To satisfy our constant need for adventure, Patrick and I decided to make a quick stop in Switzerland for a couple of days before continuing our Italian journey. Unfortunately, things were not as perfect as they seemed. Lugano, Switzerland is located on Lago Lugano which is partially in Italy and partially in Switzerland. It is …
Continue reading Lugano: Swing and a Miss with Swiss (August 4-5)
I have this weird goal of visiting all twenty regions in Italy. Italian regions are comparable to states in America except there are a lot fewer of them and each region is a lot more different. Before coming to Italy this summer I had visited 13 of the 20 regions. After Torino I was up …
Continue reading Valle D’Aosta: Casually Going Where No American Tourists Go (August 3)
I'm not a big HGTV fan, but I've never been above watching a couple shows here and there with my parents. However, after the past three days in Torino I'm about to apply to be on House Hunters Internationals. (Coincidentally, there is actually a Torino episode coming up on August 14. Not a plug or …
Continue reading House Hunters International Here I Come! (Torino: July 31 – Aug 2)
I have a love - hate relationship with Roma. Sometimes love, sometimes hate, but mostly somewhere between toleration and like. If I was in a facebook relationship with the city it would definitely be "it's complicated." The first time I came to Rome I loved it - the history, the beauty, the vastness. The second …
Today is the big day. No, I am not getting married. I am finally getting my own chance to search for Snowden. Yes folks, that does mean I am flying to Russia. I know, I know...it does seem like quite the backwards route flying to Russia and then to Italy. However, when I bought my …
Since arriving here in Alezio I have realized that my time spent studying in Florence was quite a bit sheltered. Although I lived with a host mom she was used to having students and changed some of her ways to suit our wants. This post is dedicated to all the interesting ways of life in …
Continue reading Italian Culture: the good, the bad and the just plain weird
During this wonderful, hot day of June 8 (Happy Birthday Baby Sis!) I have finally arrived to the train station in Lecce. From there Francesca and Tonino picked me up. Or more like they found me. I have never met or even seen a picture of either Francesca (my dad's cousin) or her husband. Francesca …
First of all, special shout out to my lovely father who is turning 52 today! May the old man live on in peace and happiness. I was thinking about my father today as I had one of the longest days ever. I never realized how hard it is to travel buy yourself. For example, you …
Well today is the day. I am finally leaving for Italy for two months. I don't think I have ever been do nervous. I barely even touched my tacos at lunch. More importantly...I couldn't even finish my tasty alcoholic drink! What on earth is wrong with me? Mara dropped me off absurdly early at Newark …
Taking Little Steps 