Well for some the semester and
school year is over. For me it is getting near the end. I have approximately 24
minus how many days it has been by the time you read this. I am getting ready to finish my last 2 weeks
of classes and 2 days of finals I have coming up. But enough of the boring stuff no one wants
to talk about.
I had the best weekend despite
getting sunburnt to a crisp Crabtree (joke insert real laugh here). I went to Cinque Terre (translation 5 lands)
this weekend and it was beautiful. I got
to meet some wonderful people and hang out with them and let loose from the
stress of school and life. I was free to be young and enjoy a different place where
people work, but have fun working. Cinque
Terre is the place I could retire and live in for the rest of my life. It is so
homey, and stress free. I actually saw a t-shirt that said Cinque Terre No
Stress on it and found it very fitting.
Besides the atmosphere there is so much to see and do. It has hiking
trails and boat rides, trains between villages, fresh caught seafood, history
and the locals are nice and friendly. I
started my trip on Saturday by visiting by train Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia,
and Vernazza. My favorites
were Corniglia and Vernazza, because they were neighboring villages and
complete opposites in my opinion. Corniglia
was a homey, more of a locals spot and Vernazza was the tourist spot. I had
some amazing gelato in Corniglia and met some cool locals. I had a margarita
and found a hidden beach in Vernazza, that most tourists would have walked and
did walk right by. It was so amazing. It
was amazing that evening I had a dinner with one of the ladies from the Hostel
where I was staying and it was good and a great end to the long day. On Sunday, I and one of the people I met from
the hostel went for the ferry ride to Porto Venere and the islands off the side
of Porto Venere. It was so beautiful to see everything from the water instead
of right up close. I got to see a
different side to Italy. The way locals see it in a sense. I saw so much from the boat and the ferry. We
saw a statue in the middle of the ocean/bay, castle, church, old school tower,
and many sail boats.
Plus just seeing
the villages from the water is amazing.
It gave them even more definition and color. Which the villages are very
colorful in general. After leaving Porto Venere we rode the ferry all the way
to the farthest village from there which is Monterosso al Mare. Where we walked
around a bit then crashed on the beach for a bit and I swam in the Italian
Riviera for the first time it was cold, which it could have been because I was
burnt already. It was a wonderful experience and so refreshing. I loved it so
much I could have lived on the ferry.
After more gelato and a nice rest before the shuttle back to the hostel
we talked about our trips and what we would do here and there. We returned to the Hostel too relax and get
ready for the next day which is when I was leaving. Later when the resident chef got there we had
some amazing salads and bread that he made. He is an amazing chef and I will
miss his cooking as well. He was a happy guy every time you saw him. Plus who doesn’t
like a cute Italian chef that gives you free Prosecco and water? My weekend was
amazing only to have it end with having to come back and type up part of a
paper for one of my classes. Save me or really just take me back to Cinque
Terre. 
I am mixed emotions about my impending departure from Italy and excited to
come home and see everyone I miss. As well as eat some steak and drink sweet
tea. I miss those too. So to all of my friends in bocca al lupo (good luck) on
your finals and Congratulations to those who are graduating too! Miss y’all and
love y’all!
Vi amo tutti!