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For those who have followed my webpage, you'll remember I've had a trip to Italy in the works for quite a few months. And on June 13, I left for a 17 day trip; finally! First and foremost, I'd like to offer a big thank you for all those who donated to the cause. Stand assured your gifts did not go unnoticed, and helped greatly as I gathered enough money to make the trip. Because of your donations, I consider the trip to have been a complete success! Below is an outline of my itinerary, presented in chronological order.

Siena

It was my first stop, and a short bus ride from Rome. What immediately struck me about this city was how medieval the buildings all appeared; mostly constructed of stone and brick. It gave the whole city a cool, snug, very old feel that I learned to enjoy after a bit of adjustment. My favorite part of the city was El Campo, a large brick courtyard at the center of the city. It was surrounded by shops and restaurants, and its unique personality captured me right away.

Venice

Venice is, in retrospect, my favorite city. No other place we visited came close in personality and magic, as did every street in Venice. More than anything else in that city, the best thing to do was to get lost downtown, and simply wander around, finding small cafes and fountains buried deep in the city. Luckily the weather was beautiful and cool, so smell from the canals was not a problem at all.

Cinque Terre

This was a smaller group of towns on Italy's west coast, right up along side the water, built up into high cliffs. Much smaller than other places we went, I had a chance to relax, hike through the hills, and enjoy being next to the water. As the pictures show, this region brings a new definition to hilltop town, however, despite their size, the obvious charm of this place could not be denied, so they'll end up being my second favorite place in Italy.

Florence

Florence almost created its own culture shock coming off the quiet and beautiful Cinque Terre area. Its busy noisy streets fill your ears most of the time, as it is definitely more of a metropolis. The bright side is Florence's museums, which seem to be some of the most famous in Italy (apart from Rome and the Vatican). I saw the David, which was a highlight, despite waiting a few hours in line to do so. I also loved the sculptures positioned all over the city, many out in the open. Another fun aspect of Florence is its shopping, mostly open air. Known for leather, but selling almost anything you can think of, the street shopping is an adventure.

Assisi

This was our last quiet small town visit before the grand finale. Assisi is another hilltop town, except this time looking over a huge spanning valley. Highlights here include multiple beautiful cathedrals, as well as a castle you are allowed to explore. Another positive point is that it was here we found our favorite place to eat; a small restaurant almost buried in a rocky cave. The combination of atmosphere, food, and price could not be beat, so we ate there twice!

Rome

Because by the end of the trip, I felt more like a small town lover, than someone who enjoyed big cities, I wasn't too excited when it was time to visit the biggest city in Rome. However, when I arrived, and was bombarded by Rome's own unique magic, that fear disappeared. We had a chance over several days to literally walk the whole of downtown Rome, taking in almost all the major sites. My favorites include the Pantheon, the Coliseum, and the original stretch of ruins you can walk through.

So there's a brief outline of my summer trip to Italy, simultaneously cliche and unique experience. I hope someday I'll have the chance to go back, when I'm older and wiser and have more money to spend! But it was a great escape, and will be one of my fondest memories for the rest of my life. Thanks again to all those who helped get me there.