Too much to see and do!

So, I'm desperately trying to figure out my travel plans for next weekend as I'm heading out for the Amalfi Coast for this weekend at 6:30pm tonight and I'm hopelessly confused and worried. It looks as though I won't be able to make it to Volterra after all, I don't think. But, I am going to Siena on Thursday and then I think that Friday I will try to go to Lucca as the train ride is short enough and the schedule agreeable enough with me actually having time to spend in the town. I could always just go to Volterra on Friday, stay the night, then go north to Lucca, spend the day and then head back to Florence. Decisions, decisions..... That actually might work. Just worried I won't be able to find a place to stay in Volterra, and then I'm supposed to go back to Cinque Terre that Sunday (which means more train rides going back in the same direction I just came from. Hmm.... might be time to talk to the tour agency and see if I can't just meet them in Pisa on Sunday morning and do the trip....

Hopeless. See what I mean? (not to mention my inability to make a decision)

DAD - Tell me what to do, you're great at making decisions. Do I do day trips and waste a bunch of time on the train and bus, or do I spend the extra time planning (for hostels) and the extra money to stay overnight in Volterra, then head to Lucca for the day, back to Pisa for the night on Saturday and try to meet up with the tour group in Pisa to go to Cinque Terre that Sunday? You have a lot of time to decide as I likely won't have internet access until Monday since I'm heading to the Amalfi Coast tonight....... that reminds me, I need to go buy sunscreen....

Expect gorgeous pictures of Sorrento, Capri, Pompeii on Monday. Do NOT expect pictures of me in a bathing suit!ù

Ciao!!

Grrrrr

School is seriously getting in the way of my time in Florence and my travel plans. Both classes combined, I have around 80-100 pages of reading per night. This is getting VERY frustrating! Not to mention the paper I need to start writing that I have no direction on..... Grrrr!

In good news, however, I went by the tour agency I was supposed to do Cinque Terre with this past Sunday to book my Amalfi Coast trip yesterday afternoon and found out not only that we will have breakfasts and dinner included on that trip, but that I can go back to Cinque Terre with them whenever I want at no charge since the weather was so horrible. Yay! That frees up time for me to go see Lucca and Volterra and saves me money! Also, this trip to teh Amalfi Coast is going to be amazing - 3 nights and 3 days, we'll go to Capri, Sorrento, Pompeii and more and still have time to lay on the beach! Can't wait! Now to go do some crunches so I can have a prayer of looking decent in the bikini I foolishly allowed my roommates to convince me to buy..... There will NOT be pictures of me in that!

Love to all.....

Crazy Italian men...... Bellissimo!!!

Just for you mom, like I said I would, and all other ladies that would appreciate it....

They also pretended to measure the doorway of the Duomo, but I was too busy gaping at them bending over to measure to actually take a picture.... see below:

Joanna's reaction afterwards:



(That's actually later on with the River Arno in the background)

Updates....

Okay, so last Thursday we were supposed to take a group trip to Fiesole to see an amphitheater and Etruscan Ruins. Unfortunately, this fell throuh as the bus drivers decided to go on strike from 3pm until the morning. Thankfully, we hadn't already left and gotten stuck there, though it wouldn't have been too long of a taxi ride. We've rescheduled the trip for this Thursday afternoon - cross your fingers for a smooth trip!

I managed to hike up to the Piazzale Michelangele this Saturday, which boasts the best views of Florence. It was my first time seeing the entire city, and it definitewly did not disappoint! I forgot to load the pictures on my thumb drive and will post them soon. What a beautiful city!

That was not the end to the weekend, however, as my roommates and I had booked a trip up to Cinque Terre (5 lands in Italian) on the coast, which is a truly beautiful area if you look up some pictures. Sadly, it was pouring down rain and so cold when we got there that we were unable to do the hike along the coast and cliffs through the 5 towns lining the waters edge. We had to immediately buy a ticket back to Florence - I was so bummed! Not only did we blow a total of €60 by the end, but I was really looking forward to visiting the area. I did have time, while we waited for the train to return to Florence, to take a look around the top town we had taken the train to and were supposed to hike down from. Even in the rain it was a wonderful place and I have decided I will return there next weekend for a two-day trip as I must be able to see it. I will post rainy pictures soon....

The train ride back to Florence was beautiful though, we had a chance to see marble mines in the mountain areas and stockpiles of huge blocks of marble along with various other types of stone. We also got a peak at the top of the leaning tower of Pisa on our way back, which you can't see going the other direction. I decided that was probably enough for me as I don't have a lot of time or money to be visiting extra places. It was actually a bit of a fun adventure - I mean, that's what traveling is all about, right? Rolling with the punches and making the best of the unexpected oppotunities you get. Besides, I had a lot of reading to do and it was good to get back to the apartment early to get a jump start on that. Yeah, I almost forgot I was going to school while doing all this as well, don't feel bad.

We will also be heading to the Uffizi Museum on Wednesday, which should be amazing. There are countless precious works of art there, including the famous painting of the Birth of Venus, and I am very excited to go! I am going to be booking my trip to the Amalfi coast today as well - I made sure to check the weather and it looks as though it will be very nice - so excited to see Pompeii and lay on the beach! But, my poor roommates are having problems getting their money from financial aid (still! We've been here over a week!), so they won't be able to join me, which is too bad as it would have been fun to have them there too. Keeping my fingers crossed their money will be dweposited today and they'll be able to come too.

I am also going to look into reserving a hostel at Cinque Terre for next Friday as I absolutely have GOT to go back and see it. Thinking I will leave Florence Friday morning, hike down when I get there through the national park and stay the night, saving Saturday to putz around and play on the beach before returning to Florence. My rommates alrady have other plans, so this will be a solo trip, but I don't really mind traveling alone - I actually kind of like it - as I can do whatever I please and stay as long as I want to.

OH!! GELATO!!!!!!!!!!! Seriously - this stuff is worth all the hype. It is TO DIE FOR! And don't even get me started on the wine and Limoncello! I'm also thinking about doing a hiking wine tasting tour in Chianti......... I know, you're jealous! I am almost jealous of myself!

I am leaving so much stuff out, the Ponte Vecchio, The restaurant in the Santo Spirito district, more gelato (I'm keeping a flavors journal), Shopping at the Outdoor Market, crazy Italian men in speedos and work uniforms at the same time (will post pictures for you, mom), vespas with "Don't Mess With Texas" bumper stickers, beautiful people, funny beggars, having a cappuccino at my neighborhood caffé bar with a bunch of Italians in biker gear this morning, the list goes on..... but I have to save some stories for when I get home!

Ciao for now!!

Firenze on fire! (at least the sky was)

Most beautiful sunset last night on my walk home after a gathering with fellow students. The pictures need no explanation:

(Well except for the first one - it's taken from the bridge that goes to my apartment)

And some pictures of the famous Duomo:

Don't have time to write much now, but will soon. Ciao!!

Roma and Firenze pictures

Bottom to top: Inside the Vatican Museum (gorgeous ceilings!), Spiral staircase at exit to Vatican Meseum, One of many political posters seen in Italy right now, The Duomo in Firenze, and the Ponte Vecchio.

As you can tell (even though a couple are blurry - good thing I have a couple weeks to get some more shots!) it is beautiful here and I can hardly believe it! Stay tuned!

Ciao!

A Couple Pictures from ROMA!

From top: St. Peter's Cathedral, Vatican City, Pantheon, Can't remember the name of the next one, and (of course) the Colloseo! More to follow!