never coming home.

Ciao Ciao Ciao Ciao!

Well I am sitting atop my balcony on this finally sunny day, of course the day Tricia leaves, it is nice enough to lay out! GRR!

Well, what has been new since Wednesday night? A LOT.

So to begin, Wednesday night after we got ready, we went over to Haleigh, Amy, and Briana’s apartment for a bit and then we were both pretty tired, so we decided to come back and sleep because it was already late and we wanted to do some touristy stuff on Thursday.

So Thursday, I didn’t have class of course and so we woke up and went to the market and tried this sandwich place that is apparently the best in Florence. They have like 4 different types of meat to choose from, but the only one they had out when we came was the Roast Beef. It was very good because they dipped the bun in aus jus, but it was still a lot of red on the meat. I can’t wait to go back and try the pork version because that is the one Alexa’s friends told us to get. I asked them about it Wednesday night and I was like what was in it and her friend Danielle was like “Magic!” It was so funny!

So then Tricia has never tried canoli, what a sad life. This place at the market that sells A TON of biscotti, bread, pizza, and other bakery items has always had canoli out and I have always wanted to try it. We were supposed to meet my friend Val at her bakery, but she was prepping to go to Sicily. Apparently her bakery has great canoli! I can’t wait to try some this week with her! But anyways, we decided to get some at this place at the market. Tricia really enjoyed it, but the canoli connoisseur I am judged it quite a bit. It had been out for probably too long, too exposed to air, but most people don’t know that. So it kind of took away from the flavor and made the pastry part not very crunchy at all. I can’t complain too much cause I would have eventually tried it anyways and at least Tricia enjoyed it! I promised her we’d go again after dinner to somewhere else!

So after that we worked out real quick. Did my last Spartacus workout for the week and could barely move when I was done! Haha

So then we came back and got ready to go shopping at the market market! I don’t even want to admit to buying 4 scarves for 23 euro, but hey I love each and every one of them! Haha! I got a burberry scarf, a bright blue fading scarf I have been searching for forever, a white scarf, and this flowery blue scarf. They are amazing and I cannot wait to wear them all! So then I also got some souvenirs for my brother and my dad! And Tricia finally found an Italy track jacket that is just like my Ireland one! She bought these white sunglasses earlier that matched the jacket so well! We looked so cool walking around in our jackets! Haha

So then we had to walk down and drop off some boxes for my Special Events class before going to Piazza Michaelangelo. It started kind of drizzling, which was disappointing, but it didn’t last long. However, it was pretty chilly. (I just spelled chilly—chili {I guess that’s another American food I really miss!!}) So good thing we decided not to go lay out at the beach that’s an hour away by train! So we climbed up the steps to Piazza Michaelangelo. I told Tricia, there are a lot of steps, but trust me it’s worth it! So we finally got to the top and Tricia of course was amazed. I told her, you don’t really realize how big Florence is until you come up here. Piazza Micahelangelo is probs m favorite place, it truly is an amazing site. I cannot wait to take all the girls that are coming and Julie and Debbie (from my work) next weekend! So we walked around a little bit and took lots of photos and then decided to sit on the steps for a bit like me and Nikki did when she was here. It was getting pretty cold, so we decided to leave.

I then took Tricia over the Ponte Vecchio since we had not been over it yet and then we headed over to Il Gato for dinner. I told Tricia their bread is so amazing so we both enjoyed that! Tricia got this Chicken Alfredo pasta and I got Gnocchi Bolognese. Tricia said she has had better but I think because in  America, they load up the cream sauce as to where here they don’t! Mine was pretty good but very hot!

So then we went on the hunt for some good canoli. I couldn’t think of many places that would have decent enough canoli, nor many that still be open. So we decided to go to this Gelateria by my apartment that has crepes, canoli, gelato, etc. I was a little sketch on getting it, but Tricia got it and I tried a small bite and def. had to get one! We rushed home to eat them and they were delicious! I like canoli most when chocolate chips are inside and these not only had that, but they coated the inner rim with chocolate and plus they were still cold which made it so so good! Def. going to coat the inner rim with chocolate when I make them at home! Such a good idea! So then we decided to stay in because I had to get up and go to Portofino bright and early. So we watched Winning London before getting ready for bed that I had downloaded! I am on this Mary Kate and Ashley old movies kick! It’s so weird to watch it knowing Trish has been to most of those places! I was like have you been there, there, there? Haha!

