For me, the sun sets on Italia for the final time this year. My taxi is picking me up to go to the airport very soon. This is one of my favorite pictures of the entire summer. I think it says it all. Arriverderci Roma!
Friday, August 15, 2008
Thursday, August 14, 2008
My time is ending. . .
It has been another spectacular summer; I do realize that I am one lucky girl to pull this off twice in 2 summers. This summer was particularly nice because I had so many people from home pay me a visit: Liz, Traci, and the Kables (my parent’s friends from home). With the trip to Lake Como and over to the Tuscan coast, I have officially covered this country end to end and side to side. I have hit almost every province as well. Along the way, I have met some really great people, imbibed delicious and abundant wine, eaten food so good it brings tears to my eyes, learned a bit more of a very cool language, grown as a person, seen some of the most beautiful places in Europe, laughed like a fool, and of course put the hurts on my liver. I’m also thankful for not having things go pear shaped when August rolled around this year. That’s not to say I didn’t see some seriously weird shit. . . it is Rome after all. I just didn’t get accosted or see some guy treating his body like an amusement park in public; and, that’s a good thing!
Without hesitation, I also have to say that going to Croatia was probably the highlight of the summer. I know I already said how much I laughed during that week, actually the full 2 weeks Liz was here, but really, it was just ridiculous! I’ve gotten so used to traveling by myself and just hooking up with random people for a few days here and few days there, I’d forgotten how much traveling with a good friend can enhance the experience. I’m hoping that we can continue to wreak havoc on foreign destinations for many years to come. A-geedy-up-a!! I am not sure if I will be able to continue my summer’s abroad; however, I do know without doubt that I want to live here some day. Everyone should have a place they feel so in tune with! And so, at this time tomorrow, I will be sobbing into my crappy airline lunch somewhere over the Atlantic on my way back to VA. Expect one more desperate gasp of a blog post before I get on that plane. You know me, I just can’t let go that easily.
As with last year, Liz is picking me up and has organized apperitivi at Villa della Carrie and then we are off to relive our Croatian bad behavior at O’Connells. If you should find yourself free, or just want to have drinks (rumor has it they now serve Peroni, that will lessen the pain of being Stateside) get your ass there!!
A final photo roundup. . . .Baci!
my favorite fountain in Rome off Piazza Farnese
cool face on a fountain
Campo Di Fiore's daily market
I love the fresh vegetables and fruits at Campo's market!
and the spices too!
my street and house number
Piazza Trilussa, constantly filled with drinking Romans at night!
Lake Como
Dubrovnik 
Bosnia, dee-li-cious!
the ho of Pompei!
the Roman Forum
in front of Trajan's Forum
Without hesitation, I also have to say that going to Croatia was probably the highlight of the summer. I know I already said how much I laughed during that week, actually the full 2 weeks Liz was here, but really, it was just ridiculous! I’ve gotten so used to traveling by myself and just hooking up with random people for a few days here and few days there, I’d forgotten how much traveling with a good friend can enhance the experience. I’m hoping that we can continue to wreak havoc on foreign destinations for many years to come. A-geedy-up-a!! I am not sure if I will be able to continue my summer’s abroad; however, I do know without doubt that I want to live here some day. Everyone should have a place they feel so in tune with! And so, at this time tomorrow, I will be sobbing into my crappy airline lunch somewhere over the Atlantic on my way back to VA. Expect one more desperate gasp of a blog post before I get on that plane. You know me, I just can’t let go that easily.
As with last year, Liz is picking me up and has organized apperitivi at Villa della Carrie and then we are off to relive our Croatian bad behavior at O’Connells. If you should find yourself free, or just want to have drinks (rumor has it they now serve Peroni, that will lessen the pain of being Stateside) get your ass there!!
A final photo roundup. . . .Baci!
my favorite fountain in Rome off Piazza Farnese
cool face on a fountainfinal gelato from Della Palma, mango and fragola (strawberry)
I've walked by this giant ham a million times over the years. Now that's SOME meat!
