Ciao for now

Another adventure filled weekend comes to an end…after traveling for the past five weekends I am absolutely EXHAUSTED, but I guess I can’t really complain. This time, I spent my weekend in London, England. Our travel began Thursday night, which landed us in London at around 7:30 PM. We stayed in a hotel in Shoreditch, which I would soon learn to be the hipster area of London—the SOHO as many compare it to. Walking down the streets we passed so many cute, trendy bars and restaurants. Our hotel itself was alive with hustle and bustle at what seemed like all hours of the day.

By the time we were settled, it was about 10:30 PM and we were starving. With a quick Google search, we found an Indian restaurant about 5 minutes from the hotel open until 12 PM, Dishoom. Being in London, we knew for one meal we wanted to try Indian food, so this was perfect. The funny thing is that quick Google search and random find turns out to be one of the best Indian restaurants in London, with lines going out the door and long waits for reservations. We got lucky showing up at such a late hour because we sat immediately. Eating at Dishoom we quickly understood why London is known for its Indian food and why Dishoom is one of the most famous. This meal was by far the best I had in London and made us realize we should be getting Indian food much more often.

The next day was our major sightseeing day. We started by taking the tube to what is of course the most important thing in London (to me at least): Buckingham Palace. As we walked up to the palace, the crowd of people surrounding it was enormous. I was surprised, because, as an avid Royals fan, most pictures I have seen never seem to be as crowded as it was today. The closer we got, we saw that police officers were lining the perimeter of the driveway…something big was about to happen. We quickly hopped up to an open area where we could see and just as the crowd started to cheer we saw why: Queen Elizabeth was leaving. Yes, that is correct, we coincidentally arrived at the palace as the Queen was leaving in her car for whatever was on her agenda for the day. In the days leading up to my arrival in London, I constantly joked “think I’ll meet the Queen”.

Well, I did not meet her, but I could never have imagined I would see her in person. Naturally, I made us stand around for another half an hour to see if Megan Markel and Prince Harry were leaving next, but unfortunately they were not. However, we did get to witness the entire changing of the guards, which was really fascinating and fun.

Buckingham Palace with Sam

Buckingham Palace

Changing of the Guards

Once that excitement subsided, we made our way towards Big Ben. However, Big Ben is covered from head to toe in scaffolding, so we unfortunately did not get a good view of that. The Westminster area was probably my favorite area of London. It is what you picture London to look like: The London Eye circling over the Thames river, cherry red telephone booths lining the sidewalks, all along with the constant movement of the city. After seeing this area and deciding that my fear of Ferris Wheels was a valid excuse to NOT get on the London Eye, we made our way back to the Shoreditch area. Here, we stopped at a pub called Dirty Dicks, where I had to try fish and chips. While not my go to meal probably ever again, it was enjoyable and a must while being in England.

London Eye

Fish n Chips

Telephone Booth

Next, I met up with a few friends and we visited various markets in the area. The markets are a great element of London. They have so many yummy, quick food options for everyone, cute shops, and nothing is too expensive. Friday ended with dinner in Covent Garden, which is the area all the Broadway shows are shown. It was so amazing to see all the different theatre’s and shows that they put on in London, and put me in the mood for showtunes (though, that’s really always my mood). We finished it off at Old Street Records, a bar which features live music in a dark, exposed brick wall setting. It was the kind of place that I would imagine some of the famous singer-songwriters from England get their start.

Saturday was another adventure filled day, beginning with a walk across the Tower Bridge. The area was beautiful and super historic, which was great to see. A short walk away from the Tower Bridge was Borough Market where we indulged in a snack of Mac and Cheese (yum). Our next adventure took us to Chelsea, an area of little shops and cafes, and of course the bright and colorful townhouses, which make for a perfect photo-op.

