The beautifully gothic cathedrals and colonnades infused with 16th century Baroque style make up the architecture of all of the buildings in the city. The way the streets would twist and turn into hidden nooks buried deep within the city definitely caused me and some of the other NC State students on the trip to get lost a time or two. The first day we were there we got to visit a Venetian glass factory and watch how some of the most beautiful pieces of glass, from huge chandeliers and vases, to earrings and necklaces are made from the art of glass blowing. 
The ancient Venetian city is unlike any place I have ever traveled in the world, perhaps because of the way in which it was built. I don’t know if many people are aware of just how much of an architectural marvel the city’s foundations are but it is suspected that much of Venice will be covered in water in the next 40 years. According to our quirky tour guide on our first day there, the city of Venice is an artificial island built in the middle of a marshy lagoon. Early Venetians piled wood atop a mud bank that eventually petrified and turned into a bed of rock in which people were able to build homes and churches on top of. Today this ancient city is struggling to preserve its foundations from the dismal fate of sinking into the depths of the marshy lagoon it rests on. 
In fact, one evening we were carelessly strolling around the main plaza of Venice eating our nightly fill of creamy gelato while listening to the soothing sounds of jazz music when we noticed water seeping up through the cracks of the streets. Within a couple of hours there seemed to be huge puddles of water blanketing the plaza—it was quite a sight to see. After exploring the beautiful panorama of the city we decided to venture to the Scuola Grande dei Camini for an authentic Venetian Opera. Even though the show was completely in Italian and I couldn’t understand a single syllable, the music was captivating and the performance of the main opera singer allowed one to enjoy the show while using your own imagination to interpret the storyline. 
By far one of the most unique and interesting dining experiences I have had during my stay in Florence was at a restaurant called Circo-lo teatro del sale. To even dine in this place you have to read a list of silly rules, saying stuff like "respect the speaker at the head of the table and be able to listen to the other members at the table,etc etc" The inside is a beautiful, aged rustic Italian theater with tables and plush lounging chairs with pillows everywhere. The main Chef is celebrated all through-out Florence and the whole of Italy and I can see why-- the ten course meal we were served was absolutely delicous. We had everything from mussles in soup, veal meatballs with capers, and roistessire cooked chicken--not to mention unlimited wine. The end of the 4-hour long dinner included an intimate performance by a local Florentine singer and pianist--which I really enjoyed when they started playing some music from the Beatles. It was overall an amazing experience and I highly reccommend it to anyone looking for a truly unique dining experience. 
The villages of Cinque de Terre, meaning "5 villages" were beautiful. We had sought out to hike the villages but some of us didn't have tennis shoes so we opted for a refreshing boat ride from village to village (in my opinion that was the better choice anyways, we've been doing enough walking as it is..I was worn out just hiking up the hill to get to the window wear you pay to go hike. baaha). The boat gave us a nice scenic view and after almost staying on the boat too long and leaving cinque de terre, we stopped and got off in Riomaggiore to lay on the pebbles, not so comfy but whatever it's Italy, and soaked up some sun. It was a beautiful and relaxing day!  |
| Beach at Riomaggiore Village |
If you know me well, you know my passion for cooking. I spoke with my good friend Megan Petcavich before traveling on the Florence study abroad program since she went on the same trip last year and she convinced me that taking "Current Trends in Italian Cuisine" with Marco was an absolute must. I am into Day 4 of the class and I could not be happier. I am cooking some of the best stuff I have ever tasted. The first day Marco took us into the market--there were all kinds of fresh fruits and vegetables, delicious pastries and cheeses galore& all kinds of meats (some looking rather disgusting....picture the lining of a cow & chickens with the head still on..gross). The marketplace is where all of our fresh ingredients come from, except bread. We make all our own bread from scratch everyday...right down to the cubes of yeast and all-purpose flour.
Our first weekend in Italy we traveled to this adorable, quaint town in rural Tuscany called Lucca. We walked around the city some admiring the beautiful landscape and then got the chance to bike ride on the outskirts of the city walls. This is by far one of the best experiences I've had so far in Italy. It was perfect weather and the scenery couldn't have been more enjoyable to stroll through.
After a delicious "pizza" picnic in the park of Lucca we ventured off to Pisa. Of course Pisa is most famously known for it's leaning tower. And of course I just had to get the typical, touristy shot with it. Before leaving Pisa I was sure to get a "leaning tower of Pisa" coffee cup because I try to collect coffee cups everywhere I go--yes the mug leans to the left...haha! ; ) |
| View of Florence, Italy |
Florence, Italy. It is known for some of the most renowned art and architecture of the Italian Renaissance, arguably the best Chianti wine in the country, and some of the finest leather goods in the entire world. In a region so rich in food and fashion, I found it extremely amusing when I spotted Mike “The Situation” and Pauly D roaming the streets of Florence as they filmed their upcoming season of the hit MTV show Jersey Shore. The group of rowdy hooligans ventured all the way from New Jersey to embrace their Italian roots, yet something tells me the refined Florentine locals are not so welcoming of their presence here. They’ve already racked up hundreds of dollars in parking violations and Snooki has already been arrested. 
After a tiresome day of shuffling through airports to make three connecting flights and hopeful prayers that our bags would not get lost in transit, me and the NC State University study abroad group finally arrived in the Firenze, Italy airport. As our Florentine taxi driver zipped through the narrow, winding streets of this city nearly running over dozens of aloof tourists, I knew we were in for an unprecedented journey. At each twist and curve of the cobblestone lined road we passed sights I have only read about (or pretended to read about better yet) in history textbooks. 
Gelatarias housing mounds of silky gelato topped with fresh fruit were on every corner. Pizzeria’s that gave off the aroma of freshly baked margherita pizzas topped with plump, vine-ripened tomatoes and fresh basil were enough to make your stomach scream with hunger. The streets were adorned with lavish buildings and cathedrals with a mix between intricate gothic detail and renaissance architecture dating back earlier than the 13th century. I had to pinch to myself to make sure I was not dreaming when I walked up the 18th century stone steps to my quaint, Tuscan apartment on “Via San Gallo.” Although the apartment has no air condition, the gas to the ancient oven needs to be ignited with a flimsy lighter, and clothes are hung up to dry on a line, I think I could get used to peering out on my balcony at the breathtaking views of this rustic, Tuscan-Italian town. Now, the secret to enjoying all of this Italian cuisine without gaining 20lbs…