The long awaited time finally came and we made it to Italy! The first week was a whirlwind and I can’t believe it is already over! The first week we were here gave us a really good idea of what the rest of the summer will be like, amazing.  The food we have already eaten and the places we have already visited are unlike anything most of us have ever experienced before.
The first night that we arrived in Ariccia we ate at a small local restaurant and were able to have a little taste of the local cuisine from around this area.  After a much needed full night of sleep, we started our second day bright and early with classes to meet and get to know our professors and lecturers for the rest of the semester.  Cinzia Bracalente is our program facilitator and I don’t think any of us could do much of anything without her.  Roberta Londi is the brains of the program and the events and trips she has planned out for the summer is just one thing after the next to look forward to.
Day three was our first field trip day to all of the other parts of the Castelli Romani.  These include Grottoferrata, Nemi, Albano, Genzano, and Frascati, just to name a few.  Each one of these towns had its own unique aspects. Frascati, for example, is famous for white wine and now we know why! Nemi is famous for its strawberries, which are miniature and much sweeter than the ones we are used to in America.  I think we will all be making a trip back to Nemi for some more strawberry tarts before the summer is over. The day ended for me when I tripped over a curb and broke my foot in Genzano. It was a pretty place nonetheless! The hospital in Albano was not one of our scheduled stops on the field trip, but unfortunately it is where I ended my day, getting a cast and crutches in another country is no fun! Italy is not very handicap-accessible but we are making the best of it and I will be back on my feet in just three short weeks!
Overall, I would not change anything about our first week of our trip.  If we have already done this much in six days, I can’t wait to see what is in store for us for the rest of the summer! Ciao!

Strawberry tarts in Nemi

Beautiful store fronts in Nemi