Mom came over this month and together we skipped off to Italy for a week of sightseeing and spaghetti. Unfortunately there turned out to be more spaghetti than sightseeing, but the divinity of the food was well worth my upcoming trips to the gym. We started our trip in Rome then caught the train to Florence and Venice. It was an adventure navigating through the country without an italian narrator or a direction savvy dad, but it was a bonding experience I won't soon forget. There aren't many things better than traveling with your best friend. Here is a recap of our itinerary from our italian holiday:
Sunday: We wheel our suitcases past the crowds and accidentally stumble upon the Trevi fountain. The white marble and giant sea urchins are magnificent, and we realize were in the city that started it all. The toss of a coin is supposed to lead to new romance, so I toss in two. Who can't use a little extra help in that department?
We board a double decker bus and it stops at the massive decay that is the Coliseum. Parts of the monument were excavated centuries ago to build other architecture around the city. What it is missing in structure, is made up for by its remaining grandeur. We stand at the top and envision raging lions and iron clad men.
Monday: We wake up at dawn for a tour of the Vatican. On the way our tour guide makes jokes about its sovereignty, and how we'll need our passports to visit. St. peters cathedral makes me feel small and the mosaics and golden clad walls inside seem too castle-like to be godly. However, The Sistine Chapel doesn't disappoint me and I'm amazed at the size and height of the ceiling that was Michelangelo's canvas.
Tuesday: We wake up in the morning to catch ItaliaTren to Florence. The ride is four hours long, but were entertained by the terracotta houses and epic countryside. We check in to the Embassy Hotel and walk to the market. The smell of the fresh cut leather triggers a shopping frenzy and I find a bargain bin of 5euro purses. I buy seven of them, and mom and I struggle to haul them back to the hotel.
Wednesday: We wake up at 6am for a 12 mile bike ride through Tuscany. Upon arrival, Alberto, our guide, gives us the option of taking vespas instead. We welcome the change. Mom and I look funny in our helmets, but are true professionals behind the wheel. We drive the motorbikes down windy hilltop roads to a Chianti vineyard where we enjoy pecorino cheese and house wine. On the way home we stop for Ice cream. It's our second scoop of the day but it's justifiable. We’re on vacation.
Thursday: It's another early morning train ride to Venice. From the station we are escorted to a water taxi. I am amazed to learn that there are no cars in the isles and I see my first gondola floating down a canal. A couple we met in Florence told us not to bother with a map and we soon learn why. The streets are narrow and alley like, giving us the sensation of mice in a maze. We gaze over the Rialto bridge and buy cameo and turquoise rings from the suspended jewelry shops. Outside an older man looks at mom and winks, uttering the words "bella". I smile and laugh to myself as I watch her blush a little.
It's Not The End, But The Beginning
Only three days until I leave this place. The goodbyes have begun and are a sharp reminder that this whirlwind chapter of my life is closing. These last four months feel more like four weeks and it seems like just yesterday that I was walking down Grafton street for the first time. I will miss Dublin city and the people in it, but goodbye isn't definite. I know I'll be back someday. I'd like to think that everyone we come in contact with teaches us something and that were made up of more than just our own quirks and traits. We all become each other. Each person I've met here has given me something I'll take with me when I go and I'm so thankful for that.
Here are some other things I'll take with me from Ireland:
A love for Barry's tea.
Mumford and Sons.
An irish vocabulary.
Lots of blisters.
An infatuation with Bulmers.
A knack for talking about the weather.
An Irish family.
A Penney's wardrobe.
An addiction to curry.
5 pounds.
A million memories.
Heartbreaks and heart throbs.
An empty bank account.
Lasting friendships.
Here's to my next adventure :)
