6:20 am wake up call so that we could take the 61 bus to meet the entire group at Cadorna to hop on the bus to Tuscany! One thing I have learned from group travels throughout Italy: sleep whenever and wherever I can, because you don't know when the next opportunity will arise to sustain your energy! I have never been one able to sleep on long trips, but this Italian adventure had taught me to take advantage of all sleeping moments, no matter how comfortable the p...

Going to bed at 3:00 am does not seem like such a good idea when you are waking up at 8 am for class. As I am leaving, I encounter Karina just walking in.. Hmm still wondering about that one! Class was the usual. I enjoy our mid-class coffee break and interruptions regarding our upcoming trip to Florence from Luca who is the best IES worker in the world! I had read about a supposedly delicious crepe place in a travel book, and realized it was only an eight minut...

I think I was overly excited, maybe overly tired, or over ambitious with hopes of waking up early. Well, lucky me to wake up at six am, as my body had absolutely no desire to go back to sleep. There is so much to do with so little time! I rose from bed and made myself a delicious breakfast... Two eggs over easy on a piece of toast topped with a slice of Swiss and prosciutto, adding the perfect amount of saltiness! I added a nice glass of Airborne to fight off the...

One of the unique and mysterious aspects of Milan is the hidden shrubbery and gardens scattered throughout the city. As with any large, bustling, commercial city, Milan's roads are dotted with tall buildings, reminding me of an ancient NYC or the brick areas of Boston. The architecture is breathtaking, but where is all the green that you see from Google Maps? Although a select few streets line with towering trees completely shading the sidewalks and giving the ar...

Field trip today! Meeting at IES at 11:00, the Donno's led us on a five minute walk to visit the prestigious Last Supper painting. This painting is famous because it was painted by Da Vinci on the wall of the dining facilities of a monk monastery. It is unfortunate to have been in a room full of food, because the atmosphere has slightly eroded the painting off the cement wall. Additionally, since the monks needed an entry into the kitchen, they built a door which...