Roma & Firenze forever :)

Hate to break up the flow of the Ireland posts....! But I'm back in the states now and figured I had better do some writing about my overall experience. (However, I keep imagining myself in Ireland with the girls - I miss you already too!!! The color green is dominating my thoughts, for some odd reason - haha).

Let me also say this - very important: I knew Earl had to die. We will need to have that song on the video of our trip - hahhahahaha! That story is absolutely HILARIOUS. I am so happy that Earl is gone - may we all remember him as fondly as we can.... He just couldn't handle Europe, poor guy. I would have paid big bucks to see this airport fiasco. My travel story was not quite as hectic, but it was certainly unpleasant - I'll explain later.

So - I am sitting back in my apartment now (which I am leaving for good in a few short days), and I am still waiting for it all to sink in. I hear a lot happened while we were gone - Obama got the nomination (yay) and gas is about to be $5 (not yay).

I told Kelly & Erin before I left that I would be sad to leave Italy, but that I feel incredibly filled by the whole experience. Roma, Florence, and just the act of traveling abroad - has definitely given me a new perspective on life. I wish everyone could do it at least once in life.

I really don't know how to capture it all in words yet (or maybe ever), but here is a list of my favorite highlights/memorable moments of the trip:

1. Looking out the window of the plane and watching the East coast of the US disappear behind me, for the first time.

2. After telling each other "Meet you in Roma!" the day before, seeing Kelly & Erin come through the Passport doors of Fiumicino airport, and thinking "this is really happening".

3. Seeing Trevi fountain as our first landmark in Roma. It became "our place"

4. Eating the same amazing pizza for our first meal and our last meal on the trip

5. Eating Gelato every chance we could possibly handle it, and still manaaging to say things like : "oh man, we have to get some more gelato, I feel like we haven't had it for days!"

6. The food at Ristorante Alla Rampa, where we definitely found that red wine had been searching for - we have to find out if they bottle it. And I can't forget Gioia Mia, great little place (wish we would have had more time there). Diego's recommendations were always perfect ;)

7. Our tours of the Colloseo, Palatine, and the Vatican. Just. simply. wow.

8. Being completely speechless for hours after seeing what is extremely likely, if not certainly, the bones of St. Peter, an apostle of Jesus. Literally a man who walked, talked and ate with Jesus Christ. That will have changed me forever, and I am still trying to process it.

9. Our apartment in Florence, my favorite accommodation on the trip. "The Market House" by Antica Dimora Firenze. Right next the most amazing, fresh market, the cultural center, and the cutest shops (which we did not find until it was almost too late).

10. One more thing about the Mercato, grocery stores will never EVER be the same to me again. Running out the door to grab eggs, fresh veggies, fruit and bread to make breakfast was so much fun.

11. Hiking up the nearly 500 stairs of the Duomo, and having Kelly and Erin on either side of me to keep me calm as I nearly had a panic/claustrophobia panic attack. I made it through, but not before screaming at some (I believe, Russian) teenagers. The incredible view of Florence was worth it, but i will NEVER do it again! haha

12. Osteria de' Macci in Florence- now, this restaurant was really something special. I don't know where to begin with this one either. I wish we had gotten the owner's name. But he was from southern Italy, and his food shared that same flair. First and Second courses were wonderful (the meat with white spices, the veggie flan, the cream filled mozzarella, wow wow wow) - but he added something special to our experience withe the small breads that we soaked in olive oil, pepper and salt, the smothest dessert wine you have ever had, his house wine that he makes (and allowed us to TAKE HOME), and the special cheescake covered in chocolate - I will have to explain that later as well. We got to meet the chef too. This was the best meal and service on our whole trip. www.osteriademacci.it

13. Per's (pronounced "pears") Bike Tour in Tuscany. http://www.persbikerides.com/ Next to St. Peter's this was the BEST part of the trip. Per and Melissa were the most amazing guides, and we truly saw Tuscany the way it was meant to be seen. The food that was prepared for our group of just 6 girls was simply amazing. The whole experience can only be explained in pictures.
14. Getting matching team "Italia" sweatshirts

There is so much more but i should stop. Have to get packing for the big move. I have decided that the balcony at my new place is going to be Tuscan-themed.

Roma and Firenze..... I will never, ever forget!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!