SAN GIMIGNANO AND WINE TASTING AT CASTELLO DI VERRAZZANO

So... (I realize I start all my abroad story updates with so.. probably should stop that)

Anyways, On Saturday with my program GSE we went to visiting the city of San Gimignano and then drove about an hour from there to a region of Chianti called Greve in the hills of Tuscany for a wine tasting day.

The chronicles of horrible walking tour guides continued with San Gimignano... damn you GSE for these tours. Though I am gaining random knowledge and seeing things I would have just walked past, I retain no information from boring tour guides that drown out a city. Tell me 5 interesting facts and point some things out, I'll remember that. Instead I only remember how weird my German tour guide said the word babies and how weirdly that word came up into discussion so often, oh and her horrendous blue eye shadow that dominated half her face. The views of the Tuscan hills were incredible from this city though.

The city was very quaint, typical walled Italian city, though with an abundance of stone towers, apparently just your average my tower is bigger than your tower so I'm more powerful mantra in San Gimignano. 

Streets of San G.

Love that I could actually see Fall happening, natureee.

Olive trees everywhere

Nature exists again!

The well in the town center, random tourist please feel free to donate your euros to the David Girvan is hella broke fund instead.

Frescos are definitely not as easy as they look. 

Towers galore in Italy with accompanied swarms of birds that felt like they could swoop down and attack at any given moment.

Hey not real life.

Jess and I!

The right page is dedicated to a list of different chocolate gelatos...

Gelatos in. I got rosemary raspberry (SO GOOD) and my usual staple of tiramisu.

The Castello di Verrazzano grounds

GRASS EXISTS IN ITALY oh how I never realized I would miss it. I feel like I will roll down Donahue Hill of enjoyment over the existence of grass when im back in the States... wait nevermind it'll be subzero New England with a side of 2 feet snow.

"Free wild boar breeding we thank you for respecting the peace" So they raise breed and slaughter some boars, nbd.

In real life the views an unreal, through photos the views are not even half as good.

Drying grapes

Quiet the wine is sleeping.

Each fits roughly 4,000 bottles of wine

And now cue the incredible 5 course Italian meal we got (fo freeee) with a bunch of different wines included. The bread with the homemade olive oil from there was TO DIE FOR! Oh and I have fully determined that I hate wine, I've tried far too many times and I just cannot stand it. If I would ever come to like wine it would be in Italy, and it only made me realized how much I think it is disgusting. Red, white, I can handle pink but its not like I plan on going out my way to buy wine ever. I won't even take the free wine, and I love all things free.

I wanted to run through the hills through the lines of grapes.. Unfortunately didn't have time slash didnt want to get yelled at.

Stonehill ladies. 

From left, Kat, Melissa, Katie, Courtney, Jade, Lengel, Ali, Jess, and Alex

5 seconds after Jess almost breaks her wine bottle on the fence, Courtney drops her wine bottle and hilarity ensues.

oh but don't worry, there was a grate on the roof so it wasn't raining il vino

ABROAD SONGS OF THE WEEK

Preface: switching all further blogposts to Helvetica font (aka my favorite behind Myriad Pro.. yeah I'm a Graphic Design nerd, deal) How did I not bother to change the font, I hate times new roman.


Who You Are - Jessie J
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2WWrupMBAE


My business psych class is giving me some serious life perspective (a post dedicated to that class coming soon) and I just love the lyric: 
"Sometimes it's hard to follow your heart.
Tears don't mean you're losing, everybody's bruising,
Just be true to who you are"

Glad You Came - The Wanted

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ggzxInyzVE

I don't know why all these random new boy bands are showing up, but I'm not hating the music. Thanks Europe.

Lessons In Love feat. Neon Trees - Kaskade

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uI0mYRDQaXc

Just another beat the beat club banger, the usual house music I'm all about.

No Light, No Light - Florence + The Machine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOB3G6WeZrQ

Florence + The Machine are back with a new album, and it doesn't disappoint

HALLOWEEN IN FIRENZE

So with Hal, Julie, and a bunch of Salamancan abroaders visiting Florence, we had a great group of people to go out with us on Halloween. Italy has a national holiday Nov 1st so we had nothing to hold us back from having an incredible night. I was the least motivated for actual classes coming back from fall break, but I managed to quickly with the 2 hours I had to make a costume that day make my costume: Jenna Marbles "the face". Youtube Jenna, I've been obsessed with her long before her rise on youtube and was just a worker at Barstool Sports, still mourning the loss of StoolLaLa her spin off blog that was far funnier than Barstool (Shout out to the fact I was on it with my costume I made last year, a gladiator costume completely made out of red solo cups). The rest of the group made way with their costume bought from our favorite store, Tutto 99 cent (everything 99 cents).

