Capstone Paper

La Dolce Vita

      If someone would have told me the things that I would experience while I have been studying abroad in the Joseph S. Bruno program in Italy, I would not have believed them. Every day I am blown away by the experiences and life lessons that I have learned while living in Italy this summer. The things that I have experienced in Europe can never be truly told through a paper, but I will try to convey the stories as I have experienced them. Here are the four things that stand out the most to me since I have been here: the importance of generosity, hospitality, independence, and fellowship, not to mention the history and beauty.

“Give away your life; you'll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity." John 6: 37-38 

      There are so many instances where generosity has been seen on my trip. Some of the ways that I have encountered generosity have been through our taxi driver Raymond, classmates, and strangers in multiple cities. These kind people have stood out in my mind among the thousands that we have seen day to day on the streets. 

      One example is of generosity is one of the weekend trips that I took. I knew very little about the city I was visiting and the people I would meet. I went into this trip with limited knowledge of the Alps and perhaps seeing a cute village. However, this trip and my experience blew my mind!  It is one of the most enjoyable times I have ever known. I walked away from this trip with a greater appreciation for life through the people I met such as my friend Raymond.

      When we arrived in the city on a late Friday night, getting a taxi for seven girls can be difficult; either you take a huge van taxi or take two separate taxis. The people that we encountered in the airport were so helpful.  An employee at the taxi counter arranged for a taxi van to pick us up within fifteen minutes. Who would have known that this taxi driver would later become our traveling companion for the rest of our trip? Our taxi driver Raymond gave us a tour of the whole city as he drove us across the border to our hotel. We immediately became easily acquainted with him, he gave us his number and, we then called him everywhere we wanted to go and visit.

      One night Raymond picked us up and drove us to a fondue restaurant. When we got to the restaurant, he waited to make sure that they had room for us.  If they did not have available tables, then he would take us to another restaurant for free. Would we have encountered someone else this nice in the United States?  Maybe, but I haven’t previously. The difference between Raymond’s generosity and a taxi driver in the United States is that sweet Raymond drove his taxi for pleasure not business. He just wanted to see us happy and enjoying a nice dinner.

      The next morning, Raymond picked us up bright and early to take us to a mountain peak in the Alps. Another example of his generosity was while we were on our way to the mountain. Raymond bought us chocolates for the road trip and had American oldies music playing for us. When we arrived at the mountain, we all had to buy jackets because the peak of the mountain was too cold for our flip flops and thin sweaters. So Raymond being as nice as can be, got us all deals at the store where we were buying the jackets.

      When we got down to the base of the Alps, Raymond greeted us and told us he wanted to take us to his favorite town as a special gift to us. That would be two hundred dollars more if we would have planned to go there, but he took us there for free. Once we arrived in the town, we walked through the village with Raymond. He was so protective of us.  When he saw two pick-pocketers, he told us to hold our bags and get away from them.  Then Raymond treated us to the best ice cream as we took a stroll next to the lake. Taking us to his favorite town was more than we could have ever dreamed and extremely memorable.

      On the way back to our hotel, he took us on a longer scenic route of the countryside. It was such as special day! When he dropped us off at the hotel, he didn’t even count the money. We kept saying “you are our favorite, we will mail you a picture” and he started tearing up!

      The memories of this trip exceeded my expectations greatly! I could have never imagined a weekend like the one we experienced. Raymond was truly a blessing to us on our trip and our experience.  I learned through him that whatever you do in your journey through life always be grateful, serve others, and give generously. Knowing and applying that concept made my experience in Italy all the more memorable.

      Another way that I have experienced generosity is through our professors. Marco, Mary Lou, Francesco, Susanna, Rossella, and Maurizio give up their time each day to teach us about art, history, language, and philosophy. They graciously share their knowledge with us. They accompany us to our field trips, such as the Vatican with Susanna, the Sicily- Rome WWII Memorial with Marco, and Tivoli with Francesco.We all can see how passionate they are about their interests, which makes these subjects all the more interesting to us students.

