The journey keeps on going ... Amalfi Coast, Pisa, Cinque Terre and more!

                I know that I really do need to better about updating my blog but when it is so warm and sunny outside all I want to do is wander! However, today it feels like a brisk fall day. I think fall may finally be here. I actually had to wear jeans and a jacket. Goodness, I do have so much to talk about. Let me start with last week. It was a great week; I had my regular classes, studying, reading, and sculpting. I also attended a cooking class. About 15 students went to a local cooking school where we made a three course meal. The appetizer was an eggplant, tomato, and mozzarella cheese with oregano sprinkled on top. The main meal was pesto lasagna and for dessert we made tiramisu! The food was absolutely incredible. And yes, I got the recipes so expect some fun cooking nights when I get back! Mom – I have had so much tiramisu since I have been here and think about you every time I eat it. Dad – you would love all the pizza I am having. It is just so delicious! Alright alright, I better stop talking about food… I bet you can tell I am writing this right before lunch! Hahaha

                Now onto the weekend, well two weekends ago, I went to the Amalfi Coast! We specifically went to Sorrento, Pompeii, and the island of Capri. I went with Amy, Sarah, Kristie, Bridget, and Nicole. We had a great girl’s weekend. Amy, Sarah and traveled via public trains which was quite an experience of riding in a “Harry Potter” looking train car, missing the last train to Sorrento and having to wait on a street corner in Naples hoping and praying the last bus would actually show up, and walking around for 40 minutes searching for our cabin in the dark. Don’t worry, I am alive even though I definitely would not recommend being near the Naples train station at 11:00 at night... probably wasn’t the safest but I kept my cool and we met to Lithuanian women who were also heading to Sorrento. We made friend with them, I mean traveling is always better in numbers especially at night! Now back to the cabin... well one of the other girls booked where we were staying so I had no idea we were camping! Well, I mean I know what camping is and staying in a tiny three person cabin with a small kitchen and a bathroom is pretty much luxury camping but I was shocked as we were getting eaten alive by mosquitoes in this forest like area in search of our cabin. The next day I must say it a pretty clearly marked path... but everything looks so much different in the dark! We actually really enjoyed staying in the cabin besides the fact we had to buy some leggings and a jacket in order to stay warm in the evening. But, it was fun to cook and sit out on our little deck looking out at the ocean. The next day we found our favorite grocery store where we stalked up on apples, yogurt, bread and snacks and headed to get on the fairy to Capri. Capri is a small island about a 25 minute ferry ride from Sorrento. When we arrived on the island Sarah, Amy and I had no plans and just started wandering up this steep hill in search of some lunch. We ran into this tiny market and in the back of the market was this elderly butcher. He told us all about how he has lived in Capri his whole life. He gave us a giant capriese sandwich split into three parts and gave us directions to a secret beach than really only locals know about. He was right, there were literally only about 4 people there and this was a big beach filled with big sections of rocks that you could lay out on. We enjoyed our lunch on this big boulder and then jumped into the clear blue ocean. The water was so warm and salty. It felt so awesome to be swimming in water that you could see nearly to the bottom. After swimming for a while we napped and sunbathed on the rocks. It was a much needed relaxing day. We explored Capri then returned to Sorrento to grab some dinner from the market and enjoy it on our porch.

The next day we spent in Pompeii. It was incredible to see the 2,000 year old ruins. I can’t even believe how well preserved the city is. We spent literally all day walking through the ruins, pretending to be statues, and reading up on all of the history. I was in awe the entire time. It was a great day. That evening we enjoyed a nice pizza dinner in Sorrento and I had one of the best desserts I have ever had. It was two of my favorite things combined: a cinnamon roll and gelato. It was a cinnamon roll with gelato stuffed inside. Ahhh sooo yummy! I just love food way too much. That evening we were sitting outside and about to walk up to the other public bathroom (our toilet didn’t work all weekend) and we heard these loud banging noises. It ended up being fireworks! We walked down the hill a little bit past our cabin and were able to watch the best fireworks show I have ever seen. There were crazy incredible fireworks being let off right over the ocean. It was a colorful evening that I wish I could have captured on camera. On Sunday it was time to head back to Florence. After a long amazing weekend I was not ready to head back but I knew it was time and I was exhausted!

The next week was a standard busy week filled with exploring Florence, enjoying the amazing food, attempting to focus on homework. Now onto last weekend, I went to Pisa, Italy on Thursday night. I of course saw the lovely leaning tower and walked through the markets. To me, Pisa really wasn’t that exciting. I mean the leaning tower was awesome but overall the city was kind of smelly. Don’t get me wrong though, I had a great time and there was a lot of character to the buildings.

On Friday Jordan and I headed over to Cinque Terre. On Thursday we had been dating for a year and half (crazy how time flies!) and it just happened that we planned a trip together for the same weekend. Cinque Terre was one of the most beautiful places I have ever been in my life. I loved the vibe, colors, ocean views, and the people. We stayed in Riomaggiare which was one of the last small towns. All of the towns in Cinque Terre are built right above or next to the ocean. You have to walk up hills to get anywhere and the colors are beyond words. I will definitely be coming back here some day! We had such a nice relaxing weekend hiking through the five cities, enjoying a nice meal in a castle and watching the ocean storm, making dinner, and sitting out on the terrace. It was definitely an unforgettable weekend and I hope my pictures will help convey how beautiful it was!

Oh and Jordan being the big surpriser that he is, surprised me with a pearl necklace before dinner on Friday night. They are very pretty and went perfectly with the dress I was wearing that evening. The food we had all weekend was incredible! At our nice dinner we enjoyed pesto pasta, seafood pasta, and sea bass. I loved the seafood! And Cinque Terre is where pesto was invented and I can say that I have never tasted pesto this good before. The next evening when we cooked dinner we had pork chops from the local butcher, focaccia bread (another Cinque Terre favorite), and heart shaped homemade pasta. Again, my love for food just overwhelms me sometimes! It just all tasted SO good!! Honestly, when Sunday hit I did not want to leave. Cinque Terre just did something to me, melting my heart and made me want to just enjoy the peaceful, not crowed, beautiful, simple life. I can’t wait until I can go back. The next chance I get, it is going to be at the top of my list!

Now that is really about it... I actually just finished my lunch here and am about to study for an Italian quiz that I have on Wednesday. I also have sculpture later this afternoon. Always look forward to that class. I am excited to see how my last set turned out. I hope all is well back in the USA! Thanks for reading about my journey. Love you Fam Bam!!