Jade (left) and Katie (right) with me. Best moment of the whole night was when we were in Red Garter and someone took Katie's ears and she bitched a guy out asking him where her ears were, pure gold moment.

Apartment mate Keefer and I

PM Friends with Flat Faith

I brought Flat Faith out for a good night in Florence

Kayla! Another friend who was visiting from Salamanca, Spain

5 shots for 5 euro = best friend for abroaders.

So we decided to order a "blowjob shot" which is half Kahlua and half Baileys topped with whipped cream, which you cannot use your hands to take it, it was my first time attempting it but after I accomplished it I managed to chuck the shotglass back at the bar table while trying to bring it down and shattered the shot glass. Whoops, my bad. Anyways redeemed myself by ordering another one 2 minutes later. 

Hal, Julie Mills, and Alex having a good time, despite that we couldn't get into anywhere we wanted to go to. So many Italians on vacation mixed with every crazy American trying to enjoy Halloween. Club 21 we couldn't even get to the door with the crowd. Twice was the same issue. We did however enjoy the the Lion's Fountain and Old Stove before our search. We got into Red Garter via the House of Sizzle next door to it and enjoyed some jams there. The second I heard "We Will Rock You" by Queen I knew it officially was a damn good night and on top of everything I apparently made two random girls' night with my Jenna Marbles costume and asked to take a photo with me. 

The fake David is kind of our close friend at this point

Salamanca roomies, in love with these chicks. 

We end the night with a trip to the secret bakery! the 2 croissants I got were okay, thanks France for forever ruining all baked goods that will never compare to you, but the pizza I got was the bomb om nom nom.

So the Spain abroaders left us, and with that and the fact I had to legitimately pay attention to school again fall break was over. Best 2 weeks abroad. These are the moments that turn into life long memories.

HAL AND JULIE MILLS SURPRISE VISIT & SPONTANEOUS TRIP TO PERUGIA

It's my first night sleeping in a real bed and back in Florence, and who jumps in and wakes me up? LAUREN O'HALLORAN! She managed to go a month and a half lying to me to only jump into my bed and surprise visit me. Courtney had been planning for like two weeks some "surprise birthday thing" for me the Saturday we got back from fall break, and I literally despise surprises. I hate the unknown, but this was such a great surprise done extremely well. Kudos to Hal.

Hal and I on the Ponte Vecchio

Hal's first real Italian gelato!

Briana literally begging and guilting Hal into coming back with her to Perugia, which succeeded in time after Briana's argument made sense, how would Hal feel if she traveled to Spain and was 2 hours away but didn't visit her? I couldn't agree more with her argument, I would be pissed if one of my closest friends traveled to Italy but didn't find the effort to come see me.

Hal Briana and I with the view from the Piazzale Michelangelo. Oh and I decided to spontaneously go to Perugia with Hal, for the sole reason of that I wanted to spend more time with Hal and plus I am the LEAST spontaneous person you will ever meet, I like to plan things out ahead of time, I'm the type that will make dinner dates in advance I don't like to stroll into the Commons searching for a friend to eat with, thats just awkward. Meet ya by the mailboxes thank you very much.

Hal and I with the view of Perugia on lovers lane

Perugia was nice, it was great to spend more time with Hal and Briana. Briana's friend was super nice. The night was a bit unsuccessful as Italians were on break so it was beyond crowded with Italians and almost all Americans were still fall breaking it up around Europe, so I felt a bit out of place and all the places we went to seemed to be a bit of a dud, but Dempsey's was fun, all was nice and casual that night. I realized after going to Perugia for a second time and with all my friends studying abroad there loving it and could never see themselves being anywhere else, that Perugia is far too damn small for my taste. I saw the whole city in a half hour. Other Americans (some Stonehillers included) studying abroad in Italy talk crap about Florence, but frankly it's far more interesting and has countless more to see and do than many other places in Italy (Rome no judgement I haven't been there yet to see). So sorry I'm not sorry Perugia, thanks for making me feel at least better that the place in Italy I choose was the right one.

A family dinner with the San Gallo girls and the Salamanca girls Hal and Julie Mills. They were going to surprise me for round two with Julie visiting later that night, but I went to Perugia so I got to see her the next day. Love those two girls.

