E Un bello mondo!

Some of the best views I've seen from across Tuscany...

 Arno River, Florence

 Fiesole, Italy

 Boboli Gardens in Florence

 Ponte Vecchio, Florence

 Chianti Sculpture Garden

 Siena, Italy

 San Giminagno, Italy

 Siena, Italy (from my hotel room!)

Arezzo, Italy

Ciao!
Sarah

Travel Plans for Spring 2011

So I've been in Florence for more than a week and I started to feel settled...I guess it's time for me to start updating this blog!

Ponte Vecchio, Florence, Italy 

Most of you probably know that I spent two weeks in Siena, Italy for orientation for AIFS. I am now (finally!) in Florence taking regular classes. I want to update you on some of my other travel plans for the rest of the semester. Italy happens to be a prime location for traveling around Europe. Florence is also a well-connected city (an hour from Rome, 3 from Venice). I'm trying to concentrate most of my traveling to Italy. After all, I came here for the Italian culture, so I plan to get to know the country as best I can. That said, I will be traveling to a select number of other countries in Europe. Here's my current list!

-Salzburg, Austria. Angela is of course studying here so I will certainly be taking a trip up there! I'd also like to see Munich, Berlin, and Vienna while I'm in the area.
-Madrid, Spain. I'm saving this trip for when after classes end in May. I will be staying in Europe one month longer in order to travel.
-Paris, France. Again, a May trip.
-London, England. I had a quick 2 day stop over here but plan on spending a couple more days exploring the free museums and maybe riding a double decker bus before my flight leaves from this city in June.
-Rome, Venice, Pisa, Lucca, CinqueTerre, and Milan. Planned through AIFS. Can't wait!
-Almafi Coast: Capri, Sorrento, Pompeii, Napoli...beaches, limoncello, and sun! My spring break trip.

I'm also debating between...
-Corfu, Greece
and
-The French Riviera

I will keep you all posted!

Ciao,
Sarah

London at a Glance

At first, London doesn’t seem much different than the U.S., but you soon notice that the cars are smaller, there are more motor-cycles cutting in front of you, and the grass looks too green for winter. Not to mention that the men actually have a style sense.  For fashion, men wear pea coats and leather shoes and women dress like polished Americans…flats, pea coats, leggings, and even (unfortunately) Uggs.

               

 I only had two days in London before I left for Italy. What I visited was:

-Kensington Gardens

-Hyde Park

-A Spanish café

-Harrods

-Natural History Museum

-St. Paul’s Cathedral

-London Bridge

-“Chicago” the musical

-Various British pubs to get fish and chips and hard cider. Yum!

Not bad for one hour of bad sleep and no idea where to go!

Cheers!

Sarah