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After leaving Torremaggiore, we made our way to Pompeii where we were able to take a tour of the Pompeii Ruins. Seeing these ruins was an experience I never thought I would have. It was so interesting hearing about the history. After spending a short time in Pompeii, we headed to our next destination, Sorrento. Before arriving, we made a quick stop in the city of Positano where we were greeted with one of the most amazing and beautiful views I have ever seen. It was our first look at the Amalfi Coast. After spending the night in Sorrento, we left bright and early for the Isle of Capri. When arriving we took a lot of steps up and down and boy was it worth it. Capri was absolutely stunning. The next day we were off to Naples! We spent a short time in Naples, taking walking tour around the city and into a few churches. From there we got back on the bus to head to Rome for one last night. Like everything in Italy, the bus ride took a little longer than anticipated, but we still made it to Rome in time to do a little shopping and grab a late dinner. The next morning was a little bittersweet. After traveling for just under three weeks, some of us just wanted to go home, while at the same time loved Italy so much we could have stayed forever. We made our way to the airport where we would have to say our final goodbyes..
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As we are on the bus to our next destination, I can't help but to reminisce about our extraordinary time in Torremaggiore. Our last night was spent at a wine cellar in the neighboring town and I could not have asked for a better way to end this leg of our adventure. It was a night filled with food, wine, laughter, music, dancing and falling. Not too mention we had the pleasure of being joined by some of our Italian friends from the high school. It was a night I'll always remember. Aside from that night, there are other aspects of this trip and more importantly Torremaggiore that I think deserve some attention. I am now obsessed with gelato which I have this town to blame for that. I now want to become fluent in Italian, not only because I think it will help my future, but mainly so that I can stop using Google translate at every restaurant and store I go into. Never did I think I would enjoy sitting at a group dinner every night for hours at a time, yet here I am so used to it that I think I'm going to miss it mainly because of the people who made it so enjoyable. While I may be a picky eater, I appreciate all of the hard work and hospitality shown towards us every evening from our hosts at the B & B. I could go on forever pointing out all of the little things that made this trip so memorable, but instead I will just say THANK YOU. There are so many people in Torremaggiore who deserve a thank you for their kindness and open-arms while welcoming us into their little town. My experience was one like no other.
As our second week in Torremaggiore is coming to an end, it is a perfect time to recap all of the amazing things we have done. One of my favorite days of this entire trip was a few days ago when we had an eventful day full of touring different facilities surrounding the town. Our first stop was at a Buffalo Mozzarella farm. It was so cool to see the process and the facility firsthand. Although with our group of animal lovers, I have a feeling we were more excited about talking to the animals rather than learning about the cheese. Our next stop was a local winery where we learned about he process of fermenting the wine. Our tour was followed by a light lunch and tasting provided for us. The owner of the winery was also easy on the eyes which definitely held our interest. From there we made our way to an olive oil mill. We were provided with a tour and background of the facility, along with a tasting and bottle of oil to take with us. The day was filled with all of my favorite things and I think that's why it is so memorable for me. Throughout the week, we made a trip to the neighboring town of San Severo to visit a high school which was an awesome experience. In the days following we visited and took a tour of the famous castle in Torremaggiore, were invited to watch a play in Italian at the high school, and even had time to find a laundromat FINALLY! I can't wrap up the second week without mentioning the obnoxious amounts of pizza and gelato that were consumed everyday. As we come to our final days in this town, I am sad but also excited for what's to come next!
How do I even put this little town into words! From the moment we arrived in Torremaggiore until the moment we packed up and left, this town was nothing short of kind and welcoming to us. After arriving we were greeted with dinner provided by our B & B. The next morning we began our day by visiting the mayor's office where we were welcomed by many town officials. We then made our way to one of the schools that we would be teaching at. The sight while walking up to the school courtyard had us all in tears. The students were all gathered outside to greet us waving American and Italian flags. After visiting some of the teachers and classrooms, we made out way to Emilio Ricci, another school where we would spend time teaching. The first day was very overwhelming as we were welcomed with open arms by everyone at the schools, businesses, restaurants, etc. The feeling is like no other. Our first week in Torrmaggiore was filled with exploring, eating, drinking, concerts, tours, churches, etc. Our first week came to an end with a night out with the local high schoolers. They came to pick us up at our B & B, where they had us follow them to their local hangout. Throughout the night, I was able to learn so much about these teenagers and their schooling, home-life and interests. It was a truly an incredible cultural experience. So far I am loving Torremaggiore and all it has to offer, stay tuned for week 2!
We finally made it to Rome! We spent 3 days in Rome and it was a whirlwind of amazing experiences! The day we arrived, after getting settled in the hotel, we headed straight to the colosseum. From there, we went off into groups exploring various sites around the city. Over the course of our time here we were able to see the Trevi Fountain, The Pantheon, The Vatican, The Roman Forums, The Piazza Navona, St. Peter's Square and so much more. On top of all the sight-seeing, we also ate the most amazing food. From pasta to pizza we experienced so much Italian food and it was so good!! One of my favorite parts of Rome was the pasta cooking class that we took. We learned how to make Fettuccine and Ravioli and it was so cool to be able to make authentic Italian pasta. Overall Rome was a once in a lifetime experience that I would visit again if I ever get the chance. I'm excited to have one more day here at the end of our trip! Stay tuned!
Today is finally the day I have been counting down to for months now! We are sitting in the Philadelphia airport waiting for our flight to ROME! The butterflies I am feeling are a mix of both nervousness and excitement. It is a little scary to be going to such a big country where we don't speak the language, but it will be such an amazing learning experience. It will be so rewarding to navigate and get around while learning a new culture. As this is my first trip to Europe, I can officially cross off another continent on my travel bucket list! While planning for this trip, there are so many things that I am excited to see and experience. To sum it up, I cannot wait to eat A LOT, drink lots of wine, and make a wish at the Trevi Fountain. I will keep you posted!! Ciao!
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AuthorI am a recent graduate of Buffalo State College with my Masters Degree in Elementary Education. My dream is to become a kindergarten teacher. I love to spend my free time traveling and learning about new parts of the world. I would consider myself a full-time crazy cat mom. Traveling to Italy will be my first experience in Europe. I am excited to dive into the Italian culture and learn from my students, while making memories that will last a lifetime. ArchivesCategories |