Tower Bridge

Chelsea

Also in Chelsea was the other thing I was most excited for about London, high tea. We spent hours sitting around a cute café table, where each of us got our own pot of tea and finger sandwiches, scones, and sweets. I felt so fancy drinking my tea and eating scones and cucumber sandwiches in a place where they really make you feel like you were having the full high tea experience.

As I sit on my final flight back to Florence for the next few weekends until Dublin for St. Patrick’s Day, it’s truly surprising how fast the weekends go when you are traveling. I have learned an immense amount about traveling through different countries, managing language barriers, and seeing places that I have only ever visited in photographs or movies. Going forward, I did not realize how much I would desire going to so many places across the world. With only so much ability to get everywhere, there is not telling what the future of my travels hold. But for now, keep following for more things that I have learned and observed in the time that I have been here.

Wanderfully yours,

Sophia

In the 7^th grade, we were all tasked with a decision that would change the course of our lives forever: which language would we chose to study for the remainder of our school career. For whatever reason, French was the language that stood out to me. I found it beautiful, different, and interesting, and so began my conquests with the French language. I spent those classes writing in notebooks with Eiffel Towers on the cover and bringing crepes in for French skits. The classes I took were not only focused on us learning the language, but with that came learning lots about the culture and of course, the city of Paris. Now, after years of enduring difficult teachers who for some reason just did not like me, I could finally experience all that I learned about.

It did not disappoint. From the moment I stepped foot in Paris, I knew I loved it. After exiting the metro stop to my first destination, I looked up and saw the top of the Eiffel Tower and it took my breath away. The city along the Seine River with the tower in the background was everything I pictured and more. I arrived several hours before Sam (my boyfriend for those reading who don’t know, though I’m SURE you all know), and had time to kill. Naturally, I decided to go visit one of the best things that sets Paris apart from any other European country: they have a Chipotle. Yes, my first stop in Paris was at Chipotle, and though it is not as good as it is in the United States, for being deprived of such a luxury for months, it really satisfied. I then took the metro to the airport. Perhaps I began to love Paris so much from only a metro ride and a quick stop at my favorite fast food chain because it reminded me so much of New York City, and that is something I have not felt in any city I have been to yet. I felt comfortable taking metros and walking on the streets. I also could understand the language for once and though I am extremely rusty, I managed to communicate in French here and there.

Once we settled into our Airbnb, we made our way out to dinner and the Eiffel Tower. The closer and closer we got to the tower, the more beautiful it became, especially when it twinkled.

We went to a French restaurant where we of course had to try the staples: escargot and onion soup. The onion soup was amazing and the snails were not that bad! They ate almost like a muscle or a clam, though I only had one to try and let Sam finish the rest.  We finished our first night in Paris with a banana and Nutella crepe, and while I really did not know how much better a crepe could be than any crepe anywhere else, it really was something different and delicious.

Escargot and Onion Soup

Banana Crepe

The next day it was time to visit all the most important sites. Only having 2 days in the city, it would be impossible to visit everything as Paris is so large. We started the day again at the Eiffel Tower in order to see it in the day light and to of course, get a few pictures. We then made our way to the Louvre. Once again, the Louvre exceeded my expectations. Not only was the building itself stunning, but the garden inside as well. To our surprise, we walked right up to the front of the area to see the Monna Lisa. While yes, I agree with the majority in saying that it is smaller than expected and may not live up to the hype, it was incredible to be able to see what is perhaps the most famous painting in the world. We then walked through the museum a bit, and ended in the gallery which held the French Royal Jewels where I got to see a royal French tiara and that in itself is more than enough to keep me satisfied!

Eiffel Tower on the Bridge

Musee de Louvre

Monna Lisa up close

From the Louvre, we made our way to the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs Elysses. However, it was hard to get around because it was a Saturday, and Saturday are the days for the yellow vest protests in Paris. We once again boarded the metro and made our way to Cathedral de Notre Dame. Along the bridge adjacent to the cathedral was where we saw one of the yellow vest protests going on. There is so much that I could write about seeing these protests. We quite literally were standing in a pivotal moment in history. However, I will keep my political activist side quiet for the moment, as that is not why you are here.

