Easter / Compound Reuinion/ My 21st Birthday!

Hello again!!

So the weekend of Easter was one of the most fun, but hectic weekends of all time. I came home from Dublin on Tuesday, no time for rest, only to have some of my best friends (8 in total) come to visit for the weekend. Caitlin Brison came Tuesday, Jehan, Ted, Ashley (Boozer), Jac, and Bova came Wednesday, and Amy and Juli came Thursday. It rained pretty much the entire weekend (and by rained I mean poured) which only added to the stress, but everything worked out well and it was an amazing weekend!! Seeing everyone made me realize how much I missed BC! These people are my family while I'm at school, and having everyone here for my birthday was incredible.



So Wednesday afternoon we had perfect weather, 65 and sunny, and had the best day. After I met the crowd at their hostel, we spent the afternoon wandering around Rome, seeing the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Vittorio Emanuele (Piazza Venezia), and ending at the Spanish Steps just in time for sunset. I bought us some wine and we ended the perfect day with a gorgeous sunset over the city of Rome, enjoying good company and good wine. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect day. That night, we went to enjoy everyone's first Italian meal. Obviously we all got pasta! We met up with some friends at a bar nearby to watch the end of the Roma v. Lazio game (the two Roman teams who are the biggest rivals ever) and it was a mini BC reunion as it seems as though everyone had friends in town that weekend. It was really fun.







On Thursday afternoon, I also got a call from Fr. Greg, a friend of Carol Sanborn (my childhood best friend's mom) telling me he had 5 tickets to the Thursday morning mass at St. Peter's with the Pope, and three for Easter Sunday Mass!! We were all so excited, as everyone was going to be able to go.

So Thursday morning, Bova, Boozer, Jehan, Ted and I went to the Vatican bright and early for mass with PapaRatzi himself. It was the mass where they bless all the oils for the masses to come. We waited in line for quite some time, then finally went in the basilica, only to be pushed to the wayside by feisty little nuns. We finally found some seats, and waited around for a little, until the procession started. Everyone jumped up thinking the Pope was coming by, but no, it was actually a procession of 500 priests. I'm not exaggerating. Priests walked in for 25 minutes...and not at a slow stroll either. Full speed, 2 lines, for 25 minutes. It was insane. I kept thinking that with all these priests from all over the world here, I've got to know one. I didn't. Anyway, Pope Benedict finally walked by. He is such a rock star! He walked down the center isle, waving at people, shaking hands, pointing, etc. People were clapping, taking pictures, and he was loving it. Just like your normal celebrity. Mass was long, but it was a great experience.



After mass, it started raining cats and dogs. We ran into Caitlin Brison, who was with her parents, and she came with us to lunch. I think I was the only one who had an umbrella, so we all ran into the first restaurant we saw, which of course turned out to be a rip off seeing as how it was right next to one of the main tourist spots in Rome. I hate when restaurants charge you for bread just because you put it down on the table, then charge you a separate service charge. Afterwards, we took all the bread out of spite and fed it to the pigeons right outside the restaurant. Then of course, I had to take my guests to the best gelato place in Rome...Old Bridge. It is by far the best gelato I've ever eaten, its so cheap, and they give you so much! After a little ice cream and whipped cream was shoved into some faces (Boozer and Ted) we headed back towards school so I could take (and by take I mean fail...sorry Mom and Dad) a quiz for which I had no time to prepare.



Thursday night was the best night of the entire weekend. Katie and I hosted all 8 guests (Amy and Juli had come at this point) in our apartment for a home made meal. With a little help, Katie and I prepared a salad, pesto pasta, and chicken breast for 10 people. I also found 5 liter jugs of wine for 4 euro(!) at the grocery store, so of course I had to get one red and one white. The 10 of us sat down to enjoy our reunion dinner together, and it was incredible. It was like being back at BC again, all of us just hanging out, laughing, almost crying, and enjoying each others company. Of course, we made a toast to all of our friends who could not be there with us because they did not study abroad. Bova even took a 3 minute long video on his camera, and it seriously looks like its out of the Wonder Years. Definitely something we are going to be watching in the future, when we are 40, laughing about everything all over again. You can't really understand a word anyone is saying in the video because everyone is talking at once and there are about 5 conversations going on at the same time, but its perfect.

