On day 6 we said a bittersweet goodbye to Firenze and made moves towards the beautiful city of Siena in Tuscany. Our bus rides from one city to the next were never boring. We kept ourselves entertained at all times, being the hyperactive group that we were. We played Heads Up, which is a lot like Taboo or Catch Phrase but it's a smartphone app, so you use a phone to play. We also played the card game, Bullshit, which I was particularly great at the first few times we played. I like to think I'm a pretty good bullshitter with a great pokerface, but Kevin- being the kewl lawyer in training that he is, picked up on my bullshitting face rather quickly. Everyone always knew when Justin was bullshitting because he couldn't hold his cards without showing them to everyone. I was never too worried about losing- thanks Justin!
Our trip to Siena would only last a couple of hours, as our main destination for the day was Assisi. We arrived in Siena and had the most delectable sandwiches and biscotti for lunch. The sandwiches had boar salami, pecorino cheese, and balsamic on them. The balsamic was unlike any other I have ever had, though. It was perfectly thick and sweet. The biscotti were just almond biscotti in a bag, but they too were outrageously delicious- and I know phenomenal biscotti! My mother is a biscotti baking goddess.
Miguel and I sat in the piazza and ate our sandwiches. I suppose everyone else was too cool to join us. We talked a little bit about my health journey and I preached about coconut oil, as I always do. I enjoyed talking about my sensitive life when my new friends would ask about it. I love sharing everything I've learned on this life-changing journey with people who will care enough to listen.
Miguel and I sat in the piazza and ate our sandwiches. I suppose everyone else was too cool to join us. We talked a little bit about my health journey and I preached about coconut oil, as I always do. I enjoyed talking about my sensitive life when my new friends would ask about it. I love sharing everything I've learned on this life-changing journey with people who will care enough to listen.
From there, we set off on yet another one of Miguel's awesome walks. During the first part of our walk, Mike took us down a narrow side road, which was a residential area. Here we would be able to take in the raw beauty of what everyday life was like for people living in Siena.
Laundry hung out to dry under nearly every home's windowsills. Terracotta pots filled with flowers and fresh herbs lined either side of the street. The doors and windows of most homes were left wide open, adding to the realness and charm this stretch of street offered us on our walk. I was so excited to get the picture above- a little nonna cooking in her kitchen. I wanted to hug her. Something about her reminded me of Ma, my Sicilian great grandmother, who was with me in spirit every moment of my trip. |
Our slow-paced walk down a quaint little side street was about to change. Our next adventure would entail a walk unlike any other on the trip- for a few different reasons. My firm butt cheeks would argue that the countless, unbelievably steep hills and streets would be the most important reason. My beautiful photos of everything we saw along the way might offer a better argument. Just when we thought we were all done trekking up hills, we would turn a corner only to find a hill steeper than the last. All we could do was laugh, really. We laughed all the way to the gelato shop, in fact.
Shortly after our walk and some gelato, it was back to the bus for our drive to beautiful Assisi. In the province of Perugia in the Umbria region, Assisi is most commonly known for St. Francis of Assisi. Assisi was unreal- truly something out of a fairytale. No single word or combination of words can describe the beauty and romantic essence Assisi radiates. Assisi, simply put, is perfect if perfection exists.
On our guided tour of Assisi we saw all kinds of beautiful places including the Basilica di Santa Chiara and the Basilica di San Francesco. The artwork was breathtaking. I'm convinced that Italy isn't home to anything less than breathtaking when it comes to the artwork- religious and otherwise. We also stopped at a pastry shop on our tour. Take note to the meringues that are literally the size of human heads on the top shelf in that picture on the right. It was so hard to pick ONE sweet treat when there were so many that had my name written all over them. I ended up splitting a white chocolate cannoli with Kev. It had cherries and nuts in it. It was delicious but very sweet, so I'm glad I only had half. There were a lot of really nice shops in Assisi. One shop in particular caught my eye and had me thinking of TSL and all my followers. It was a shop filled with tons of different natural products for the body. These handmade soaps are made from different flowers, herbs, and essential oils. They all smelled so good! After our guided tour, we headed back to our hotel to get cleaned up for what would easily be the most memorable dinner of the entire trip. |
Yes, this is where we ate dinner. Upon walking out onto the terrace where our table awaited us, my heart skipped a beat...or five. The most gorgeous view I have ever seen in my life was right before my very eyes. This view struck an emotional chord in me- it gently tugged on my heartstrings. This must be what Heaven looks like- I can only hope.
