right after i returned home from my greecian adventure, my mom and cousin, medina, came to visit me and explore and experience the streets of florence through my eyes. we kicked the week off right with a game of calcio (better known as soccer) between my school and another study abroad program. i was so excited to touch a ball again, to feel the weight of it against my foot, the steady control i had over it, the way it glided on the turf. i was home. the game was exciting, and a good chunk of my school came out to support us and screamed cheers at the top of their lungs, with great cries of laughter and noise (which is not far from their normal behavior; this enthusiasm i have grown to love and appreciate in a quirky way, i must say). after 90 minutes of bliss the game ended in a score of 2-1, with my dear friend jacqueline scoring a beautiful goal (go jac!) and fans screaming our names and taking pictures...ok so maybe it wasn't that dramatic, but we did feel dang special. it was fun having my real life soccer mom there as well as my cousin to cheer me on as well. the only disappointment was the lack of orange slices and capri sun's at halftime. no worries, i notified the proper authorities with my concern.
go richmond!
women power.
jac scored a goal!
the rest of the week was also full of activity and lots of eating. lots of gelato, as my mom and medina will happily inform you. the running joke prevailed: gelato after everything! go to the ufizi. gelato. see the ponte vecchio. gelato. eat lunch. gelato. gelato. gelato. sometimes amounting to three times in one day...yikes! yet, yum. with my family here i was able to try some new restaurants and eat even more delicious food, show them my florentine stomping grounds, and take them to all my favorite places. we also were able to visit the major tourist attractions and i was able to see florence through the eyes of a tourist during the beginning of a bustling tourist season (which i am not a huge fan of, by the way...i miss local florence). it was fun to just spend time with my family, and i think it was really helpful for my mom to come out here and see all that i am experiencing in order for her to gain a better understanding of my daily life here.
we were also ale to take a delicious cooking class while my family was here, in which we completed a four course meal, and devoured it, naturally. the food was delectable, and i am always a fan of gaining new recipes and skills for future reference. the menu included millefoglie di vedure (eggplant and zucchini towers), gnocchi in tomato, garlic and pesto sauce, pollo alla contadina (delicious chicken sauteed in a jumble of goodness), and the final course was my personal favorite, traditional tiramisu. y u m. i love cooking. and family. and eating. so the combination was divine.
during the weekend we were able to take some day trips to siena and cinque terre, two places which will forever be special in my heart. in siena i was able to show my family the hotel i lived in, my beautiful walk to school, places i frequented, and my favorite view of the city, as well as consume my favorite pasta and delicious crepes. the day was beautiful and quite fun. cinque terre revealed its overwhelming beauty and welcomed us with a familiar glistening hello. we took the day easy, exploring only two of the five towns, and relaxing in the beauty of the vast mediterranean. we walked the via d'amore, and agina ate fabulous typical cuisine. the day was absolutely beautiful and a lovely close to their journey across the world.
Love to all.
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