Friday morning, we got to sleep in a little until people came over to our apartment to start the day. It was raining again, but we went out into the city regardless. Amy, Juli, Brison, Fly, and I (everyone I lived with in the fall) walked through Campo de Fiori and Piazza Navona, shopping a little here and there, only to get lost in route to the Trevi Fountain to meet up with the others who had gone to the Vatican Museum in the early morning. I think the Trevi Fountain was a favorite of people, and I understand why. Its breathtaking! Obviously we got gelato again and wandered around a little more down Via del Corso (the main street in Rome that goes from Piazza Venezia to Piazza del Popolo). We finally split up in the evening to go back to get ready for the evening. Fly and I took them to Art Cafe, our huge club, for the one big night out.



Saturday was a day spent more for recouperation than anything else. It was pouring rain, as per usual, and many people hadn't had much sleep in the last week (myself included) so it was an easy day. Saturday night, Brison, Jac, Fly and Jules went to the Easter Vigil mass with the Brison's while the rest of us went to dinner together. We met at Piazza Venezia and literally wandered down side streets for almost 30 minutes, enjoying the evening and reprieve from the rain, as well as looking for a cute, suitable place to make 6 people happy. We found a Pinocchio shop which was awsome, and also stumbled upon what seemed to be the WWII war memorial. Finally, we found a restaurant right near Piazza Navona (that I pass constantly but never knew anything about) and we sat down to dinner. No one else can speak Italian, so I was conversing with the waiter/owner. He complimented me many times on my Italian skills, and said I spoke very well! We sat there for almost 2 hours together, until we finally decided that 11 was a little late to be sitting at a restaurant. After dinner, I took them to Piazza Navona and Ted and Bova saw the street vendors selling stupid little gadgets, and were like kids in a candy store. Bova bought this light up saucer that you send soaring into the sky, and had a field day with it. He even bough 2 of them! After Piazza Navona, I took them to Campo de Fiori, where we hit midnight (my birthday). It was really great to be with my best friends at midnight on my birthday! While mine was not the typical midnight of your 21st birthday (I wasn't wasted trying to get into my first bar) it was still something special. I was standing in the middle of a famous area of Rome with my best friends in the entire world. Fly, Brison, Jules, and Jac weren't far and came directly to Campo so we were all together. Obviously, instead of my first drink I celebrated with my first gelato as a 21 year old.



Sunday morning, we woke up early for Easter Sunday mass in St. Peter's Square. My roommate Laura had waited in line for tickets early Saturday morning, and was able to get enough for all of my friends, all of her friends, plus all of our roommates and their guests! I believe it was 24 of us in total. We got there around 8:30am for a 10:30 am mass, and obviously at around 10:15 it begins to pour rain. It never stopped. We had a very good view of where the Pope would be standing, but as soon as the rain came, the umbrellas went up.




The mass was about 2 hours long in total, and by the end, only 3 of the 10 of my guests remained. Ted, Boozer, and I were the only ones who endured the rain for Easter Sunday Mass with the Pope.

Anyway, so that night we went out to dinner for my birthday! We went to our favorite restaurant right near our house, and ti was a group of 20+ people. I'm so popular. Just kidding...but really. Dinner with my best friends for my birthday was of course incredible and we all had a great time.



Unfortunately, after dinner, I came home to find I had a 101.9 fever. What a way to end my birthday! We left for spring break that next morning, and my roommate had to pack for me. My throat was hurting so much, and I felt miserable. But more on that later.

The weekend was SO MUCH FUN and it was great to see all my friends. Life is good here in Rome!!

When Irish Eyes are Smiling

Top of the mornin to ya!

So I had the incredible opportunity to spend St. Patrick's Day and the weekend before in Dublin. Yes, they DO celebrate St. Patrick's day over there, and boy do they know how to.

So we flew out of Rome on Friday morning, arriving in the first airport that had English words everywhere! It was glorious. The whole weekend was a nice change from other traveling weekends, we actually stayed at a HOTEL instead of a hostel. Nice, large comfy beds...it was the best weekend ever.

Friday night, we found a restaurant that my friend Megan, who had spent a summer in Dublin. My friend and I split my first real cheeseburger in forever. Italian food is to die for, don't get me wrong, but there is nothing like a little variety in life.


Anyway, moving on, that night we went to the Temple Bar area, which is the area where the pubs are. One of my best friends from BC, Ted, is studying in Glasgow, Scotland, but was in Ireland for the weekend. I met up with him in the Temple Bar area, and it was the most fun I had all weekend! Seeing him was a little taste of home.

