One Month!

I can't believe that I arrived in Florence a month a go today. A city that once seemed unfamiliar has become my home away from home. Time is moving by so fast and I want it to slow down. Four weeks of classes have already gone by and mid-terms will be quickly approaching. This week in my cooking class we prepared two different dishes. The first dish was Croquette di Baccala which translates to deep-fried fish croquette. Baccala is cod fish, which typically comes from the Atlantic Ocean on the northern side of Europe.  Cod is a lean fish, which is rich in omega 3 fatty acids. We put on our aprons and started the preparations! First, we need to remove the skin of the fresh fish that was bought at the market that morning. Trevor and I volunteered to clean the fish. We used a specific knife to remove the skin and then had to check for bones and remove any that were still present. Once the fish was cleaned we began to chop the rest of our ingredients. We waited for our potatoes to boil as we chopped garlic, black and green olives, and parsley very finely. Once the potatoes were soft enough to remove the skin we were able to mash them. Next we placed the fish, potatoes, an egg, and all the chopped ingredients into the food processor. After the ingredients were all combined together, we made circular balls and then rolled the balls in bread crumbs. Once all the balls were breaded we began to fry them in a olive oil. Once they were all fried they were ready to serve!

The other recipe we made was Gratin di Zucchine. First we chopped the zucchini up very finely. The zucchinis here are much smaller than the size we are used to seeing them at home. We grated some fresh cheese to add to the zucchini. We combined the zucchini, cheese, eggs,  milk, cream, salt, and pepper all into one bowl. Then once the mixture was properly prepared we poured it into the cooking pan. Once the ingredients were placed in the cooking pan we topped it with more cheese and place it in the oven to bake. Finally, it was time to sample our creations! The fish croquettes were good, but a little too fishy for my liking. The zucchini au gratin was absolutely delicious!

Just your typical day of class!

This week in wine class we focused on white wines that comes from the San Gimignano region. It was rather interesting learning about these wines considering we had just visited San Gimignano. White wines can vary in colors ranging from pale greenish yellow, straw yellow, gold yellow, amber yellow, and brown. Every grape has a primary aroma which gives the wine particular aromatic characteristics. Alcohol fermentation helps to reveal wine's primary aromas. The harvesting of usually occurs during September and October. 

Perugia, Assisi, Siena, San Gimignano

This weekend we went on a field trip with our program to Perugia, Assisi, Siena, and San Gimignano. It was a busy weekend considering we hit four cities in two days. Saturday morning we met at our usual meeting spot to load onto the buses to begin our journey. Once we all boarded the bus we headed on our way to our first stop of the weekend Perugia. First we checked into our hotel and had lunch in the hotel restaurant. We had a buffet of several different pasta dishes to choose from. 

Perugia: When we got off the bus in Perugia we were greeted by our tour guide Marco. Marco has by far been the most animated tour guide that I have ever had for a tour. He informed us of  the major key points of history for Perugia. A little fun fact that we learned was the meaning behind the word salary. In the middle ages before money, the people of Perugia paid for things by using salt. Hence where the world salary has come from! Perugia is the capital city of the region of Umbria of Italy. It is often referred to as the Pittsburgh of Italy due to its over abundance of colleges and students. It is also know as a college town. We were walking through the university square where there is a certain arch in which the students are not supposed to walk under. If one of the students undergoes the arch they are believed not to graduate. The arch reminded me of the SJU seal in Mandeville back on hawk hill. It is  believed if a undergraduate hawk walks across the seal they are not to graduate. Perugia is well known for their chocolate festival which occurs every fall. Perugia turns into a giant chocolate square. Chocolatiers carve and chisel things out of giant blocks of chcolate as guests gather round with upside down umbrellas to catch all the excess chocolate shavings! After the tour we had some free time to explore on our owns. Of course in that time we went to try the famous chocolate! The chocolate was rich and delicious as if it just melted on your tongue and allowed your taste buds to explode! We headed back on to the bus to the next stop....

