| | Finally I think Spring has arrived in Florence! After fighting through the rain and chilly nights it is now BEAUTIFUL! Last Sunday was my friend Diane's birthday so a bunch of us headed into the mountains in Fiesole (the posh-just-outside-of-the -city town)and had ourselves a lovely picnic beneath a castle, in an olive grove. I was recounting this day to my mother and she reminded me that only in Italy would I be galavanting to the mountains with wine, cheese, tomatoes, and prosciutto with a vision of the Duomo off in the distance. I haven't taken anything for granted, I just have become so acustomed to Florence and the lifestyle that I don't want it to end!!! I feel like a year abroad should be extendable to 2 years and then who knows, maybe more!
Springtime also brings the tourists is droves! I can't complain because I, too, was a tourist in Florence in 2003 and am wherever else I go. But holy moly it is crazy here! Yesterday in the streets, my friends and I went for gelato at one of our favorite spots and we did not hear anyone speaking Italian - it was all English! This city is chalk-full of "gli americani". It is a little bizarre. So just so everyone knows - visit Florence between January and the end of February when there is practically no tourists and a TON of sales in all of the shops.
We have successfully finished mid-terms and this semester was a piece of cake. That's right, I said it. A piece of cake (well, I am still waiting to get one back but...). Now I am concentrating on paper writing and keeping up with my University of Florence class. The language at this point comes quite easily - there is no more 'thinking' about it. I have been very lucky making Italian friends this year who have been patient with me and who have taught me some of the Florentine slang/dialect. Did I mention I don't want to go back to the States? Graduation day is now less than 2 months away - heartattack.
Last Saturday Smith took a day trip to Ferrara, a beautiful town quite north of Florence with a very famous and large castel and a ton of bicycles. Everyone rides bikes there, it's kind of their 'thing'. So we had to ride bikes, too! I have not been on a bike in so long - it was lovely having the wind whip through your hair, making swirls through the cobblestone streets, laughing like fools as we were trying to take pictures en route. We ate their specialty for lunch, very similar to Mantova - a tortellini-like pasta with pumpkin and butter inside and for dessert "Tarentina". It was similar to a brownie but without flour. Very yummy.
This weekend my good friend and past roommate at Smith, Jen, is turning 21. Her wonderful Mom, Anne, is coming to visit as well and from what I hear she is bringing necessary goods from the States like maple syrup from her homestate of Vermont and Reece's peanut butter cups. I hope they have good mom/daughter bonding time and there is sure to be quite a celebration!
I promise I am eating up every moment here. It's strange when it gets to the point where you have to schedule all of your weekends and there is no more "oh yeah I'll do that sometime". That sometime is now or never! Spring break is on the horizon and I will be heading to Spain to meet up with my friend Sam to travel around and then off to Denmark to meet up with one of my good friends from the tennis team, Alanna. It will be wonderful to see these people again.
I hope everyone else is enjoying spring or spring break wherever you find yourself!
Bacioni da Italia per voi! |