      It never ceases to amaze me the people that I encounter on weekend trips. Just this past weekend, three of us traveled to the Amalfi Coast for our last weekend. The train to Naples was jam packed, so the three of us had to sit on our suitcases in the aisles. After a few stops on the train some seats became available for the other girls. I had just vented to Jamie, one of my classmates, how one of the things that I will not miss about Italy is the fact that men do not treat women like they do in the United States. One example is offering their seats to women standing up. Shortly after I had said those things, I man motioned me to his seat. He helped me with my luggage and offered his seat. We started a conversation about what I was doing in Italy, thanks to the lady sitting across from me that spoke partial English. When the man got off the train, she said that he was a nice man. Indeed, he was a nice man and was very generous to offer his seat to me.

      “Hospitality should have no other nature than love.” -Henrietta Mears

      There are several aspects of hospitality that I have experienced living abroad. From hotel staff personnel to people opening their homes, I have learned the different styles of hospitality in Italy and how they compare to the United States.

      One place where I am currently experiencing hospitality is in Hotel Ariccia. Since the first day we arrived, the hotel staff has been walking beside our summer journey. Everyday, I walk through doors that lead to the reception desk where I receive a warm welcome and am then handed the key to my room. I love that the staff knows where each girl lives and in which room. There are two people that usually are at the front desk, Sonya and Walter. Sonya is a short, petite woman that can speak faster than anyone I have ever met, including myself! Walter is always very interested to know what we are learning and the places we have seen. These two employees can answer any question that we have and are a pure example of hospitality and generosity.

      Within my major, Hotel and Restaurant Management, I have learned the true example of good service. I have had the benefit of comparing the differences and similarities between the United States and Italy. They have two complete definitions on which they base their service. My perception is that the United States has three objectives to service quality: making the biggest profit, the customer is always right, and having the most fast food chains.

      The United States thrives off retail sales, including the restaurant industry. All restaurant want to make the biggest profit, thus quick meals and turning over tables is a very common goal. Italy is quite opposite. Sure they like to make a profit, but they await the chance to sit and enjoy a meal for a long period of time. Meals are a time that Italians can be with their family and friends. This is a time where they relax, take a break from work, and truly experience a good meal, without ever being rushed. No one brings the check until you are ready for it to arrive. No turning over the tables like the United States. This is something that I have come to love about Italy. It will be hard to not eat three hour meals when I return to the United States.

      The second aspect of the United States’ service quality they stress is the fact that the customer is always right and it is their objective to please the customer. I believe this is undoubtedly probably the most important aspect to a business let alone a restaurant. Italians do not necessarily see it as a main objective. Because their culture is straightforward, they will let you know when you are wrong. Since it’s not seen as rude to them, many tourists may be offended when they are treated poorly in restaurants and hotels.

      The third aspect of the United States service quality is the fast food industry. Because the fast food nation is so big, America is the biggest nation of obesity. One can rarely drive through a McDonald’s in Italy. Granted, there are multiple McDonald’s restaurants in the big cities. There is no such thing as fast food in Italy. Their version of a quick meal is a porchetta stand and a pizza stand. There is no drive-through on your lunch break. Because Italy doesn’t have all these fatty foods, their culture’s health is better off as a whole. Their food has no preservatives and is always fresh.

      The restaurants throughout Italy are typically a smaller quaint environment unlike the majority of restaurants in the Unites States. No reservations or call ahead are necessary unless there is a big party dining. There are not many restaurant chains in Italy. Since the food quality is incredible, you can walk along a strip of restaurants and dine at any of them.

      One of the best examples of small restaurants is the BeBop area in Ariccia near Palazzo Chigi. For instance, at the Be Bop Osteria there are about eight tables sitting outside surrounded by benches. At these types of local restaurants, since they are not in a metropolitan city, there is a family style way of operating. There are no menus. Your table can order three pastas and they will bring an assortment of primi pattis. Every night they serve different foods. There is always an element of surprise of what they are going to bring to the table. A typical dinner on a Saturday night can last up to five hours with eating delicious Italian cuisine and drinking local wine. This is something I have come to love about Italian culture, sitting with friends and enjoying the food, wine, and conversation.

      Through the Italian styles of hospitality and services, I have learned several concepts that I will provide to my future employer: adapt to change, make an effort to enjoy genuine hospitality, and don’t always look for a shortcut. Within my future profession of event planning, adapting to change will be one of the biggest obstacles. Being abroad when there are sudden changes in schedules, trains, etc. has taught me to be more patient when things are not according to schedule. In order to serve clients with authentic hospitality, I have to take the time to experience it myself, thus I will know how to serve them better. Learning to not make shortcuts in the hospitality industry will not only be better in the long run, but will provide thorough service.