Saturday, we woke up and got Starbucks for breakfast!!! Coffee to go = INCREDIBLE! Like I said before, the coffee in Italy is obviously superior, but the chance to get it to go was such a nice change.


We walked along the famous shopping street, Grafton street, until we went to meet up with our friends. Along the way, I ran into a Leprechaun and the famous Molly Malone statue. I was so excited about seeing Molly Malone, as back at Corpus Christi, we used to sing her song. I haven't been able to stop singing it since I planned this trip to Dublin!






On the way to meet up with our friends, we found a pub called O'Sullivan's. I immediately fell in love, as it was a cute Irish pub with my sister's name, and our Irish family name! We decided to come back for the Ireland-England rugby game later that afternoon. In the afternoon, it started pouring down rain. We walked around the cheaper famous shopping street, Henry Street, until we were soaked and went back to O'Sullivan's. As we walked inside, the cutest old Irish man who worked there came up to us and was so sweet, he loved us. He found us a table right by the screen to watch the game, and gave us discounts on the food. He even let me keep the menu when he found out my family name and my sister's name was Sullivan! His name was Patsy, and he was amazing, which is why we continued to go back every day of our trip.






Our first drink in O'Sullivans! Cider, of course.


Us with Patsy!

Sunday morning, we woke up early for some sight-seeing, but things were closed so after breakfast (a bagel!!!), we headed straight for the Guinness Factory! It was so much fun, it was a great way to spend the afternoon. We walked through the Guinness Storehouse, which is attached to the brewery, (St. James Gate, which is leased for 9,000 years to Arthur Guinness for a mere 45 pounds a year) and saw exactly how the famous Black Stuff is made. It used to be the largest Brewery in the world, but is now only the largest brewer of stout. The entire place was so cool, with so many interactive things and explanations as to exactly how Guinness was made. They even let us taste the barely used for the Black Stuff.






At the end of the tour through the factory, we got a free pint of Guinness. Let me tell you, Guinness in Ireland is far superior than Guinness in the states. I actually like it! I even pulled my own perfect pint, and got a sweet certificate for it.





We enjoyed our free point in the Gravity Bar, the bar at the top of the factory which provides the best views of Dublin in the city.







After the Guinness Factory, we attempted to go to the Jameson Whiskey factory, but unfortunately the tours were booked for the day. So instead, we walked around Trinity College for a little. Beautiful campus.



Monday morning, my friend Laura and I decided to start off St. Patrick's Day right by catching the first tour at the Jameson Whiskey family. We were both chosen to be tasters at the end of the tour! We walked through the factory, learning how Irish Whiskey is made. It was a cool tour, very informative. For example, did you know that Irish Whiskey is distilled three times, Scotch Whiskey two times, and American Whiskey only once? That accounts for the different tastes of the three, which I got to taste at the end of the tour. Laura and I were among 6 people who sat at the front of the tour group, trying 5 different types of whiskey. We tried three types of Irish whiskey, one type of Scotch, and Jack Daniels to understand the difference between the whiskeys. Great way to start of St. Patrick's Day!





After the Jameson Factory, Laura and I walked to meet everyone at the St. Patrick's Day parade route. We found them in front of O'Sullivan's, naturally, and bought fun little St. Patrick's Day hats to get in the mood of the day.







After the parade started, we tried to watch for a little but realized we couldn't see anything, so we went into O'Sullivan's to watch the parade on TV.


Enjoying a beer with black current juice in it! A great way to sweeten it up.

After the parade, we ran into some BC friends in the Temple Bar area who are studying in London. I swear, it is such a small world. For example, on our way back to the hotel, my two friends and I went to Quizno's to grab a sandwhich, and while sitting there, Laura mentioned something about driving to Notre Dame for the football game this year, and a girl sitting behind us asked us where we went to school. Turns out she goes to Boston College as well, and is in the Cork program. She told us that at a pub 10 feet away was every single BC person who is in Ireland right now. We followed her to the bar, where we found a ton of BC kids. I swear, 90% of the pub was BC students. I ran into a bunch of people I knew from school. It was insane, and obviously what would happen. I always seem to find BC students all over the place.

St. Patrick's Day was a ton of fun, and it was a great experience being in Ireland. Dublin is AMAZING, and I'm slightly obsessed with the country. Everyone there was super nice and so friendly all the time. Everyone just enjoys life there. I can't wait to go back!

