Bring on the Church-Sanctioned Indulgence!

     Hello everyone!

     This blog is to keep my family and friends up to date on my whereabouts and plans during my time abroad this summer. I’ll try to post frequent updates, with a lot of pictures

     I set out on Thursday afternoon (yikes!!) First stop: UK. I’ll arrive in London on Friday morning (May 20). I’ll spend some time in London, playing tourist. I can’t wait to see the British Museum!

     On Sunday, May 22, I’ll head to Cornwall to see Tintagel Castle, the supposed birthplace of King Arthur. Yay for embracing the geek-dom!

     I’ll head back to London on May 24.

     On May 25, I have a fantastic daytrip through Anderson Tours, that will take me to Stonehenge, Avebury, Glastonbury, and Chalice Well Gardens. (More geek fun!)

     The next day, I’ll head to Florence and check in with Lorenzo de Medici, my school in Italy, and move into my apartment for the summer. Classes start on May 30. My first class: Current Trends in Italian Cuisine. The school gives the description: “Students will be introduced to the major elements that distinguish high-level Italian cooking through the original recipes from authentic master chefs…During each lesson students, besides learning how to prepare the recipes, will learn about the history of the foods, regional differences and nutritional values. Students will also learn basic cooking skills and how to choose ingredients, comparing their eating habits with those of a typical Italian family. Particular attention will be given to the presentation, decoration and the color scheme of the dishes. During the semester a visit to a food market, a wine testing session at a wine store, and a meal at a Mediterranean restaurant are generally scheduled.” Who wants me to cook for them when I get back?

     The weekend of June 10, I’ll spend just outside Sienna with a couple of my dad’s siblings. I’m very excited!! I am incredibly lucky to have an absolutely amazing family, so this promises to be a fantastic weekend.

     Then on June 24, I’ll meet my parents in Venice for the weekend. This will be an easy weekend. Much better to let my parents spend their money for me then to spend it myself!

     Somewhere in there, I’ll see another of my dad’s siblings, as well as my mom’s best friend.

     After seeing my parents though, the barrage of family visits will be over and I can go back to spending nights and weekends with the new friends I’ll, hopefully, make this summer.

     Then I start my second class of the summer, Italian Renaissance Civilization and Culture. Is there a better place than Florence to take this class? I think not!

     Other than that, my plans are still up in the air. I received my youth Eurail pass today, which gives me a lot of freedom to travel within in Italy. Any ideas where I should go?

     I’ll head back home at the end of July and will spend a month hanging around and making some money before I head back to Keene for my senior year!