sandy toes and orange peels

This past weekend, myself and four other girls went on our first weekend trip. What better way to start than the Mediterranean coastal Spanish town of Valencia. I don't know if you heard me correctly, but yes, I said Spain! I was always indifferent to Spain; never thought much in favor of it or thought I would ever choose to visit. But me oh my, am I glad we did! It was beautiful. Our flight out on Friday morning was brutal, being picked up by our taxi at 4:30 a.m. from the palace. But so worth it when we spent literally all day out on the Valencian beaches. After a delicious lunch of fresh shrimp, sea bass, and of course, sangria, we stopped by the market and bought Valencia oranges then hit the sand and surf.

The sun was bright, hot, and perfect. The weather here in Italy has been a bit overcast and cool for our early summer expectations, so the heat and light was refreshing. The grains of sand were the most beautiful caramel color and the sea was extra salty. At one point, I found myself wading deeper and deeper into the salty bath and just letting the waves break into my back. I knelt down and picked up a handful of the wet sand and rubbed the natural exfoliant all over my legs; best spa treatment ever. If I could have bottled that stuff, I would have! If you have ever been in an ocean this is no well kept secret, but there is something so mysterious, majestic, and awe inspiring about just being in that water. It's all connected; every sea and ocean connect somewhere somehow. Being in it, you are a part of this "greater whole". It was a very sobering and moving thought, standing alone in the Mediterranean Sea. Ah, take me back.

So after a long day traveling and in the sun, we hit the sack pretty early on Friday night and slept in on Saturday. We have picked up this mantra that we'd rather travel than eat, so in that same vein, we had trail mix and oranges for lunch, then made our way back to our beach spot. We made new friends from Barcelona, Norway, and even some Italian gentlemen celebrating a bachelor party. So needless to say, we had a lovely afternoon filled with more sand, sea, and socializing. Sunday was another early morning packed with metro navigating, security lines, and even almost getting escorted off an international flight...ok it's a good story now, mom and dad didn't think that one was so funny when I called to share! Well, apparently, when one travels through the Eurozone, a)they do NOT stamp your passport, but only your boarding pass, so that's no fun and b)at the inital gate, they should stamp both boarding passes. Well when three girls in a row boarded a plane with no stamped passes, Lydia the flight attendent got suspicious. As we were sitting in our row, waiting for take off, a man in sunglasses accompanied by a holster and walkie talkie, found our seats and asked to see our passes. Long story short, the pilot wanted to "float" us (airline lingo for kicking the ignorant Americans off of his plane) and leave our sunkissed little rumps right there in Espana- no thank you. After enough plaeading, praying, and eyelash batting we were given a stern lecture and allowed to stay. Being on our best behavior, of course, we finally made it home. 

So I said I wanted adventure, and now I fully understand what it means to "be careful what you wish for". Spain was good to me, my dear friends are good to me, Lydia the flight attendant ended up being good to us, sangria is my new favorite, this life is a dream, and I'm just getting started.

“andiamo!”

If you are reading along, I’d love to hear from you. I want to know all about your side of the pond, too!

P.S. Did I mention we got hair wraps and fresh coconuts from the gypsy woman on the beach?!

A Dangerous Beauty

Have you ever wondered what it would be like if time simply stood still? Well, I have. I guess that is not too shocking coming from someone who has always had an overactive imagination, but an interesting thought, nonetheless, right?! Believe me when I say, I witnessed time standing still. Last week, we visited Pompeii; the ancient Roman city that was buried beneath soot and rubble after the massive eruption of Mount Vecuvious in 79AD. A town that was known for its wealth, luxury, and beauty died in a flash.

The Pompeii city center with Vecuvious looming in the background. 

That is what is so incredible about this town. Many people do not know this, but there were actually four towns that were swept away in the wrath of the "mountain", but Pompeii was the most developed. And because the city was hit with a soot and smoke combination, not boiling lava, everything in the city was just buried under rocks for centuries and preserved, only to be discovered again in the 1740s. 

 

A plastered cavity of a Pompeiian
attempting to escape the invading smoke,
thus suffocating. 

This program has been amazing and has taken us to some pretty unbelievable places, but I might go out on a limb here and say that Pompeii has been my favorite so far. The mystery, the wonder, the tragedy; this town is so marvelous and so fascinating! I love the history and the stories. Though morbid, it is amazing how the ash has preserved the cavities where the trapped bodies once lay and we can learn so much about the lives of the people who lived here and died here. 

Or maybe I like Vecuvious' strength. She was reckless, she had no rules or limits, her path was her own. She was imaginative and free. She was a kind of beauty that was dangerous, and for that all the more alluring. 

On an Evening in Roma

So riddle me this. How does one possibly summarize the Castelli Romani, beautiful shopping in Albano, first encounters with sangria, new friends who speak no English, the Roman night life scene, lazy days in Ariccia, first trips to an Italian farmer’s market, private tours of Rome, daylight dance parties, and history lessons that are far beyond just an educational experience? If you guessed “impossible”, you are so correct. As much as I wish it were possible, there is no way I could ever explain to you how magnificent, glorious, exciting, and wonderful my first two weeks have been. 

A little birdie once told me that a picture is worth a thousand words, so I will show you how fabulous this life is instead of telling you...

First gelato experience in Albano. Mixed berries, coconut, and dark chocolate. Mama mia, so delish. And how pretty is she?!

Solo shots on Via Appia. The ancient Roman road that leads from Rome all the way to Southern Italy. Ancient, rustic, and vintage. I can dig it.

a light apertivo dinner with friends (Ann Burgwin and Kelsey) in Albano. You pay for a drink and one plate, as full as you would like; check out that dish. We can put away a few groceries. Living like a true college student; gorging. 