Interlaken

Last weekend I had the privilege of going to Interlaken, Switzerland! A couple friends and I did this program, called Bus2alps, that provided hostel stay and a roundtrip bus ride (12 hours each way!!) to and from Rome. The hostel was the first "real" hostel I have stayed in and it was a lot of fun! It is called Balmer's Herbage and is the most popular hostel in Interlaken. The only, and I mean only, place to go out of a night in the entire town was in our hostel! I'm all about convenience, so obviously I loved that.



So we left Thursday night from Rome, and I tried to sleep the entire way, which did not prove to be as successful as I had hoped. We arrived in Interlaken circa 6:30 am where us 5 girls checked into an 8 person room with two other random boys who were studying in Florence but were on the same trip as us. I slept for about an hour and a half before waking up to go skiing!!

I rented boots, skies, a jacket, pants, gloves, goggles, and a helmet by 9am my friend and I were on the bus up to the mountain! The mountain(s) we skied at was Kleine Scheidegg/Männlichen. We took a gondola up to the top of the Männlichen mountain, not without a couple of Ricola cough drops that the woman who worked at the ticket office gave us as we climbed on the gondola. How stereotypical Swiss is that?



The entire day provided us with awful, cloudy weather to the point where I couldn't see 1o ft in front of my face. The skiing was OK (to be honest I prefer the perfect snow and mountainous terrain of Park City, UT...not that I'm biased or anything). Every once in awhile we would catch a glimpse of what the vista could have been all day , but it would quickly disappear into the clouds. The whole point of skiing in the alps is to actually see the Alps, and since we didn't get a chance to see the Alps, the day was slightly disappointing. I had to keep slapping myself in the face and reminding myself, "Quit your whining, you're skiing in the Alps right now" which automatically put me in a better mood. All in all, its not a place I would necessarily make a point to go back for skiing, but the experience was amazing and I'm really glad I did it. After lunch, we had about 7 minutes of sunshine at the top of the mountain and it was AMAZING! I know that had it been that way the entire day it would have been the most incredible thing I've ever done. But alas, that was not in the cards.





This is the at the Tipi bar at the top of the mountain, with a bunch of Swiss-Germans who decided to jump in my picture.





So the weather continued to be like that all weekend, and the other activities such as skydiving, hang gliding, and paragliding were all canceled. It turned out to be a disappointing weekend in that sense, but it was still my favorite weekend thus far.

Friday night we got Thai food (AMAZING and such a nice break from Italian) and headed to the club at the bottom of our hostel where we hung out with some Aussie ski bums who are living in Interlaken full time...ski bums in the winter, raft guides in the summer (The aussie version of Jamie's ideal life) What a life.

Saturday we attempted to get on a trip to Zurich for the day, but not enough people signed up and we couldn't go. So then we went to try and rent ATVs to go up in the mountains, but the group before us took the last bunch. Finally, four of us reserved a fun car (2 seater, no doors) to drive up in the mountains to a glacier. We couldn't get the fun car for a couple of hours, so a few of us walked into town and got to see what Interlaken was like. It is a tiny little town, very cute and very Swiss/German. Everything in Switzerland is very expensive, so my McDonald's lunch was the most expensive McDonald's ever.

That afternoon we took the fun cars up through the mountains to the glacier, and hiked in our leather boots through the snow to get a better view of the glacier. Although the weather was bad and we could have potentially ruined our boots, it was SUCH a fun little excursion with the girls I was with. We had such a good time driving in the cars and enjoying life in the Alps that nothing else mattered. It was beautiful where we were and we couldn't have asked for anything else.







After the fun cars, three of us (Caroline, Kia, and I) signed up for hang gliding since there was a possibility that the weather would subside. Unfortunately, it did not, but the hang gliding Aussies took us up to the jumping point so we could see the view. It was honestly one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. We would have run down a sloped hill on a mountain and jumped out over the most beautiful, turquoise colored lake to fly like a bird with the peaks of the mountains sticking out through the clouds in the distance. The pictures I have do not do this view justice. That little drive up the mountain made my weekend, it was the best part. Even though we didn't get to go, it was worth it to be able to see that incredible view. But hang gliding just wasn't meant to be.





