Ciao Bella!
I've just returned from the most wonderful 5 days in Italy - a truly amazing and beautiful place, that I am SO extremely happy I got to visit, because Italy is magnifique!
I know - I didn't blog live, but why would I spend time on the internet when I am in Italy for a mere 5 days!? But I will try to make my re-cap blog just as vivid as my documented trip in my travel journal! Which is nearly filled!
So, to re-cap: I JUST HAD THE BEST 5 DAYS!!
After my last, abruptly-ended post, Dyne and I went for an "aperitivo"! This means you go to a restuarant and you order a drink, and then you eat as much as you want of the delicious italian buffet! Why does Paris not do this! Why does the US not do this? It's amazing! I got a Negroni, because I knew my sister Amanda loved them, and because they are Italian thing - and you know, when in Rome....!
Dyne took me to a cute little place called Obio!
Since Dyne had class all day Thursday, and a date with her cute Italian boy, I decided to go to Roma! I took the 8am train, and was in by 9:30, when I bought a guide book at the train station - and off I went! I was THRILLED to be in Rome! I get this rush of excitement when I get somewhere new - even if it's just a new NYC restaurant. So you can only imagine the level of excitement I had upon arriving in one of the most exciting cities in the world!
What I did next, may make my mother the proudest of me she has ever been. I bought a ticket for the double decker tour bus of Rome, and hopped on! My mom LOVES those buses. She made my dad ride it 3 times in a row with her when they were in Italy, and she goes everytime she comes to visit me in NYC. I usually hate these bus tours - because I would rather walk around and experience things on my own - but, since Rome is huge, and I only had 1 day to see as much as I possibly could - I thought it would actually be a "good one"! So, I boarded - and the amazingness began!
I wish I could have bought one of these for Moeski!
It was a gorgeous day! Clear, blue, at least 70 degrees! I was standing on the top of the bus, blonde hair blowing the wind and coat off - snapping photos like a crazed tourist within minutes of boarding! My first view from the bus was of the colosseum, and I basically made a small scene by completely freaking out as we passed right next to it, and continued past the Circus and Palantino! It is breathtaking! I instantly made a friend on the bus of course! A goofy, old, Irish man and his wife, Jannette. We bonded over having problems getting our informational headsets to speak in English! He was quite histerical - I could have paled around with him all day! But I had to leave him when the bus pulled up at Saint Peters Square, because I was being drawn to it like I'm drawn to cupcakes in the window of Billys!
When I actually was standing in the middle, looking at the Vatican - my eyes filled up with tears and I was completely overcome with how amazing it was! I don't know what happened to me! I was so upset with myself for not having enough time to go inside - but I only had 10 hours to see as much as I could, and the line was wrapped around the square! So I went on to my next stop - Trevi Fountain! Which needs it's own moment of silence! Trevi Fountain... I am completely in love you! I wish I could spend an hour everyday just sitting on your steps, eating gelato and being happy! If there was a most beautiful fountain in the world award - I would nominate you, and sutff the ballot box to ensure that you won!
So after gawking there for awhile, I forced myself to other sites of Roma! The Panthenon, Spanish Steps, the piazzas! Thanks to the bus, I got to see just about all the sites that day! The bus is actually good! I was in complete awe when I got inside the palantino, walking around the ancient ruins! I was just in time to watch the sunset over the city! I wish I could have seen my face all day - because I must have looked ridiculous with my jaw dropped to the floor and eyes huge, gazing at everything like it was a dream and shouting words of admiration!
I took the bus on a night loop, so I could see all the lights of Rome, which was incredible! I was so sad when I got to the train station! I was an hour early to make sure I didn't miss my train back to Florence, since it was the last one of the night. This is where speaking Italian would have come in handy! I did not know how to read the boards! Turns out, I was looking at the wrong board the whole time, and missed my train! So at 9pm, I realized I was stuck in Rome for the night!
