March passed by quickly in a whirlwind of travel, and with every day spent in Italy it becomes harder and harder to accept the fact that our time here is disappearing and eventually we will have to leave.

This past month was especially busy because we had our spring break. This was the first time that I ventured out of the country, and it was an amazing experience to travel throughout Europe with my friends. It was extremely strange to switch between so many languages, and by the time we made it back to Florence it took a few days to remember the proper terms. I split up my spring break between Florence, Barcelona and Paris. It was nice to have some time to relax and see what Florence had to offer on the weekends. I spent my weekend walking around Florence and checking out some different markets that it seems impossible to get to between classes and traveling. I then spent three days in Barcelona soaking up the sun, and tons of history. My friends and I went on a walking tour around the city, and then spent hours exploring on our own.  It was amazing to see and hear about some of the effects the civil war in Spain had on Barcelona and learn about the peoples pride in their history. After Barcelona I met up with my roommate Anna, and spent three days in Paris. This was my second trip to Paris, and since we were short on time we skipped most of the touristy things and walked around the city. I tasted my first French macaroon and of course, climbed the Eiffel tower. Overall, I had an amazing spring break but I learned one very important lesson. Always wear walking shoes when traveling, no matter how comfortable they are, your feet will hurt after a week of walking!

Besides spring break I spent a lot of time traveling around Italy. My best friends parents came to visit (she’s also in Italy) and we spent a weekend in Rapallo and Cinque Terre. Despite the devastating mudslides in Cinque Terre this past fall, the towns that we were able to see were breathtaking. Just walking down the pathway along the water between the towns was so beautiful and serene. Unfortunately, we were only about to go to two of the towns in Cinque Terre due to the after effects from the mudslides but it was definitely worth the trip. Rapallo was a beautiful beach town and it was so relaxing to walk along the water and eat dinner at some of the fabulous seafood restaurants that they are known for. I also went on a trip with SAI to Siena and Castello di Meleto for a wine tasting. Despite the fact that I do not particularly enjoy wine, it was very interesting experience to taste some of Italy’s famous wines from a vineyard famous for its wine since 1269.

Throughout the past month I have also been enjoying the beautiful spring weather with my friends. We have taken many trips to Boblini gardens, and enjoyed exploring the city. I have also met many new interesting people through my community service giving tours at Santa Croce. It’s so much fun and I have learned so much about Santa Croce and the history of Florence from my experience giving tours, as well as the people on my tours. Time is passing by so quickly and I am excited to continue my travels and new experiences and take advantage of the next six weeks!

Jordana – Lynn University