       I have learned more for my major from my personal experiences as I have explored Italy in these past three months than I ever could by research or in the classroom. I am thankful for my experiences in Italy that have shaped and molded me positively for the hospitality industry I want to pursue.

“You are there…Welcome to Italy. The beginning of an incredible journey!  Look around and begin to start soaking every detail up just like a sponge.” – Mom 

      Through this experience abroad, I have discovered independence to be one of the most vital aspects and gift a person can have in their life. On this trip, I have gained independence through living in a foreign country, communicating with my people, traveling, planning, timing, and comradery with my peers.

      Being in Italy, the communication barrier has definitely been a huge struggle on many occasions. With only knowing multiple phrases of the language, when I sat down to eat our first lunch at a local restaurant in Ariccia, I thought to myself, “How am I going to be able to talk with these people?” Ordering food for the first time was a struggle for our whole group. Definitely not as easy as we thought, however, in Rome and other big cities the process of dining became a lot easier due to English menus. Luckily, we have had one of our sweet professors, Mary Lou help us learn the important phrases in our language class in Palazzo Chigi. I have also learned the importance of communication with our group of ninteen girls. We all have different stories, friends, and experiences. Collaborating together at some times has been very challenging, but with all lows, the highs surpass them greatly!

      From walking to buses to trains to boats to airplanes, I have experienced all possible forms of travel in Italy. Learning how to get around in a foreign country without a car can be very challenging to anyone. We are accustomed to hopping in the car whenever we want to go somewhere. If we want to run one errand, we get in the car and can be back in less and a half hour. These simple things cannot be accomplished in Italy as it is easily done in America.

      All forms of transportation in Italy can be delayed, cancelled, or never show up some days. Our field trip to Milan is a great example of trains being cancelled. We arrived at the Roma termini early in the morning for our train but instead had to wait for four hours because our train was cancelled due to riots in Florence. Relying on public transportation definitely has taught me to be more patient as well.

      One of the best chances that I have had while studying abroad is planning and booking a weekend trip. I have always been used to my parents booking and taking my family on trips for years. Being here in Italy, I have had the chance to do that on my own. From the research and planning of where I want to visit and how to get there by transportation has been my favorite trips this summer. Of course, there have been several instances where we could have booked a better hotel and eaten at a better restaurant, however, money was the indicator. But, we will always look back and laugh about all the situations we encountered and experienced. There have been countless times we have gotten lost and had strangers help lead us in the right direction. On our week vacation, I planned the whole week for my dad and I. Being able to plan trips to Rome, Florence and Cinque Terre and the activities in those cities has been great preparation for my future profession. 

      Living in Italy makes you adapt to their system of getting around. Timing is everything with all forms of transportation. Making sure what bus comes out what stop at a certain time can be very necessary timing. Knowing when the last train comes is a must or else you are forced to take an overcharged taxi because the metro and busses have stopped running at the late hour. Once I learned the Rome and Ariccia system, it has made the other cities easy as well. The only difficult part is planning your route and the time you are going. Being early and on time is one of the biggest necessities in traveling. If you are late, it is not possible to just get in your car and speed to get somewhere. Instead, you have to wait another twenty minutes for the next bus.  

      Though I have gained independence this summer, I have also had to learn to be dependent on our group. We have been each other’s family and support. I do not have a sister so being around nineteen girls on a constant basis has been a definite struggle for me at times. The situations with these girls have helped me learn how to interact with those around me. The long dinners together, wine tasting, weekend trips, afternoon coffee breaks, day trips to Rome have all left me with warm memories and a great sense of accomplishment and independence.

      Before coming on this trip, I knew I had so much to gain and so much to learn. Even with that knowledge, I could have never predicted the amount of personal growth that I have attained in Italy this summer. I have always been a punctual and organized person and this experience has critiqued my style of organization for the better. Because I want to pursue a career in Event Planning, these characteristics will further my knowledge and help me in my field of study. Through situations I have experienced on this trip either with classmates or the Italians, I have learned how to adapt and propose other possibilities.

