Roaming Through The City On Water

Our first stop on our 12 day backpacking adventure was to the uniquely and undeniably beautiful city of Venice. The one thing we were told to do was to get lost, so that's exactly what we did. We wondered through alleyways, along canals, read in parks, visited the biggest and craziest bookstore I have ever seen, and tried not to let the humidity melt us. It set the standards pretty high for the rest of the trip.

 I am so happy we decided to go to Venice and experience a city unlike any other in the world.

Although I didn't enjoy waking up at 4:30 am to catch our train, but taking a water taxi through the canals as the sun was rising over the sleeping city was one of the most beautiful things I have seen. I decided if I ever move there I will be a taxi driver just so I can drive a little boat around all day. Dream big right? :)

-Ciao!

Farewell Florence.

                                                                                  (photo credit to my awesome friend Andrea)

I am slowly but surely packing up my room and apartment and can't believe my time in Florence is already over! It has been such a surreal experience and one I can't put into words. I am so sad to be leaving this place that has so quickly become a home, but I am also extremely excited for the next chapter of our European Adventure! On Friday we will be turning in our apartment keys, saying goodbye to our roommates (don't. want. to. leave. them.) and hoping on a train.

Laurel and I will be traveling around Italy for the next 12 days before coming back to Florence for 14 short hours and flying home! Unfortunately 12 days in a backback doesn't really provide ample space to carry a lap top around so this blog will be a little dead until I am back home.

Thank you everone who has been reading and for your really encouraging comments. I already can't wait to share all tof my photos from our next voyage.

See you in America :)

Ciao

The Leaning Tower is Still Leaning.

We hopped on a train to Pisa just because we felt like we had to while living so close and having nothing better to do. Unfortunately Kayla was getting over a cold so the gang lost one of it's dearest members (we missed you Kayla!) but we managed. I got to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa, take some of the most "Tourist Photos" ever, drink sparkling wine, and sweat A LOT. It was a good way to spend our Sunday.

 ^^^Bailey gets all the credit for the idea of the most awkward photo ever. 

 Other than the tower there really wasn't much else to see so I was thankful we live so close and were more than happy with just a few hours stay. I would have appreciated the sun to calm down a little, but hey that's what you get for being a tourist in the middle of summer.

Hope you're all having a lovely Sunday as well!

Ciao!

P.S
I was a little bitter about missing my family camping trip this weekend and perhaps a little homesick, just so we're all being honest here.

P.S.S
Sister, I hope you like that red purse becuase I bought it for you. Thanks for letting me borrow it ;)

A Day in the Park and a Night at the Palace.

It was an Italian Holiday on Monday, leaving us with no school and an opportunity to see a little bit more of Florence's beauty. We wandered, talked, read, wrote, and fought off mosquitos all through the Boboli Gardens.

On Wednesday we came right back to the garden's palace and watched the Opera! We had front row seats in the beautiful courtyard in the middle of Pitti Palace so that in itself was a treat.
 Although the actors were extremely talented, I spent most of my time listening to the Orchestra and appreciating how mesmerizing music is no matter where you are in the world.

And finished the evening enjoying Florence with my really cute friends :)

Ciao!

Our Day in Pompeii.

Our last day on the coast we visited the ancient-Roman town of Pompeii which was destroyed and now covered in layers of ash from the erupsion of Mt. Vesuvius. It was hard to image these buildings once being homes and markets that made up a community, but knowing it once was made the whole thing pretty cool and just a tiny bit creepy. 

This would be Laurel "Cooking" in her Kitchen. ^^^

 These next photos are a direct result of our third day in the sun and a tour guide who talked WAY too much. 

After 2.5 hot hours and a lot of really high quality modeling, we said goodbye to the coast and hello to Florence! We also had the realization it was our last trip together before we have to move out of our apartment in nine days, NINE DAYS! So we try not to talk about it.

Happy Wednesday!