Now I won't lie - I had a mild moment of panic. I called Josh, travel expert and boyfriend extraordinaire! But then I realized.... I'm trapped - IN ROME! Not such a bad situation to be in! So, being resourceful and smart like I am, I went into the train bookstore, found a guide to Rome, looked up a nice hotel by St. Peter's Square, and a metro ride later I was checking into a little room at the Hotel Amalia!
I truly believe it was divine intervention. All I kept saying all day was "I wish I had more time here! I want to see the Vatican!" So, God helped me out a bit and made it happen. It was the best accident ever because THE VATICAN WAS AMAZING! Again, tears upon entering! Why? You tell me! Perhaps I am just more emotional when I travel than I usually am! Perhaps it's because I was standing in the middle of the center of the Christian world! Perhaps it was a little of both! Whatever the reason, it was incredible!
After wandering around the basilica for hours, and starring at every statue and tomb in the grottos, I went to see the Sistine Chapel. The Vatican museum does not make it easy for you to get to the Sistine Chapel! It's like they want to be sure you're not just trying to see that and then leave! I had to maze through the entire museum before I finally was standing underneath the "Creation of Adam". I stayed there at least an hour. Just starring at the ceiling, jaw dropped, admiring how the colors and the figures of the fresco pop off the ceiling and come to life before your eyes. It is truly masterpiece.
I visited the inside of the Colosseum next, which was so cool! I love being in things that are just unfathomably old! It's incredible! I also had time to go to the Piazza Bocca de la Verita, where I stuck my hand in the stone face's mouth - just like in the movie "Only You"! Which if you haven't seen - you need to because it is an old family favorite, and it takes place in Rome! If you haven't seen Roman Holiday - you shouldn't be reading this blog. Just stop - now! You're no longer welcome here!
So I spent the rest of my beautiful, Roman, day number two seeing everything I hadn't and eating gelato! Ohhhhh the gelato stands in Italy! It is just about every other shop is a gelato stand. I was in creamy heaven! I got 2 gelatos in Rome, and 2 in Florence. I think Rome is the winner though. I tried pistachio, carmel, nutella, black cherry, and melting chocolate in Roma! ALL delicious!
First cone of the day. She actually asked me if I wanted whipped cream! HA! What a silly question!
Second cone, eaten at Trevi at night! I loved the mini cone on top!
After saying arrivederci to Roma, and successfully making it ON my second train - I was soon back in Florence, with Dyne! After Dyne cooked up a delicious, italian pasta dish, we went out dancing to celebrate my successful return at a place called YAB. I expected techno or italian music, but was very surprised when I instead got to start a dance party to the Michael Jackson music blasting when we got in! We instantly made friends with some italians and had a blast dancing off all our pasta!
The next afternoon was one of the most fun and unique things I've ever done! We went up in the hills to Ponte a Ema to pick olives! The FIT florence coordinator lives up in the hills outside Florence, and has 400 olive trees that she was in the middle of harvesting! So with the rolling hills of Florence and a golden sun as our background, we spent the afternoon picking olives from the trees! When we were finished we went inside for a "snack" she had prepared for us.
The "snack" turned out to be an italian feast of bread, flatbread, foccacia, bruschetta (that I helped make!) prosciutto, salami, giant olives, fresh Roma tomatoes, mozzarella, wine, and olive oil from her trees that she pressed ONE week ago! The olive oil was incredible! I didn't know olive oil could taste like that! It was life changing, I can never look at store bought EVOO again! After we were all stuffed of italian deliciousness, she brought out the chewiest, most delicious biscotti I have ever had, and dessert wine! There is always room for dessert, and dessert wine!
P.S. This whole feast was taking place in the cutest little italian country home in the hills!
We left offically STUFFED! We needed a nap before waking up and going to dance it all off again, with Dyne's italian boy and all his friends - who only speak italian! Well, aside from being able to say "I don't speak English!" So, it made conversation quite limited and restricted me to sign language to communicate, but it was lots of fun!! You don't need to be able to talk to have a crazy fun dance party!