As hungry as I was, it was so hard to pull my eyes away from the stunning earth that stretched for miles below me. I could have stayed in that moment for a lifetime and died happy. No photograph will ever do that place justice. I'll hold onto this place and that moment for as long as I live.
As hungry as I was, it was so hard to pull my eyes away from the stunning earth that stretched for miles below me. I could have stayed in that moment for a lifetime and died happy. No photograph will ever do that place justice. I'll hold onto this place and that moment for as long as I live.
Eventually I collected myself and realized that if I didn't figure out what I was going to be eating soon, my stomach would surely eat itself. I ended up getting raviolis. While it may sound like too "simple" of a choice to get raviolis when in Italy, I'll have you know they were absolutely delicious. I had already tried some other pastas and figured I'd go for something a little "different" that night. The other four ladies at the table had the same idea.
We watched the sun disappear behind Assisi's hills during dinner. It was hands down the most beautiful night of my life.
We watched the sun disappear behind Assisi's hills during dinner. It was hands down the most beautiful night of my life.
After dinner the only obvious thing left to do was go for another walk. It was a gorgeous night and I don't think any of us minded that we spent it walking through the narrow, cobblestoned streets of Assisi. We stopped and went into a church briefly. I had another me moment there. I sat in the pew by myself for a bit just looking up at the crucifix.- thinking about how I got there, how I couldn't bare the thought of leaving this beautiful place, what I would do to make sure I'd be back there as soon as I possibly could. I thought a lot about my Grandpa, who I lost last year. I know he was with me in spirit in that church because I asked him to be.
I thought about an old friend of mine, who I'll always hold close to my heart. He always said he loved Assisi, and after that day I understood why. This old friend of mine unknowingly gave me a gift- I don't know that I would have made it to Italy this year if we hadn't gone our separate ways. This is the silver lining. There is no greater act of love than to give someone the time that we all deserve- to find ourselves and evolve as separate entities from everyone and everything else in our physical world. For this gift, I'm eternally grateful.
After leaving the church we began our walk back to the hotel. I kept my own pace, walking with the group but by myself. I learned a lot about myself and what I want for my life on that day. It was a lot to wrap my head around- a lot to digest.
After leaving the church we began our walk back to the hotel. I kept my own pace, walking with the group but by myself. I learned a lot about myself and what I want for my life on that day. It was a lot to wrap my head around- a lot to digest.
In the midst of my praying and walking, I was interrupted by the beautiful sound of singing. We followed the sound to another church with its doors wide open- an obvious sign that all were welcome, so we went inside. We stood there for about ten minutes listening to this choir sing. Collectively, their voices were heavenly. I keep using that word- heavenly, because that's how amazing everything in Italy was. It was Heaven on Earth, and Assisi was the best part.
Upon arriving back at the hotel, Mike and I enjoyed a much needed Limoncello shot. I hated the thought of leaving Assisi but I knew we had other beautiful places left to see and more memories left to make. I left my heart in Assisi when we left the next morning, but I made an important promise to myself at breakfast over croissants and Nutella: I WILL move to Italy in the next year. Those of you who have followed TSL from day one know that when I say I'm going to do something, nothing will stand in my way.
As I always say, lack of passion is fatal.
Upon arriving back at the hotel, Mike and I enjoyed a much needed Limoncello shot. I hated the thought of leaving Assisi but I knew we had other beautiful places left to see and more memories left to make. I left my heart in Assisi when we left the next morning, but I made an important promise to myself at breakfast over croissants and Nutella: I WILL move to Italy in the next year. Those of you who have followed TSL from day one know that when I say I'm going to do something, nothing will stand in my way.
As I always say, lack of passion is fatal.