Adventures in Italy!

Fiesole

Ok, so I haven’t blogged the past couple of days because I have just been going to class and everything was pretty much business as usual.  Although one thing I do have to include quickly is that we went on a trip to the Central Market in my Food and Culture class and we did a blind testing, I ate cow stomach! Yuck.  It didn’t really taste that bad it was just the texture that was questionable.  But we all know I am always willing to try anything.  Anyways, yesterday in my Florence: Story of the City class, we took a field trip to a place just outside of Florence called Fiesole.  It is considered to be the Hollywood Hills of Florence, meaning that the houses are VERY nice and VERY expensive.  As our bus climbed to the top of the hill we had no idea what to expect, all we knew was that we were going very high.  When we got there a short 15 minutes later, we were amazed.  There was this adorable little town on top of a hill with the most AMAZING views.  You see miles and miles of Tuscan mountains and the whole city of Florence.  It was absolutely beautiful.  In Fiesole, there are ancient Roman and Etruscan ruins which we were able to walk on and look at.  We walked around what used to be an amphitheater and it was so cool to know that we were walking on ruins that the ancient Romans and Etruscans were walking on.  We did this all in just an hour and a half so this is definitely a great day trip or a great place to take people who are visiting.  I definitely hope to go back. 

Under the Tuscan Sun

So, last night on my birthday we were still pretty tired from our AMAZING time at Club 21 the night before.  We decided to go to a relaxing dinner at Acqua Al 2. It was SO delicious.  The waitress and owner were so nice to us and recommended we get the samplers. We got the salad sampler and it was sooo good. That was followed by the pasta sampler and since pasta is my favorite food I loved it. My favorite was a close tie between the pumpkin risotto and the rigatoni with eggplant.  Too good.  Then we got the meat sampler which included 3 steaks.  My favorite was the blueberry steak.  Sounds weird but they are famous for it and now I know why.  Finally, the most amazing part of the meal came; the dessert sampler.  I could have eaten probably 4 plates all to myself.  The cheesecake and the tiramisu were to die for.  I recommend this restaurant to everyone!!

Today, we went on an adventure to the Chianti region in Tuscany.  The school took us there and it was beautiful.  We took a tour of a castle and then had a wonderful traditional tuscan lunch it was YUM.  Then we had a wine tasting of the chiantis that they make at that castle it was awesome.  I love Tuscany!!

BIRTHDAY

Tonight I turn 20 years old in Firenze! After a long day of classes I am so ready to begin the celebrations with my awesome roommates!

I am doing so much shopping here!! It’s really bad for my bank account but I kind of like it at the same time…

Piazzalo Michelangelo

Today we had a very lazy Sunday, all of us sleeping in past 12.  Once we finally got up and were able to get our acts together we ventured out to explore more of the city.  We climbed to the top of the Piazzalo Michelangelo, which is basically a beautiful view of all of Florence but in order to get there you have to climb up like a billion steps but it is so worth it.  Then, we went out to a DELICIOUS dinner at Ristorante Pizzeria il Gatto e la Volpe.  I have no idea what any of that means but all I know is that it was delicious.  I basically had to be rolled home and now I am just sitting relaxing in our beautiful apartment wishing I could watch the Giants v. Greenbay Packers game!! Everyone has to keep me updated. 

Shopping!

Today we had to wake up pretty early to go to the school and pick up our schedules and textbooks but after we went right home and took and nap and were ready for the day.  We ventured out for a little shopping.  I got the cutest brown leather bag from a lady in one of the market places I am absolutely obsessed with it.  I also got a really cute and warm circle scarf.  The markets are the best because you can get things for pretty cheap and of course it is all made in Italy.  I will definitely go back to get some souvenirs for all my friends back home!