Now I need to take a moment to admire my friend Dyne. Dyne is so adorable! She is nearly fluent in Italian after like 1 year of classes, and she seems to know everyone in Florence! All her friends are Italian, and she is truly making the most of being in Italy! Not to mention she is the best host ever! She referred to me all weekend as her VIP guest, and I sure felt like one! It was so fun to see her, to get to see Florence, and to get to meet all her friends! I wish I could go to Florence for the Spring when I'm forced to leave Paris! It would help soothe the pain!
My last day - I got a "Last (Italian) Supper" with Dyne. A mozzarella pizza, and a pear and gorgonzola calzone....I know, right?! There are not even words! Then Dyne took me to the original GROM, like they have in the west village in NYC, for a final gelato! Now I've never been there in NY, but this was amazing! Soooo creamy! We licked our way through the giant cones as we wandered through the cute Florence streets, back to the apt to get my bag.
I was quite sad on my flight back! I wish I had more time there! I had such an amazing time in Italy! It was the one place I said I had to see while I was here, and I am so thankful I got to go. I have already made a list of the places I need to return to, which currently includes Venice, Naples, and Capri. I want to improve my Italian first though! It would be nice to know more than 5 words before my next visit!
So, I know what you're thinking. Does this mean that the Blonde Parisienne likes Italy better than France?
Well mes amis, comparing France to Italy, is like comparing Billys to Buttercup! They are both wonderful! Both can fullfill your buttercream craving, and make you want to come back for more! But when people ask, what is the best? I say Billys, and I say Paris!
This morning as I was walking through the light rain, eating my just-baked, buttery, crossiant, and admiring the view of the Eiffel Tower as I headed to my French class - I knew that no place takes my breath away like Paris, no sight give me chills that compare to the ones I get looking at la Tour, and no scoop of gelato compares to a Pierre Hermes macaron! So - Paris will always have my heart.
I am, afterall, la Blonde Parisienne!
I've just returned from the most wonderful 5 days in Italy - a truly amazing and beautiful place, that I am SO extremely happy I got to visit, because Italy is magnifique!
I know - I didn't blog live, but why would I spend time on the internet when I am in Italy for a mere 5 days!? But I will try to make my re-cap blog just as vivid as my documented trip in my travel journal! Which is nearly filled!
So, to re-cap: I JUST HAD THE BEST 5 DAYS!!
After my last, abruptly-ended post, Dyne and I went for an "aperitivo"! This means you go to a restuarant and you order a drink, and then you eat as much as you want of the delicious italian buffet! Why does Paris not do this! Why does the US not do this? It's amazing! I got a Negroni, because I knew my sister Amanda loved them, and because they are Italian thing - and you know, when in Rome....!
Dyne took me to a cute little place called Obio!
Since Dyne had class all day Thursday, and a date with her cute Italian boy, I decided to go to Roma! I took the 8am train, and was in by 9:30, when I bought a guide book at the train station - and off I went! I was THRILLED to be in Rome! I get this rush of excitement when I get somewhere new - even if it's just a new NYC restaurant. So you can only imagine the level of excitement I had upon arriving in one of the most exciting cities in the world!
What I did next, may make my mother the proudest of me she has ever been. I bought a ticket for the double decker tour bus of Rome, and hopped on! My mom LOVES those buses. She made my dad ride it 3 times in a row with her when they were in Italy, and she goes everytime she comes to visit me in NYC. I usually hate these bus tours - because I would rather walk around and experience things on my own - but, since Rome is huge, and I only had 1 day to see as much as I possibly could - I thought it would actually be a "good one"! So, I boarded - and the amazingness began!
I wish I could have bought one of these for Moeski!