That night, we got Thai food again! Twice in a weekend isn't too bad haha. We made it an early night to try and get as much as we could done in the morning. Sunday morning we woke up and Caroline, Kia and I tried to go paragliding but when we got up to the mountain they told us the wind wasn't right AGAIN. It was really frustrating this time, because we had expressed to them that if the wind wasn't right we had the opportunity to go canyon jumping (free-fall 300 ft in a canyon until the rope around your waist catches you and you swing in between the canyon walls!!) but they told us paragliding was definitely on, so we got our hopes up. Again, probably just not meant to be. The day was successful, however, as I bought myself a real, authentic Swiss Army knife!

Finally, at around 1 as we were getting on the bus, the sky cleared up and there was nothing but sun the entire bus ride home. For the first two hours of the bus ride, we were driving in the Alps getting the view we should have had all weekend and it was BREATHTAKING! The ride back was better than the ride there as we put our Swiss Army knives to use...



Switzerland is one of the prettiest places I have ever been, and I highly recommend it to anyone thinking about going. It is absolutely worth it. I am so excited to go back with Jamie in the summer! Maybe then the weather will be nice enough for hang gliding....

Firenze + Parma

The third weekend in February (22-24), I had the pleasure of going up to Florence for a mandatory field trip for my Introduction to Renaissance Art class. We were required to be there for the afternoon on Friday and all day Saturday. Two of my roommates had to go as well, but the rest ended up coming along. Florence is my favorite city in Italy (besides Parma, but more on that) so naturally I had an amazing weekend.



Three of us went up Thursday night after class for an extra night in Florence. We stayed with my roommate Laura's friend from home who is studying there through Syracuse. She was so sweet to us and was so concerned about showing us a good time, even though she had to be on a train to Rome at 9am the next morning. That night, she took us out with her friends to their Irish pub that they go to all the time, followed by a club that was giving away free Nutella. I kid you not, this place had JUGS of Nutella on the bar with plastic spoons on the side for the bartendars to give to customers. I had two spoonfuls of course. A club in Italy giving away free Nutella? I thought I had died and gone to heaven.

The next morning, Liz, Laura, and I got up and attempted to wander the city until the rest of our friends came and Liz and I had class at 3. We walked into the center from the apartment and stopped for little pizzettas (mini pizzas) for breakfast, natrually. We walked into the center and the first thing I see is the Duomo. Even though I've seen it before, I was blown away. That church is one of the most beautiful structures I have ever seen. Immediately I was pumped to be in Florence.

That afternoon, after we found our hostel to put our bags down, Liz, Laura and I went to the Uffizi Galleria. I had been there before with a private tour that BC arranged for us on the Parma program, but this time we went through with an audio tour which makes all the difference. To someone going, I suggest arranging a private tour or taking an audio tour because there is nothing cooler than being told the story behind a painting or interesting facts about it. It makes walking through an art museum that much more interesting. Our teacher had given us a sheet of paper with some paintings on it, and it was our responsibility to find the name, artist, year, and three adjectives describing the paintings. At first I was annoyed by the assignment, but as I was doing it, I found myself thinking about the paintings even more and noticing the details on the expressions of the figures and the colors. Of course, I spent the most time in Botticelli's room. My favorite painting of all time, the Primavera, is in the same room as Botticelli's Birth of Venus, and both are absolutely breathtaking. I also fell in love with another painting, Venus of Urbino, by the late Renaissance artist Vecelli. I am not much of an art museum kinda person, but after taking this class I have a whole new appreciation and love for the Renaissance.



Liz and I left the museum just in time to meet our class in front of the Duomo. Little interesting fact for you: the Duomo had no roof for 50 years because no one could figure out how to build proper scaffolding to complete the dome. Enter: Brunelleschi who invented scaffolding and machines to lift things to the top. It is considered a masterpiece of the Renaissance.

Anyway, that afternoon our teacher took us to other sites around the city. After my onsite classes, I am the best tour guide for both Rome AND Florence! She talked about the Baptista and the Bronze doors (the artist, Ghiberti, won a competition beating Brunelleschi, and Brunelleschi, the little girl that he is, was humiliated and left the city for Rome after that). We also visited Palazzo Medici (Medici palace near the Duomo), Brunelleschi's Ospedale degli Innocenti (orphan hospital he designed and created this famous architectural element called the loggia, which is an outdoor porch created by perfect arches...my teacher's FAVORITE thing to talk about) and a few more churches.