Notre Dame

Arc de Triomphe

Near the Notre Dame is a street one of my friends recommended for us to walk along, Ile de St. Louis. On this street, we found tons of boulangeries and patisseries. We picked up a few macaroons, a baguette, and some cold cuts and cheese, then went along the bank of the Seine and ate a little picnic there. The baguette was delicious and the macaroons were good, though they are not my favorite dessert by any means.

Our next stop was planned to the Palais Garnier—the Opera house in Paris where one of my favorite musicals, The Phantom of the Opera is sHowever, we did not make it. Why you may ask? Well, it happens to us all at some point (or at least that is what I’m telling myself), but I was pickpocketed on the metro on our way to the Opera. A quick detour to the French police station and a mental breakdown later, there was no hope for visiting Palais Garnier on Saturday. But, what can you do about it, it is a lesson learned and a story to tell (too soon?). It was a great excuse to get a cookie at a bakery after all.

On Sunday, we started our day finally trying a croissant and then making our way to the Palais Garnier, no pickpocketing this time! Though we did not get to go inside because it is still a functioning Opera House and we did not have tickets, the Palais Garnier is enormous and really beautiful to look out from the outside. But the best view of it were from the rooftop of the department store, Galleries Lafayette, next to it. This was one of the most amazing views I have ever seen.

View from Galleries Lafayette

Crossiant

There are not enough words to explain how I feel about Paris. I can say without a doubt it is my favorite place by far and I hope to be able to visit it many more times in my future. It is a beautiful city rich of culture, history, art, and food. I have no idea where the stereotype that the French are mean to American’s came from because the  people I met were nicer to me than anyone I have met in Italy yet! I felt so comfortable and enchanted by the sights around me, even with the political protests and pick-pocketers around me. It made it feel like a real city. Truly an unbelievable trip and I’m not sure how any others will top it!

Wanderfully yours,

Sophia

A little delayed blog post this week, but no worries, you can stop anxiously waiting to know about what is currently leading for the best place I’ve visited: Amsterdam. Going into this trip, my expectations were high. I was wondering if the hype that everyone has around going to Amsterdam would actually live up to it and I was truly expecting so much of Amsterdam. Honestly, it exceeded my expectations. Walking through the streets of Amsterdam felt like walking through a Disney movie. With the canals, the colorful townhouses, the lights draped across the various streets, the bikes, and the sweet smells, I loved Amsterdam before I even started doing anything.

Friday:

On our agenda for the first day in Amsterdam was to explore the city until our tour of the Anne Frank House at 6:30. We explored the various canals, streets, and shops throughout Amsterdam for hours without ever feeling bored. We visited Dam Square and the Royal Palace and gazed at all the beautiful buildings. Perhaps the highlight was finding a Dunkin Donuts! (Hazlenut coffee anyone?) Aside from the traditional Netherland Dunkin Donuts coffee (kidding of course), we actually tried a sweet from Amsterdam: a stroopwaffel. So what is a stroopwaffel? Honestly, I don’t entirely know, but it is two thin, crispy waffles, with a sweet syrup in between coated in chocolate and a topping. I got mine with M&M’s. It really was as good as it sounds.

Royal Palace of Amsterdam

Stroopwaffels

Dam Square

2As someone who has always been interested in Holocaust studies from the first time I read Number the Stars and The Diary of Anne Frank in the 5th grade, visiting the Anne Frank House was a must. You first enter into the general lobby of the house, which was originally the bottom floor of the warehouse beneath the annex in which Anne, her family, and the Van Pels lived. The various offices and store rooms on the first two floors are converted into a museum where you learn about the German occupation of the Netherlands, the Frank family feeling from Germany to the Netherlands, and can read various passages from some of Anne’s early work before they were in hiding. The most shocking part of the tour comes to when you reach the bookcase. In a narrow hallway off of one of the office rooms, the bookcase sits half opened and behind it is the beginning of the secret annex. Up various flights of steep steps my breathing slowed as I stood in the cramped rooms that Anne Frank and the seven others shared for years. There was no way to look out a window, the family could not use running water after 8PM as to not alert anyone else in the building of their existence, and the kitchen and living area also doubled as a bedroom. The secret annex spanned for three floors, each staircase getting steeper and more narrow.