It was a gorgeous day! Clear, blue, at least 70 degrees! I was standing on the top of the bus, blonde hair blowing the wind and coat off - snapping photos like a crazed tourist within minutes of boarding! My first view from the bus was of the colosseum, and I basically made a small scene by completely freaking out as we passed right next to it, and continued past the Circus and Palantino! It is breathtaking! I instantly made a friend on the bus of course! A goofy, old, Irish man and his wife, Jannette. We bonded over having problems getting our informational headsets to speak in English! He was quite histerical - I could have paled around with him all day! But I had to leave him when the bus pulled up at Saint Peters Square, because I was being drawn to it like I'm drawn to cupcakes in the window of Billys!
When I actually was standing in the middle, looking at the Vatican - my eyes filled up with tears and I was completely overcome with how amazing it was! I don't know what happened to me! I was so upset with myself for not having enough time to go inside - but I only had 10 hours to see as much as I could, and the line was wrapped around the square! So I went on to my next stop - Trevi Fountain! Which needs it's own moment of silence! Trevi Fountain... I am completely in love you! I wish I could spend an hour everyday just sitting on your steps, eating gelato and being happy! If there was a most beautiful fountain in the world award - I would nominate you, and sutff the ballot box to ensure that you won!
So after gawking there for awhile, I forced myself to other sites of Roma! The Panthenon, Spanish Steps, the piazzas! Thanks to the bus, I got to see just about all the sites that day! The bus is actually good! I was in complete awe when I got inside the palantino, walking around the ancient ruins! I was just in time to watch the sunset over the city! I wish I could have seen my face all day - because I must have looked ridiculous with my jaw dropped to the floor and eyes huge, gazing at everything like it was a dream and shouting words of admiration!
I took the bus on a night loop, so I could see all the lights of Rome, which was incredible! I was so sad when I got to the train station! I was an hour early to make sure I didn't miss my train back to Florence, since it was the last one of the night. This is where speaking Italian would have come in handy! I did not know how to read the boards! Turns out, I was looking at the wrong board the whole time, and missed my train! So at 9pm, I realized I was stuck in Rome for the night!
Now I won't lie - I had a mild moment of panic. I called Josh, travel expert and boyfriend extraordinaire! But then I realized.... I'm trapped - IN ROME! Not such a bad situation to be in! So, being resourceful and smart like I am, I went into the train bookstore, found a guide to Rome, looked up a nice hotel by St. Peter's Square, and a metro ride later I was checking into a little room at the Hotel Amalia!
I truly believe it was divine intervention. All I kept saying all day was "I wish I had more time here! I want to see the Vatican!" So, God helped me out a bit and made it happen. It was the best accident ever because THE VATICAN WAS AMAZING! Again, tears upon entering! Why? You tell me! Perhaps I am just more emotional when I travel than I usually am! Perhaps it's because I was standing in the middle of the center of the Christian world! Perhaps it was a little of both! Whatever the reason, it was incredible!
After wandering around the basilica for hours, and starring at every statue and tomb in the grottos, I went to see the Sistine Chapel. The Vatican museum does not make it easy for you to get to the Sistine Chapel! It's like they want to be sure you're not just trying to see that and then leave! I had to maze through the entire museum before I finally was standing underneath the "Creation of Adam". I stayed there at least an hour. Just starring at the ceiling, jaw dropped, admiring how the colors and the figures of the fresco pop off the ceiling and come to life before your eyes. It is truly masterpiece.
I visited the inside of the Colosseum next, which was so cool! I love being in things that are just unfathomably old! It's incredible! I also had time to go to the Piazza Bocca de la Verita, where I stuck my hand in the stone face's mouth - just like in the movie "Only You"! Which if you haven't seen - you need to because it is an old family favorite, and it takes place in Rome! If you haven't seen Roman Holiday - you shouldn't be reading this blog. Just stop - now! You're no longer welcome here!
So I spent the rest of my beautiful, Roman, day number two seeing everything I hadn't and eating gelato! Ohhhhh the gelato stands in Italy! It is just about every other shop is a gelato stand. I was in creamy heaven! I got 2 gelatos in Rome, and 2 in Florence. I think Rome is the winner though. I tried pistachio, carmel, nutella, black cherry, and melting chocolate in Roma! ALL delicious!
