Come visit me in Italia

I am writing to you from the train as we travel from Naples to Rome. That’s right, I said we! My mom made it to Europe and we have been having an amazing time. (I use the word amazing because it has been brought to my attention that Italian locals think Americans overuse the word amazing.)

Mom arrived in Barcelona on the 30th of June and it has been a whirlwind ever since. I was sad to say goodbye to my host family and bid adieu to my friends from the program. We had one last dinner on the beach filled with sangria, lots of laughter and promises to hang out when we get back home. But at the same time, I was feeling very ready to be with my mom and travel to a new country with a whole knew atmosphere, dialect and culture. The heat, laid-back nature and passion of Barcelona will always have a specific place in my heart.

Upon mom’s arrival we checked into the B&B we would be staying at, Barcino 147. It was magnificent. Our room was an elegant color of red; warm, soft light filled the space, the walls donned antiques and elegant paintings while the sounds of the city flitted in from the window overlooking the bustling street corner. I was also pleased, (to say the least), to finally have air conditioning again. I know you guys think I sound like a brat, but six weeks without air conditioning in the middle of the hottest summer in 50 years really gets to a person.

Since we only had a day and a half in Barcelona I had to stick to a tight schedule to ensure that mom saw all of the highlights and get a proper feel for the spectacular and mesmerizing city that is Barcelona.

We had brunch in the Gothic Quarter and mom experienced European bacon for the first time. European bacon truly hurts my heart. Being from the United States, we are used to crispy bacon, the more breakable the better. But over here, bacon is hardly cooked and reminds me more of Canadian bacon type dish, not my favorite. But hey that’s alright, you have to adjust. We also took a tour of La Sagrada Familia. I mentioned in some of my earlier posts that Gaudí is a big deal over here. Gaudí took over the construction of La Sagrada Familia and designed most of the spectacular structure you see today. This breathtaking (what an overused word) is still under construction today and is truly something magical. Upon entering, one cannot help but gasp at the high ceilings, wondrous colors and exquisite detail. The natural light is spectacular. Streams of colors reflect through the stain glass windows and small windows shed halos of sunlight all around you. We spent an hour soaking in the peaceful, religious and appreciative air that surrounds La Sagrada Familia. From here I showed mom around my school, my house and the beach. From there I took her to my favorite area of the city, the el born neighborhood. It is tucked away in between beautiful alleyways with sprawling squares. We spent the afternoon here, drinking wine and enjoying the people watching. Mom was in heaven.

I loved showing mom my home away from home. It’s funny though, because mom actually showed me something. She had noticed a hotel across the road from our B&B and so we decided to go have a drink inside. I was pleased at what I found, a stunning ballroom that transported me to a time much like that in Titanic. Green couches accompanied marble tables, dim lighting highlighted the high ceilings, and deep shades of crème and gold surrounded the room. This was my dream space, the exact vision I had always pictured when envisioning a decadent library in my future home. We went to bed early that night knowing we had many more adventures in front of us. Onward to Italy.

Sorrento, Italy. A place filled with the best pizza my mouth has ever enjoyed, panoramic views of the Mediterranean and lots of the local liqueur, Limoncello. Sorrento is known for its lemons and I had never tasted such a fresh, yet pungent drink in my life. We spent the first day getting a feel for the little town. It is filled with several main piazzas, small streets covered with shops and wonderful terraces to take in the view.

Sunday was a day spent traveling back in time. We visited Pompeii and Herculaneum, the two old ruins destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. I could not believe how well persevered they were. We had a tour guide named Barbara, an Italian woman who had an American father. She spoke very good English, but there was one phrase we thought was so funny that she kept saying. When she wanted us to see something she would always say, “I want to show you one more stuff.” It just goes to show you no matter how well your might know another language, things don’t always exactly translate.

The next day was spent in Ana Capri and Capri, just a 20-minute boat ride from Sorrento. We had our own tour guide, Paolo. He was a handsome, young Italian man who had so much enthusiasm for his job and passion for his country. First we visited the Blue Grotto, a cave found in the Mediterranean where the water is actually a stunning blue color from a certain kind of algae. Mom and I had to lie down in a tiny fishing boat and an Italian boat guide took us inside, singing to us in Italian the entire way. From here we hopped in a convertible taxi and gasped the entire ride to the top of Ana Capri. The roads are the narrowest things I have ever seen and they are all two-way! Vespas zip in between cars and you are only allowed to drive in Ana Capri if you are a resident…. makes sense. We went on a chairlift that gave you the greatest view of the coastline and ocean that you could ever hope to see. We spent the day shopping, walking and soaking up the laidback lifestyle that exhumes you in Ana Capri and Capri. Paolo our guide surprised us with lunch at a local chateau and winery that made their own homemade wine in their vineyards. It was picturesque, delicious and enchanting.

Tuesday was marked with visits to Positano, the Amalfi Coast and Ravello. Our driver and guide for the day, Massimo, picked us up in an elegant car and whisked us off for a long day of sightseeing. We stopped many times along our journey for pictures in front of draw-dropping backdrops before we finally arrived at our first stop: Positano. This is the place I had been waiting to see and we only had an hour there so I had to make the most of it. We immediately walked through the narrow town streets towards the beach, stopping along the way to browse the little shops. The view from the beach was everything I hoped for and more. I looked up to see clusters of brightly colored homes built into the cliffs overlooking the water. Spectacular. We grabbed a drink at a beachside bar and enjoyed the people watching, one of our favorite pastimes. After taking more pictures, both real and mental, we were off to see the Amalfi Coast. We actually got to take a boat to see the Amalfi Coast; it was definitely the best way to take everything in. To finish out the day we went to Ravello, which was one of the most peaceful places I have ever visited. Ravello is famous for its classical music concerts every summer. We visited the gardens and music venue that overlooks the ocean; I have seen so many fresh flowers and beautiful sculptures in my life.

Two things I feel I must address about Italy: the food and the people. The people are the most attractive I have ever seen and the food is the best I have ever tasted. Olive skin with dark hair and dazzling smiles. Warm cheese with rich tomatoes and perfectly baked crust. I could live here.

We are now off to spend four days exploring the ancient city of Rome before we head home to the States. More to come!

Ciao,

Codes

The Palace Hotel in Barcelona

Dinner view in Sorrento

Positano, Italy

Last night in Sorrento

Paolo, the tour guide.

Pizza in Sorrento