Beyond the obvious charm that Italy exudes, there is a certain, often indescribable, magical appeal to "The Boot." I experienced this during my travel break to Tuscany this past weekend. The most quintessential Italian villas and vineyards one would expect to see in Italy were more beautiful than any movie or picture can represent. Between Florence and Siena the atmosphere changes dramatically. On one hand, the grandeur that Florence boasts with its ancient cathedrals and timeless works of art engulf your thoughts. Standing in front of these breathtaking objects forces you to reflect on the history of Florence (once considered the center of the world). Knowing Michelangelo once walked on the same street you stand on is a crazy feeling. On the other hand, the country-esque, small town vibe that Siena provides creates an entirely different feeling. Walking the narrow streets of Siena under the warm Tuscan sun while sipping on their world-renowned Chianti creates a feeling of old-world simplicity. The atmosphere of these two ancient cities is connected through their history, yet they undoubtedly own their own piece of the historical pie.
This weekend, Kate, one of my fellow CIMBA peers turned the big TWO ONE. Since she was traveling with our group to Tuscany, we figured a night out in Florence was appropriate (as if we needed a reason). There was a club offering a free bottle of Prosecco (if you do not know what this is, you're missing out) to Kate on her birthday. So on Saturday night, our sharply dressed group of ten went to Club 21 to kick of the celebration. This club was not exactly the craziest/busiest operation in town so we got the free bottle, toasted to Kate, and quickly moved on to the next place. The next club we went to was recommended by a bartender we met earlier in the evening. One word: outrageous. This club was packed with people dancing to techno/house/dance music that included popular songs of today. The night ended up being a blast!
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| Celebrating Kate's 21st birthday Touring the different sites of the Tuscan region provided a fascinating look into the ancient world. The architecture that man was able to create thousands of years ago is amazing. The outer cathedral walls are composed entirely of different colored marble. The statues represent some of the biggest names in old-world history. That being said, my trip was not entirely centered around history and the arts. If you know anything about me, it is the fact that I enjoy food more than most things in life. Over the weekend I discovered a Turkish dish called the kebab. No, not the typical "kebab" you would grill at home, but rather a burrito-like concoction of roasted chicken, lettuce, tomato, hummus, spices, and potato. While the dish varies from place-to-place, I never once ate a kebab that was not absolutely delicious (minus a slight onion condition on my first try). And yes, I did eat four kebabs in two days. |
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| Statue of David |
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| The delicious kebabs |
Overall, this weekend was a success! I am excited for the next two weeks for multiple reasons. First, we have our first formal dinner tonight. We get to wine and dine with our professors at one of the finest restaurants in the area. After this week concludes, I am off to London, Paris, and the French Riviera to travel with my mom. I'm looking forward to seeing some amazing places and not having to pay for anything! Gotta' love parents.
"For us to go to Italy, and to penetrate into Italy, is like a most fascinating act of self-discovery, back, back down the old ways of time. Strange and wonderful chords awake in us, and vibrate again after many hundreds of years of complete forgetfulness." --D.H. Lawrence
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