London Loving: 10/9/14-10/13/14

I can’t complain about how overwhelmed I have been by my excessive amounts of studying and schoolwork that I have had recently when my weekends have been spent traveling and exploring new places. This past weekend, I had the chance to go somewhere I have wanted to go for my entire life (since my Spice Girls obsession began about 16 years ago) - London. London was everything that I had hoped it would be and more. From the people to the beautiful sights and cool weather, I can say without a doubt that London is one of my favorite cities in the world that I have seen so far.

The city has so much to offer and I am so happy that I had the chance to see so much of it in just one weekend. I arrived in London on Thursday night and spent my day Friday sight-seeing and doing everything a typical American tourist would do. For only 20 pounds, I was able to go on the London Eye and see the city from 443 feet above. I took a picture at a phone booth. I visited Borough Markets. I took the tube nearly everywhere and admired how amazingly convenient it was. I finally ate macaroons at Ladurée. I visited Buckingham Palace. I found a Starbucks. I was unspeakably happy about how nice it was to be in a city where people understand me and speak the same language as me for the first time in a few months. I spent more than I should have at MAC (side-note: a couple months without MAC is two too many for me). I was amazed by the beauty of this city and the liveliness and energy it holds.

To me, there is no better weekend than one spent wandering around a new place and taking everything in. Thank you, London, for a wonderful weekend full of sight-seeing, delicious food, beautiful accents and some of the nicest people and places I’ve ever come across.

Until next time!

-          A

A Taste of Tuscany: 10/4/14

On Friday night, I made the spontaneous decision to spend the next day in Tuscany. Known as the birthplace of the Renaissance and for its landscapes, artistic legacy and delicious wine, I knew that this day trip would be one that I would regret not taking. 

At 8:30am, we departed from Rome and began our two and a half hour long trip to Tuscany. Our first stop was Montepulciano, a Renaissance hill town in Siena, a southern part of Tuscany. This comune is world-renowned for its wine, specifically the Vino Nobile, made from the Montepulciano grape. In Montepulciano, we attended a wine tasting at Cantina Gattavecchi before we headed to Montalcino. 

Montalcino, a hill town in Tuscany, is one of the most beautiful places I have seen so far. Here, we attended a wine tasting at Altesino and got a chance to see why Montalcino is so famous for its Brunello di Montalcino wine. 

How many 20 years olds are able to say that they have attended two wine tastings in Tuscany? Each day here, I realize more and more just how lucky I am. I am able to make the last minute decision on a Friday night to spend the next day in one of the most beautiful places on the planet. I can see so much, meet so many new people and try so many new things and for that, I will always be grateful.