Sotto il Sole della Toscana (Under the Tuscan Sun)

View Full Album

    Getting out of Florence and into the countryside is one of my favorite things to do on the weekend.  My friend Christina came down from Siena to spend the weekend and we debated going to Viareggio for one last beach day..but the weather was threatening rain.  So we went to the train station and chose a new destination:  Cortona.  Anyone having seen Under the Tuscan Sun remembers the beautiful scenery (and the crazy middle-aged women). 

View Full Album

It turned out to be a cloudy-sunny day in a quaint Tuscan town with some beautiful panoramic views of the countryside.  Anywhere in the hills is just so peaceful, green and stunning.

Corri la Vita!!  Run for Life!  Sunday was the annual charity 5K walk (more of a stroll really) for charity.  Since church was moved to the afternoon, we decided to take part in the walk.  There ended up being over 20,000 people that took part (and 4 portapotties) – it was crazy and fun.  The crowd amassed at Piazza Signoria, the mayor made an appearance, the gun blew and the masses were off.  There wasn’t really any need for traffic control because no car would be a match for that many people.  The walk proceeded through the Boboli Gardens and some random courtyard stops along the way, and thankfully people dispersed to wander the gardens, stop for a macchiato or panini, and to enjoy the sunny day.  Fun times..maybe next year I’ll run the 12K, although there’s nothing like taking a passeggiata through town with 20,000 other people in Fiorentina viola T-shirts..

View Full Album

This week promises to be quiet.  Just as an update, my no sugar for a month resolution lasted only 5 days (who’s surprised?) but who can pass up dulce de leche chocolates homemade by your roommates’ grandma in Brazil? But don’t worry – I’ve just added an extra day to my month just to see if I can do it - even though I’ve decided it’s a ridiculous notion to try and live without sugar. Classes don’t start for another week so it’s mostly private lessons, studying Italian, birthday parties, running, and conference this weekend.  That I’m looking forward to.   But I do need a new hobby…any suggestions?

Un giro per quasi tutta l’Italia

It was a marvelous July.  I got to see a great deal of Italy and spend time with my family.  Everything started off with my mom arriving in Rome, where we quickly caught a flight to Sardegna, an island off the coast of Italy.  We saw lots of gorgeous seas, some ruins and spent some time on the beach.

View Full Album

Our next stop was to meet my father and brother in Pisa and then to head up to Venice.  Venice is always beautiful – even with the almost unbearable 90 degree, 100% humidity weather.  Let’s just say that the entire month was pretty hot and humid and we all got used to being covered with sweat most of the time.  We saw the usual – churches, pigeons, palaces, art, gondolas, blown glass, magical Venice.. We met my uncle and his family in Venice to enjoy the day.

View Full Album

Then it was off to a quick visit in Florence to see my house and to give me the chance to show my family the city.  We saw the David, took a night tour of the Palazzo Vecchio, went up to Piazzale Michelangelo for the best view of the city and walked around and enjoyed.  

Next stop – Rome.  Jean met us there and we toured around the city. I hadn’t been back to the Coliseum and the Roman Forum since high school and it was really impressive (and hot) walking around all the old ruins of ancient Rome.  The Borghese Gallery was also very impressive, as is the rest of Rome.  I love Rome.

View Full Album

Dad and Matt returned home (and air conditioning) and the rest of us continued on our way to Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast.  It was beautiful – the charming towns built on the steep hillsides, the beautiful sea and coastline.

View Full Album

Sicily was our last stop – we sure got a lot in on our vacation and everyone was pretty tired by the end of the trip.  We stayed in Catania and visited Mt. Etna and Siracuse. 

View Full Album

After Jean and mom returned back to the US, I stayed in Sicily to enjoy the beautiful country.  It was so totally different from the rest of Italy.  Let’s just say fashion and looks are not the priority that they are here.  The people were friendly and fun and motorcycle helmets were obviously optional.  The whole family can fit on one little scooter.  The lemon and almond granite were to die for – they really are the best in Sicily, just like the best pizza really was Napoletana.  It was a great, long, enlightening vacation and I’m happy that I got to see so much of this beautiful country!!  

Sono arrivata! Back in Italy

After a marvelous summer filled with travel, sun, family and fun I have finally returned back to Italy for another year of teaching and soaking up some Italian culture.  I am looking forward to doing some more travelling, visiting more Tuscan towns and improving my Italian to a respectable level of conversation. I celebrated my return with some pizza and gelato, naturally, and a stroll through the center to see what has changed since I left (not much). 

Things I will miss from the US (and you should be grateful you have):   A couch, reliable internet, Mexican food, a car, Target, good friends, quiet, a nice big bed, Family

Things I enjoy in Italy (and you’re missing out on): Pizza, gelato, the ability to walk almost anywhere, culture and art everywhere, Italians, piazzas, evening strolls, people everywhere

I will put up some pictures of some of my summer travels soon, mostly because I don’t even remember half of the things that I have done or seen so I’d better write them down.