What is so fascinating and appealing about this and about Anne Frank’s Diary is how much she embodies everything that a young teenage girl is. Her room and what was preserved of the walls had posters of actors and cut outs of her favorite passages from books or magazines. Her writing, while it took place in hiding from persecution, is so symmetrical with that of a my own teenage writing: anxt from boys and wanting to be a successful writer or journalist and being frustrated with school and getting annoyed at her sister every now and then.

After leaving the annex, the museum continues to explain the fate of those in the annex. Of all eight people, Otto Frank, Anne’s father, was the only one to survive. Those who helped hide the Franks and Van Pel’s saved Anne’s diary from what was left after the German’s raided the apartment. Otto then chose to publish her writings after he found out that Anne and her sister Margot died at Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp in 1945. Visiting this house was a truly surreal experience, especially after having been to some of the camps such as Auschwitz and Dachau after my senior year. What many say about visiting these things is true: no matter how shocking and emotional visiting these sites are, it is unfathomable to imagine what actually went on during this time period.

After the Anne Frank house, we changed and got dinner and then proceeded to visit the red light district. There are absolutely no pictures allowed of the women in the windows, but walking down the street is such a fascinating experience. This was without a doubt the most crowded area we visited in Amsterdam because it is such a staple of the city.

Saturday

Saturday was a busy day for us in Amsterdam as our flights were so early on Sunday morning. We started the day at the Van Gogh Museum, which was four floors that followed the progression of Van Gogh’s artistic journey. It was amazing how many paintings Van Gogh created throughout his lifetime and I was shocked at how big the museum was all filled with his work. My favorite were the sunflowers and the iris’s, though I was only able to take a photograph of the sunflowers. Following the Van Gogh museum, we walked through the Rik museum which was full of the rich Amsterdam history and art from Rembrant.

Rik Museum

Following the museums, we decided to go for lunch at a small cafe with traditional Dutch crepes and pancakes. The pancakes, called poffertjes, are thick but small pancakes that come with about 10 or 20 depending on how many you want. You can then top them with everything from sweet chocolate and nutella, syrup, fruits, or savory ingredients like cheese or bacon. I got mine with banana and whipped cream. They were DELICIOUS.

Following lunch was the Heineken Experience at the original Heineken Brewery. Though I am not a huge beer drinker, it was so interesting to learn the history of the beer, see how it is brewed, and get to go through the interactive games and experiences through Heineken and the Amsterdam beer experience. The tour also came with 3 beers, so you could say it was pretty worth it.

Heineken Tour

Heineken Tour

Heineken Beer

Before dinner that night, we continued to explore the Flower Market, the various shops and cafes, and the canals and streets of Amsterdam. There are so many things that I could say about Amsterdam. It was a truly one of the best cities that I have visited, full of lively people, beautiful and friendly streets, great food, and such an interesting culture. There are tons more pictures of my time in Amsterdam in the Gallery section, and I will be back soon with updates on my next journey to Paris, France. Maybe all the years of my french teachers seeming to hate me will finally pay off!

