February (Part 2! Finally!) and more!

Salut!

This is going to be a pretty long post, so just be warned!

I have finally found the time to sit down and write this after (surprise!) another very busy few weeks. I cannot believe I am already more than halfway through my semester. It has gone by so quickly and I have made so many wonderful memories so far. I am eager to see what types of experiences this final month will bring!

To pick up where we left off, last month starting on February 16th was the beginning of my spring break, where myself and a friend travelled across Italy from top to bottom! Our journey began with a €25 flight to Rome, where we had half a day to spare that was spent taking in all of the main sights, from the Colosseum, Altara della Patria, and Spanish steps to making a wish at the Trevi Fountain. Of course, we stopped for some delicious gelato (I think it would have been sacrilegious not to!) and window-shopped before taking an evening train to our hostel in Florence.

This was my first experience staying in a hostel and I can truthfully say I thoroughly enjoyed it! It allowed us the opportunity to meet some really interesting people and embrace the social atmosphere of the city. We roomed with a professional violinist from Italy and a seasoned traveller from the north of France who gave us some very sage advice on how best to explore our future destinations. We even met a girl from Portugal whose life goal is to travel across Route 66 one day... This brought out a little chuckle on my end - I personally don't see the appeal but I hope she makes it there someday!

After a nourishing meal of incredible dahl from a nearby Indian restaurant, we called it an early night to refuel for the following day's adventures. At this point, I was feeling the effects of coming out of a week of strenuous midterms and plenty of travel the weeks prior, so I definitely felt a bit under the weather with cold-like symptoms. In contrast to previous trips where we have walked over 13 miles a day taking in every sight possible, we set out on this trip with the intentions of recuperating and going at a slower pace, which was much needed on both our ends!

some amazing chalk art in Florence!

On Friday the 17th, our first task was to pay a visit to the Duomo. Just... wow! I love this building! It is probably the most beautiful building I have ever seen, from the size to the architecture to the intricate design. The amount of detail in every crevice, sculpture, and piece of stone is unbelievable. It really lived up to (and far exceeded) any and all expectations.

And if the Duomo wasn't awe-inspiring enough, we then headed over to Michelangelo's David to be blown away once again. The set-up of the museum is very interesting in that the hallway leading up to the David displays a variety of half-finished sculptures by Michelangelo, which makes seeing the David that more impressive when you comprehend the amount of time - and level of mastery - needed to execute this work. Everything about the sculpture is remarkable. The details in the hands and feet are mesmerizing. We needed at least ten minutes to just stand there and soak in this immaculate artistic feat.

Things took a bit of a turn for the worst by evening time when I came down with a not-so-fun case of food poisoning (or some type of stomach flu - still not 100% sure which!) that ended our evening a bit short, unfortunately. This kept me feeling pretty low for a good 3 to 4 days and definitely put a damper on what was meant to be a very fun-filled experience in Florence! Regardless of my surprise mystery illness, I managed to still make it to many spots across Florence and tried to absorb as much as I was able to. I personally loved stumbling across the endless amount of unique shops near the Duomo and picked up an amazing perfume and a beautiful ring, both of which I love! We were also able to visit the Uffizi gallery and catch a stunning sunset over the Arno river by the Ponte Vecchio. Such a beautiful scene! Side note, the jewelry shops in the Ponte Vecchio are unbelievable. So much glitz and glamour and sparkle! If you were ever in the market for a new pair of earrings, that would most definitely be the place to look!

Sunsets, and the Birth of Venus at the Uffizi!

Our time in Florence came to an end that Sunday, after which we moved on to our new home for the next few days: Naples! To both of our surprises, Naples was a bit lackluster and disappointing. Despite staying in a wonderful Airbnb, the rest of the city was more than a little rough around the edges... and the center... and pretty much all over. The safety and cleanliness were perhaps the biggest concern, but that being said, the food really does live up to the hype!

Naples streets, Galleria Umberto, cathedral, and port

After finally regaining my appetite, we treated ourselves to fabulous €5 euro Napoli pizza and even tried a sfogliatella, which is also delicious might I add. Although it is more commonly known as a lobster tail in the U.S., the authentic pastry originated near Napoli and is one of the most iconic treats of the region. The traditional version consists of a gorgeous flaky shell filled with a bright, light, citrusy custard that is really phenomenal. Needless to say, the sfogliatella made up for the rest of our below-average reviews of Naples!

