Catching Up

So needless to say, I really need to step it up with my posting. I've been feeling a little under the weather this past week since I finally got the cold that's hit all of my roommates up to this point. I guess it was only a matter of time before it got me too. Anyways, I have lots to update you all on since I’ve been so busy these past few weeks! To make up for lost time, I’m going to go place by place and fill you in on the amazing trips I’ve taken in the first month of my semester here.

Chianti
We ventured not to far from Florence, to another region in Tuscany known for some of the best wine in the world. We decided to try a less orthodox way to experience the region and signed up for a 12 mile bike tour through the Chianti countryside. It wasn’t until we got to the bike garage and we’re being handed our bikes for the day that I started to feel a little nervous because I’m pretty sure that the last time I had ridden a bike was when I was 11 years old. And it showed. With a shaky start and a near bicycle accident, I was off and I knew from that point on that it was going to be a great ride.

Our first stop was the Principe Corsini winery for some wine and olive oil tasting fattorialecorti.principecorsini.com/english/enoteca.php. ! I remember pulling up to Fattoria le Corti and marveling at how it was so unlike any building I had ever seen before. Maybe in movies, but nothing had ever compared to just how authentic this particular monument appeared. Our guide lead us into a large, cool room and once he flicked on the lights we were surrounded by hundreds of oak barrels of wine – I was in heaven! He explained that this particular region was known for Sangiovese grapes which is the predominant grape used in the Chianti Classico blends. While I prefer white over red, I really enjoyed the taste of their Don Thomas; it was velvety and rich. As for the olive oil, let’s just say that Kim, Sara, and I managed to clean out our bread basket for dipping first. It was amazing to see the machines used to produce the olive oil. Entire rooms of the winery were dedicated to house the large terracotta jars, which held the oil prior to its distribution. My favorite area of the winery must have been the amazing gardens that overlooked the flowing Tuscan hills. My Mom would have spent hours in the garden alone since it was a gardener’s absolute paradise! The stone walls of the neighboring building were covered in climbing plants and ivy. Tiny blue flowers blanketed the vines and made for a beautiful contrast against the intense green of the other plants that could be found within the garden.

After the wine and oil tasting, we got back on our bikes and rode some more to a small trattoria for what seemed like a five-course lunch followed by what else but more wine (it was a wonder I even got back on my bike!) Coasting along the countryside, a few of the most breathtaking views were the miles and miles of grape orchards that wove in with the abundant cypress trees and dry terrain. Unfortunately, the chain on my bike became disconnected from the rest of the bike on the last leg of the ride, were still not sure if it was due to old age and too much use or the fact that I had overindulged at lunch, but regardless the idea to see this region of Tuscany by bike was a solid choice. I think it was the best way to see it because it was so unadulterated. There was no distance between us and the scenery, no barriers, and we were able to stop as frequently as we wanted to capture what we were seeing with our cameras. For as much as I ate that day, the whopping 12 miles that we biked helped my confidence when it came to eating some more later on that day because the next day was a full-day hike through Cinque Terre.

Cinque Terre (The Five Lands) (Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore)

Sore and still exhausted from our biking adventure the previous day, I woke up at 6 am wondering why I had agreed to a full day’s hike. The notion was soon cleared from my head when our train from Florence, closely approaching the first town Riomaggiore, crossed over a bridge revealing a breathtaking ocean view; it was the most perfect shade of blue, sparkling water I had ever seen or could have ever imagined. The view was even more improved when we began the hike and could see the bright, pastel colors of the houses that lined the jagged waterfront. They were stacked and perched in such a way that there only seemed to be inches of spaces separating each from the next. One of our tour guides told us that the houses were so colorful and were so diversified in color so that fishermen, after long trips out to sea, could identify their houses when they finally came home.

Parts of the hike were very challenging. At one point we climbed 365 stairs to reach the third town! I tried to keep in mind that if I just climbed one step higher, sweat that much more, I’d be greeted by more and more amazing views of the blue coastline when I was done. This definitely gave me the incentive I needed despite the heat, sweat, and sore muscles. I also learned that this region is known for its pesto and lemon (both of which I managed to sample by the end of the trip.) I had the most delicious plate of gnocchi con pesto for lunch and lemon gelato for dessert. I was in my element: great food, great views, and great company. Sara, Kim, and I laughed at the athletic weekend we were having and how it would probably be the extent of our athleticism for the semester but how it barely felt strenuous when you realized what paradise you were in.

Though I shouldn’t say it, Vernazza was my favorite town of the five. It was close to the smallest in size but you couldn’t beat the views of the Adriatic Sea that could be seen from the dock where we waited for a ferry to Monterosso. Sara and Kim said that it reminded them a lot of the Greek Isles and I felt like I was living in a scene from Mama Mia with all of that color and sparkle! I think I could have sat on that dock for days, dangling my feet in and above the refreshing water, and staring off into the endlessness of blue horizon. Just above me was a small restaurant that probably couldn’t accommodate anymore than 15 guests at a time. A balcony was suspended directly over the water to support the dining area (I’m sure you felt you were eating directly above the water!) That is fine dining!

In Monterosso, we looked up and down the boardwalk of spice shops, focaccerrias, and bars to purchase pieces of this charming place to remind us of their warmth during the cold, New England winters ahead. The sun was setting and in the last hour before we caught our train back to Florence, we soaked our feet in the water, on a crowded beach, trying to take in every last second of the amazing sites we had been spoiled with all day. I know I have only been to a few places since my time here, but Cinque Terre is by far one of my favorite places and I would absolutely visit again if I had the opportunity to in the future.

I will be posting the link to all of my photos from these trips on my web album so you can all see what I’m talking about!