italy to FICO Eataly.... basically an italian food theme park 2X THE SIZE OF DISNEY! Guys, it was INCREDIBLE. Another free trip for us, we traveled an hour and a half to Bologna by bus. The place was MASSIVE. We were able to see how they make cheese, the cured meats, olive oils, and anything related to italian food was there. The food was so fresh, and authentic, I can't imagine eating Italian food at home ever again! (The food snob in me is already coming out and im not even home yet!) The place is also a huge grocery store as well so you are able to buy farm to table ingredients at incredibly cheap prices. I wish we had more time to explore the place, we probably would have appreciated the experience more if we were able to do the activities they offered such as making your own pasta, and cheese!

I definitely feel (almost) like a local. I know my way around from our apartment to our school buildings. I forgot to mention, I am SO happy our apartment is far away from our school because we walk AT LEAST like 6 miles every day, and I love it! Also gives me a good excuse to indulge in all the food here, because we are constantly on the move! Our farthest walk in these 12 days was over 11 miles! I have a new love of walking, and it can only go up from here! I am currently sitting in my new favorite cafe, directly next to my school building. Coffee & espresso for only 1 euro? Can't beat that, and it definitely is better than my $5 Starbucks order back home! I have a week full of classes ahead of me; I am taking 5 classes in total; two art history classes one about the art of Florence, Italy, and one about Leonardo Da Vinci! One (mandatory) italian class, and a history class about the Jewish presence in Italy, and a QU online class.

Instead of posting pictures on here, I will put everything I take on Facebook! If you have read this far, thank you, and thank you for keeping up with my travels and my life abroad! I will check back next week and update you all on another increible week here in Italy!


passa una settimana meravigliosa ti amo tutti!! xoxoxo

First Couple of Days in Florence

WOW. Pinch me, I must be dreaming! We arrived in Florence yesterday, and have been on the move ever since. From waking up early & heading to our school's orientation for a couple hours, to walking throughout the city of Florence, we have been non-stop moving. Its been quite some time since I have traveled to Europe, so I had completely forgotten just how bad jet-lag can be. I could barely keep my eyes open. We were awake for more than 24 hours during our days of travel. Sleep deprivation definitely takes a toll on your body. I rested yesterday and today, and slowly but surely I feel as if I will be getting used to the 6 hour time change from back in the states (yikes). Our apartment is HUGE, wit ebautoful views of the Duomo. I have my own single room, and I'm oving every second of it so far! We spent yesterday exploring our new home. Today after orientation we went to a bunch of different stores for some much needed retail therapy. We stumbled across a bunch of leather stores, and we found one that many Quinnipiac students have been to before. He was so nice and gave us incredible discounts! Don't be surprised when I come back to the states with multiple leather items! Tonight we had an incredible Italian dinner with the seven of us plus three girls also from Quinnipiac that we are mutual friends with. Absolutely DELICIOUS. Tomorrow we have our second part of orientation, and we are going to explore the city more after!!

CIAO!

Last Weekend in America / Bon Voyage!!!!

Today is the day! Ever since I was a little girl I've always dreamt of traveling to Italy for a period of time, and today I am flying to Florence! I am EXTREMELY excited, but of course those travel jitters are in full effect. I spent this weekend with Tyler. It was such an amazing weekend. Since we have been dating for over a year now, we are completely content with just being lazy and spending time with each-other doing absolutely nothing, and that's what we did! We spent New Years Eve with some of our friends, slept in Monday morning and went to my Aunts in New York for a farewell dinner. It was hard to say goodbye, but he will be picking me up at the airport in April & I am so lucky to have him in my life!! 

My flight is late this afternoon, so I am planning on sleeping the entire flight since we arrive in Italy around 7 am. I am so ready for this trip! 

ci sentiamo presto!!!