First cone of the day. She actually asked me if I wanted whipped cream! HA! What a silly question!
Second cone, eaten at Trevi at night! I loved the mini cone on top!
After saying arrivederci to Roma, and successfully making it ON my second train - I was soon back in Florence, with Dyne! After Dyne cooked up a delicious, italian pasta dish, we went out dancing to celebrate my successful return at a place called YAB. I expected techno or italian music, but was very surprised when I instead got to start a dance party to the Michael Jackson music blasting when we got in! We instantly made friends with some italians and had a blast dancing off all our pasta!
The next afternoon was one of the most fun and unique things I've ever done! We went up in the hills to Ponte a Ema to pick olives! The FIT florence coordinator lives up in the hills outside Florence, and has 400 olive trees that she was in the middle of harvesting! So with the rolling hills of Florence and a golden sun as our background, we spent the afternoon picking olives from the trees! When we were finished we went inside for a "snack" she had prepared for us.
The "snack" turned out to be an italian feast of bread, flatbread, foccacia, bruschetta (that I helped make!) prosciutto, salami, giant olives, fresh Roma tomatoes, mozzarella, wine, and olive oil from her trees that she pressed ONE week ago! The olive oil was incredible! I didn't know olive oil could taste like that! It was life changing, I can never look at store bought EVOO again! After we were all stuffed of italian deliciousness, she brought out the chewiest, most delicious biscotti I have ever had, and dessert wine! There is always room for dessert, and dessert wine!
P.S. This whole feast was taking place in the cutest little italian country home in the hills!
We left offically STUFFED! We needed a nap before waking up and going to dance it all off again, with Dyne's italian boy and all his friends - who only speak italian! Well, aside from being able to say "I don't speak English!" So, it made conversation quite limited and restricted me to sign language to communicate, but it was lots of fun!! You don't need to be able to talk to have a crazy fun dance party!
Now I need to take a moment to admire my friend Dyne. Dyne is so adorable! She is nearly fluent in Italian after like 1 year of classes, and she seems to know everyone in Florence! All her friends are Italian, and she is truly making the most of being in Italy! Not to mention she is the best host ever! She referred to me all weekend as her VIP guest, and I sure felt like one! It was so fun to see her, to get to see Florence, and to get to meet all her friends! I wish I could go to Florence for the Spring when I'm forced to leave Paris! It would help soothe the pain!
My last day - I got a "Last (Italian) Supper" with Dyne. A mozzarella pizza, and a pear and gorgonzola calzone....I know, right?! There are not even words! Then Dyne took me to the original GROM, like they have in the west village in NYC, for a final gelato! Now I've never been there in NY, but this was amazing! Soooo creamy! We licked our way through the giant cones as we wandered through the cute Florence streets, back to the apt to get my bag.
I was quite sad on my flight back! I wish I had more time there! I had such an amazing time in Italy! It was the one place I said I had to see while I was here, and I am so thankful I got to go. I have already made a list of the places I need to return to, which currently includes Venice, Naples, and Capri. I want to improve my Italian first though! It would be nice to know more than 5 words before my next visit!
So, I know what you're thinking. Does this mean that the Blonde Parisienne likes Italy better than France?
Well mes amis, comparing France to Italy, is like comparing Billys to Buttercup! They are both wonderful! Both can fullfill your buttercream craving, and make you want to come back for more! But when people ask, what is the best? I say Billys, and I say Paris!
This morning as I was walking through the light rain, eating my just-baked, buttery, crossiant, and admiring the view of the Eiffel Tower as I headed to my French class - I knew that no place takes my breath away like Paris, no sight give me chills that compare to the ones I get looking at la Tour, and no scoop of gelato compares to a Pierre Hermes macaron! So - Paris will always have my heart.
I am, afterall, la Blonde Parisienne!
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