Ciao from Italia! Before my trip, I was so excited to have something new to write about...but I’ve spent almost two weeks here and I haven’t written at all! I think for the first time in my life, I’ve found what it means to live totally in the moment. Either that or I was too lazy...tanning and enjoying scenery really takes a lot out of me ;) I planned to write a separate blog post about each city my family visited, but obviously that didn’t happen. So instead, I’ll summarize everything into a long post!
Roma
My grandparents have been planning a large family trip to Italy for a year now. They paid for my entire family on my dad’s side to stay in a CASTLE in Tuscany. I know, I can’t believe it either. Talk about a dream vacation that doesn’t happen in real life. We flew into Rome on the 8th of July. Although I was extremely jet lagged, I was still able to enjoy our short time in the amazing city. We did a whirlwind tour of the famous places before joining our family at the castle. We will be returning at the end of our vacation for a couple days before flying out, and I can’t wait to go back - Rome has become one of my favorite cities. It was exactly as I imagined it. Colorful buildings, countless historical sites, and small, winding alleys with charming restaurants...unlike any city I have ever been to.
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| enlarge I kept thinking about how busy, dirty, and grey other cities seem compared to Rome. The Romans have kept 2,000 year old buildings alive. The streets are still cobblestone. Every building seems stately and important. There is a fountain in every square. Street vendors line every pathway, and motorcycles race by on every road. The city is so obviously European, but different because of the remarkable culture. |
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| enlarge Christopher and I throwing pennies into the Fontana di Trevi, the Colosseum, my mom and I at the Vatican |
Toscana
I discovered more of this Italian lifestyle in Tuscany. I spent the first couple of days in the castle in awe. Every time I tried to take in the view from our back patio, I felt like my mind wasn’t able to process that much beauty per square inch. I was living in a painting...totally unreal. Everything I had been vying for all year long - carrying me through exams, projects, and days wasted in school - was finally there. I was reunited with my cousins, who I only get to see once a year. We would eat dinner outside as a huge family, laughing while watching the sun go down behind the hills of perfectly lined farms. Sounds like a cliche movie, but honestly it was so nice to be in a beautiful place with beautiful people. Nothing to do but tan, eat, talk, and sightsee. What’s more, I was introduced to the concept of siesta time - from 1 to 4 every day, Italians relax. Shops and offices close. People nap. Siesta time is very descriptive of the Italian attitude - enjoying life is the most important thing.
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| enlarge Top left: the castle we stayed in Top Right: my artsy take on Italian meals Bottom Left: my cousin Emma and I dancing on the castle grounds Bottom Right: Emma, Marina, and I |
Siena
While staying in the castle, we took a couple of day trips to the cities nearby. Our first trip was to Siena - a small, medieval city in Tuscany. The history was prominent in the architecture and detail of the buildings. Unlike Rome, there was a lack of color to the surrounding. Every structure followed the Gothic brownstone design. Tiny streets wound between these buildings, and broke apart suddenly for a church or public square. The main piazza was a fan shaped area that used to be a forum - it had 9 segments that symbolize 9 different governing counsels, and led down to a cathedral and tower.
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| enlarge Although it sounds boring and historical to some, I have some amazing memories from Siena. Most of the family traveled with us on the day trip, and we enjoyed authentic Italian cappuccinos and nutella crepes. The busy piazza was full of street vendors, tourists sitting on the fan, and children running around with flags (flags were sold everywhere around the city, symbolizing the 9 rival districts). Again I saw the old Italian culture mixed in with modern life - the medieval feel was preserved despite the trendy shops lining the streets. We also went to a market, where hundreds of tents were selling cloths, bags, and food. Siena was probably the closest experience of the Italian lifestyle we saw. A couple of days later, my cousins and I got to experience the nightlife of Siena. After getting gelato, we returned to the main piazza which seemed like a new place. Restaurants were turned into bars, and the fan turned into a social scene. If you know me well, you know that one of my lifelong dreams has been to light a floating lantern. While sitting outside, I noticed a tour group doing just that. I grabbed my cousin Marina and ran down to see if we could try. A precious old man was smiling up at the lanterns getting higher and higher into the stars, but not lighting his own. We asked if we could help him, and he agreed! It was the most amazing, magical experience, and I will never forget it. We also met some new friends who were natives of Siena, and tried to learn about their lives (they only spoke a little bit of English, Marina only spoke a little bit of Italian!). It was a night filled with new experiences - which is of course the best kind! |
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Firenze
