French Riviera

Not feeling well and rain still couldn’t dampen the beauty of the French Riviera. A weekend was not enough time to explore the medieval cliff towns and sandy beaches that seem to fill this entire region. Only a five-hour bus ride from Florence, it felt like a different world. This was the first overnight trip I had taken with one of the numerous student tour groups that seem to thrive here. All in all they are a good option if you want someone else to do all the planning and if you want the cheapest rates. However, some words of advice they are not very organized and the majority of the attendees are more interested in the nightly activities then any of the cultural wonders that abound in the region. That being said, like anything in life, this trip was what you made of it. And we made it work, even if the room we stayed in also housed a few slugs.

The weekend was filled with drama, history and excitement. Each stop offered something new and unexpected. Eze was filled with drama. While here the rest of the group decided to take an impromptu tour of the perfume factory, without telling us. Imagine the fun we had running around in the rain searching for our bus, or a familiar face, to be confronted by the horror of being left behind. However, being the resourceful creatures we are, we decided to have a late brunch and wait for the next local bus to Monaco. After enjoying some delicious quiche and tea we stumbled upon our group and rejoined the tour. In Monaco we toured the palace, drove by the casino and then spent a delicious afternoon sipping cocoa and sampling chocolates. Finally, we paused in Cannes. Excited but tired I happily stood on the steps where the famous film festival airs and put my hands in the prints of several stars. It was a wonderful way to spend a weekend.

An Active Weekend

No one has ever called me athletic and for good reason. However, Florence is surrounded by some of the most beautiful countryside’s, so I decided to dust off my walking shoes and give activity a whirl. First stop was biking in Chianti. A challenging trip ensued, consisting of a 13km trek up and down hilly roads and hugging several S-shape curves that would make any driver cringe. But, while I wasn’t clinging to my brakes in terror, I was able to take in the lush Tuscan countryside. Deep valleys and vineyards filled my vision in every direction and my digital camera couldn’t truly do it justice. A difficult day, but well worth it. When exhausted we pulled in to a vineyard, I’d never felt like I’d earned a glass of vino more; I was nearly too tired to drink it.

Invigorated yet sore day 2 of my new adventurous life began with a train ride out to Cinque Terre. This day proved just as challenging, even without the bicycle, but again was worth the pain. Taking our time we strolled easily along the trails of the first few towns, taking many picture stops along the way. A combination of the Amalfi Coast and Santorini, Cinque Terre, was filled with its own mystical beauty. Around every corner there was a new view of sparkling blue water and cragged rocks jutting down the cliff-sides. Every town had its own charm and entertainment and I observed many a cliff diver, something I can happily say I will never try. After lunch the hike hit its hard stage, nearly all up hill on uneven terrain, it was difficult, but luckily I made it and as a reward had a delicious gelato in the last town. I’m not sure if it was my spent body talking or what but an ice cream never tasted so good. 6km later I was physically done and happily slept on the train ride home. I think I’ll put away my walking shoes for a while now.

Likes: Beautiful scenery and fresh air
Dislikes: not a real wine tasting, rude restaurant staff in Cinque.

A Week of Firsts

No matter how old I get the start of a new semester always fills me with butterflies. This was even more so this semester because Saci is an art school, an area that I have had little contact with since the days of paper-mache in middle school. However, inspiration can be found in every corner. This antico palazzo was actually the home to Mona Lisa and was created as a shrine to Galileo; a man who once said “doubt is the father of invention”. Surrounded by such legends as these my first week flew by as I began to learn about basic photography, video, Italian cinema and graphic design. Not only is the school full of impressive history, but the teachers as well have led fascinating lives. From successful fashion photographers to consultants on films such as the Godfather, these professors have done it all and I was filled with a new enthusiasm for the arts after hearing their stories. While I am slightly intimidated by both the student and staffs ample resumes I am excited by the prospect of a challenging semester in areas that could lead me in new directions that I had never before considered.

The Beginning