Assisi: Assisi is known as the city of peace. The buildings are all so pretty and made of pink and white stone. Assisi is most well known for Saint Francis who is the patron saint of animals. While in Assisi we got a tour of the town from our wonderful tour guide Marco. Assisi was very quaint with its pink and white stone buildings. The balconies were covered in beautiful flowers that hung over the sides. We visited the Church of Saint Francis, where we go to see the tomb of the patron saint. Outside of the Church of Saint Francis was a Tau cross which is believed to save one from the apocalypse. After our tour was over we got to listen in on a sound check for a concert full of Italian singers that were performing that night. We got to see, listen, and dance around to traditional popular Italian music. Next we returned to the hotel where we were served dinner. After dinner some of us gathered in one of the hotel rooms and spent the night talking and playing cards. In the morning we checked out of our hotel and head to our next stop....

Siena: In Siena we were greeted by another tour guide, but unfortunately she was not as animated as Marco was on our previous two tours. We first visited a Church which contained the relics of Saint Catherine. The walking tour was a little too long for my liking due to the lack of excitement of our tour guide. I was focused more on the rumbling that was going on in my stomach than listening to her monotone voice. Finally after the tour was over we had free time to go get lunch. My roommates went exploring to find a restaurant. We fell upon a restaurant called Ghibellina and thought it was fate since that is the name of  the street we live on in Firenze!  After lunch we met back at the buses to head to our last and final stop....

San Gimignano: San Gimignano is known as the little Manhatten of Italy. In the Middle Ages the taller your tower symbolized the more money that you and your family had. The little Manhatten  overlooked the beautiful country side. You could see millions of vineyards with grapevines perfectly aligned. The Jesus rays from the sun were protruding from the puffy white clouds as the rolling hills met them at the horizon line. San Gimignano is one of the most photogenic towns in Italy and has been the location of dozens of films including The Twilight Saga: New Moon! After gazing at the country side we headed to the main square where one of the best known gelato places in the world is! Dondoli Gelateria were world champions in 06-07 and 08-09. The line was out the door and wrapped around the square, but was without a doubt worth the wait! I had nutella and tiramisu! It was hands down the best gelato I have had so far! After exploring four cities in two days it was finally time to head back home to Florence! 

San Gimignano

Paella, Chianti, & Tea Time!

I can't believe that tomorrow is already Wednesday, which means it is the start to my weekend! This week has kept me pretty busy with lots of things to do! Yesterday I had my Mediterranean Diet class where we got to prepare and cook our first dish! The first recipe on the list for the semester was Paella a la Valenciana. Once arriving to class I put on my apron and was ready to go! Before actually beginning to cook we learned the history behind the recipe. Paella is not your typical italian dish, but instead comes from the region of Spain. Along with the recipe we served risotto with is italian rice. The production of risotto happens in the Padana Valley, which is between Lombarida and Emilia Romagna region. There are three different varieties of risotto which include Arborio, Carnaroli, and Vialone Nano. They are good to use to make risotto because of their good shape and texture. There was a lot of prepping that goes into this particular recipe. The first thing we started with was making the fish stock. We filled up a pot with water and then placed the fish remains, a pinch of sea salt, chopped onion, and bay leaves. Next we covered the pot and allowed it to come to a simmer and finally a full boil. One of the objectives for yesterdays recipe was how to clean and prep the fish that we were using. The fish that we used for the recipe was bought from the fresh fish market. The recipe called for squid, clams, mussels, shrimp, and the remains of fish that we used to make our own fish stock. We cleaned the mussels by removing the algae and scrubbing them with a metal sponge. The clams we let soak in a bowl of water with a dash of sea salt. We let them soak for approximately 20 minutes. In order to clean the shrimp we had to remove the legs and cut a small slit in order to remove the intestine. The squid was the most difficult of the fish to clean. We had to remove the insides, eyes, the ink pouch, the tentacles, and the skin. This was an extensive process and got rather messy especially when removing the ink pouch. Along with the fish we also cleaned fresh chicken breasts and cut off the excess fat. We also had to chop one large green pepper, one large onion, and garlic. We sauteed the pepper, onion, and garlic all together in one pan. Other spices such as crushed saffron, bay leaves, thyme, basil, paprika and peas were also required for the recipe. Once the cleaning of the meat  and prepping of other ingredients was done we were ready to cook! We sauteed the mussels and clams in a butter, lemon, garlic sauce. The chicken was sauteed with olive oil and a pinch of paprika. Once the chicken was fully cooked we cooked the shrimp in the same exact pot so it would soak up the excess flavor from the chicken. Once the fish stock came to a boil we removed the fish parts leaving just the broth. The squid and risotto cooked in the same pot we made the fish stock in. Once the meats were all done cooking they were also placed into the pot with fish stock. Last we added the peas and let the pot simmer for 30 minutes. So many aromas began to fill the room as my stomach began to rumble! As we waited for the paella to finish cooking we set the table and cleaned all the cutting boards, utensils, and pans that were used to prep our meal! 30 minutes was up and it was finally time to try the finished product! As we placed the paella on the table you could see the steam rise and the flavors that filled the room made your mouth water. Then it was time to take the first bite! IT WAS DELICIOUS! The spices blended together to create a flavorful dish. I am not a big fish eater, but the fish was so fresh that it did not have a fishy taste. My favorite out of all the fish that was included in the recipe I would have to say were the mussels. Can't wait till next week to cook again!

