I really have no idea where to start, and please note the clothes-hanger wide smile on my face as I review one of the most amazing weeks of my life. Colby flew in on Friday, the 5th of November. "Remember, remember the 5th of November, gun powder, treason, and plot. I see of no reason why gun powder, treason, should ever be forgot." This nursery rhyme - made popular in the States by the amazing movie V for Vendetta, commemorates Guy Fawkes' attempt to blow up Parliament in 1605. Today, all across the UK bonfires are held in "celebration." The bonfires consist of pallets, with "Guys" mounted on top like scare crows that are of course burnt. Interestingly enough, the scare crow Guys are typically crafted by school children. I was mildly disturbed by all of this - but it seemed to really be their Halloween - children dressed up, had goodie bags, and watched fireworks. Before I left for Heathrow to pick Colbster up, my flat-mate Ali and I headed to a bonfire not too far outside the city. There we watched fire-entertainers, and saw some of the most impressive fireworks I've ever seen. The fireworks were so close to us we actually couldn't look straight at them because hot pieces of them would fall on us!
Check out that huge orb! Guy Fawkes? hrmm?
Ali and I hung out for a few hours, and then I got back on the Piccadilly Line and headed for Heathrow! It's about a 45-50 minute ride from home to Heathrow, which isn't that bad - but by the time I got there my hands were shaking and my heart was racing so badly I could hardly stand it. And then he was right in front of me and it was like we hadn't been a part for a second.
It was getting pretty late Friday night, so after dropping his luggage off, we headed to Vapiano - I think I've mentioned it before - the awesome italian place down the street. Had a few drinks and headed home. Saturday we did a lot of exploring through Soho, which is one of my favorite areas, if not my most favorite at this point. Sunday was the Arsenal Game!! I bought tickets as an xmas present - they're Colby's favorite. We went with Micah and had a few drinks at a pub off the Arsenal tube stop before hand, and then headed to our seats. Despite the loss (0-1) Newcastle, the game was so much fun! I don't really know much about football "soccer" but I was able to get pretty into it - the crowd we sat with certainly helped!
After the game, the three of us went to Masala Zone - and Indian place that Dawn an I found a few weeks ago - it's a chain - but absolutely delicious.
Monday morning we got up super early and headed to Victoria Station to take the Gatwick Express to Gatwick Airport. All of our traveling went really smoothly (poor Colby had to deal with me freaking out the whole time about us making flights, etc.) thank god one of us keeps our head on straight. The flight there was a little rough for me, but on the way back I was SO much better. I literally was just like "I'm not going to let this bother me" and the flight back to London was worlds better, so that's good.
We landed in Pisa after a two hour flight and hopped right on a train to Firenze! (Florence) The train ride was around an hour, and then we were there!
This is me being really excited on the train.
Our hotel was really easy to find (no thanks to me of course) ... I pretty much tagged along with my mouth wide open and staring at everything, tripping over my feet. All of a sudden - there was the Duomo - I could not stop staring at it. It looked so beautiful at night, and when Colby ducked into a door literally paces away from the Duomo's side, my jaw just dropped. I couldn't believe we were staying RIGHT next to it. The hotel was gorgeous, and the staff was so sweet and helpful. They had a beautiful observatory, and library. We set our stuff down and the staff made us a dinner reservation just a few streets down. We were starving, and had some olive oil, cheese, and pasta dishes. Along with two half bottles of wine. This began my newfound obsession with buffalo mozzarella cheese. Oh, my, god (said in janise voice). Seriously, I was so in love. I had spaghetti with clams, and Colby had tortellini I believe.
The next day we climbed the Duomo, and visited the Galleria dell'Accademia. 463 steps - whew! 100% worth it. The staircase was really small and narrow, but eventually you came out at the inside of the dome and could literally stretch your hand out (if there wasn't a plastic guard over it) and touch the bottom of the painted ceiling.
I was slightly exhausted when we reached the top (yes, I am out of shape, shush up) and once we stepped out into the air - it started to drizzle, this might sound odd, but I thought it was perfect. It was so beautiful - you could see for miles all around you. All of the buildings were different golden earth tones, with these absolutely gorgeous rooftops that made me think of home and mom. It was so amazing to be up there and really see Italy. We climbed down and headed for food. I'm pretty sure I ate gelato at least twice a day:
We found a restaurant with a huge pizza menu, so we did that for lunch.