However, another benefit is that Naples is a great connecting city to other noteworthy landmarks, including Pompeii/Mount Vesuvius and the Amalfi coast, both of which we were fortunate enough to visit! Pompeii in particular was a very fascinating excursion. It was so special to walk through the ruins and envision everything as it once was. Despite the perils that fell upon the city, it is amazing how much has remained and been salvaged. I found it particularly noteworthy that during excavations, archaeologists found human-shaped indentations in the ground amongst the rubble. By filling these holes with plaster, they were able to extract the original human forms of dozens of people that died during the eruption, all of which are now on display. Fascinating!

Pompeii!

After our visit to Pompeii, we stopped at the town of Sorrento which borders the Amalfi coast. Despite it being the off-season and a bit sleepier than normal, the town and the views were not any less beautiful. We ended up putting together a make-shift lunch from a local grocer and sat at an overlook just absorbing the beauty of the coastline. We also had a very enjoyable experience taste-testing many different chocolates and citrusy treats traditional to the region!

Sorrento!

On Wednesday the 22nd, we packed our bags once more and set forth toward our final destination in Palermo, Sicily. We quickly stopped in Tropea to break up the 8-hour train ride, although we again caught it in the off-season so it was a bit quiet and closed-off. During the second leg of our journey, our train actually boarded onto a boat to cross over to the island of Sicily. That was so interesting!

Tropea!

Arriving in Palermo was a breath of fresh air. The weather warmed up significantly and I fell in love with the friendliness and beauty of the city. Each morning, our hotel provided us breakfast vouchers to a local café where our meals for the next two mornings consisted of pistachio and nutella cornettos. This is basically just an Italian croissant, although unlike the French version, this one is commonly stuffed with a type of cream filling. Maybe not the most nutritious breakfast, but nevertheless incredibly delightful! When in Sicily!

Palermo is also well-known for its street food. On every street corner you will stumble across an arancini or cannoli vendor, and the food markets are incredible as well. Narrow streets are filled each morning with tent after tent of the most beautiful fresh produce, seafood, pre-cooked meals, jams, spices, olive oils, and so much more. Other streets consist of dozens of lovely fabric stores, as Sicily also has its roots in the silk industry.

We spent most of our day on Thursday sight-seeing and eating some really great foods! We walked past the Massimo theater and Quattro Canti, and stopped for a quick lunch where we met a very kind traveller from Germany who provided us with some excellent recommendations for the best cannolis and must-see beaches in Sicily. What a gift that was! Following his advice, we sought out a bakery that was by chance located inside a top floor of a monastery. And let me just say, these cannolis were a truly heavenly experience. They piped the freshly-made cream into the shell right in front of us, and I swear you could see God floating through the piping bag and personally blessing the cannoli before handing it over to us. And after taking a bite?! I transcended both time and space for a moment. Angels were singing all around me. I will never forget this cannoli!

I Sigreti del Chiostro cannolis!

After that spiritual awakening, we then visited the Palazzo dei Normanni, or Royal Palace, and saw one of the most incredible chapels I have ever laid eyes upon. Every corner of the ceiling is covered in gold, glistening mosaics, and I think the pictures really speak for themselves here:

We then paid a visit to the palace's gardens and later made our way to the harbor to enjoy a peaceful sunset, where we also stumbled across a colony of stray cats and a very impressive juggler! For dinner, we ate at a phenomenal African cuisine restaurant with a wonderful waiter who made our experience all the better.

Sunset at the port and at park nearby, and an African cuisine for dinner at Ciwara!

For our final full day in Palermo, we again took our German friend's advice - he had not failed us thus far! - and took a train to the neighboring town of Cefalù for a perfect beach day. The sun was shining, it was a beautiful and calm 65ºF, and we found a peaceful alcove along the beach that made for a restful and wonderful adventure. We even braved it out and took a dip in the water, although the sea is still at ice cold temperatures so that didn't last too long. We concluded our time with a traditional Italian pasta dish at a charming local restaurant with some great wood-fired bread!