Paella

This morning I played charades in my Italian class. After Italian class I had my Tuscany and It's Wines class. Today we focused on one of the Tuscan regions most famous wines Chianti. Chianti wines are part of a denomination, which means there are strict rules and regulations that go into making them. Chianti wine production is regulated by a consortium. A consortium is an association that establish precise regulations for the production of Chianti wines. A consortium main duties are to protect the quality wines by making sure they are strict in their production and the category of wine that is being produced.  The consortium must perform a Erga Omnes, meaning an inspection of the entire chain of production to ensure that the producer is in compliance with the respective production regulations for the relevant denomination at hand. Chianti wines are mainly made with dark bunches of Sangiovese grapes, which gives the wine its unmistakeable character. Chianti wines are usually a bright ruby red color or garnet when they are aged longer. They have a medium-high acidity level. We had the opportunity to sample one of the Sangiovese grapes today in class. Grapes that are used to make wine are much different from tables grapes that you would buy from a supermarket. While sampling the Sangiovese grapes we were able to analyze the different parts of the grape including the skin, the pulp, and the tannins. Chianti wines are named depending upon several factors. Some of these factors include sub zones within the Tuscan region including Arezzo, Florence, Pisa, Pistotia, Prato, and Siena. Chianti Classico is the most typical area of the appellation. Classico means original. Chianti Classico's trademark is a black rooster on the label. Chianti Classico cannot be consumed until the first of October of the following year after the harvest. Chianti Superior contains a high % of alcohol by volume. Chianti Riserva have a longer aging process leading to the wine having an orange tint to it. The Chianti Riserva can only be released after at least 24 months of again and at least 3 months of bottle fining. Chianti wine producers choose to age their wines in small French oak barrels known as barriques. They help to increase the evolutionary process and creates more aromas within the wine. We sampled one of each of the three types of Chianti wines in class. We used the 4S's and others steps in order to complete the wine tasting process. Chianti wines are symbolic of Italian quality. 

Every Tuesday at the school restaurant Ganzo, they have afternoon tea. Mia, Megan, and I decided to go and try it out! We were seated at a table out on the terrace and were presented with menus that had varieties of tea to choose from. Along with the tea you had the option of choose a savory snack or a dessert snack to accompany your tea. I decided to try the milky oolong tea accompanied by a dessert snack. The milky oolong tea is cultivated and produced almost entirely by hand in the province of Fujian in China. It is a very sweet tea from its perfume to its creamy taste. The dessert snack include mini scones filled with creme and jam and schiacciata con l'uva (flat bread with sangiovese grapes). The tea was really good. We each got our own quaint ceramic tea pot and tea cup to enjoy our own tea! It was nice to sit outside to enjoy the warmth of the sunshine and to be around good company! 

Tea Options

Scones & Schiacciata con L'uva

It's Tea Time!