Full of pancakes and wanderfully yours,

Sophia

To the country of chocolate, cheese, and snow, this past weekend’s adventure was to the small town of Interlaken, Switzerland. The town has a population of only 20,000 people and truly feels like you are living in a snow globe. On Thursday night I boarded a bus…that is right a bus…to Switzerland and after 8 hours!!! we arrived at Balmer’s Hostel. Balmer’s Hostel is one of the oldest and most famous hostel’s in Switzerland and as I have never stayed in one before, I was really excited to see what it would be like. I think because of it’s fame, Balmer’s is a little nicer than your average hostel and I really enjoyed the environment around it. So what does one do in a small town in the dead of winter in Switzerland? Well I don’t ski or snowboard so…

1. Paragliding: now my original intentions were not to run and jump off the cliff of a mountain in the Alps. I was planning to do something a little more calm, maybe kayak. However, at the end of the day, a group of friends and myself decided we would paraglide. So, on Friday morning we geared up to drive to the top of a mountain in the Swiss Alps. Trust me, I was FREAKING out the way up. The views from the top of the mountain were absolutely stunning, but it was truly one of those take a quick picture moments, because before I knew it, I was strapped in and running down a mountain in the snow. Somehow, the wind picked up and I was seated in the air, flying. It was such a peaceful experience. After the original feeling of jumping and flying, I was just coasting through the crisp Swiss air in the snow. Remember how I mentioned the town was small? Well my pilot, Jeff, at one point, points to a red car and says, “see that car outside the house? That is where I live!”. The flight lasted about 10 minutes over mountains, lakes, and houses. When we finally landed, I was actually disappointed for it to be over (though a little dizzy).

Paragliding

Paragliding

Paragliding

2.  Lake Brienz and Ice Skating: another stunning location and highlight of the trip was Lake Brienz, one of the two lakes in Interlaken. The name of the town actually means between two lakes. We walked the lake and saw some of the bluest and most clear water I have ever seen. Behind the gatorade blue lake were picture perfect mountains capped in beautiful white snow. Following our lakeside adventure we went to the middle of the town to complete our winter weekend with ice skating. I was surprised at how much I actually remembered how to skate! The snow filled activities were so peaceful and after having a snowless winter at home, was something I enjoyed tremendously.

Lake Brienz

Lake Brienz

3. The Real Swiss Experience: No trip to Switzerland would be complete without a dive into the Swiss culture through food, drink, and of course, costumes! We finished off our weekend in Switzerland at Heidi’s Photo Chalet, which is a green screen photo opportunity where you also get to taste traditional Swiss breads, cheeses, chocolates, and drink traditional beer, wine, and schnops. We dressed up in classic Swiss dresses and spent hours in front of the green screen posing with various props against various backgrounds, all while eating Swiss food. Personally, my favorite was the chocolate (duh). Overall, a hysterical memory to look back on.

Swiss Happening

Swiss Happening

Swiss Happening

Swiss Happening

Funky Chocolate

At the end of it all, Switzerland was an amazing and beautiful country. I am still amazed at the sights that I saw and how peaceful the country was. At the lake, you could hear a pin drop and see blue for miles. At the top of the mountain, you could feel the fresh snow beneath you and look out over peaks of amazing mountain tops. From one cold adventure to the next, I will see you next week in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

But for now, ciao!

Sophia

I am sitting on the train from Rome to Florence after the first weekend adventure of my abroad experience. So where did we chose to go? Budapest, Hungary. To be honest, before coming to Florence and hearing other people mention Budapest on their wish list of trips, I never even thought to go. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized this is really one of those places that I will never have the opportunity to visit again. So on Thursday night, we hopped on a train to Rome to stay the night in order to be ready for our 9 AM flight to Budapest from Rome.  By 1 PM Friday afternoon, we had touched down in Budapest, Hungary. The first thing we did was take a bus from the airport to our Airbnb which was an adorable and very authentic Eastern-European apartment in the heart of the Jewish District.  So what did we do in maybe the most random place I will choose to go?

1. Mr. Funk: We quickly cleaned ourselves up from our travels and made our way to get lunch…or should I say a very early dessert at Mr. Funk, a place with the most insane milkshakes I have ever seen. The sugar rush from these gave us enough fuel to make our way to one of the most famous and popular sites in Budapest.

