Siena, San Gimignano and Cinque Terre!

Hello everyone! I had an Italian filled weekend! From the Tuscan coutry side to the rocky coast of Cinque Terre, this was a really amazing weekend and got to see a lot of amazing places.

Saturday we did Siena, San Gimignano and a wine tasting. Siena was beautiful but really really small. There were more or less two Piazza's which was crazy since there's so many in Florence. San Gimignano was my favorite of the cities, I think. It's the most well preserved Medieval town in Italy. It's still a walled city (like Florence used to be), and there's 14 towers (I think) that still remain standing. In between seeing the two cities we got to do a wine tasting which was amazing and so much fun. We got to taste 7 different wines and try some unbelievable typical Tuscan dishes to accompany our wine and keep us from getting wasted... My favorites were the Chianti and a couple variations on that. This was my first wine tasting, and it made me wish that I had the opportunity to take a wine tasting class here. There's so much behind it, and I like figuring out what type of wine I prefer and knowing what to order when I go out or whatever.

El Campo

Pisa Duomo

Dessert wine

My Italian boy friend

Sunday I finally got to see Cinque Terre. It was raining and cloudy, but even that couldn't ruin the beauty of this place. The views are unbelievable and sometimes felt pretty surreal. We got to see all five towns, but unfortunately we didn't get to hike to all of them due to the weather, damage from the floods and timing issues. It's a place that I really want to get back to before I leave, so I'm gonna see if I can get myself there in the next couple weeks.

So I'm exhausted, but so satisfied with everything that happened this weekend. Now its onto studying for finals, BUT FIRST we celebrate Notte Bianca! It's a holiday only celebrated in Florence. I'm not sure of the origin or reasons behind it, but basically bars and restaurants are open until 7 am and there's live music and partying in the piazzas. Dexter, the bartender at our favorite pub, told us that it's just like new years eve. So I got all my work done, and now the festivities begin.

That's all I got for you guys for now. I'm off to make some stuffed peppers for dinner with Andrea and then we're off to drink and dance all night, and tomorrow I'll hopefully be going to Pisa or something…

If I have time I'll let you all know how Notte Bianca goes tomorrow!

The Final Countdown? Already?

I looked at my calendar today and realized that I will be home in exactly three weeks from yesterday. Everyone told me that this was gonna go by fast, but I didn't think it was even possible for it to go by as quickly as it did. But it's not over yet and I'm set on making these last three weeks all about Florence, Tuscany and Italy. I'm packing my schedule and fitting in day trips and nights out every chance I get.

This Wednesday, I'm hoping to get back to Fiesole for the day. I got to see it on Saturday, but I didn't spend nearly enough time there. Then this weekend I'm going to do a wine tour and see Siena and Cinque Terre, and I'm hoping to get to Lucca and Pisa at some point in the upcoming weeks as well. I'm finally getting to Rome to see the family and the city the first weekend of May, and then it's finals week and then its time to come home? It all just got so real, and I am ready to come home and see everyone, but I know that I'm going to miss it here so much so I'm trying to make the most of the little time I have left. So keep a look out for a few last posts and then before you know it I'll be back in the states... speaking of which.. for those of you who don't know I'm going to be working and living in New Paltz for the summer which is going to be a whole new adventure that I can't wait for.

So my lovely readers, enjoy the week and I'll be updating soon! I miss you all!

Tracing My Roots to Sicilia

Ciao bellas!

First off I have to say happy 18th birthday to my little bro Alex! I mean I guess he's not so little now, but anyways happy birthday brohan, I miss you!

Annnyywayyss, this past weekend I had the opportunity to visit the island that runs through a part of my blood - Sicily! My grandma Mary comes from Sicilia, and although I didn't get to visit the city of Catania, which is where she's from, I really got a feel for the island and its people and culture and I could feel her with me all weekend.

Despite the stereotypes of a poverty stuck and mafia ridden island, Sicily is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. The south of Italy in general is paradise, but there's something about being on an island that amplifies the beauty even more. I went with my entire program and the group of us got to experience the towns & cities of Taromina, Cefalu, Mondello and Palermo. Each place had something unique to offer but they all emulated the same Sicilian charm. Cefalu was my favorite place that we went because it really felt like a tropical vacation in a resort or something. Our hotel was beautiful and was complete with balconies attached to our rooms, a four course Sicilian meal and a private beach! We only spent one day there, but I could have stayed for two weeks without a problem

Izzy on our balcony

Right before sunset

the view from out balcony

another view

Our beach!

Bathing in the freezing water

But the thing that I loved the most about Sicily – more than the scenic views and even more than the connection that I felt to it – was the food. Sicilian cuisine is unbelievably good and the amount of food that I ate that weekend should have filled me up for the rest of my time here. I got to experience (yes it was truly an experience, not just eating) just about every type of Sicilian dish. Sicilian antipasto, pasta with eggplant, fresh cannolis, cassata, and a full four course sea food dinner. I was uncomfortably full the entire weekend, but it was so worth it. I hope all of you are ready because I'm going to be cooking nothing but Sicilian food once I'm back. I was too busy focusing on my food to take pictures of it, but here's some pictures of the seafood dinner that my friend Joann remembered to take!

In heaven with my calamari

Everything was served family style, and this was once a full plate of pasta with sword fish and risotto with clams, tiny shrimp and calamari

Calamari!

Swordfish and some other type of fish

The one picture I took of food... Cassata! 

This was a really awesome weekend for me, and something that I need to do again, but next time I want my family there with me. Finally visiting a place that I'm connected and have heard about for so long was a bit surreal and even a little emotional, and it's an experience I want to be able to share with my whole family. It was one last way to connect with my grandma, and although I can't come home and tell her all about it, I know that she was watching over me all weekend and got to see everything I experienced. SO mom, Aunt Jojo, Aunt Michelle and everyone else that was in any way, shape or form associated with grandma Mary, I think it's about time that we all start planning a trip to Catania! There's no reason for me to be the only one that get's to see the island that we're (partially) from! If I still haven't convinced you, here's some more pictures so help you decide =] (most of these pictures are mine, but I borrowed a few from my friends)

I'm just so photogenic

wavey

das me collecting some shells

my future car

An old Greek Theatre

rain didn't stop us...