Our first weekend trip: Cinque Terre! The night before, my roommate and I stopped at our bar to get an espresso martini that fed into our exciting energy to pack and go to bed so we could wake up and go to the small town of Cinque Terre (which is actually made up of 5 small towns).
The train station included a Sephora, which was a culture shock to someone who is used to seeing Applebees or a bar near public transportation.
I was so excited for the train ride because anyone who knows me knows how I love any excuse to listen to my music and read my book.
This was the first time that I felt fully liberated being on my own in a brand new country. I have slowly been adjusting and realizing my reality, but this train ride was when it finally hit me. The feeling was incredible and energized by the new person I had always hoped to be. Independent. Conquering dreams. Free.
When we arrived at Cinque Terre, we took a taxi to our new airbnb. The airbnb was perfect for the 8 of us. 4 bedrooms, two bathrooms, a balcony, and one large kitchen table that was the setting of our newfound friendships.
We were itching to see the beautiful town, so we quickly headed out the door. Public transportation became our best (and worst friend this trip). First, we stopped for lunch, where we toasted over a bottle of wine and some fish. Quickly after that, we took the train over to Manarola. The train ride felt like a simulator at Disney World as we glided over the edge of the sea. The sun was resting perfectly on the deep blue water, and all of our jaws were open as wide as our eyes were.
When we arrived, it hardly felt real. The view was breathtaking and one that pictures simply can’t do justice (as most places). The blue water contrasted the colorful houses. Paralyzed by the view, we all sat on a bench and took it all in. We ordered some gelato and wine to accompany us walking around near the sea.
That night we headed back up to our airbnb and decided to begin the ultimate girls night. We bought a 5-liter jug of white wine from the guy in the department store beneath our airbnb. We sat at our kitchen table, gathered around the jug as if it were a campfire, and started to tell stories as if we had known each other our whole lives instead of just nine days.
We ordered pizza which created the fiasco of the night. After carefully translating our order, we waited an hour for the pizza delivery man to arrive. As this hour passed, the jug filled with wine continually got emptier as our glasses repeatedly got fuller. Once the delivery man showed up, he brought our wrong order, but like any drunk Americans, we ate it anyway. Ten minutes later, another delivery man showed up with our order which led to confusion and the realization that we had actually ate someone else’s order. We took the pizza and, again, ate that one as well. 20 minutes later, another delivery man shows up again and this time brings three other pizzas and a complimentary bag of bread. When we explained the confusion, he decided to give up and drink with us instead.
As the jug became lighter, and we all became drunker, our best laughs came out. It felt like we were in a 2000s chick flick.
The next day we got up, and after being scammed by the taxi drivers, we got on a train to another little town. Personally, this was my favorite part of the trip. We sat on a deck overlooking the water and the colorful buildings and just chilled and enjoyed the scenery. I read my book and finally felt life slow down.
Now, I am on the train, sitting adjacent to my friend Erica as we kick our feet up, look out the window, and write about this fulfilling escape. I am headed back to Florence for another week of school and unpredictably fun weeknights.
Ciao!
sent with emphasis 