2. Szechenyi Baths: The Szechenyi baths are the one thing I did know about Budapest before planning this trip. The baths are a very popular cultural experience in many parts of Eastern Europe, but famously in Hungary. The thermal spa baths are full of medicinal minerals like calcium and magnesium and are pumped to 96 degrees F or more and full of steam. There are 18 different thermal pools at Szechenyi, some colder than others, some with whirl pools, and others just to hang out in. There is no lie it was kind of gross being in a communal bath tub, but it is something we had to try while we were there. And although we took showers immediately after getting out, I do have to say my skin felt very clean after!

3. Ruins Bar: After we were all double clean from the bath and the follow up shower, we got ready for dinner and drinks at another staple spot of Budapest: the ruins bar. The ruins bars are old residential or other buildings that were ruined during the occupation of Hungary. The bars have no been renovated in any way, but turned into trendy and casual bars and restaurants. The one we went to was called Szimple Kert, where we got burgers and beer in one of the coolest atmospheres I have been around. We spent the night trying drinks at the various bars within Szimple Kert, each with it’s own unique spin on it. Especially being with a large group of people in a place filled with both locals and tourists, the ruins bar was perhaps my favorite part of my trip to Budapest.

LabBar at Szimple Kert

Beer at Szimple Kert

More beer!!

4. Walking Tour: Saturday morning we were up bright and early for a free walking tour of the city of Budapest. I loved this idea since the city is so big and not a language we are even remotely familiar with, thus giving us an easy way to see all the most historical aspects of Budapest. Budapest is actually split into two areas: Buda and Pest, connected by various bridges across the Danube river. We saw St. Stephen’s Basilica, the highest building in Budapest, crossed the chain bridge, climbed to the top of the Buda Castle, and visited Mathias’s Church on the top of the mountain. The views of the city below were absolutely stunning and we learned so many facts about Budapest and Hungary that I would otherwise have not known. For example, did you know the Hungarian language is the second hardest one to learn in the world and their alphabet contains 44 letters? A great way to see the city, we ended the tour and were cold and hungry (not a good combination) so we decided to continue our historical day but going to an authentic Hungarian restaurant. To be honest, it was not bad at all! Authentic foods we tried such as goulash soup and paprika chicken were enjoyed by all, but there is really only so much meat and potatoes a girl can eat! However, a traditional Hungarian dessert that we could not get enough of is called a chimney cake. Basically, it is a churro like cone filled with Nutella and ice cream. Now that is a cultural culinary aspect I LOVE about Hungary.

On top of the Buda Castle

Mathias’ Church

View from the Buda Castle

5. The Jewish History: There were two very moving and important things for me in Budapest. The first is that the second largest Jewish synagogue in the world is located here, right after Jerusalem of course. It was absolutely beautiful on the outside and I wish we had more time to visit the inside of it. It is remarkable to see such a synagogue in a place that seems so foreign and to feel a little sense of community and welcoming. The second was something I discovered accidentally, while walking to dinner on Friday night. It was the side of what used to be the ghetto wall in Budapest during the Holocaust. Having visited Germany and Poland and all of the camps and other important sights of the Holocaust, this was an incredible moment for me. The memorial they have for the ghetto was is a beautiful tribute and was a great thing to stumble upon accidentally.

Second largest Jewish synagogue in the world

Ghetto Wall

6. Boat Tour: To end our trip in Budapest, we signed up for a nighttime boat tour of the city. The boat brought us onto the Danube river so we could see all of the amazing lights of Budapest such as the way the chain bridge and the Parliament building light up. It was a super fun way to end the trip by having a great time (Budapest is known for it’s nightlife of course) while also seeing some of the sights we missed throughout the day. While I am NOT a fan of boats, the small boat and a little bit of wine helped me really enjoy the beauty and liveliness of Budapest at night.