French Riviera

Bonjour! This weekend I had the opportunity to flee from Florence for a little bit and spent some time vacationing on the beautiful south coast of France. Friday morning I was awoken by my alarm clock as it woke me from my sweet slumber. It was so early that the sun was not even up yet and the cool morning air seeped through my shutters. We were supposed to depart Florence at 7am sharp, but we were delayed due to some passengers not showing up on time. It was finally 7:30 by the time we were on the road and had a long drive ahead of us. We had a big coach bus to transport us for the weekend. We all got our own seats on the bus in order to spread out for comfortability. I put my  headphones in and tried to close my eyes to catch up on some sleep. Unfortunately, I could not sleep for very long, but woke up to the most exquisite views. The entire drive was along the coast line so I was looking out at the Mediterranean Sea  and the quaint colorful houses that were built into the sides of the mountains. We made a little pit stop about 2.5 hours into the trip. After getting back on the bus we had another 3 hours ahead of us. Finally we started making our way down the mountain towards the water and followed the signs that led us to Monaco! I was surprised to find out that Monaco was a country within itself. I thought it was part of France. Once getting off the bus I was amazed by the water views, the yatchs, and the expensive cars that filled the street. I had entered the land of the rich! We walked around the Monaco Ville district and explored the little shops and found a restaurant to eat in for lunch. Needless to say we had a very interesting lunch. The French held up to their reputation of being snooty and rude towards Americans. We tried our best to speak the little bit of French that we knew. The waiter made fun of Steve for blowing his nose and hand fed Trevor when he left some food on his plate. After lunch we headed down towards the yatchs and gazed at millions of dollars. The water was indescribable  as the suns reflection glistened off the water. Behind some of the yatchs were porshes, bmws, and other expensive cars. My friends and I picked out the yatch that we are all going to pitch in and buy and live the dream life once we graduate from SJU! We walked along Avenue Saint Martin, which is home to the famous Monaco Cathedral. We also walked past the palace where the Prince of Monaco lives. We tried to make the guards laugh, but obviously they were way too see serious and would not even crack a smile. After a fun filled day in Monaco, we headed back onto the bus around 6:30 and headed to Nice, France for our next weekend destination.  

Monaco

Steve, Mary, Deanna, Lucia, Me, Alex, Trevor

I knocked out on the bus ride from Monaco to Nice. Once arriving in Nice we checked into our hotel and had time to relax and refresh before dinner. The accommodations at the hotel were nice. Deanna and I roomed together at the hotel. Our room overlooked one of the busy streets of Nice. But, luckily our hotel was a 2 block walk from the beach! Around 8:15 all the FUA students met in the hotel lobby towalk the streets of Nice together to walk to the restaurant where we were going to eat dinner.  When we arrived at the restaurant  they had large tables set up with large salads, bread baskets, and bottles of wine. After salads, they served a traditional beef stew with potatoes and a chocolate cherry mouse cake for dessert. By the time dinner was over our eyes were bigger than our stomachs and we were beyond exhausted from the activities that fulfilled our day. We went back to the hotel and went straight to sleep. We met in the hotel dinning room for breakfast at 9 o'clock on saturday morning and then headed out for the little tourist train tour of Nice. We boarded the trolley train, put on our headphones, and headed out to see the beautiful sights of Nice. Along the train ride we saw the sea front, Old Nice, the port, Place Massena, Place Garibaldi, and Jardin Albert. After the train tour we had free time for the rest of the afternoon so we planted our butts on the beach. The beaches of Nice are rocky beaches that border the Mediterranean Sea. You would think that laying on the rocks would be completely uncomfortable, but once you situated yourself it was rather enjoyable. The weather was absolutely perfect. There was not a cloud in the sky, there was a slight breeze, and mist sprayed us from the waves hitting against the rocks. It was a much different sound listening to the waves swish the rocks around then the sounds of the waves hitting against the sandy shores of the beaches back home. After soaking up some sun and working up an appetite from floating and swimming in the Mediterranean we walked along the Promenade to get some lunch & gelato!