                                   On our way into Rome! 

One of the greatest architectural feats of all time; the Pantheon. I’m in awe of this picture. Certainly will be framing this on a large scale when I get home

Who doesn’t love a good “selfie” at the ole Trevi Fountain. 

Piazza Navona. Glorious

fresh flower market in Campo di Fiori

I wonder how many people have sat right there at the Fontana de Trevi and smiled like that 

“When you walk here, you walk on history”

Everything is so fresh and bright, it’s an organic lover’s dream come true

Ariccia Monday Market

The most glorious chapel. Wanna know where I found this little gem; across the street from our palace. 

All of these works and arts are a tribute to our King. Hallelujah and amen!

Upon visiting the Non-Catholic Cemetery, we walked by this bush. I bent down and smelt it and instantly was in love (many of you know where this is going). It’s a type of lavender bush that had hints of lemon and rosemary! I will be planting this at home and wish I could just toss this bushel in my suitcase. 

Lavender does something wonderful to my psyche.

Oscar Wilde’s John Hancock at the Keates and Shelley house at the foot of the Spanish Steps in Rome.

All that stood between me and literary history was a thin piece of glass...and a snippy British museum guard 

the blondie is me and the beauty is a little place called Rome

“When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.” 

-John Lennon

YOU HAD ME AT "PALACE"

       So I’m all safe, secure, and settled into my new home. This life I’m living cannot be real; I feel like a queen. And speaking of royalty, my new “quaint” little nest is actually a Roman palace. So that’s pretty cool, I guess! It is called Palazzo Chigi Ariccia, named after the noble family, the Chigis, who ruled this quiet little valley town centuries ago. 

Yesterday, (which completely blended with Monday) was an exhausting day, but amazing none the less. We arrived in the bustling Roman airport at 8:00 am, after having traveled all through the night. We were welcomed by our new tour guide/sister/bestie, Cinzia. She’s the man, for real. After arriving at our new abode, we promptly began our personal roaming, opening every door and cabinet, snapping pictures of every marble square inch of this place, and proceeding to scream like the little school girls we are, then, of course, claim our beds. Each room has two to four beds divided into floors and lofts. I’m in the back of our loft with two other girls, in “my own little corner with my own little chair”. 

The view down the street in front of our humble abode.

After unpacking and taking a tour of the town, we went to our welcoming dinner. I mean, like, whoa. We sat at a huge family style table and had the best food, I mean BEST food I could dream of. My personal favorite, was a tortellini dish, homemade and hand wrapped noodles stuffed with smoked gouda and pears. I’ll pause while you go wipe the drool from your lips. Every curtain was drawn and every light off as we left our fantastic meal, so we quietly tip toed home; obviously kidding!-try getting twenty sleep deprived girls to softly skip through the streets; it was more like a stampede of giggles and camera flashes. As I was crawling into my bed last night, I felt the corners of my lips curve as I sat, for the first time, and allowed myself to really feel this. This, my lifetime adventure to Italy, with some of the greatest people I could ask for to be with me, the most amazing tour guides and mentors, and a breath taking backdrop to paint all of the memories on. Who am I to get all of this?! 

A group of American girls draws quite the crowd, but
we don't hate it :)

After a refreshing night’s sleep, we woke up to a packed schedule. More touring, pictures, and delicious food. Today we could do more independent travels around town.  A few of us treated ourselves at a local cafe, where we spoke “Itanglish” with the waitress. The locals are so patient with us, trying to learn their lovely language. Our new friend Luciano at the coffee shop said if we came in every day during his siesta, he would help us learn. These people really are as charming as they seem. 

Tomorrow is our first traveling day and I could not be more excited. I am the first “expert of the day” tomorrow, so this should be interesting and entertaining as my southern tongue wrestles with the rolling syllables and inflections. Wish you all could be there to witness it in person. 

So needless to say, life is so good. One of dad’s favorite quotes, by J.R.R. Tolkien says “not all who wander are lost”; amen J, amen. So salud and chin chin to wandering, discovering, growing, and even getting lost. 

Our first sunset. I've looked at this picture about a hundred times and it
still takes my breath away.

No Pressure...

In just four short (and jam packed) days, I head to ITALY. Say whaaaat?! 

I wanted to create a blog so I can share all my adventures through Rome and beyond this summer. I wonder how many times I wrote and rewrote the blog title, this entry title, and this sentence. But this is what I keep hearing and feeling and decided; this summer is one of "no pressure". I would not have traded this past season for anything in the world, but I am so excited for fun, adventure, and the carefree life that awaits me across the pond. So when I came up with the title of my blog and texted it to my mom, I immediately received a distressed "you better not be riding vespas with strangers" phone call. So don't you worry mom and dad, it's merely a metaphor, a romantic idealization of how I picture this adventure to unfold. With a new found independence and a renewed passport, camera in hand and duffle bag dragging behind me, so begins the summer that will change me. I’m just a curly-haired blonde from Tennessee with a roll of film and a sketch pad. I have little to offer to Italy, but multitudes to learn. Kate Spade once said, “she looks for adventure around every corner”, and I would hate to let a fellow Kate down. Ciao America, buon giorno Italia! 

Got any travel, food, or fun suggestions? I'd love to hear them! If you are reading along, you are probably a loyal friend or my precious family, so thank you to everyone. Know that I will miss you so and be thinking of you often. Have a wonderful summer and don't be shy, I love to chat! 

Blessings and joy coming your way

-Katie

"May the Lord bless you and keep you: May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." 

Numbers 6:24

I'm certainly going to miss days like these spent at the lake house this summer.
 Glory! Glory! Glory to God in the highest!