Boat Cruise

Hungarian Parliament at Night

Chain Bridge

Overall, I think Budapest was a great first trip to take. We learned the basics of traveling with a group and in a new city and got to see somewhere I never would see otherwise. As I sit here on the train, I realize that this trip helped me to understand the immensity of what studying abroad is. Being able to go from one country to another within hours, to explore a culture so vastly different from mine, and to learn about so many countries is what studying abroad is truly about. So many times we would stop and think, wow, people really do live in other places the same way we live in America. I am started to understand ethnocentrism much more, because it is so hard to put yourself in the shoes of someone who grew up the same way we did, but in a country such as Italy or Hungary. But now, the train is pulling up to Firenze Santa Maria Novella train station, as my first journey comes to a quick end. For more pictures of the views and obviously the food, check out the gallery and the eats page.

Until next trip, wanderfully yours,

Sophia

Well, even after a very eventful and food filled Saturday, today was no different! We were up at 7 AM to get on a bus to Bologna and Eataly World. When we arrived in Bologna, we had a walking tour of the city. I really enjoy walking tours, especially in small cities, because while exploring alone is fun, you learn so many cool and interesting facts about the cities when someone else is telling you. Some cool things about Bologna are that the Basillica was designed and projected to be the most beautiful basillica in Italy. However, Bologna ran out of funds halfway through building it, and the Pope did not want this basillica to be more beautiful than the Vatican, so he refused to help fund it. Therefore, the basillica is only halfway complete.

Other really interesting facts about Bologna is one of the sayings that they have painted along many of the ceilings of walkways: Wine is Good, Food is Vital, Cannabis Protects. The town was small and full of rich history such as the seven churches which are sometimes called the New Jerusalem or the many towers that Bologna has (20 as of now to be exact). The center of the town has a large fountain called “Neptune’s Fountain” which was often criticized for being to scandalous to be in the center of the town. Of course, Bologna also has many cutes shops and restaurants.

After Bologna, we boarded the bus to go to FICO Eataly World. Eataly is a market-type place with many locations across the world, including Boston, New York, and Florence. However, this one is the biggest with restaurants and opportunities to watch various pastries being made or olive oil being pressed. Obviously, we ate our way through Eataly world and did not even come close to trying half of the things they had to offer. While we settled for bruschetta, pizza, gnocchi, french fries, and gelato, Eataly had so many places for cheese and meats, cannolis, pastries, skewers, pastas, and rice balls. The hallways seemed never ending with restaurants, stands, and shops with every type of Italian cuisine you could imagine. This upcoming week I will most certainly need a carb-break!

Wanderfully yours,

Sophia

Sorry it has been so long since my last post! After being sick for the past week, I was finally able to get out of bed and explore Italy more. Being sick while abroad was NOT fun and I am very glad it seems to be getting out of my system so I can go back to enjoying my time and visiting the amazing places in Italy. Today, I went to Pisa to see, you guessed it, the leaning tower of. The train ride from Florence to Pisa was only about 50 minutes. You have to walk through the town of Pisa itself to get to the tower and the cathedral, and the town itself was fairly quiet. Many of the stores and restaurants were closed and the streets were no where near as crowded as those of Florence.

Though shorter than I had pictured, the tower was a very cool sight to see. The more you look at it, the more you think, HOW is it standing if it is leaning so much! After countless efforts at pictures holding the tower, kicking the tower, and touching the top of the tower, we ventured into the cathedral, which had some of the most beautiful architecture. Everything was extremely and intricately detailed from the floor to the ceiling. Overall, seeing the leaning tower and the cathedral are staples of Italian vacationing and exciting to finally experience in person. All of the awesome pictures I took can be seen in the gallery tab.

We returned from Pisa and went to what may turn out to be my favorite restaurant in Florence, Trattoria Zaza. Their menu was practically a book! However, after a long day of walking through Pisa and finally beating this horrible cold, we settled on splitting bruschetta, rigatoni with tomato sauce and buffala mozzarella, and pizza with spicy peppers and sausage. And, of course, gelato. Tonight was really one of those nights I ATE my way through Italy. Good thing tomorrow is a trip to Bologna and EATLY (the DisneyWorld of Italian Food).