"Good fellowship and friendship are lasting." - William Wycherley 

"We need worship for our spirit, fellowship for our soul and committed subservience for our body. " -Larry Norman

      The importance of fellowship has been a huge aspect of our group dynamic. The friendships that have been formed on this trip and our memories of this summer will carry on at Auburn University. From going on weekend trips to playing countless games of rummy in down times, we have learned so much through our friendships. Even nail and movie parties in our hotel rooms have been some of the most fun times. We have all learned each others strengths and weaknesses over the course of this summer. Real authentic fellowship can never be expressed in words on a paper, but will remain as wonderful in our memories.

“I know you’ll take a lifetime of memories to share. They will last you forever. Very soon you’ll be back on campus and will reflect on your time in Italy and will smile from time to time for no apparent reason that only you will know why. I encourage you to share your joy with others. They will clearly see the outward joy, but please put words to what you’ve seen, heard, and experienced. They want to know.” – Dad 

      Through this program I have been given the chance not only to experience such a unique culture, but be apart of it as well. I have realized that inspiration can come from a multitude of sources. Just like the travelers on the Grand Tour, I have learned everything that Italy has to offer: art, architecture, philosophy, language, film, cuisine, and history. I am grateful about everything that I have experienced here in my time abroad and am confident it will leave a lasting impression on my personal life and in my field of study. Italy has surpassed every one of my expectations!

      These concepts of generosity, hospitality, independence, and fellowship have contributed greatly to my experience in Joseph S. Bruno Study Abroad program in Ariccia, Italy. I will never forget the experiences, the friendships, the laughs, the early morning walks to Palazzo Chigi, parties on the roof at Hotel Ariccia, the hot trains, the pictures, and the value of the Euro. This summer has truly been one of the most memorable and enjoyable times that I have ever spent. I hope that one day I can express to people what I have seen, heard, smelled, tasted and soaked up this summer. I have had the time of my life in Italy and am so thankful for this experience! 

Blue Grotto Video

Coming out of the Blue Grotto...notice the water as we come out

La Dolce Vita "The Sweet Life"

July 25- 29 Sorrento, Ischia, Positano, & Capri

Friday, July 25

We had a class field trip to Sperlonga and Circeo. From there our bus dropped Jamie, Haley, and me off at the Latina train station. We hopped on the train to Naples. Let me remind you that Naples is very sketchy...the mafia! Needless say we kept our hands on our stuff the entire way. When we got on that train, there were no seats available so the three of sat on our suitcases in the aisle. After a few stops, some seats became available to Jamie and Haley. At this time, I had just vented to Jamie about one of the things that I won't miss about Italy... men not getting up to let the women sit down. Well just a few minutes later, a man probably in his 50s motioned to me...So ofcourse I'm already sketched out because trains to/from Naples are dangerous. Anyways, we helped me put up my luggage and gave me his seat while he stood for the next few stops. He kept asking me questions and ofcourse I have no idea what he is saying... The woman sitting across from me translated for me. I couldn't understand everything that she was saying but either she has been to Virginia or had lived there for a while, but she is originally from Somalia. After he left, she motioned that he was a sweet man... and indeed he was!

Once we got to Naples, we found our next train to Sorrento on the Amalfi Coast. On this overpacted train, we sat with the cutest British family. We played games with the children for over an hour on the train. We arrived in Sorrento around 10:00pm and finding our hotel wasn't too terribly difficult. I found our hostel in the Rick Steve's guide and it turned out being amazing... not a hostel by any means, definatly like a 3* or 4* hotel.

Saturday, July 26

The three of us woke up early and were planning on going to Positano, but as we were in the line...the boat to Positano became sold out... and the line was now for Ischia. Ofcourse, we were like "Ok let's go to Ischia today!" The boat ride was my favorite! Ischia was alot bigger of an island than I thought. We sunbathed ALL day long to get our Italian tans!

Saturday night we ate dinner in Sorrento and had the best dinner! We had to wait for a table at this restaurant for maybe 10 minutes and they brought us two glasses of champagne for having to wait. Along with the free assortment of appitizers and lemoncello. Definatly the best hospitality that I have received in Italy.

