Journal Entry #3

September 27, 2007

Ciao!

At the Tower of Pisa

Well I've officially been living here for a month. I cannot believe that the time has gone by so quickly! Well since my last article, I have visited the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the historical town of Lucca, and the beautiful beach at Viareggio. My friends and I of course had to take the classic shot of us holding up the tower with all the other hundreds of tourists doing the same! It was so surreal to be actually standing in front of the tower since I've seen pictures of it for over a decade. The town of Lucca was one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. It is a medieval town that is surrounded by this massive brick wall. In the small city there are antique markets all over with outdoor cafes and parks. Viareggio is probably my favorite place we have gone to yet! It is about an hour and a half away from Florence and is a town located directly on the beach. There is clear cool salt water with a few small waves and soft with virtually no shells or rocks. Directly behind the beach is the Apennine Mountains, which provide a breathtaking atmosphere. The main strip of town lines the beach with cute boutiques, gelaterias, and even a Roxy/Billabong store!

My roommates and I at the Coliseum in Rome

I've finally managed to acquaint myself to cooking breakfast, lunch and dinner everyday. Italians don't go to the grocery store like Americans and buy food for the week, they go to the market everyday to buy fresh ingredients for the day. It has definitely taking some getting used to and we have all learned the best times to go to the markets to avoid the crowds. They also charge for plastic bags to take the food home so we all have grocery bags we bring with us! The food however is amazing and the vinegar and oils taste so fresh and crisp. We did have to go out one night for Chinese food because we needed a break from pasta!

The beautiful Viareggio

I've found a great little English Pub around the corner from my apartment where they play football games on Sunday nights for Americans. It's been a great place to meet other students studying here as well as see some TV in English!

View from Assisi

Anyway, this weekend I am headed off to Germany to go to Oktoberfest and visit some Fairfield friends. I'm so excited to be able to see what all the hype is about and see some familiar faces!

Until next time-Ciao!

The wall surrounding Lucca