Wanderfully yours,

Sophia

Today was the first day that classes began for me at the International Studies Institute. After a longer day of classes and syllabi, we were excited to go on a free food tour of some of the best places to eat and drink in the middle of the city. The first stop on the food tour was The Red Garter, an American style bar where we were given wings and beer. The Red Garter is karaoke bar every night of the week, with football Sunday’s and Beer Pong Tournaments every Thursday. It was interesting to start the Italian food tour off with wings, but after trying some and realizing how great they were, I understand why people love to come here so much.

Next was Pino’s, a panini shop right around the corner from where my apartment is. After trying multiple panini’s in the city, I was skeptical to see how this could really be the best one. However, after trying a taste of a panini with prosciutto, tomato, pesto, and mozzarella along with a small glass of wine, I understood why. I am so excited to come back here and try so many of their other panini’s.

Further on the tour was a beer hall and following that was a small gelato place that also served crepes and waffles. I have yet to have gelato so I was THRILLED to finally try. At the shop I got a cone with nutella and dark chocolate gelato. The dark chocolate was one of the best gelato’s I’ve had and as someone who is sensitive to super rich chocolate and ice cream, it was perfect.

Following the gelato was the last stop, a pizzeria called Gatto. Here, we had bread and various types of pizza, finishing it off with a shot of limoncellio. On every Wednesday night, Gato has 15 euro family style dinner with wine, bruschetta and bread, and various types of pasta.

After eating all of this, I am BEYOND full. However, this was a great way to get dinner and learn about some new and awesome places in my surrounding area (for free). I will definitely be returning to the panini shop and the gelato shop, but hope to continue to discover other new and awesome restaurants. As food is one of the main reasons I was excited to study in Florence, this trip was truly a great time. Good thing I joined a gym today, because it will be much needed tomorrow!

It is officially the weekend after I arrived on Wednesday in Florence. Since then, most of my time has been spent getting on my feet here in a new country. The day after I arrived I had orientation for my program where we received our class schedules and learned about the rules and cultural norms of Florence. This semester I will be enrolled in Italian 101, Social Media Social Food, Intercultural Communication, and the Business of Art. Classes begin on Monday. The best thing about class has to be that the walk from one academic building to the other is right along the Arno River, adjacent to the Ponte Vecchio. As someone who works best on a routine, I am excited to begin classes, find my favorite lunch cafe, join a gym, and start really planting my feet in Florence. Adjusting is going to take time, but the more I have made myself at home in my apartment with groceries and as many fuzzy blankets as I can find, the more I’ve begun to feel comfortable here. My apartment is located in a great area, just a few minutes from the Duomo and not five minutes from the supermarket! We are 10 minutes from the Ponte Vecchio and really surrounded by lots of great restaurants and stores, though not too close to where tourists are attracted. Being in a very local area really gives this experience the Italian feel. The various Piazza’s, cathedrals, and museums I pass each day are all beautiful and enticing, and I cannot wait to explore each of these places in more depth. On the gallery pageI have posted some of the best pictures I have taken so far and of course, have uploaded the amazing Italian food I’ve experienced so far. As I head into my first week of classes, I am eager to find my place here in Florence and start to plan some of the other excursions around Europe in the upcoming months.

Wanderfully yours,

Sophia

After what felt like a strangely relatively short seven hour flight, my plane arrived at the Frankfurt airport. From there we waited to board our connecting flight which would finally bring us to Florence. Once arrived, we were greeted by the people from ISI–the program I am in for my abroad experience. After some long long waiting, vans arrived to take us to our respective apartments.

The European style of my apartment truly makes it feel like I am in Italy. Soon after I went out to get a couple of things for my apartment and in doing so began to walk the cobblestone streets I will call home for the next four months. And of course, I had my first plate of pasta!

Though the traveling is long and tiring, my semester in Florence has officially begun. Now, time to get some sleep.

Wanderfully yours,

Sophia