Acqua al 2

Just got back from the most delicious restaurant in Florence! - http://www.acquaal2.com/
It is pronounced: Acqua Al Due. Known for its Blueberry  Steak and apparently its strawberry wine. Since strawberries are my favorite food on the face of the earth, I obviously had to order a glass and I am happy to say it is the best wine I have ever had in my life. I ordered the Penne Vodka and skipped the blueberry steak however, the bite I had of Michelle's was amazing and I will be ordering it next time! The owners of this great place also opened an 'American Diner' next door. Devin and I tried it the other day and it reminded me of how much I love America! It is also the only place in Italy that (To my knowledge) sells iced coffee. 


But anyway, back to the strawberry wine-- if you have not heard Deana Carter's song "Strawberry Wine" listen to it now.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Up06CryWQpE&ob=av3e

Truly Tuscany

Devin And I on the Ponte Vecchio 

This weekend was a blast as it started with awesome weather. I am happy to say that I have stopped wearing my knee-length North Face coat and the record breaking cold weather in Italy, has finally come to an end. Devin and I spent all of Friday walking around Florence and enjoying the Amazing scenery. Later we met up with Maddie, Kelsey and Michelle for lunch and I had curry for the first time in what feels like forever! That night Adam was visiting Florence and we got Gelato just over the Ponte alla Carraia Bridge!

Saturday was also full of excitement as ISA was headed to Arezzo and Cortona for the day. Arezzo is the town where the film "Life is Beautiful" was filmed. It was a beautiful place and not very touristy which was nice for a change! Devin and I ate 5 Euro Pizza at a Restaurant there, which is amazingly cheap compared to Florence. Later that day we went to Cortona where "Under the Tuscan Sun" was filmed. It was amazingly beautiful and a true tuscan-hill-town.

Me in Arezzo 

On Sunday my roommates and I went to the Opera, "Tosca", which was in all Italian language. It is a tragic love story and is very famous in Italy. Of course my roommates and I took full advantage of this opportunity and dressed to impress!

With only one day of classes left till the weekend I can't help but be excited for all the excursions I am going on in the next few days: Pisa, Siena, San Gimignano and Assisi!

Swiss Alps, Fondue & Great Friends

The adventure started on Thursday with a 7 hour bus ride into the gorgeous swiss alps.. 2 movies and some sleep, later, we had arrived in switzerland surrounded by the most amazing views I have ever seen in my life. All ten of us were bunked in the same room, and "bunk" is the key word.. as the boys slept cozily in what I like to call, an attic. The next morning we were all up early and ready for our first day in switzerland. Some of us went skiing, some of us sky dived and as for me and Devin, we did what we do best, we went shopping. That night we were lucky enough to have the night club just steps away from our bedroom, literally. Metro Bar was awesome.. and so convienenly located. Saturday was jam packed as Devin and I were up and on our way to Zurich quite early in the morning. Zurich is beautiful and was a mix of Boston and New York, eurpean style. Starbucks and H&M at every cornor: I was in Heaven. So of course Devin and I spent our sweet A** time in starbucks, soaking in every ounce of our 10 Frank coffee's. Then we were off to tour the beautiful city of Zurich and it was just as awesome as you said Sumi and Ben.  

-Zurich

Later that night after we got back to Interlaken we were all ready to go night sledding. But we werent sledding in someones back yard.. we were sledding in the swiss alps. A 20 minute ride up the mountain, we were lifted in groups of 7 even higher up the mountain. I'm sure Nick, Dan and Adam would be happy to tell you how freaked out I was. However, once we got our sleds and started going, it was so much fun. The View of the stars from the mountain we unreal and we had the most gorgeous view overlooking Interlaken with the snowy mountains surrounding us. Half way through snow sledding we stopped and saw a frozen waterfall..it was awesome. An Hour or so later, after Devin won snow sledding, we had a cheese fondue dinner. It may or may not have smelled a little bit but it was good nonetheless! 

All in all it was a fantastic weekend in Interlaken: the weather was perfect, the snoring was certainly loud and the alps were beautiful.  

Next weekend I am going to some small towns in Italy: Arezzo and Cortona. And on Sunday I have tickets to the Opera! More to come soon on the famous Carnevale di Venezia! 

Just your average day in Florence...

Today started off quite fun.. after having our daily chocolate croissant and cafe latte, we headed to our first visit at the Uffizi Gallery where we saw the famous art work of Michelangelo, Brunelleschi and Da vinci. How awesome that the original Medici offices existed there. The Uffizi is an amazing Florence landmark and it never gets old walking by it on my way to class. 

But the fun was not over. The girls and I had signed up for a traditional 3 course meal- italian cooking class! And what better way to be Italian than to learn the art of their culture?! We learned how to make homemade pasta.. not the kind from the box. The amount of preparation that goes into italian cooking is immense, but so worth the taste. We made ravioli with a spinach and ricotta cheese filling (which Erin will happily tell you how good it was). Then we made an AMAZING egg plant dish with parmesan, olive oil, cheese and potato filling. And last but not least, Tiramisu. 

My roommates and I are so excited to try the recipes out in our apartment...  if everyone is lucky they will be invited over to taste! 

Ponte Vecchio- View from the Uffizi

 Aimee, Devin, Me and Erin! 

 Homemade Ravioli 

Tiramisu 

FIRENZE

Although is has been extremely cold in Florence, the sites are still amazingly beautiful! The food is to die for, the views are extraordinary and there is never a dull moment in Firenze!