So then I woke up Friday morning and got ready to go to Portofino. I was pretty disappointed because we cancelled the going to Lerici part because it was going to be so nice. However, it was now supposed to rain and be only like 60 degrees, so no bathing suit or laying out was probs going to happen! Alexa decided to not go and wait to go with her sister when her family comes, but I still wanted to go! So Haleigh, Amy, Briana, Chris, Sam, Ainsley, and I met up on the bus and took our little naps on the way.

We finally arrived near Portofino and luckily it was not raining like it was in Florence when we left. So we walked around for a bit, took many photos of course, and then went to the top of these 8390584 steps to this pretty church. Reminded me so much of when we went to Tivoli and Rome, so sad that was so long ago. So we walked around for a bit and went inside and toured the church! The church was so pretty and the view from the balcony type thing was almost just like the view Sam and I had in Palermo (OH how I miss Sicily!!). So then we left and met up with the bus that was going to take us to Portofino. We arrived and walked down to the center of the city and then split up with the group and went to find lunch and walk around. Everything was pretty pricey, but we finally ended up at this place our SAI leaders had recommended. Portofino is known for their Pesto Lasagne, so a few of us got that. Ainsley got this awesome dish of gnocchi with prawns that was delicious! Sam got Spaghetti with mussels which was pretty good too. I wasn’t finding many things too appetizing so I decided to get their procioutto pizza like the person had next to us because it looked delicious! Everything was so good! And we ended up seeing on the door that they have won many awards years in a row and also best restaurant a few years in a row! So we made a good decision it looked like!

Before we left, the couple sitting behind us were from LA and had asked us where we were all from. We were talking for a bit and then they told us some news about the governent in the states. That is when I realized I am way more behind on American life then I ever realized. I have so much catching up to do. They were a really nice couple who had been traveling around for 2 weeks! I was so jealous! I totally plan on doing that when I grow up! So then we left and stopped by this pastry shop and picked up a few pastries. Sam got these pine nut cookies I tried and  could totally recognize the dough cause I have made it in my baking class and I LOVE it. It’s so fun to walk around and be like I have made that, that, and that! Haha!

So then we looked in some shops and went to sit in the sun before catching the bus. Of course it was getting sunny when we were leaving, but I still don’t think it would have been warm enough to lay out. So then we caught the bus and went back and layed on the rocks on their beachy type landscape while waiting for the bus! The views we had were truly spectacular! So then we caught the bus and headed back for Florence. We took a few naps and discussed the coming night and weekend.

We got stuck in traffic for a long time, but finally made it back about 8 and I met up with Tricia and took her to go get KEBABS! She said she has had them before, but I told her you haven’t had a good one till you try these! So we arrived and I ordered one for her! She absolutely loved it, of course and I thoroughly enjoyed mine as well. I haven’t had one in so long!! So then it was my nutella crepe place time! We walked all the way there and what happened to Amy, Ainsley, Sam, and I last time we tried to go, it was closed. I was SO mad. I had been so prepped for it all day! I still don’t understand why the hcck the place closes so early when it’s right by the river! GRR! So then Tricia and I had to find another crepe place. I knew no where was going to have as good of a crepe as my place, but I promised Tricia a nutella crepe! We tried to get canoli at the place my chef told me had the best canoli in Florence, but they were out. I wasn’t surprised anyways. So then I knew the place we got canoli the night before had crepes too so we decided to go there. Tricia ordered a canoli for her breakfast on the bus in the morning and we both got nutella crepes and raced home to eat them while they were warm! She really loved hers and mine was pretty good too! I just can’t say it was better than my place. The difference is in the way they cook them at my places. They use so much more nutella and make the crepe in general a lot thicker! I just have to remember to go to my place during the day since they close so dang early!

