I apologize for neglecting the blog! I know you have been waiting anxiously... :) I guess its a good sign though, that I haven't been writing much, because i've been having way to much fun doing other stuff.
The trip to Italy and Greece was amazing. In Florence my friend Josh was an amazing host. He took us to so many beautiful places and we got to explore the Italian countryside. He also invited me to his house and I got to eat an authentic Italian dinner with his host mother, Gabriella, who couldn't be more different than Carmen! She was reserved and kind of formal, but very sweet and well dressed and kind. I liked her alot. She spoke a little English, and I tried to understand Italian and I could get most of it because it is very similar to Spanish.
I was staying in a hostel in Florence with my friends Hilary and Vanessa. With Josh and his roommate Nate we explored the whole city, and they showed us all the sights and even let us in on some local secrets. There is a "secret bakery" in Florence that is only open from the hours of 1am and 5am. It has no name and no storefront, in fact its hidden in this back alley and you can't even tell its there. Nate told us to be very quiet and just went into the back of this building, where we could see racks and racks of pastries. He spoke quickly to an old woman, paid her a few euros, and came out with hot, steaming, flaky chocolate and jam filled croissants! It was awesome. And we were a little drunk so it was like the perfect drunk food! Apparently not many people know about it, only people who have lived there awhile. I'm not exactly sure why its so secretive but hey the croissants were amazing so I guess it doesn't matter!
We don't have that kind of stuff in America!
Also one day they took us to this little sandwich shop where we got amazing sandwiches with the freshest mozzarella ever on focaccia bread and mmmmm... I wanna go back....
After Florence I went to Perugia, where my friend Kiki from Oberlin has been living for the past year. It was so beautiful. My whole time in Italy I was blessed with perfect weather, about 70 and sunny and breezy. Perfect. Kiki showed me all around Perugia, which is a really small city that actually feels more like a town. Everything is cobblestone streets and little shops and pretty fountains and statues. I got to meet her friends and I loved them all, especially Andrea who is fluent in Italian (of course) Spanish, English and is going to Japan to learn Japanese. Crazy. He was such a sweetie and Kiki showed me the best time. We just meandered around the streets, went to a park and walked along the trails, ate gelato and pizza and pasta, you know, the good stuff! The pace of life there was unlike anything I had ever experienced. No one walked fast or rushed or talked on cell phones even. Everyone just kind of chills out, sits in the sun, wanders. I have never felt so relaxed in my whole life. Perugia is definitely a place where I would like to return to someday, or even live (it's okay Mom I don't think it will be anytime soon). The center of town is on a big hill, so basically everywhere you go you are walking upwards and there are the most beautiful view of the entire Italian countryside. Everything was so green and lush, there were no skyscrapers or airports or cell phone towers. I could keep on describing it but I feel like words are really enough.
ok enough for now. next entry will be for greece! I love you all alot, and I'm coming home in less than 3 weeks! Scary and awesome at the same time. Besos y abrazos, me
