Category Archives: Summer 2009- Italy: Florence and Sicily

      Oh man. oh boy. oh gosh. What is going on? I think I am beginning to wake from this dream I have been living. Waking up into sort of a nightmare- quite the opposite of what normally happens but I usually don’t think of myself as normal.  Where did the time go [...]

Well that was part one of my wacky weekend but it gets even better. Saturday started out with me waking up early and going to the market to get my shopping done, but that wasn’t the wacky part. I continued with a great lunch that I actually made for myself with ingredients I bought at [...]

And it’s over. Another school week down and one more to go. One more? Are you kidding. Have I really been taking classes for this long already? Ok, this is weird. I can’t believe it, but at least that means I’m a week closer to visiting my family here! But before I could think about [...]

So I’ve had about eighteen paninis and more than eight cones of gelato since I’ve been here. I can’t tell which I look like more: a Panini or a gelato cone, hopefully neither. Regardless I am enjoying the warm crispy spice of my vegetarian paninis with spicy sauce and the sweet creaminess of the soy [...]

This weekend put me in shock in more ways than one. Not only because of the fact I almost drowned, but also because the sites that I saw while traveling proved just how amazing Mother Nature really is. Friday started out quite calm with a nice workout and more staring of course. A group of [...]

So what’s up with the locals mocking runners? Every time I go out for a run it’s like I’m put on display and have men mocking me. As a lifelong runner, I have never felt so uncomfortable running on public streets until now. Ancora faccio footing though so don’t worry…the locals will not stop me! [...]

Still scratching…the mosquito bite count is now up to 18- no joke. If you’re wondering if I’ve done anything at all to help this (which you may not be), well I’d like to let you know I’ve purchased mosquito repellent wipes (finalmente) to help ease these nasty attacks. The travel books are not joking when [...]

Ciao ciao. Sto in Firenze ora! Yes! I’m in Florence. I made it here finally and it has been a lot like how I pictured it. The little streets (VIA’s), the Florentine people, the gelaterias on every corner, etc. As I sit here by my apartment window that faces the Duomo, I am listening to [...]

The magic word of the summer= TRAVEL. Travel like you’ll never get another opportunity to! I am a mere week away from embarking on a journey to clarify my mind and invigorate my senses. The preparation is pretty easy, but I’ve been bogged down in way too much work. I’m s.l.o.w.l.y getting through it all [...]