The Mediterranean Sea

Walking along the boardwalk after lunch, we were curious and decided to check out the prices of the water sports. Shockingly, we were surprised as to how reasonable the prices were! I was really hesitant as to what I wanted to do. I asked myself when else would I have the opportunity to parasail over the Mediterranean Sea with my best friends?! I worked up the courage to over come my fear of heights and decided to do it! I was basically having a panic attack as the instructor helped me to secure my life jacket and harness. Now I came to the realization that there was no turning back now. I could feel my heart beating through my chest as the sun beat down on me. After watching some of my friends go before me it reassured me that this would be a once in a life time opportunity. Before I knew it, it was mine and Deanna's turn to go! We listened to the instructor as he advised us to lift our arms up and when to start running. My feet were scootering as fast as my heart was beating and before I knew it my feet were off the ground and I was flying high above the Mediterranean Sea and the beautiful French Riviera. Once I was up in the air I felt so alive and could not have been more happy! The color distinction in the water from turquoise, to sea foam green, to royal blue was SO unreal. Once we were up up in the air we waved back to our friends who remained on the shore line! The boat driver was blasting good tunes as Deanna and I rocked out up above. He kept giving us thumbs up to make sure that we were okay. After being up in the air for a little bit of time the boat driver dipped us into the sea and we were back up in the air before in the blink of an eye! It went a lot faster than I expected to happen. We came in for a smooth landing, swam back to shore, and I was applauded by my friends for over coming my fear and actually doing it. I WENT PARASAILING OVER THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA OVERLOOKING THE FRENCH RIVIERA!!! We spent the rest of the day relaxing on the beach. Around 6 o'clock we headed back to the hotel to freshen up before venturing out to find a place for dinner. Once we all showered and rejuvenated with power naps we headed out to venture through the streets of Nice for the evening! We found a happening street that was filled with restaurants, bakeries, gelaterias, and shops. Along the street people were playing music and painting. We saw  a guy in the street spray painting on canvas using only news paper and duck tape to help blend it. We indulged in a delicious dinner that was concluded with creme brulee! The creme brulee was absolutely delicious, by far the best I have ever had! After dinner we walked into what was considered Old Nice. We walked through a giant plaza  that was decorated with colorful lights where we saw a Michael Jackson impersonator and a group of break dancers. We ended our night with sharing a drink at a pub.

Getting PUMPED!

And we are off...

UP, UP, & AWAY!

I DID IT!

Sunday morning we met in the hotel dinning room as we had done the previous morning. We were kinda disappointed when our breakfast for the past two mornings consisted of a croissant and a piece of a french baguette.  We checked out of the hotel by 10am, got on the bus, and headed Cannes for the day! Once arriving in Cannes we were pleasantly surprised to find sandy beaches! We spent the day on the beach and then walked along by the port before getting lunch. Cannes is well known for their mussels, so we could not leave Cannes without eating any! For lunch we ate mussels in a garlic white wine sauce. They were very fresh and mmm mmm good!  After basking in the sun for what may be the last time this season, we boarded the bus to head back home to Florence. The bus ride home was a headache in itself. A 6 hour bus ride turned into a 8.5 hours due to lots of traffic. I felt like I was back home sitting in traffic on the Belt Pkwy. Although the trip home was a nightmare this weekend was one to remember! I got to visit places I've never been before, I got to parasail over the Mediterranean Sea, and most importantly I came home with a tan! This weekend was definitely one to remember! Nice was my favorite destination out of the three places I visited this weekend!

Cannes, France

Tour of the Santa Croce

Today with my renaissance art class we visited the Basilica di Santa Croce. The Santa Croce is the principle Franciscan Church of Florence. It is located in the Piazza Santa Croce. It is famous for its Florentine artwork. Prior to going to visit the basilica we had a lecture in class in order to understand what we would be seeing and learning from. A majority of the paintings in the Santa Croce are fresco painting done by Giotto. Fresco painting is a technique used for murals. It is executed upon freshly laid lime plaster. Water is used to create the pigment and to help blend it with the plaster. Artists had to use extreme caution when applying plaster due to how fast it dries. They would have to apply the plaster in small sections or the italian term giornatas. Some of the older paintings you could notice the different giornatas.  The ceiling of the basilica is a wooden trust ceiling. The Santa Croce is filled with little family chapels along the sides, and floor slabs dedicated to families. The belltower of the Santa Croce is not a functioning belltower. This reminded me of the belltower back on hawkhill that is also not a functioning belltower. The Santa Croce is the burial ground for some of the most famous Italian artists including Michaelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli. It is sometimes referred to as the Pantheon of Florence.

The Tomb of Michaelangelo

After class was over I spent my own time exploring and observing the artwork displayed inside the basilica. It truly is amazing how much history and how long the Santa Croce has been a significant matter for the Florentine community. Before leaving the church I lit a candle and said a prayer for me, my family, and my friends. Now the weekend begins! This weekend I am heading to the French Riviera!

Gastronomic Tour & Wine Class!

