After sleeping in until eleven, doing five loads of laundry (with Hillary) and uploading my pictures to my computer- I finally have time to sit down and catch you all up on my life. This past week I have visited some of the most famous/ most beautiful cities in Italy. I know this blog will be one of the hardest to write (how can I ever begin to express my joy?). However, I’ll do my best. I DID MY BEST! I DID MY BEST. Sorry, Dane Cook is one silly *****.
Our departure time was 7:45 Monday morning. Sitting around until 7:44, Hillary and I got a tad bit worried that maybe, just maybe we were the only ones going on this trip. Then we remembered that while in Rome, do as the Romans... and be twenty minutes late to EVERYTHING. Around 8:00, everyone had shown up and we made our way to our first destination- Cortona. Now, you may be asking- what the heck is in Cortona. Answer: I still don’t know. No, but really- even though there is not many famous pieces of art work or buildings, Cortona became my favorite and is still my favorite city in Italy (thus far, of course). For some reason, I’m not sure if it was just the view or the fact that they have an amazing international art school, I felt completely safe and loved within that city. To this day, I mark, that if I ever live in Italy again it will be in Cortona or around the city somewhere. (Until I find something better!) Art is thriving in this city.
After our day trip to Cortona we made it to the hotel that we would be staying at the entire trip in Florence. I was expecting a lot from Florence and I wasn’t disappointed! Florence withholds my favorite night in Italy. (Again, thus far). The first night we got there, USAC as a group got a free dinner (yay free food) so as a group of over 20 we went this amazing pizza place - I’m still not sure if it was really that good or we were just starving by this point. After dinner we just roamed the city- hoping to not get lost! We knew our way from the Duomo and the entire trip we used that as our guide, our shining star! Most of the nights in Florence were very calm. Or as calm as they possibly could be!
The next day was Pisa and Lucca. Personally, I would never return to Lucca- not worth my time. However, Pisa saved the day. The plaza that contains the leaning tower, the baptistery, and the church, produces the feeling that you are somewhere out of this world. The grass that covers the ground, with the beauty of the pure white buildings, and the amount of people there... there is no way I can explain it. We didn’t get to climb the leaning tower, but as we were waiting for everyone to finish going through all three buildings, a few of my friends and I sat in the grass and took pictures. The lighting was perfect and it was definitely a moment to remember. I think at this moment I was reminded why I was here and what purpose I have while I am here. (If that makes any sense!!!).
Somewhat taken from my journal...
There is something about this city that absolutely baffles me. I just got done with one of the best nights I have ever had, let along had in Italy. As I sit here trying to describe the amount of emotion and feelings, I sob. There is absolutely no way for me to be able to express the feeling that I shared tonight with my three closest friends. Honestly, each and everyone of us were crying throughout the entire dinner! We had this stake that Florence is known for as well as this eggplant dish that I have been craving since I’ve been here. (I’m not sure how we found this hole in the wall resturant, but the moment we walked in the owner was estatic to see us. Speaking fluent English he asked every single question he could ask without being too creepy! Throughout the dinner he would stop by and “pretend” to work but instead insisting that we try the desert and such. Our service was incredible, and as I was looking around the resturant in awe of my surroundings I saw this cute little couple sitting next to us. By the end of the night, we all were staring at each other and we could tell that this night was special for some reason for them. We asked them to take a couple of pictures of us and when we offered to do the same, they declined for the moment- but said they would take us up on the offer later in the evening. I couldn’t keep my eyes of the women and EVERY single time I looked over she would catch my eye... I wasn’t technically embarrassed though. Finally after our main course they turned to us and asked us to finally take some pictures of them. Then out of NO where she blurted that he just purposed after 20 years of dating and that they were to be married early next year! You could tell she was excited about it and the tears that feel from her eyes made all us girls completely begin to sob!
We spent a few hours with the owner and his employees and even got a pictures with him in the wine cellar! He was sweet and gave us a business card (with a number incase we get too lost) and like most people you find while traveling insisted on us finding him on facebook and adding him as a friend! I will say it again, that I can’t even begin to describe the moment and feelings of that night, but I hope that this will make it a little easier. To life! To living!)
The rest of the trip consisted of the Uffizi gallery and the Accademia in Florence where we got to see some amazing artwork and the David as well as a trip to Siena. Even though this trip will forever stay with me it isn’t something that I can explain without showing. I fear that I will forget most of the details of not only Florence, but Viterbo as well. Everything is mushing together, everything is becoming an expierence as one and I don’t know how I will handle that when I return to the States. I fear returning, I fear staying, I fear that I really have nothing to fear at all and that everything will be JUST FINE. Everything is fine- everything is beautiful and as I ended my journal entry I stated, At the end of the day- as long as I did something worthwhile- like breathing- I think I will be just fine. To life. To living. I love you!
<3 Katy
