OVERJOYED.

I have not taken a single photograph in the past two days... we took our final this morning & took ourselves out to a celebratory lunch at Za Za's for the most delicious rigatoni known to man. We're off to Venice in the morning! ... the meantime, I can't stop thinking about my other summer plans...

OVERJOYED on OLYMPICS! Less than 2 months until

 I will be GLUED to my television all hours of the day.

 July 27th please hurry.

More Cinque Terre.

There is no better word that describes the weekend in the Cinque Terre. So picturesque, so charming. Saturday morning started out with the most delicious breakfast I've had in a month. Some crazy amazing granola with chocolate shavings all mixed in... homemade croissants with nutella, fresh kiwi, incredible hot chocolate, italian yogurt... one of the kiwis found its way into my pocket.. snack for later. 

well then Ashley asked if I would draw a face on the kiwi. 

(please ignore the mess of hair on my head & morning face.) 

We've been lacking testosterone in our month long escapade. Hence, the addition to our getaway, Franque the Kiwi who says nothing but "oui oui, I am a kiwi!" ... how middle school of us, our very own flat stanley runaround, taking pictures with Franque all day.

But you have to understand... Cinque Terre is at the tip-top of any chart entitled "most romantic places on earth"… and we were with 15 girls. Something had to be done.

the train ride to Vernazza, another town in the Cinque Terre.

soaking in every flippin' moment. 

Franque was so excited, that we drew him another face to show actually describe his mood.

This guy was making fresh pesto on the side of the road. IT WAS PHENOMENAL.

Beachin' it up. I nearly read all of Sarah's Key on that beach.

 Great book, highly recommend it... can't wait to see the film now!

I had a caprese sandwich on some preposterously delicious focaccia bread pulled straight out of an oven & shared some raspberry & cream gelato with Franque. In other words, PERFECT day.

Cinque Terre.

Following our quick detour in Pisa, we finally made our way into the Cinque Terre! Hiked up the city roads to our hotel in the 2nd town, Manarola. Oh how flippin' picturesque you are dear Manarola.

On vacation.. from our vacation.

Safe to say, we never want to leave.

Pesto Gnocchi... if you're wondering if all we eat is Gnocchi or Pizza.. the answer is yes.

DYING over this view.

BUT THEN! You think it can't get any better... UNTIL THE SUN GOES DOWN!

Firenze may have swept me off my feet... but Cinque Terre HAS MY FLIPPIN' HEART!

Pisa.

Just a little detour on yesterday's journey to the Cinque Terre. 

PISA!

so pretty much you get to the station... walk straight for a mile & then turn left. BAM. This massive litch-rally LEANING tower is in front of your face. SO COOL!

You start taking loads of crazy photographs... cuz that's the only thing TO do!

You can't go to Pisa without taking "pushing the tower" photos.

if you look closely.. there are about 8 others doing the same pose. It's hilarious! There is a field of people all doing the same thing everywhere you look.

cool backpack right? Testing it out for the 2 week run-around following study abroad.. let's just say 2 days worth of stuff felt pretty heavy... I'm not sure about this 17 days worth...

onward to the cinq!

More Firenze.

Thursday was more churches that were not allowing photographs. EXCEPT for this fresco of the Last Supper in this little nunnery we stopped in at. Really really cool. Andrea del Castango, very unique in his time period. I loved the perspective of the ceiling & the walls. 

AND, Thursday night's gelato walk! Killer sunset, killer view.

Firenze, you are not getting old.

I could get used to walking home every night passing incredible sculpture such as this! Rape of the Sabine Woman? Bologna's piece is astonishing.