a Italia...

July 5, 2011

After changing my mind about 50 times trying to make a plan for where to go from Granada I decided to buy a ticket to Milan in hopes of getting to see my dear friend/soul-sister Antonella before heading home from Europe.   The last I had heard from her in May  she was coming home to Italy from Ecuador.  We arrived in Ecuador at the same time and spent 9 months together in Puerto Lopez, 2009, living and working together, discovering things about ourselves, life, love, and being expats in a South American country.  We had a strong bond from the beginning, and a few weeks after meeting each other found out that we even share the same birthday!  Needless to say I REALLY miss her and despite having not heard back from her as to whether or not she will be coming home before I leave, I wanted to take the chance and decided Italy wouldn’t be a bad place to hang out for the last few days of my trip. 

So, here I am, on the train from Milan to Chinque Terre, mesmerized by the beautiful terrain, cute little villages in the hills, beautiful views of the coast, and can feel the excitement inside me growing about getting to spend a few days in a place I have heard nothing but fabulous things about. 

Being true to myself and my love for food, I got into Italy this afternoon on a completely empty stomach other than the coffee I drank on the plane.  This was obviously on purpose as I wanted to be starving when I arrived in Milan as to thouroughly enjoy a delectable Italian meal!  And that’s just what I did.  I ordered an Americano, rich and delicious, and a grilled sandwich with prosciutto, fresh tomatoes, arugula, and creamed parmesean!  Aaaaaaaaamazing!  Honestly I can think of no better way to spend my last week in Europe than devoting my time to photographing the beautiful Italian coast, exploring Florence, discovering Venice, and indulging in authentic Italian cuisine…the theme for this trip was inspired by the couple who initially told me to come here, so I will devote the theme to Ellie and Tom, two dear friends from Minnesota…”No carb left behind!”