After finishing class at 6, Katie, Liz and I met up with the rest of our roommates and headed to Tijiuana, a Mexican restaurant in Florence. I know I know, are you kidding Caitlin? A mexican restaurant in Italy? Some would say a new low, but I disagree. As amazing and incredible the food I have been eating is, there is nothing like some beans and rice, tacos, and a pitcher of margaritas to remind you of home. And we all know my love for Mexican is right up there with my love for Italian food. Anyway, at dinner I was dared with the promise of gelato from the best gelato place in Rome to eat a chili pepper, and I never back down from a chance of free gelato. So I did it. I ate half a chili pepper. It was SO painful! Nothing I did stopped the pain, and we didn't have any bread, only tortilla, to mask the taste, and that wasn't strong enough. It actually reminded me of when I got stung by a Jelly fish. The pain wasn't the worst pain I've ever felt, but it was constant and seemingly never-ending, thus more annoying than painful. Now I can say that I've eaten a chili pepper...another thing to add to my lists of accomplishments in life. We all had a really good time and enjoyed the food, but Katie Flynn had a weird allergic reaction to something in her food and started breaking out in hives and her skin was turning bright red all over her body. She and I left to find a Farmacia to buy some Benadryl, but no such luck. Finally, Laura called us telling us she had some in her purse so all was well again. The night ended up being a perfect night, as we went to bed at 11 and got an amazing night of sleep. Katie even said that she was happy she went to the mexican restaurant because it was so good. I need to find one in Rome.



On Saturday morning, we met our class at 10 and went to the Borgello Museum to see scuptures of Donatello and Michelangelo. We saw Donatello's David which was cool to compare to Michelangelo's David. From there we went to Santa Croce, a medieval and renaissance church, where Machiavelli, Dante, and Galileo are all buried. After that, at around 1, it was lunch time. The BC students in the class, Jack, Andrew, Liz, Katie and I all grabbed lunch together and climbed to the top of the Duomo. Just like last time I was there, it was again one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen. Its one of those sights where no matter how many times you've seen it, it gets better and better every time. The cool thing is last time I was up there, about a year and a half ago, I asked my friends "I wonder when the next time I'll be up here is". I remembered asking that when I was up there, and it was pretty cool to think about my life then and my life now, with so much in between.






Anyway, that afternoon we went to see Michelangelo's David. Just like last time, I snuck a picture or two, but this time got caught. As I was going to take a picture, the woman saw me and I ran back to where my teacher was talking to the class, and the woman came over and yelled at me in front of the entire class and the teacher, saying things like I didn't need to be there and I could be out shopping instead of in the museum. Needless to say, it was one of the most offending and embarrassing experiences in my entire life. It might be awhile until I try and sneak pictures again.



So after we finished class, I met up with my roommates Laura and Suzy, and the three of us bought a bottle of wine and hiked up to Piazza Michelangelo, one of the best views of Rome. Its high up on a hill across the river, a semi hike to get to, but absolutely worth it. We were there just in time to see the sun set over the city "skyline", of which comprises only the Duomo and Palazzo Vecchio, the palace next to the Uffizi. It was beautiful and I am so glad we got up there. Apparently I can't get enough of aerial views of Florence and its surrounding Tuscan hills.





So the story gets better. The next day, Laura and I left Florence early to go to Parma to visit our host family, Anna and Aldo Bonomi. As soon as we got to Parma, the memories came rushing back. We went to the place where we got our first pizza (I forgot how good/different pizza is in the north compared to the south...don't ask me which is my favorite), walked from the train station all the way to their house which took us along the same road we walked every single day and right by our apartment. So many things that I had forgotten about I remembered that day. Parma is and forever will be my home in Italy.

Our family had us over for lunch, and they cooked us an unbelievable meal, as per usual, and entertained us with great conversation. Laura and I were both surprised how much Italian we understood and spoke during that lunch, as we both have problems here in Rome. Aldo even played us the harmonica while Anna sang, which was one of our favorite memories! Anna had the postcard I sent her from Sydney on the fridge, and the picture book I made her on the coffee table. They are truly the most amazing family in the world, and will always have a special place in my heart. When we left, Laura and I both talked about how part of us regretted not going back to Parma, and we know that it would have been an amazing experience, maybe even better than Rome, but both of us know it would have been different than the last time we were there, and we would never want anything to ruin that month that to this day is the most amazing month of our lives.



We plan on going back sometime in late April...I can't wait.