Sunday, July 27

We took the 9:25am boat to Positano. On the way we met this older couple from California. The husband used to play in the Major Leagues and now works in stocks, Wes would have loved to talk to him. Once we got in Positano, it was as gorgeous as I remembered! Except way more crowded and touristy! Everything was definatly more expensive since we went in May. In the afternoon we went into town and ate at my favorite restaurant in Positano, Chez Black and then we shopped! I am so glad that we came to the coast on our last weekend and especially in a smalelr group. Not that I am sick of Italy by any means, but I don't think I could have sat in Ariccia for another weekend anticipating going home. Thus ending in my favorite place will end my summer journey with a remarkable experience that I can never express until I bring back my family and friends. Because believe me I will be back to vacation with the celebs and middle eastern royalty in these places.

Monday, July 28
Today, the three of us followed Rick Steve's advice and took the 8:25am boat to CAPRI!!! Once we got to Capri, we immediatly bought the Blue Grotto tickets. The small baot took us from the marina area to the Blue Grotto. Since we were the first group to go to that morning, we pulled the guides in their wooden boats behind our boat. Once we got to the spot, we were all somewhat shocked at how small the entry to the cove was. It is a miracle first off that someone found this natural beauty and how they were able to get in! Since it was early in the morning, it wasn't a rush to get in and we probably had more time in the Blue Grotto than most people do throughout the day. Once we got inside, our guide started singing in Italian! The Blue Grotto was simply breathtaking, absolutly beautiful!

Once we were finished with the Blue Grotto, we took the finicular train from the marina to the actual town of Capri. We shopped and ate brunch there. In the early afternoon, we took a bus to Anacapri (the other town on the island of Capri). We took a single chair gondola to the tallest peak on the island. The view from the top was incredible!

Week 11

Well unfortunatly, my computer has been infected with viruses! That being said, I am on the one computer in the hotel for the remainder of this trip, and will not be able to post any more pictures from my camera, although I will take some from online.

This past weekend, the majority of the group stayed in Ariccia...A few people went to Amsterdam and a few went to Prague. Friday we went shopping in Rome. In July all stores in Italy are required to have big sales, so we have been taking advantage of that the past few weeks. Saturday some of us went to Lake Albano which is a few train stops away and laid out there for the day. The rest of the weekend we all wrote our 10 page papers that we have to turn in next week.

Yesterday we went on a field trip to Ninfa Gardens and a Vineyard. The beautiful Gardens of Ninfa are still a fairly well-kept secret. Ninfa was a substantial town going back to the times of the Romans. However, during the Middle Ages the town was squabbled over, sacked, beset by malaria and eventually Ninfa was abandoned to the elements. A neglected part of the estate of the aristocratic Caetani family, Ninfa was left to slumber until the twentieth century when descendents transformed the town's ruins into a botanical garden. The last owner, Lelia Caetani, left the garden to a foundation who now run the site in conjunction with the WWF. Now plants wind over ruined towers and walls, rejoicing in the lush damp conditions. The setting is indescribably atmospheric, with roses scrambling for footholds in ruined archways, and the frescoed church wall still standing open to the weather. Roses, banana trees, maples and resident ducks thrive in the microclimate of Ninfa.

Last night we went to an Opera of Aida outside at the Roman Baths in Rome. What a great place to have as a background for a play. Unfortunatly we all wore cocktail dresses and it was freezing!!!!! And it lasted for 4 hours... so the last act some of us went and stood in the bathroom because we couldn't take the cold any longer.

Anzio & Lake Como

July 11

Friday, we went to an American WWII memorial site in Anzio. The following information is from their website, in more eloquent words than I can express...

The World War II Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial site in Italy covers 77 acres, rising in a gentle slope from a broad pool with an island and cenotaph flanked by groups of Italian cypress trees.

Beyond the pool is the immense field of headstones of 7,861 of American military war dead, arranged in gentle arcs on broad green lawns beneath rows of Roman pines. The majority of these men died in the liberation of Sicily (July 10 to August 17, 1943); in the landings in the Salerno Area (September 9, 1943) and the heavy fighting northward; in the landings at Anzio Beach and expansion of the beachhead (January 22, 1944 to May 1944); and in air and naval support in the regions.

