Sardinia, more beaches and some birthday reflections

Ciao!

Just like the entire city of Rome, I decided to take August off (from writing my blog)--but now I am back!  I had been warned since I arrived here that Rome in August is a virtual ghost town.  It proved to be true, especially for my neighborhood where practically everything was closed--the pharmacy, dry cleaner, bakery...for most of August.  Things are only now starting to open up again.

Italian vacation season was kicked off by the holiday Ferragosto- click the link if you are curious what it really is- but for me, it was a day off work!  So we headed to Sardinia where we stayed at a beautiful bed and breakfast right across the street from...you guessed it...the beach!  Sardinia was gorgeous. It was a perfect relaxing vacation--we laid on the beach, ate great food, listened to an Italian cover band playing 80s hits (awesome), rode bikes along the beach, and had some terrific sea food. My only complaint was that we weren't there for 3 weeks instead of 3 days. :-)

The rest of August has been filled with more beach days, which has become truly the only way to survive the heat and humidity here.  It has been about 41 degrees--doing some quick math--equals about 106 degrees Fahrenheit  wow. crazy.

This past weekend was my birthday, golden birthday to be exact (27 on the 27th!) and really, I could not have asked for more.  At my birthday each year I spend some time thinking about what I have accomplished in my lifetime and in the year since my last birthday. This year I almost can't believe it.  I feel so lucky to be here and to be working at a job that I love--it's the job that I never knew existed but always wished did.  On top of that, I am living in Rome--which is one of the most amazing cities in THE most amazing country that I have ever been to.

8 months ago when my brother drove me to the airport in San Francisco with my 3 large suitcases packed up and ready to fly off to Rome, he looked at me who was ready burst into tears, terrified at heading off alone, and said "this will either be the best experience of your life or the worst, either way, it'll be good for you".  Oh Ryan, so wise.  But luckily, it has been an amazing experience so far--the people I have met, the places I have been...I can say with confidence that wherever I am in the world on my 28th birthday, I will look back on this year and just shake my head in amazement. Salute 27!

Our beach club in Sardinia

Cagliari--it was a bit deserted, everyone was probably at the sea!

You can buy everything on the beach--even socks--but today, I got a massage and a granita!  Nice!!!

We were loopy from the heat and waiting for the train, decided to drink cocktails on the platform...

I had a helper at work on Friday, my colleague's adorable 4 year old daughter.  We were "working" very hard :-)

Prost to Amsterdam!

Goedenmorgen!

Yes, I have gone Dutch!  This weekend Alex and I went to Amsterdam for his last weekend in Europe (for now) blow out!  And what a way to go out!  Amsterdam lived up to its reputation and more...unbeknownst to us when we booked this weekend, it was Gay Pride weekend--which meant that the entire city was out wearing hot pink (and/or gold thongs, depending on the statement trying to be made).

Alex and I started off Saturday with a canal cruise and were peacefully sailing along when a small boat packed with half naked people and bumping techno crusied by--the gay pride parade had begun! The city was basically one big rave from about 11am on Saturday and Sunday until who knows...I wasn't awake.

But besides the partying, Amsterdam was beautiful. We rented bikes and rode along the many bike paths, had some house made beer at a tiny bar in a windmill, chilled in the park, were shocked at the red light district (the prostitutes were banging on their windows trying to get Alex's attention--and so we ran), saw the Van Gogh museum, experienced Heineken, ate some frites (ok, lots) and had a great time!

The leftovers from the parade...

Tulips aren't in season, so wooden ones had to suffice :-)

It was a great way to end Alex's amazing Italian/European summer! Can't summer last forever?!!

Sorrento and Pompei!

Ciao!

This weekend Alex and I headed down the coast to Sorrento on Saturday and the Pompei on Sunday!   Sorrento is a gorgeous town in the Amalfi Coast.  Very charming!  We tanned, naturally, and drank some lemoncello--a perfect Sorrento day.

Then on Sunday we went to Pompei. Pompei is one of the places that I have dreamed of visiting since I was a 3rd grader and only increased when I was an anthropology major at Cal. I remember reading the story of how the city was covered with ash in a matter of hours and sadly, yet luckily for the future, stuck in that exact moment in time.  The ruins proved to be amazing as were the castes of the poor people who were frozen by the ash.  It was almost unreal to imagine that we were walking down streets that had been used by people in 79 AD!  Wrap your head around that!!

Such a great day--well until we attempted to leave Napoli headed back to Rome.  It is still a mystery to us, but all trains were immobilized--for hours nothing was going in or out of the station. Finally, a fast train came cruising in the station and everyone starting running around yelling, in Italian of course, with Alex and I barely (ok, completely) not understanding a thing.  We managed to gather that somehow the only train leaving was a fast train, we grabbed our stuff, booked it for the train and jammed into the aisles like the rest of the train goers.  It was a packed ride, but we made it back to Rome--something that did not seem like it would be possible for awhile.

At moments like those, I just imagine how easy it would be to understand what was going on and be able to ask questions in a language I know--but alas, we survived and I think our spirit of adventure/survival has been strengthened!!

GIANT lemons!

Beautiful Italy...oh ya, and Switzerland, too...

Ciao!

Sorry for my long absence!  I have been out gallivanting around Italy with my family, who finally made it over to Rome--well, all except for Ryan, who hopefully will be coming soon!  My Mom and Christine joined Alex and I in Rome where I showed them all of my favorite places. They then headed off to Tuscany, while I went back to work--yes, my job is not thaaaaat relaxed. I then joined them in Lake Como and spent the next week wandering around northern Italy and Switzerland with them.  We then ended up in Genova where we saw the amazing Cinque Terre and the Italian Riviera town of Noli.

Italy never ceases to amaze me.  In the course of a week, we saw such different landscapes and ate such unique and delicious food. The only blip in the glory was our quick jaunt into Switzerland--ok ok, its not that bad.  But our first day in Ticino, we quickly found out that the Swiss Franc does not exactly have the most favorable conversion rate.  Somehow we ended up paying 10 euros for a bottle of water, and Switzerland's name could no longer be uttered with out an accompanying fist shake.  That being said, it was beautiful, too.


And here it is, a sampling of our adventures in pictures--as usual, does not nearly do it justice.

I was so sad to see my Mom and sister head home, but fortunately Alex is still in Italy and will be returning to Rome this weekend! 


More adventures to come!

Beaches, Lakes and Sun...oh my!

Ciao!

Rome is getting nice and toasty these days...so what does that mean, head to the nearest body of water!  This weekend I did exactly that.  Although, my time here never ceases to surprise me. It seems like every week I meet someone new and interesting and end up doing something random and fun on the weekend.

During the summer, everything in Rome moves outdoors. Bars, clubs, restuarants. All along the river, bars are set up...it is amazing!  Everyone appreciates being outdoors and enjoying the weather so much, its really nice!

This weekend, went salsa dancing--yes, real salsa dancing in Rome. Random, I know. Then went to the beach (yes, so unusual). Although, we did check out a new beach this time...Ostia.  It is the closest beach, and has the reputation of being dirty and gross.  We went and checked it out anyway, and while we went a bit south of actual Ostia--so maybe didn't see the dirtiness as much--it was a beautiful beach, which was so pack it also felt like a party.

Finally, went to Bracciano on Sunday.  Bracciano (famous for being the little town with a castle where Tom Cruise got married) was really beautiful. We made out way down to the lake and yes, enjoyed the sun!

View from Aventino hill

Bracciano