So then I caught up with facebook while Tricia packed and then Tricia wrote more in her journal too and then we decided it was time for a 225 Hutchens MSU renunion and called Seigs and Deanne finally showed up! (Tricia, Kasie, Deanne, and I all used to be roommates!) Talked to them and caught up with their lives for quite bit! Absolutely loved it and I am so going to take advantage from now on of this Gmail calling application! It is genius and free! If any of you guys get a really WEIRD number calling you, pick up, its free and it’s me!! So then we got off the phone with them and I called my mom real quick before going to bed! This calling thing seems to work so much easier witht the time change then skyping! Even if I don’t get to see faces, it’s still nice to hear voices!

So then we got ready for bed because Tricia had to wake up at 5:30 to catch the 6:30 bus to the airport.

So Tricia woke up at 5:30 and I woke up at 6. That never happens in real life! Haha I said that pretty much right when I woke up!

So then Tricia sadly had to leave me and go back to Brighton because she is going to Amsterdam with her friends tomorrow. She gets a whole month off for spring break pretty much so she has been traveling!

I absolutely loved having her here cause it gave me more of the Springfield feeling of home that I have been missing. When we have been walking around, we both keep agreeing we aren’t in Springfield! We are in freeking Florence, Italy! It’s so neat, but so weird too!

So then when she left, I went back to bed and woke up and showered and came up t sit in my balcony, eat lunch, and write this. I probs shouldn’t be out in the sun cause I am peeling so bad from last weekend. Llook like I have a disease honestly! Haha

Pretty soon, I am going to get ready and go to San Gimeano with Amy, Haleigh, Briana, Sam, and Ainsley since they couldn’t do the Vespa tour they want to take today!

In other news,

So yes, April 14 marked the one month point to when I am SUPPOSED to come home. However, I think Hogan and I have come to the agreeance that she will move to Ireland, I will move to Sicily, and we will share apartments and commute. So I don’t know when I am coming home yet : (!

Haha, I wish and so does Hogan.

But yes, I come home in less than a month now. I am both ready and not ready, still so many places I want to go and so much to do! But I miss my family and friends OF COURSE! The one reason I don’t want to come home? GAS PRICES! It has been so nice not paying for that the past few months! Haha Tricia and I have been going back and forth all week of what we miss and discussing everything we are going to do when we get home! Haha! I need to send out the invites for the coming home 21^st bar night of course soon! I am trying to look into going to see Trish the last weekend in April now, but it seems to be pretty pricey. Otherwise, I might look into going to Naples, but everyone is saying it is not worth it sadly. Apparently it’s only worth it to go get a pizza and then travel elsewhere because the city is kind of sketchy! Ainsley and I may look into going to Sardenia. She did a project in school for it and said it is really pretty! I don’t have anything to do that weekend, so we will see!

I am actually going to start reading Eat, Pray, Love soon. Are you shocked? Shelley reading? Yes, I am shocked too.

Julie and Debbie come next Saturday (from my work) and the girls I was with in Dublin come next weekend too! I am so excited to see them all again and see people from home again too! Tears will be shed of course.

I do have to sadly say Briana and I’s plans for the last day we are here have come to a screeching halt. Syupid airline rules will not allow me to bring all the dried fruit I want to buy on an international flight! GRRRRR! Nor will they let Briana probably bring all the croissants she wants to get from the Secret Bakery on the flights either. GRR!!!! Now we must reconstruct all of our plans. RUDE!

Umm.. What else? I have already said I am so behind on the lives of Americans, but hopefully tomorrow I will do some catching up via this Gmail calling app! I forgot to go get the ticket for the soccer game everyone is going to go to tomorrow. I really want tot go but I know I still have homework to do and I need to get my life back on track before everyone comes next weekend. Plus, I need to start on the 2 papers I have due before finals.

Well, until tomorrow, Ciao for now!

Miss and Love!