A wide central mall leads to the memorial, rich in works of art and architecture, expressing America's remembrance of the dead. It consists of a chapel to the south, a peristyle, and a map room to the north. On the white marble walls of the chapel are engraved the names of 3,095 of the missing. Rosettes mark the names of those since recovered and identified. The map room contains a bronze relief map and four fresco maps depicting the military operations in Sicily and Italy. At each end of the memorial are ornamental Italian gardens.

July 12-14 Lake Como

Well this trip started off very early. 5:00 am to be exact. The bus picked us up at the hotel and took us to Ciampino airport. From Ciampino we took a flight to an airport outside Milan, and yet another bus picked us up and we drove for an hour and half to Bellagio, Lake Como. We arrived at 9:45am and felt like we had been up all day long. We all wanted to sleep because it rained the entire day, but our hotel rooms were not ready so we had to wait 2 hours.

The majority of the weekend it was raining and thunderstorm, which put a damper on some of the activities that we could have done. Like taking a boat ride to see all the villas such as George Clooney's and the Casino Royal villa. Instead I read lots of books, had lots of coffee, and shopped!

Lucca, Cinque Terre, & Pisa (July 4- 7)

July 4
Independence Day! I did remember!!! Due to the countless train strikes that take place in July here in Italy, we took our group bus to Cinque Terre. On the way, we stopped to have lunch in a Tuscan town called Lucca. It is very similar to Sienna. Lucca is famous for its intact Renaissance-era city walls that you can bike around to see the town. We arrived in the Cinque Terre region in the afternoon. We stayed at a hostel in Levanto..which is basically considered the 6th town. Cinque means 5 in Italian. Cinque Terre is more of an adventurous beach town that is slowly starting to become touristy...which is a shame ha!

July 5
The majority of the group did the hiking thing between the towns...but since I had done that with Dad last week, the whole weekend was devoted to getting a tan. Thus being said, 5 of us went to Vernazza (the second town) and layed out on the big rocks because there isn't really a sandy beach. The waves were crazy...at least 10 and 12 feet waves crashing on our rocks...Nice breeze and sound machine. Except one time, I got a little too close and the waves wanted to pull me back in the sea.

When we came back to Levanto, I went strolling down the street...low and behold I found an art gallery! So ofcourse I had to buy something... a beautiful painting of Tuscany and the fields of sunflowers. Here is a picture of the fields from our bus ride...


July 6
Pretty much did the same as the day before except hopped aroundt the different towns to get a change of scenery...because the sun shines from early morning to 9 at night. Plenty of time to get a tan!
July 7
We traveled back to Ariccia. On our way back we stopped in Pisa. Got the picture with the leaning tower and that was about it.

Vacation Week (June 20-28)

This vacation week marks week 7. It's crazy that the time has gone by so fast. This past week dad came to visit. We spent the week in Rome, Florence, and Cinque Terre. He came on Saturday June 21. We spent the first day in Ariccia and got adjusted to the time change.

Rome (June 22 & 23)

The first day we took the train from Albano to Rome, bought our Roma passes then went to Vatican City. We got there just in time to see the Pope giving a blessing to ALL the people in St. Peter's Square. The place was packed! We could see the Pope from his window of his study where he delivered the blessing in Italian, Spanish, French, and English and probably some other languages as well. This was my first time to visit the Vatican City, how cool is it to say that you got "blessed" by the Pope!

From the Vatican City we went to Capitoline Hill, the Roman Forum, and the Colosseum. Italy turned on the heat switch this past week. I don't think I have ever sweated so much in my life. When in Rome...

The next day in Rome we went to the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, and alot of Piazza's.

Florence (June 24 & 25)
We took an early train from Albano to Rome, then took the nice Eurostar train to Florence. I love the nice, air conditioned, spacious trains! Once we arrived in Florence, we checked into our hotel and spent most of the day around the Duomo and the leather markets. The first night while we were in Florence, there was a great firework show that we watched on the bridge looking at Ponte Vechio. The second day in Florence, we went to the Uffizzi and the Academia. That night we met up with one of my high school friends Sarah Ellen, that has been studying at the University of Florence.