Yesterday for my Mediterranean Diet class that I am taking our professor Cecilia took us on a gastronomic tour around Florence. Before departing for our mini field trip we were all given an apron that is to be worn in class each week while we prepare the dishes that are to be made. On the gastronomic tour we were able to sample a wide variety of food that has been part of the Tuscan culture since the very beginning of time.  Our first stop on our tour was the Mercato Centrale. The Mercato Centrale was much bigger than the market that I have previously blogged about. It is open Monday-Saturday from 7:00am-2:00pm. The layout of the Mercato Centrale is all separated depending upon the type or variety of food. All of the food is group together by fish, meat, fresh fruits & veggies, fresh flowers, grains, and pastries. The aroma when you enter the market is very overwhelming getting a wiff of something different depending upon which way you turn. Our first stop in the market was to one of the meat stations. A delicacy in the Tuscan region when it comes to meat is tripe. For those of you who do not know what tripe is, it is cows stomach. It is usually boiled in water and then prepared with spices and served. You can also serve it chopped up cold in a salad mixed with fresh vegetables drizzled with olive oil and your vinegar of choice. We may have the opportunity to try it in class before the end of the semester. I worked up the courage to try pigeon, so maybe if I mentally prepare myself I will find myself able to try the tripe as well. The next stop of our tour was a Paneria, meaning a bread shop. While there we sampled three different kinds of flat bread. One was plain, another seasoned with italian herbs, and one which included green olives. My favorite out of the three was the seasoned flat bread. When you took a bite of it there was an explosion of flavor in your mouth!  Next on the list of things to try was apple juice. But this was not your ordinary Mott's apple juice that you would by off the shelf in the supermarket. It tasted as if I was biting directly into an apple minus the crunch. Since there was no added sugars or preservatives it tasted so fresh and refreshing. It was the best apple juice I have ever had! Next we sampled apple bread and strudel. The strudel just melted like butter as soon as it touched your tongue. It tasted so good that I could have probably eaten an entire one all by myself. Following that we tried two different kinds of biscotti, an italian specialty. The first biscotti was vanilla almond and the second one was chocolate pistachio. Needless to say they were both to die for! Next we sampled homemade mustards. I am not a fan of mustard to begin with, but I was told that this mustard is not like the mustard that we have back home. I sampled an herb mustard on a piece of peccorino cheese. It was good, but not my favorite. Amongst the balsamic vinegar, there are several other vinegars to choose from. Italians of the Tuscan region use the different vinegars as salad dressings or even put it on their gelato! Some of the vinegars we tried were bloody-orange, apple-orange, and chocolate. They were different, but surprisingly delicious.

Tripe - Cow's Stomach

Next stop on the tour was a gelateria! It was perfect day for gelato considering how hot it was! Our professor took us to one of the best known gelato places in all of Florence called Grom. Gelato flavors that are available depend upon what is in season. I have had quite a few experiences with gelato since I have been here, but this has by far been the best and creamiest I have tasted so far! I  had tiramisu and crema. Crema is the Italian version of vanilla. The waffle cone was so crispy and fresh as if it had just been made.

Our gastronomic tour concluded at a wine and snack bar called Uscio & Bottega. While there we sampled a hard and a soft cheese with honey like we had done previously in class. After sampling some cheese, we tried prosciutto di parma. Prosciutto is the Italian version of ham and it comes from the leg of a pig. It was the best prosciutto I have ever tasted. Next we sampled salami, which contained pieces of black pepper and had a little spicy kick to it. It was suggested to wrap a piece of fig in the salami and eat it in that manner. The prosciutto was my favorite thing that we sampled at the wine and snack bar. They make paninis of your choice there so I will probably be going back there to indulge in deliciousness! I can't wait for class next week so I can put on my apron and cook our first recipe of Paella la Valenciana!  

Today in wine class we discussed red wine vs. white wine and the steps that go into completing the wine process. The process of making wine starts with the grape harvest. But the grapes that go into making wine are more than just a grape growing on a vine. The grape and the finished product of bottled wine symbolize 365 hard days of work, dedication, culture, tradition, and the land which it originates from. Today we specifically focused on Sangiovese. After having a lecture we we did a blind taste testing. The wine bottles were covered so we had to depict from sight, smell, taste, and color which of the three glasses of wine was Sangiovese. Sangiovese is generally aged in wooden barrels.  It is high in acidity and usually has a moderate transparent color.  It is typically made out of flowers specifically violets and roses. I was able to use the 4s: see, sniff, sip, and summarize in order to depict the Sangiovese. 

Cinque Terre!

