Colloquies of Odysseys

Cinque Terre - Part 1.

Hey lovers.

This has to be my second most favorite trip. (The first is Ireland, which will come later.)

When we arrived, we stepped down from the train station onto a sunny scene. You'd walk to the other side of the street and find yourself overlooking a beach full of smooth rocks that spilled out into the sea. And the sea... Monterosso, where we landed, is the beach town that sits on the edge of the Ligurian Sea (which then sits next to the Mediterranean Sea). Monterosso is one of the five towns of Cinque Terre, which is a part of the Liguria region. (Tuscany being Florence's region.)

I have never seen water like this in my life. Just consider the beach I go to every year- Ocean City is hardly something to call beautiful after all that I've seen on this 3.5 month adventure. The water was crystal clear, and I desperately wanted to go swimming- but it was far too cold so I just got in up to my shoulders. I couldn't help myself, even with how cold it was.

My feet!! I could see them straight to the bottom! And I swear I could have gone further and still seen my feet. Speaking of my feet... the only downside (which isn't even that much of a downside) is that the beach is composed of rocks, albeit smooth rocks. It was kinda painful to walk on because the rocks weren't baby rocks. I'm gonna say I like sand better for beaches. But I suppose the rocks have something to do with the water being so clear too- there's no tiny debris to get mixed up with.

Walking further along the beach toward the other towns (which end 8 miles away), you run into this huge... rock. I climbed it the next day, pictures of which will come in the next post. I can't lay still and tan, so I had to get up and explore. I'm not a tanning kind of person haha. It makes me lazy and sleepy and I love running around (if I can't get in the water).

But here you can spot Kat and Haven at the top.

I loved this little corner. I felt like I was in a cave. And again, the water was so clear, it was like I was in the movies I love watching about action and adventure, excursions and exploration.

And for some of the best gelato I've had thus far... They gave us Pooh Bear crackers!

The sun was starting to head to its bed on the west, so we decided to explore a bit before dinner. The whole group- me, Johnna, Kat, Haven, Kat, Lauren, Devyn, and Sarah- all went up to the top of the town and further back to climb through the woods for a little outdoor lovin'. I missed running around greens... I can't wait to go running through Loch Raven and Gunpowder when I get back home. Equipped with the proper bug repellent of course.

And then for dinner...

LOVED the umbrellas. The restaurant was on a deck right next to the water.

I wasn't particularly impressed with the food... we also ordered something really simple (and cheap) because we were all poor and none of us really liked seafood anyway. And by us, I meant Kat, Haven, Johnna and I. I don't know why we didn't just go find somewhere else to eat haha.

After dinner, we split from the others and went to go get some more snacks (as dinner was hardly filling) and boxed wine to get all over on the beach. :)

Ways to stay warm?

The towel Johnna got me :)

Another way to stay warm?

Monterosso at night

Illuminated rock

After a couple of hours of cookies, snacking, and wine, it just got too cold and we had finished off the wine so it was time to sleep. We'd be waking up rather early to catch breakfast and do some more exploring!

+Love+

Boboli Date!

Hey lovers.

One day (March 31st), Johnna and I decided to go to Boboli Gardens since neither of us had been there... and I really should have already, considering it's a 3 minute walk from my apartment. BARELY 3 minutes. There are still so many things I need to do before I leave- which is how this came up. We were just going to explore but we decided on Boboli in particular. And tomorrow, Haven and Kat and I are going to explore my side of the river since I haven't really done that yet... maybe... it's supposed to rain :(

We were at my apartment... before leaving, Johnna had to get this. :) unBEARable OHOHOOOOOOO. You can definitely tell the difference between her style and my style of photos, so she gets proper credit. :)

On the way there, we were walking by a restaurant with tables upon tables set up outside in the Piazza della Signoria. And passed this ADORABLE little girl whose parents dressed her up as an elephant. Too great.

On the Ponte Vecchio. Johnna started taking pictures of the city itself. I haven't done that at all yet and I suppose its about time since it's getting more beautiful outside and there are so many things I should have as a record for myself, considering I've lived here.

When we walked into Boboli, we walked up this long ramp whose end actually was the beginning of a hill that leads you to high heights overlooking the city. We passed these gems along the way. :) The baby in pink was scooting its butt off the grass. TOO cute.

Snack time!

It was gorgeous. It was almost hot. In fact, it was. I was wearing a sweater, pants and boots. We planned to go back in dresses so that we could take proper warm-weather pictures. I just have to make sure to take my allergy medicine because holy shit, I was in hell by the end of that day. Itchy eyes, runny nose- all that junk.

+Love+

We're Just Another Day

Hey lovers.

I HATE how blogspot washes out the color so much when you upload. It really takes away from the effect of the pictures.

In any event, this was one of my fav breakfasts :) Oats and strawberries.

I had dinner at Johnna's a few weeks ago and Devyn came along too. I made fried rice, Johnna got foccacio bread and dessert, and Devyn brought wine. Elise was busy downstairs until dessert so we made a little fake Elise to be with us :)