I honestly don't have any words. Go to florence. Eat the pizza. That is all.
The Galleria dell'Accademia was next. One amazing experience after the other - and I was really about to be floored. We couldn't take pictures, (though Colbs snuck one on his phone that I need to get from him...) but you really don't know what's about to happen to you until you're right there. There were chairs all around Michelangelo's David - I was a little ahead of Colby, so after walking all around it, I just sat there and stared at it for awhile.
This picture by no means does it any justice. I had no idea how huge it was, how much perfect detail there is- and then Jess told me that he had made it out of a scrap piece of marble!
After the museum, we stopped by the hotel and booked our tour of Chianti for the next day. Then it was dinner time!
This time we ordered the buffalo mozzarella special because I couldn't get enough of it and had it before our meal - Colby had steak with balsamic (yum!) and I had lasagna. The lasagna claimed to be an old recipe and actually didn't have any tomato in it - really good, but the kind of thing I had to take 4 lactaid pills for, haha.
I had a rose wine, and Colby had a red. I have to admit, at the start of the trip I was all about the whites and blush, but I've officially converted to Chianti. You'll see why.
Wednesday was our afternoon trip to Chianti! Before we caught our bus, we walked to the Ponte Vecchio, an absolutely gorgeous bridge covered in fabulous jewelry shops. Cameo!! They were so very expensive, but some day I'm going back and getting one!
Then we got on the bus and headed for Castillo del Trebbio, a castle/vineyard in the Chianti Region. We spent the afternoon looking at the beautiful scenery, exploring the castle, and tasting their wine! I felt like I learned so much about how to properly taste wine! I felt so educated, and later that night we used our new skills when we bought a bottle at dinner.
We had such an amazing time, and I'm so glad we took this tour. I really want to come back to the Chianti region - learning about the different grapes, and the olives was incredible. After such a beautiful afternoon - we got back on the bus and catnapped the ride home to Florence. Then we went out to dinner - a restaurant Colby remembered from a previous trip to Florence. Once we were seated we were given champagne on the house, and a free appetizer, given we purchased a bottle of wine. The wine we had that night was one of my favorites, and after our wine tasting in Chianti, I was in love.
By far the most beautiful meal I've had since the cookhouse. Colby had steak with balsamic - it was so mouthwatering - and I had wild mushrooms over tagliatelle. The menu was all italian (most other places have had english menus), and the wine was served to us in a decanter and swirled around. We sat in the restaurant so long - it really was an amazing meal. Then we found an American bar - of course we went in, cheesy I know. Then we headed back and watched two movies - perfect night!
Thursday we got up early and headed to the central market before catching a train back to Pisa. Outside the streets were lined with leather venders and inside the covered market - olive oil, meats, seafood, cheeses galore!! We bought a few salamis, along with some cheese and bread to eat on the train to Pisa. We also had THE BEST bruschetta in our lives for only 1.50 euro.
We boarded the train back to Pisa with our goodies and enjoyed the short ride back. We found our hotel (again, no thanks to me), dropped our stuff off, and spoke with the staff downstairs about walking to the tower and finding a place for dinner. That night we had yet another amazing meal - ravioli, vegetable soup, and spaghetti with marinated duck. We shared a really nice Chianti Classico, and then enjoyed a quiet walk to the Leaning Tower of Pisa! It was so beautiful at night, and I'm so glad we walked over that night, because when we went back the next morning before our flight it was pouring rain. (Or as a true brit would say, pissing outside - um, ew?).
After our visit with the tower - we were off to catch our flight back! As I mentioned - it went much better than the first flight, and Colby even snagged a few pictures of the French Alps:
We landed at Gatwick, took the train back, and finally made it to my place in London after a long day of traveling. Saturday we set out to find "the best fish and chips" and ended up eating here:
We met up with Micah - the fish and chips were awesome! Then we headed to covent garden - had a few drinks at the Punch and Judy, and then on a whim saw The Mousetrap! It has been running for like 50 years or something - we all really enjoyed it!
Colby flew out the next morning, and I slipped back into the black umbrella world my father warned me about. I come home in 32 days! So very soon!!
Next on the agenda: Scotland, Dublin, and Bath, The British Independent Film Awards, 1 assignment, and 1 paper, and 1 test. Then I'm packing my bags and headed back to the most beautiful place in the world - Branchport, NY! How lucky am I? My parents managed to find heaven on earth, and I call it my back yard.
All the love in my heart,
Until next time.
