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I just realized that I have not written about my September adventure. Some people know, others do not, that I went to Italy. It was beautiful, to say the least. I enjoyed it greatly. The food was delicious, the scenery was breathtaking, and the atmosphere was overwhelming. It was a writer's paradise. I want to put more, but just thinking about it puts me at a loss for words. My favorite part was the food (of course), especially the margharita pizza. My least favorite part was the stairs. They were lovely, but so awkward to walk on. A bunch of stones cemented together, angled in a position that I felt like I was falling backwards every time I took a step. I take that back. The beauty of the stones and the moss growing on them makes up for the hell of having to use them every day. The fact that four people got the flu on the trip was my least favorite part. It left me fearing for my stomach. Especially because the day that it struck, we were having a cooking class and eating at a very, very fancy restaurant and the food was delicioussssss. And I feared eating because I wanted the contents to remain in my stomach instead of on the floor.

We started in Rome and over the course of two and a half weeks got bussed up to the lake district where we ended our journey staying in town off Lake Como. Before I left, everyone told me that I was not allowed to bring home any guys. o.O What does my family take me for? I went for the food!

Anyways...
I guess I'll post some itinerary stuff now.

I left on Thursday the fourth, the plane took off at 6:30 in the evening. A very long flight to Heathrow airport. Our flight to Rome got delayed 20 minutes, but it was only a 90 minute flight. We were all exhausted by the time we arrived (on the fifth), so we went out to dinner and then slept.

In Rome we strolled through the uneven cobblestone streets, explored the backstreets for hidden shops, marveled at the grocery store, went to the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, many town squares, the Forum and Colosseum, St. Peter of Chains Chapel. We left after visiting the Vatican Museum and getting kicked out of the Sistine Chapel (because supposedly one of the people in our group laughed at a security guard).

Next we went to Orvieto and stayed in a hotel that supposedly was a palace. We had a wine tasting and a cooking class in a restaurant that is home to the largest cellar in Italy (so I was told). We also went to Civita, which had to be my most favorite place ever. 30 people. 30! I could have stayed there forever.

On our way to Gubbio we took a side trip to Montepulciano. A town of shopping. We had our second wine tasting there. Then we stopped in Pienza for a cheese tasting. I was a little disappointed, for that was more of a "stop in and get a free sample!" sort of deal instead of sitting down to enjoy the taste and review it. In Gubbio I managed to twist my ankle, so I took a day off while everyone was out touring a church that I have quite forgotten the name of. We had our second cooking class, the one where our hostess got the flu. It was horrible. And the drivers are insane.

The next day we went to Deruda: Home of the ceramics. We also went to an Olive oil museum...of all things. It was interesting, but not what I would call worthwhile. The display of oil lamps was pretty impressive though.

Then we went to Tuscany and stayed in a castle. Kind of. In the farmhouses at the base of a castle, but it was still amazing. And cozy. The mist in the morning was gorgeous. We went to an olive oil tasting. I can't say that I noticed much difference in the tastes of the different types. But that's probably because I didn't grow up in Italy. We visited Cortona, which I learned is the place where "Under the Tuscan Sun" takes place. A pretty famous town now, I guess. The view was pretty, but there are so many places that I liked better.

We went to Sienna where the famous horse races take place. I wanted to see the horses, but we couldn't. Went to the house where Lisa Gherardini grew up. Another wine tasting, and our final one. Thankfully. I had a headache by that time so I drank as little as possible. Then we went to Florence as saw the Statue of David. We also went to the Uffizi museum. I never want to see another picture of a Holy Madonna again.

The last place we stayed was Varena, a little(ish) town on Lake Como. We visited Belaggio and went shopping, then had a final dinner with the tour group. I wanted to take a train ride into Switzerland, but we didn't have the time.

And then we left from Milano. The plane ride from Heathrow to home was delayed at least an hour, probably closer to two. Annoying. x.x

And that's my trip in a few paragraphs!