Cinque Terre (June 26 & 27)

From Florence we took a train to Cinque Terre. Cinque Terre is five coastal villages that you can hike/ take train in between each. It is a little more of an adventurous beach town, but is growing to a be a touristy destination. Once we got there we (dad) lugged up our luggage up a hill to our very small hostel type of room. From there we went kayaking in the Meditteranean Sea! It was gorgeous to see the town (Riomaggiore: the town that we stayed in) from the sea. That night we had dinner with another girl in my program and her family. It was a pretty sweet cafe with a big tv set outside to watch the Russia vs. Spain futbol game.

The next day we hiked through the villages mainly to find mom a painting, but also to see the beautiful landscapes of Cinque Terre.

Travel back to Rome (June 28)

Yesterday, we spent the whole day taking 3 trains to get back to Rome/ Ariccia. We had a great local Italian meal in Ariccia. Then dad packed up all his luggage and lots of mine to take back.

What the journey looks like from here...

I have five weeks left. This upcoming week we have class for 3 days and a field trip to the Vatican City. For the Fourth of July weekend, I am actually going back to Cinque Terre with the group for an optional trip. We will also be stopping in Lucca and Pisa. Then the following weekend I am going to Lake Como with the group as another optional trip.

So that is the gist of what is going on...I left out one detail...before this vacation week we went to Milan for 4 days with the group. I would have put up a blog about Milan, but I didn't really care for it so there wasn't anything really good to say haha!

Tuscany (Sienna & Florence) June 3-6

June 3
We visited a Vineyard in Tuscany. There we learned about the whole wine making process and the Tuscan grapes that they use. They made us a delicious five course meal, with every dish they let us taste the wine that was complementary to that dish. The countryside was beautiful...it truely looks like the movie "Under the Tuscan Sun." From there we went to Sienna for the night.

June 4

We toured a couple of the local sights in Sienna. We had a lot of free time before we left for Florence. So me and two other girls went to get something to eat, well after we went to eat...we walked maybe 30 ft to a gelato store for a little treat. When one my friends tried to pay for her gelato her wallet was gone! She had been pickpocketed. The sad thing was that she had already been pickpocket in Rome two weeks ago. Luckily since she had not gotten her new creditcards the only thing was cash.. given to her by our professor. Non the less that kind of ruined the mood for the day, so I spent the rest of the day in Sienna and night in Florence trying to get money wired to me from her family in the US for her.

June 5 &6

We were now in Florence for a few days. This city is smaller than Rome, so a ton easier to get around. The city is full of art! The only thing that I did not like about Florence is that there were way too many Americans. I thought I was in New York or something. I expected Rome to be the worst about that...but Florence won! The food was incredible in Florence, some of the best dishes that I've had while I've been in Italy.



Some of the local attractions that we toured was the Duomo (the big cathedral), the Academia (where Michealangelo's David is located) and the Uffizzi gallery(tons of artwork)

Geneva, Switzerland & France (May 30-June2)

Let me preface this story, by saying that I went into this trip knowing nothing about Switzerland. The only image I had in my head was mountains and a cute village. This town and this vacation blew my mind and is one of the most enjoyable times I have ever had.

During the day on Friday before we left, we had class all day. Thus it made us very pressed for time. We were all stressing out because we had booked 1 hotel room for 7 people. The closer we got to leaving for the trip…some of the girls were getting worried whether or not we should book another room etc. I became overly stressed and anxious about the trip and being able to make it to the airport in time etc. Traveling with 7 girls not all on the same agenda can be pretty challenging. If you know me well, then you know how much I like to have schedules, be organized, and be on time. None of those were an option for this trip. But what we experienced could have never been planned… It was such a blessed trip.

So here’s the story… We arrived in Geneva, Switzerland late Friday night. Getting a taxi for 7 people can be difficult. Either you take 1 huge van taxi or take 2 separate cars. The people in Geneva were so nice. Inside the airport, this guy hooked us up with a taxi driver with a VW van that would pick us up. Who would know that this taxi driver would later become our traveling companion for the rest of our trip? On our way to our hotel, Raymond was giving us a tour of the whole city and then drove us across the Switzerland/ France border to our hotel. We were exhausted from traveling and a long week of school and at 10:00pm not many restaurants were open. They obviously are not on Italian eating time. So we settled for a random Chinese restaurant next to our hotel.