Campo Di Fiore's daily market
I love the fresh vegetables and fruits at Campo's market!
and the spices too!inscription above the door to my building
my street and house number
Piazza Trilussa, constantly filled with drinking Romans at night!Rome's official symbol
Lake Comovino in Korcula
Dubrovnik 
Bosnia, dee-li-cious!
how I spent the summer
Scary nipple man, they looked like tic-tacs
the ho of Pompei!
the direction I don't want to fly
Doing what we do best, drinking wine & laughing!
view across Roma from Gianicolo Hill above Trastevere
Roman Forum and back side of Vittorio Emmanuel Monument
the Roman Forum
in front of Trajan's Forum
Vittorio Emmanuel Monument, or the Typewriter as the Romans call it
Piazza Argentina, the cat sanctuary
Buon Anniversario Madre e Padre!
Again, I miss my parent’s anniversary by 1 day. So, a Prosecco toast on the blog will have to suffice until I get home to do it in person. Salute e cin cin. Baci e un abbraccio!!Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Monte Argentario
Today was spent out on the Southern Tuscan coast of Monte Argentario. I went to both Porto Santo Stefano and Port’Ercole. They are both very cute little port towns on what used to be the island of Monte Argentario; it’s technically not an island anymore because a causeway now connects it with Orbetello.
The day was a bit of a comedy of errors. I’ve been feeling pretty confident with my increasing language skills, and decided I could figure my way out to the little beaches along the Panoramic Road. Um yeah, that wasn’t exactly how things went. Who knew that pretty much no one would speak any English, but they did speak some Tuscan dialect that completely destroyed any comprehension I had. The people were really nice and patient with me and eventually things got figured out. And by eventually, I mean it took me about 3 wrong buses and 2 hours, once I got on the island, to find the beach I wanted, Le Viste outside of Port’Ercole. I only cursed a little bit, ok, A LOT. Once there the view was gorgeous, although mostly cloudy, and the climb down and back up, frightening.
The trip back to the train station was also quite the adventure. Since I took the longest route ever, to Port’Ercole, I needed directions on how to get back to the station without circumnavigating the globe. This took massive effort and brain cells, but netted me a new hot Australian friend. I was working on things when this guy came over and introduced himself. He heard me using English and Italian and decided I would be his savior; he spoke no Italian. I got us both back to the train station and we hung out having beers until my train for Rome came. He was heading over to the Adriatic to catch up with some friends. Turns out, he’d spent 10 days surfing with some “mates”, and was now heading to the Adriatic to hook up with some different ones. I gave him all the necessary knowledge I had on Croatia, especially getting shitcanned at Pupo. Just my luck; hot Aussie who is going in the exact wrong direction I’m going. We did exchange contact info, though; and, if I find myself in Australia, I have a place to crash and free surfing lessons. That ticket would be booked by now, if I was 25 again, since that is his age. Damn these hot young’uns!!!
On the causeway from Orbetello
part of the port in Port'Ercole
under La Rocca, a huge fort on the cliff. This is someone's private yard. Hate them! 
at the top, I need to be down below where all the umbrellas are
off I go
on my way down the "hill"
climbing down
and finally, pretty water
view to the left from my towel
view to the right from my towel
crazy clouds kept blowing through
The day was a bit of a comedy of errors. I’ve been feeling pretty confident with my increasing language skills, and decided I could figure my way out to the little beaches along the Panoramic Road. Um yeah, that wasn’t exactly how things went. Who knew that pretty much no one would speak any English, but they did speak some Tuscan dialect that completely destroyed any comprehension I had. The people were really nice and patient with me and eventually things got figured out. And by eventually, I mean it took me about 3 wrong buses and 2 hours, once I got on the island, to find the beach I wanted, Le Viste outside of Port’Ercole. I only cursed a little bit, ok, A LOT. Once there the view was gorgeous, although mostly cloudy, and the climb down and back up, frightening.
