Cinque Terre

Yesterday, I went with a group from Linguaviva (my Italian school here) to Cinque Terre. Cinque Terre is basically five towns connected by both bridges and hiking routes, and they are all on mountains connected to the sea. They're antiquated towns and just BEAUTIFUL!! Everything you would hope for in an old, Italian town. And this place, as my friend Sarah would say, is psyched on love. It's a very touristy kind of town, and they've decided the best way to sell that is to sell LOVE in a gorgeous location!

There is this Italian tradition of a couple taking a padlock, writing their names on it, and locking it forever. At Cinque Terre I believe they throw the keys in the Mediterranean (or at least say they do). There were locks everywhere, and, needless to say, I missed my boyfriend a little! I hope he'll want to go back there with me when he visits.

When we walked to the second town, we wandered around for a bit and then got pizza to go and went down to the water. One of the teachers watched our bags while we swam out to these big rocks. Some people in our group jumped off the rocks, while Sarah and I "scored" them. Then gelatto, and then home. It was a short day trip, but so incredibly beautiful! I can't believe I'm so blessed as to live here for four months...

Tonight, Carmen had a very old friend over for dinner. Madeline and I like it when she has company, because we get to meet new people. Right now Carmen and her friend (Amina) are in the kitchen, talking on and on about how lovely Madeline and I are. It's nice to know at least enough Italian as to understand them.

On an unrelated note, I am beginning to understand why people eat. If you know me well, you know that eating is a struggle for me. I often say to Jacob or my mom that I'd rather just sit out in the sun and recharge that way...but here?? In Italy?? NO WAY!! I LOVE the food. I am PSYCHED on the food. It takes me forever and ever to eat because I lovelovelove it so much. It brings me close to tears everynight to finally, for the first time in my life, truly and deeply appreciate food.

So, yeah, I like it here :)