Sunrise Swim

Here's the gang - Aussies, Canadians, Californians all. We're taking an early morning dip in the Med (you can kinda see vesuvius in the upper right hand corner)

Say Cheese!

Meet Pompeii’s most vigilant (and undoubtedly handsome) guard, preserved forever in plaster. Identifiable as a guard because of his huge belt (not pictured - resembles those of a wrestler - seriously enormous) is frozen forever writhing in pain from be asphyxiated by Vesuvius’ poisonous gasses (though actually kinda looks like he’s playing air guitar).

Climbed the Lucky Stairs

Legend has it that anyone brave (or stupid) enough to climb the "Lucky Stairs" at Santa Maria della Something in Roma will be extra lucky - either that or it’s an entertaining story invented by Italians to see just which Americans are fool hardy enough to actually do it (me). Either this story is completely made up, or absolutely everyone else in the vicinity who was staring at me struggling up the stairs was actually just less enlightened. Either way, the only "luck" I’ve experienced so far is a pair of very dirty, sore knees and some rather fabulous bruises.

Granita

Granita, which is Italian for Snowcone on Steroids is a crushed ice snack featuring entirely way to musch deliciously sweet syrup and various fruits, and originates from Rome. I'm not sure if I can ever go back to the american snowcones once I've experienced the magic of the SUPERFRUTTA

a Tribute to Luini's

Dear Luini's,
I'm really going to miss you. Thank you for supplying me with moderately priced fried mini-pizzas this year and never once awkwardly pointing out the frequency of my visits. I will forever rember the day I got lost in Milan and followed the delicious smell of oil and tomatoes to your front door. I would like to thank your lovely vietnemese staff for not mocking my italian, and for being ever so kind when I tried on every t-shirt in the store before realizing that after a year of panzerotti consumption I was going to have to buy a large.
Love,
Zoe

Cove

I first discovered this cove on a morning run with Matt that led us down off the streets of Sorrento and to a rickety boardwalk along the sea that made rather alarming creaking sounds and terminated in a jetty featuring "AMERICAN BAR VERY GOOD". One dusty trail led off into some tall bushes, and led down to this amazing spot I will now refer to as My Favorite Place on Earth. This mostly natural cove is surrounded by sheer rock and Roman Ruins on three sides with a little tunnel that leads out to sea - the water is a clear chrystal blue color, and has NO JELLY FISH (unlike Capri, where several unfortunate students encountered these litte guys- some even multiple times).

What I've Learned from Postcards

I’m terrible at living in the moment. I’m always thinking about what’s next or dwelling on what just happened.

This year, I started a collection of postcards of all the incredible places I’ve been this year – they’re cheap, pretty, and keep with the whole “Postcards from Italy” theme of my year. However, my lack of spontaneity has hindered me in this hunt for these tiny paper mementos; I like to shop around, and am practically incapable of impulse buys (even something as cheap as a 50 cent postcard). I always think the next postcard stand will be better, or that there’s no way I can top the one before, and have walked away from many a town empty-handed and card-less. Maybe if I would have just gone a little slower, and truly lived in the present moment I’d have a lot more memories – and a lot more postcards to show for it.

I don’t have many regrets about this year, but there are several postcards that I’ll always be missing in my collection. Maybe one day they’ll find their way into my collection

Amalfi

Napoli

Sorrento

Capri

Sienna

Sunrise Swim under Vesuvius

Here we are at Sorrento - "we" are (from left to right) Moritz (Germany), Sabrina (California), Sophia (Australia), Matt (Arizona), Elly (Colorado), and Me. We are standing on what once was a two story Roman Villa (WOAH) and plan to take a nice 7 a m swim in the Med.

End of Year Trip

Most amazing week of my life. 2040 Rotary kids are some of the most amazing people I've ever met and we had so much fun together.  I chose the song "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey because it popped up several times during the trip - first at a Disco, then at a sing-along on the beach, and also during a spontanious bus-ride sing along. Also, like in the song, our memories here will go on, and on, and on, and on,

Saluti da Capri!

Here I am basking in the sole of the island of Capri. I might like to live here - warm, friendly, giant lemons, and in the shadow of Mt. Vesuvius.