The trip back to the train station was also quite the adventure. Since I took the longest route ever, to Port’Ercole, I needed directions on how to get back to the station without circumnavigating the globe. This took massive effort and brain cells, but netted me a new hot Australian friend. I was working on things when this guy came over and introduced himself. He heard me using English and Italian and decided I would be his savior; he spoke no Italian. I got us both back to the train station and we hung out having beers until my train for Rome came. He was heading over to the Adriatic to catch up with some friends. Turns out, he’d spent 10 days surfing with some “mates”, and was now heading to the Adriatic to hook up with some different ones. I gave him all the necessary knowledge I had on Croatia, especially getting shitcanned at Pupo. Just my luck; hot Aussie who is going in the exact wrong direction I’m going. We did exchange contact info, though; and, if I find myself in Australia, I have a place to crash and free surfing lessons. That ticket would be booked by now, if I was 25 again, since that is his age. Damn these hot young’uns!!!
On the causeway from Orbetello
part of the port in Port'Ercole
under La Rocca, a huge fort on the cliff. This is someone's private yard. Hate them! 
at the top, I need to be down below where all the umbrellas are
off I go
on my way down the "hill"
climbing down
and finally, pretty water
view to the left from my towel
view to the right from my towel
crazy clouds kept blowing through Tuesday, August 12, 2008
La lezione numero cinque d’Italia. . .
While I have learned many lessons during my travels in Italy, I have not learned that a farewell gathering consisting of 3 people does need to result in the need for a liver transplant by the host (and by host, I mean me). This is the morning after picture; I think its self explanatory.
Orvieto
On Tuesday, I went out to Orvieto, in Umbria, for the day. It’s a really cool walled town that sits up on a cliff of Tufo. The main attraction is the ridiculously awesome Cathedral, the 1200 caves that are under the entire town, and of course the wine. It was an easy 1 hour train ride from Roma and then a 5 minute trip up the cable car to the top of the cliff and the walled city. Intending on checking off all the tourist boxes, I did it all. Cruised all over the town, climbed the Torre del Moro (too many damn steps), visited the theater & cathedral, took a tour of the caves (dumbasses dug so much out the town started to sink and they had a massive land slide in the 70’s resulting in them needing to reinforce the ceilings of all 1200 caves with cement), and yes, surprisingly, did a wine tasting. Delicious white wine, that places ferments!
the front of the cathedral was just gorgeous. The remainder of it is white and black striped marble.
inside the Cathedral; its very impressive.
Corso Cavour with the Torre del Moro above. I climbed; it was painful.
reception hallway of Teatro Mancinelli
a learning studio
main theater of Teatro Mancinelli
the piano salon
Piazza della Repubblica with the flags of Orvieto's contradas
Chiesa di Sant'Andrea and its decagonal bell tower
Piazza della Repubblica from the top of the tower
the town from the top of the tower
the cathedral from the top of Torro del Moro
the clock of the Torre del Moro from inside the stairwell
little street of the sweets
it was a sweet street
Piazza Duomo
cool bell tower in Piazza Duomo 
a castle built in 1000AD, now renovated into a hotel
the front of the cathedral was just gorgeous. The remainder of it is white and black striped marble.
inside the Cathedral; its very impressive.
Corso Cavour with the Torre del Moro above. I climbed; it was painful.
reception hallway of Teatro Mancinelli
a learning studio
main theater of Teatro Mancinelli
the piano salon
Piazza della Repubblica with the flags of Orvieto's contradas
Chiesa di Sant'Andrea and its decagonal bell tower
Piazza della Repubblica from the top of the tower
the town from the top of the tower
the cathedral from the top of Torro del Moro
the clock of the Torre del Moro from inside the stairwell
little street of the sweets
it was a sweet street
Piazza Duomo
cool bell tower in Piazza Duomo 
a castle built in 1000AD, now renovated into a hotel
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