Saturday morning we went into Geneva and shopped$$$$ They had an H &M one of my favorite stores, and is only in big cities. A big bonus was that the Swiss Franc is basically equivalent to the USD, so I liked shopping that day haha! In the afternoon we took at boat ride on the lake in Geneva. It was simply amazing because all morning it was raining and dreary, but then the sun came out!! One of Geneva’s points of interest is the Jet d’eau (a huge fountain). Another thing is this flower clock. It was currently decorated like a soccer ball with the big game coming up.

Saturday night our dear taxi friend Raymond picked us up and took us a fondue restaurant. When we got to the restaurant he waited to make sure that they had room for us and if they didn’t then he said he would take us to another restaurant for free. This man was so great!

Sunday morning Raymond picked us up bright and early to take us to Mt. Blanc, which is part of the Swiss Alps. He had bought us Swiss chocolates for the road trip and had American oldies music playing for us. He was so thoughtful. When we arrived at Chamonix (the French town where Mt. Blanc is located) we all had to buy jackets because the peak of the mountain would be too cold for our flip flops and thin sweaters. So Raymond being as great as he is got us all deals at the store since we all were buying jackets. Mt. Blanc was incredible… You would think that with all the mountains that I have skied in my life I would think every mountain looks the same…but the Swiss Alps are completely different. The atmosphere is so peaceful. When we took the gondolas to the very top, all you could see was white…like we were in clouds…but really it was all snow. On our way down we got out at one of the gondola stops to hike around and take pictures and have some quiet time. That stop will forever change my life. Those moments were so peaceful; it is amazing to see all of God’s different types of creations.

When we got down to the base of Chamonix, Raymond greeted us and told us he wanted to take us to a French town called Annecy as a special gift to us. That would be 200 dollars if we would have planned to go there, but he took us there for free. So we drove to Annecy…this town was on a lake with the Alps in the background. We walked through the village with Raymond. He was so protective of us, when he saw two pickpocketers he told us to keep a hold our bags and get away from them. Then Raymond treated us to the best ice cream…it was delicious. With our ice cream we took a stroll next to the lake. There were tons of paddle boats; we could tell that he wanted to take us out on one. But we never did that, taking us there was more than we could have ever asked for. On the way back to our hotel, he took us on a longer scenic route of France. He had bought some top 25 American oldies cds for us to listen to. It was such as special day. When he dropped us off at the hotel, he didn’t even count the money. We kept saying “you are our favorite, we will mail you a picture” and he started tearing up!

The memories of this trip over exceeded my expectations greatly!!! I could have never planned something like this. God works in mysterious ways. When we sit back and enjoy what he has created, he continues to love us and show us all that he has made for us. This trip was a live example of his love and plan for my life.

Pompeii & Positano (May 21-24)

I am still blown away that I am in Italy right now and experiencing things that I never thought possible. I love the town of Ariccia and the Castelli Romani, I can't wait to stay in town during a weekend and really soak it in. This past Wednesday we visited Pompeii. We were planning on hiking up Mt. Vesuvius (the volcano that erupted and buried Pompeii.) It was really neat to see this town that had been there since before Christ. It really is pretty mind-blowing to see the ruins and the artifacts that they still have. The main "town square" / central part of the town by the temple has huge marble stones that cover the ground. The people of Pompeii were killed by the fumes of the volcano. The city was then covered by ash and pumice. 1/3 of the city of Pompeii is still underground, they are going to save it for the next century for people to see.

Next, we went to Positano and the Almalfi Coast. This was an optional trip for the group. Positano was the most beautiful place that I have ever seen in my life. It is now my favorite vacation spot. We went down 800 stairs to get to our beach front hotel which was amazing!! (And then had to go walk up them on our way back) We would open the balcony and let the ocean be our noisemaker:) A few of the girls went to Capri for a day trip and got some sandals handmade. Everyday the majority of us laid out on some colorful beach chairs and enjoyed the warm weather. It was a change from Ariccia's rainy weather when we had left there. We had dinner and beach front restaurants every night. Positano was neat because it was totally a touristy town so the majority of the Italians spoke English which made it a lot easier for us. So that’s a snapshot into our past weekend! I can't wait to go on more weekend trips!!!