IRELAND: DAY 4 / 5

So Thursday comes and it's our last full day in Ireland. I go on another bus guided tour to the Cliffs of Moher. This was hands down my favorite place in Ireland, and all the random stops we made going back and forth were incredible too, now this is the epitome of Ireland. JMardo was able to come with us that day since she didn't have class and could go for free, so clearly mad friend points yet again go to Jessica. Our bus driver / tour guide was not as lively as the one I had going to Connemara, he even awkwardly asked if we remembered his name at the end... no one did. Regardless, breathtaking and perfect day in the Land of Ire.

Animals exist? Why yes Italy they do, just not in your country. Pigeons don't count.

casual.

A nice random Irishman asked if we wanted our photo taken, definitely a favorite.

A pit stop in a "fairy circle" with the girls.

So artsy.

Giant awkward chair or an ancient Irish tomb?

Before we stop at the Cliffs we eat at this quaint pub, which mind you Mardo was smart enough to know for us to rush there and beat the rest of the bus for food. I get garlic bread and french fries for a break from my vegetable soup streak; I never really knew how much I could miss certain foods. We see a little bit of home in the pub, they have things from around the world on the walls, I see American money.. forgot what it looked like. They have license plates from states, whattup Mass and Rhodey. Then it's off to the Cliffs after a great meal.

We arrive at the Cliffs and oh yeah another day of sun in Ireland? Check. We were the most lucky with weather in Ireland, it barely rained on us.

This doesn't even look real to me and I saw it with my own eyes. It was so cool near the Cliffs, the wind was so strong that it was bringing the ocean water all the way up and slightly felt like it was raining, it was cool. Oh and the Cliffs are in the process to becoming one of the 7 natural wonders of the world, they had a voting station in the center for it which was also built in the hills by the Cliffs, so cool. 

Not the place to slip.

A is for Ambassador, or Admissions, or our boss Amber. Student Ambassadors abroad life.

Another submission of the abroad Titanic pose. Though Court wouldn't get as close to the edge as I would have, hence the mud.

Casually stopped by some lesser cliffs to say hey to the Atlantic again.

Another unreal landscape photo brought to you by the country Ireland.

We finally get to meet up with Mallory! Though she did scare the crap out of me when we arrived back to the apartment she was napping, I get out of the bathroom and there is Malpal straight creeping inches away from the bathroom door, typical Malpal.

Bro pic status with Pat. He was a nice tour guide the last day showing us around the streets of Galway.

Insta-friends photo with Kerry!

Oh she's just being Casey.

So our last night out we head out around Galway, go to a pub whose name I cannot recall at this time, we attempt to get into a club but with that 6 euro cover charge, to quote Mardo "oh HELL no that's two drinks I ain't paying for that!" That's one drink in Italia, but regardless cover charges are a slap in the face of poor college students, but hey in reality the place would have got more money if they nixed the cover charge and we all got drinks, but that's this Irish club's prerogative. Still a killer last night. I fall obsessed with cider in Ireland, I hate apple cider so why would I like it, who knows but now Bulmers and Strongbow will be my downfall in America.

Late night muchies provided by the Charcoal Grill and Supermacs. I ate the best burger here, despite having zero ketchup on it, and proved people wrong by eating an entire large fries on top of the burger. I'm a garbage disposal when it comes to food, not that people ever believe me unless they know me no thanks to my high metabolism and skinny frame. 

The famous colored houses of Galway.

Eyre Square in Galway

Streets of Galway.

So to sum up my adventures in Ireland I would say perfectly relaxing and comforting. London was great but very busy like Italy and Paris, Ireland was fresh air, nature, friendly people, fun times with close friends, and everything I wanted from the homeland. 

A 3 hour bus ride back to Dublin, a few hours to wait, pay a couple euros for some airport internet to get my classes for next semester (check), a flight delay, and an obnoxious bus ride and I'm back in Florence. Thank you for reminding me how much you frustrate me Italy when I get back in Pisa. We get our bus tickets and miss the first bus there post the flight because of not enough seats for the 5 of us, so we wait and it's this small car/bus by some Italian man yelling at us random things, we finally get on (though some people try to cut and this sweet lady coming from Ireland told the others we were first, why thank you again Ireland) and then the crazy bus driver proceeds to check EVERY ticket from each person in line waiting, mind you the bus was completely full and there was no point to this seeing as the other bus was not in sight. My impatience for Italy grows and grows sometimes, I am meant to forever live in New England where people gets things done as soon as frigging possible. The laid back life style of oh it will eventually get done here in Italy and I do not get along. So we get back to Florence and I meet up with my friend Briana and her friend who was visiting Florence who I said could stay with me, too bad I didn't arrive back into Florence until 2 AM, but I was at least back "home".