Perugia: Keep Calm and Explore the City

Perugia is such a beautiful and fun city to explore. Not only does it have GROM, but also amazing architecture. It has the perfect blend of big city shopping but without the overwhelming feeling.

Roadside flowers

Backpack resting

Street of Perugia

Mid afternoon pick-me-up espresso

The cutest Baci poster ever (baci means kiss in Italian)

Just because.... Day trips are perfect

Perugia: Keep Calm and Eat GROM

Perugia is the land of GROM. GROM is (in my opinion) the best gelato in all of Italy. The mark of a good gelateria? A line of Italians out the door. The only downside was that there is no concept of "a line" so being polite Americans who wait their turn doesn't always mean the quickest service. Eating at GROM twice in one day was worth every second of the entire day, and some super cheap but amazing pizza was a close second!

Train rides

Backpack Girls!

The magical world of GROM

First  time at GROM; Pistachio and fondante

Emma's GROM: Limone and Caffe

We heart GROM

Intense GROM eating

Post Office Stairs fun

A spot of lunch

So hungry

My second cup of gelato: fragola, crema come una volta, stracciatella

Just Because... GROM and pizza is the only way to enjoy Perugia

Green Pub

Saturday night Katy, Emma, and I ventured outside of Sansepolcro to Green Pub (a discotecca in San Giustino). The outdoor atmosphere was a fun escape (a little chilly), but well worth it! We danced the night away; the only way to enjoy Saturday nights.

Our "go to" pose

Chaperones, drivers, and dance partners

Just because... Nights are best spent out on the town!

A Love Affair with Cherries

Since getting to Italy I have been dying (no really!) to buy some fresh cherries in the market. The only problem.... they were 15 euro a kilo!! No way would I pay that much for them, so I would just sigh and wistfully walk past. The last market day I saw them for 6 euro a kilo and began to fight an inner battle on whether or not to buy some. Dr. Webb (the program director) had told me they would get cheaper as the summer went by, so there was the cherry debacle and love affair. I don't know how the next event happened (I think it was a gift from God), but I stumbled upon a vendor who had the most beautiful cherries for 2 euro. I bought a kilo or 2.2 pounds of cherries. Needless to say I think I have satisfied my love for cherries.

Just because... It's ok to love food

Saturday Six

Six things I have done/eaten/seen/and everything else imaginable!!

Sending off students at the train station

Perfect Italian Roses

We are renting vespas! (soonish)

Pizza with brie and egg

We get free pastries when we go out

We are honey badgers

Just because... this is la dolce vita

Prosecco in the Piazza

Prosecco, or sparking white Italian wine, is the perfect treat to enjoy on a warm day. I love to sit in the main piazza, enjoy a glass of cold prosecco, and people watch! An added bonus was the sun, and hopefully I got a little color. It was the perfect end to a wonderful day of sleep, brunch, and then an evening out.

Prosecco

Piazza di Torre di Berta

Yellow walls and white dress (and maybe tanner??)

Just because.... It doesn't get much better than sun and wine

Brunch at Chieli

After our fun outing buying birthday cakes. I wanted to go back and enjoy some treats from Chieli. The three of us slept in since the students went to Florence for the day, and had brunch at Chieli! It was fun to just sit and enjoy our little sandwiches and sweets.

Blackberry drinks

Emma and her orange beverage

Prosciutto panino and a smoked salmon tart

Chocolate and raspberry goodness

There was even a raspberry inside

Just because... #swanky is the way to be

Flowers and Birthdays

Birthdays in Italy are always fun, and I am kind of sad I don't get to celebrate mine here. Even though the students have only been here 5 days we have already had two birthdays. Katy, Emma, and I were responsible for picking up a bouquet of flowers and ordering a cake. Even though it was a rainy morning we had fun explaining to Chieli (the most amazing pastry/savory bites/cafe ever) that we had a nut allergy. Instead of buying a cake straight out of the display case we special ordered one (to avoid any nutella contamination!). Crema (cream), lampone (raspberry), and sponge cake was the final choice for our birthday girl Ives.

Inside Casa di Fiore, the flower shop

My first flowers in Italy!! (I wish they were mine!)

We love getting flowers

Savory treats at Chieli

Sweet treats

Such a fancy place!

Chieli

The birthday cake we special ordered

Well that was a fun day! The next birthday I have to plan is Katy's 21st. Now that will be a night to remember!

Just because.... It's fun to say tanti auguri and buon cumpelanno!