Under The Tuscan Sun

Do you ever have those weeks where you're just like geeze louise I need something relaxing and wonderful to balance out all of this negative? Well that was this week-filled with oral presentations in Italian, three midterms and a group presentation on a project that I really had no confidence in.

Me & Jake!

So Thursday after class we all went out together to this new bar with awesome student specials & of course we ended up in LaMaison, with creepy Italians. This time I spoke fluent Italian.. um who would have thought that would ever happen? with a German/Italian man and literally by the end of the night Rachel and I had to sneak our way out of the club. Only to find out Kait rode home on the bus alone because the doors shut while Lauren was trying to get on and that Cecile, Jenny and Kayla got kicked out of a taxi and had to walk home.

Side note: Lauren's boyfriend was in town.. who I happen to know from home because he went to Cardinal Newman

Friday was amazing. We went on a walk around Rome because the weather was absolutely beautiful. Had lunch at Panifico, an amazing bread, pastry and pizza shop. Then we decided to walk to Castel Sant'Angelo to sit out in the sun all afternoon and read a book. It was such a relaxing afternoon to take in the beauty that Rome truly is. It's been a little difficult to completely appreciate it when there's been snow ruining all of our plans.


Tuscany on Saturday was absolutely breathtaking. There is no way to describe the rolling hills and the way you can really feel the Italian culture when you're there. First we went to Montepulciano, a wonderful town where the vineyards create over 65,000 bottles of wine a year. There were breathtaking panoramic views of the Tuscan hillside because this town is literally on top of a massive hill (that surely was fun to walk up). We went to a wine tasting here at the Crociani family's wine cellar. We tried a Rosso wine and then the Nobile wine, which is a highly notable wine of this area. After this we toured the wine cellars under this town that is literally an underground city built by the Etruscans.

Then we left Montepulciano and we went to a farm house to have a delicious four course meal including breads (with the most amazing olive oil I've had yet), meats & cheeses, homemade pasta, cooked meats, salads and then dessert. Each of these dishes were paired with a different wine.

Quite possibly my favorite part of the day was going to the thermal bath spa.This place was top notch, you were given a robe, towel and slippers when you came in the door for the day.  The thermals baths are made from mineral waters underground. I have never felt more relaxed in my life after being in the bath for two hours. When you get out of the baths you can barely walk. Needless to say, I would gladly go back to a thermal bath one day. Not to mention, the view was spectacular.