Yesterday we went on our first day trip to Cinque Terre. Cinque Terre is part of  the Italian Riviera. Cinque Terre translates to five hills. Cinque Terre is made up of the five villages Monterosso al Mare,Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. We all boarded the bus and departed Florence at 7:30 am. It was a 2 hour long bus ride and dropped us off the train station in La Spezia. From La Spezia we all crammed into the train like smushed sardines. After a short 7 minute train ride we arrived in the first village. The view from the train was like a breath of fresh air. The suns reflection was gleaming and glistening off the Mediterranean Sea. The color of the water was indescribable as it seemed to just blend in where the sky met the horizon line. We had a little time to explore the first village before departing for the second one. We headed down the water where we watched people cliff jump, swim, and sun bathe themselves on the rocks. It was then time to head to the second village. In order to get there we had to cross the via dell'amore. It is a trail between Riomaggiore and Manarola that connects the two villages. Back in time it was very rare for people to marry from other villages. The trail became a permanent connection between the villages. The trail is covered with padlocks with loved ones names on it. After writing names on the lock the loved ones are supposed to close the lock and throw away the key in order to symbolize their everlasting love for one another. After making it to the end of the trail we reached the second village where it was time to go swimming! The beach was not your typical sand beach, but instead a beach made of big rocks and concrete! I worked up the courage to jump off the big rocks and dove into the Mediterranean Sea! The water was so refreshing considering how warm it was yesterday. The water was also so much saltier compared to the Atlantic Ocean back home. The water was so clear that you could see the bottom of the water and the fish swimming around you although it was probably 25 feet deep. Standing on top of the big rocks made me feel like I was on top of the world! Cinque Terre is known for their pesto sauce. For lunch I had pesto pizza, which was absolutely delicious. I am not a big fan of pesto, but the sauce was the best I have ever had!

After swimming around and soaking up some sun we headed to the third village by way of train. After having arrived at the third village we had the option of hiking or taking the train to get to the fourth village. Needless to say I took on the challenge of hiking! After walking up 382 steps it was a good warm up for the hike that was about to begin. The hike took about an hour and a half and was along, through, up, and down the cliff. It was a good workout and the views that we saw left you speechless. I do not think that I have ever sweat so much in my life. By the time we reached the final stretch of the hike all I wanted was an ice cold bottle of water and to jump back into the sea! Once having reached the fourth village and feeling accomplish we rewarded ourselves with just that! We got to spend about an hour in the fourth village swimming around, jumping off more rocks, and relaxing after that treacherous hike. Last but not least we took the train to the fifth island where the beach was awaiting our arrival!

This beach was much different from the beaches in the previous villages and the long island beaches at home. Instead of sand there were millions and millions of pebbles including in the water. It was actually really painful on your feet and hard to walk on. There were two different sections of the beach the public side and the private side. We all laid our towels down on the sand made of pebbles and soaked up the warmth of the sun. After laying on the beach for a little while we decided to walk into the center of town in the village. While walking to the village we bought some fresh coconut from a vendor on the beach! I was expecting it to be cold and refreshing almost like an italian ice. Unfortunately, I was rather disappointed because it had no flavor and was hard like cardboard. After a a fun, but exhausting day it was time to head back to Firenze! We all passed out on the long bus ride home. Once we had arrived back home we were surprised by the decorations Cait and Michele had put up to kick off Deanna's birthday celebration! We sang BUON CUMPLEANO to her, got ready, and headed out to ring in Deanna's 20th birthdayy! The bar we went to had a balcony on the second floor and when it turned midnight Cait announed it to the Duomo square and they all sang happy birthday to Deanna! We concluded the night with taking pictures in the photo booth on the street. We all came home and fell fast asleep as soon as our heads hit the pillow. This morning we all slept in, got up, and all cooked Deanna a special birthday breakfast. Today consisted of going grocery shopping, doing some homework, and skyping with my family! Tonight a group of 17 of us went out to dinner  to the Mexican restaurant on our street called Tijuana. I know you are probably thinking who the heck goes to a Mexican restaurant in Italy, but when cravings call they need to be fulfilled. It was surprisingly really good and hit the spot! After dinner we came home and let our food digest in order to make some room for gelato! After a weekend full of lots of fun now it is time for bed in order to prepare for the second week of classes which begins tomorrow!

Four Day Weekends!