The next day trip was to Florence! This time it was just me, my mom, and my dad. Florence was definitely more open than Siena, as well as more modern. I was not very impressed after getting off the train - it seemed dirty and boring. However, after walking deeper into the city my opinion changed. The buildings started getting more colorful, the shops became more homestyle, and the culture became uncovered. Past the small boutiques and markets, the streets opened up by the water. The Arno River is absolutely beautiful, lined with houses that put Tuscan hues - yellows and reds - in their place. A large bridge runs across the river, providing some medieval history to the city. Florence is famous for its jewelry stores, and has been since its origins. The entire bridge features shoulder-to-shoulder jewelry shops, built out of wood and gothic architecture. Past these shops are high fashion, modern names. Gucci, Fendi, Versace...all the Italian designers! Following the river brought us to the Ufitzi - one of the most famous art galleries. The line was too long to get in, but its large outdoor courtyard was just fine for us. Dozens of watercolor artists were set up in the courtyard. My mom collects watercolors from the cities she visits, so of course we had to buy some! We met the sweetest woman who had been selling her art by the Ufitzi for thirty years. The woman went school for graphic design - which is what I will be studying this fall at JMU! I learned that when she was my age, her family went on a trip to Florence and she just knew that her future was in this place. I felt the most amazing connection with this total stranger, who actually followed her childhood dream. It gave me hope - there are still people in the world that work for pleasure rather than money. There are people like me, who can visit a foreign place and feel more at home than in their birthplace. What’s more - I saw numerous design school posters around Florence. Maybe I will be returning to this beautiful, artistic, and distinctive city ;)
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Cortona
We moved out of the castle after a week (Saturday, July 16th) and made a villa in Cortona our home for the week to follow. Although living in the castle was an unforgettable experience, moving was exciting. All of us were in the same house - creating the huge family craziness I love so much. Suntanning together, watching movies, and staying up late talking - oh how I love my cousins! We were closer to civilization - the town of Cortona (and we were away from the heat and bugs!!). Cortona is one of the oldest hill towns in Tuscany, built high above the plains as a method of defense. The town is quite like Siena, but the streets are wider and there is a leather purse shop everywhere you look! Days in Cortona were spent sipping iced cappuccinos in a cafe, shopping for staple Italian fashions, and admiring the view. At night the entire family went out for gelato, enjoyed people watching, and photographed the golden-lit streets while walking. It was a great place for our huge family of 20! However, the most interesting part of Cortona is the travel up and down its hill. There are actually escalators built into the land! Additionally, sunflower farms cover the entire journey into town - making it the remarkable Tuscany I expected.
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| enlarge Top Left: house we stayed in the second week Top Middle: my cousin Claire looking at all of the bags Top Right: streets and hills of Cortona Bottom Left: Emma and I listening to music on the church steps Bottom Right: all of my cousins on a night out in Cortona |
The last significant part of Cortona would be meeting extended family. My grandma’s cousin Jeff has family living in the farmland near Cortona. Our large group made a journey over to his daughter’s house. We got lost in the countryside, but it was so beautiful we didn’t mind at all. Jeff’s daughters and grandchildren were at the house, so I got to meet a lot of extended family! It’s amazing that I didn’t know about the connections I have in a place I’ve only dreamed about. Both of Jeff’s daughters grew up in England, but settled in Italy not knowing a word of the language - another little piece of hope for me! Jeff’s daughter, Helen, put on an Italian meal for us and we all got to know each other. We taught them about life in America/England, and they told us about life in Italy. His other daughter, Penny, invited me to her house by the sea. I will definitely be taking her up on that...whether she was serious or not!! I’m so happy to have met distant relatives, and can’t wait to spend some of my future with them.
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| enlarge Top Left: Claire and I clueless and lost! Top Right: beautiful Tuscan sunflowers Bottom: all of us with our extended family! |
Venezia
Last but not least, we visited Venice. I can’t choose which destination was my favorite in Italy, but I know Venice is up there. There is just nothing like a city where water replaces roads. The scenery is stunning and new everywhere you look. Streets are solely for pedestrians since they are broken up by water every block - a nice change from the busy streets in other cities! It’s fascinating the way streets go through buildings, turn into bridges, duck into alleys, and almost disappear between buildings. Somehow hundreds of shops were built in between canals, as well as beautiful hotels, cute restaurants, and colorful apartment buildings. The Grand Canal is also an amazing sight. All of the canals are filled with gondolas and water taxis, but the Grand Canal is like a New York City street in water form. Many boats speed by the vivid, intricate buildings and churches. I have nothing but good things to say about Venice. My family described me as “bouncing up and down in excitement”, not letting go of the camera for a second. I just love the whole unique atmosphere, and will definitely be returning in the future.
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Tomorrow we will go to Rome and fly out of Italy. I knew before the vacation that it would be a trip of a lifetime. But I didn’t know that I would fall in love. I love Italy, I love the lifestyle, I love food, I love family, I love life. I cannot wait to keep traveling, discovering, and falling in love. I realized that I can do anything I want with my future, because it really is a sweet life...