It is going to take some time to adjust to the three day school week and a four day weekend. I mean I am not complaining whatsoever but I keep getting my days mixed up! Wednesday night a bunch of people from my program all went out together to celebrate the completion of our first week of class! We started off at a bar called Shots Cafe where the American dollar is accepted and equivalent to 1 euro. After mingling with some friends we headed to a club called twenty-one. It was packed wall to wall with American college students. It was so beyond HOT in there that there was condensation running down the walls. Considering we burned off lots of calories dancing the night away we rewarded ourselves by using our sense of smell to find the secret  bakery that I have heard so much about. I  indulged in a fresh hot out of the oven and still warm croissant filled with a rich chocolate filling. Needless to say my stomach fell in love!

Thursday morning it was so nice not to be awoken by the sound of an alarm clock going off. After sleeping in and catching up on some sleep we walked down our street to a little restaurant called The Diner. It is your typical American diner, with a wide menu selection and american sized portions. The atmosphere inside the diner made for a fun experience! We even received a 10% discount for being students! Since I've been a diner girl for so long it made me feel right at home! After filling our bellies my roommates and I started to do some of the massive amounts of reading that was assigned for our various classes. We decided to treat ourselves to a night out on the town for dinner at Florence University of the Arts restaurant Ganzo. Every Thursday night they have a set menu in which the students from the cooking school Apicius prepare and cook. Every Thursday there is a different theme behind the six course meal and is explained to you when the food is being served. Last nights theme was the Renaissance era. We tried dishes that would have been served during those times.  Upon arrival we were shown what the set menu was going to be. After having read the menu I was a little nervous as to what was going to be served. I promised myself I would not allow the opportunity to pass me by and to just go with it for the full experience. The food choices on the menu were not things that I would have ordered for myself. Along with the dinner they served both red and white wine and unlimited water. We tried to use the things we had learned in wine class earlier in the week to analyze the wine as we tasted it.

The first dish was sole with orange, lemon and parsley. I am not usually a big fan of fish, but the fruit that was served with it created an explosion of flavor.

The second dish was the one that scared me the most. The second dish being served was pigeon made with spices. I tried to not think about what I was actually eating and gave it a shot. Surprisingly it was delicious. It was a very tender meat very much like duck would taste. I do not know if I would order it again, but I am proud of myself for trying it.

The third dish being served was an onion and shallot tart. This was probably my favorite out of the first three dishes. It reminded me very much of a quiche.

The main course being served was duck served in a citrus sauce. 

Next they served a passion fruit ice cream. The ice cream was very tart and reminded me of a mango sorbet. It was a refreshing way to cleanse the pallet after trying so many different dishes.

Last they served a marquise with chili and chocolate. I would have never guessed to mix sweet and spicy, but it made for an interesting combination. The first bite you took was sweet and the after taste left your mouth on fire. Luckily they served vanilla ice cream to help with the spiciness!

It truly was a fun and interesting experience to have. I was adventurous in trying new things and had a few good laughs along the way. I would definitely go back on another Thursday night to indulge in another unique dinning experience!

Today Mary and I went on a little adventure. We ventured over to the famous Ponte Vecchio. Ponte Vecchio translates to old bridge. It is the only original bridge that remains in Florence. The bridge is located overlooking the Arno River and is filled with lots and lots of jewelry shops. Also located on the bridge is a iron fence on which people have attached locks with their loved ones name on it and then have thrown away the key. This reminded me of the lock of love fence that I saw when I was in Rome. We further ventured to the other side of the city and found ourselves at the Palazzo Pitti and received free entrance due to our student museum card. We hiked up the steep stairs to get an amazing view that overlooked all of Florence. The surrounding gardens and fountains made it seem so serene. Depending upon which way you looked you either saw the Duomo and the rest of the city or the hills of the Tuscan region. We then proceeded to head to the student center to print out our homework that is due on Monday morning. After returning back to our apartment we proceeded to continue to be studious.

Tonight a bunch of us walked up to the Piazza di Michaelangelo just in time to watch the sunset. Amongst us we shared a bottle of wine, laughter, and sang along to the music that was being played. We overlooked the beautiful city which we now call home! Once  it became dusk we headed home. We all then proceeded to pack our bags in order to get ready for our trip tomorrow to Cinque Terre, which I could not be more excited about!