While our trip across Italy was, at times, busy and had its occasional downsides, it was ultimately a spectacular experience with some very special memories, incredible foods, and lots of fun-filled travel. I would love to be able to return some day and re-visit all of the wonderful places we had the pleasure of encountering. Maybe one day soon!

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After spring break, we took a program-wide trip the following week to Marseille to study its history of immigration as well as some of the environmental initiatives taking place across city. This was a very cool experience! Marseille is the second largest city in France and so different from Nice in many ways. It has been an immigration hub since its founding in 600 B.C. and reflects it through the rich diversity, culture, and art dispersed across the city.

The biggest paella dish ever, spices, yummy dahl for dinner, and the Marseille port

On our first day, my class visited a local urban farm to discover some of the challenges of local farming in regard to funding, water conservation, drought, and climate change. It was very interesting to connect this to prior knowledge of urban farming across Pittsburgh and discover how many similarities there are between the two regions. The biggest takeaway? Support your local farmers!

Urban farm and urban farm's dog!

We also took a walking tour of the city and visited the port, as well as the many different neighborhoods of Marseille, all with their own very unique personalities. One of my favorite things was to discover the beautiful street art and murals that seemed to cover nearly every wall of every building. Street murals have been a form of artistic expression and a display of intertwined culture that is so prominent across the city. Throughout history, Marseille has also been known to be a very rebellious and free-spirited city, which is further emphasized through the artwork.

Our second day was spent visiting a few different museums, indulging in some yummy Turkish delights, and testing out some traditional Marseille soap! And on our third day, we took a boat trip out to les Calanques de Marseille, a set of islands preserved as a national park that are, in fact, some of the most beautiful geographic features I have ever laid eyes upon. All of the islands are composed of stunning limestone outcrops surrounded by the most gorgeous aqua blue water. It was so special to look at them up close, and also know that these features - and its rich biodiversity - are protected from any human development! Although unfortunately, the dolphins were a bit shy that day and did not make an appearance, much to my disappointment...

Instead of returning back to Nice with the rest of our group, my friend and I decided to spend the rest of the weekend taking a trip 30 minutes north to explore Aix-en-Provence for a few days. This was such a wonderful trip! Aix is really such a perfect city, and I am already longing for the day I am able to return. It is composed of quite a young population, as most of the city is surrounded by a number of different universities. The social atmosphere was so enjoyable and relaxed, and we felt incredibly safe in this town as well. For every image of a charming, beautiful, quintessential French town I had built in my mind, Aix far exceeded it in every possible way.

We spent most of our time window shopping, strolling through the incredible street markets, and exploring some lovely cafés. Every building and street is so delightfully colorful, and the people so kind, that it would be hard not to fall in love with this place. One of my favorite stops was at a cat bookshop where we got to meet some of the sweetest kitties ever. It actually made me a bit emotional and longing to be able to pet my own sweet animals again soon!

After our return from Aix, the weather really began to warm up consistently, which was such a cheerful welcome! I spent the following weekend soaking up sun at one of my favorite small beaches in Antibes, which is also one of the few sandy beaches in our region. It was so enjoyable to spend the weekend with my toes in the sand, reading an incredible book (The Secret History by Donna Tart! So good! I couldn't put it down!), surrounded by happy and care-free beachgoers, enjoying the absolute most perfect weather. At one point, I did catch myself wondering how this is actually my life, casually sitting at a gorgeous beach in the French Riviera on a random Saturday in March?! I feel so lucky and grateful every single day.

The past two weeks, I have spent most of my time focused on school work, exploring new cafés, eating some fabulous palmiers, going for runs down by the coast, strolling through the Monday antique market, and preparing for a few upcoming trips.

And last Saturday, I went on an excursion to a few of the best panoramic overlooks in the region and had the opportunity to soak in some breathtaking views from Èze, Mont Alban, Monaco, and Fort de la Revère! So stunning! The exotic garden of Èze was my personal highlight. It is situated on the side of the mountain and is made up of thousands of varieties of desert plants, plus a small waterfall! It definitely made me miss taking care of all my house plants back home.

This past Tuesday, the 21st, I had one of my most memorable experiences in Nice thus far participating in a phenomenal Niçoise cooking class! What a delightful time! Myself and a few classmates spent the evening whipping up homemade gnocchi and pistou with roma tomatoes, socca, and a lavender crème brûlée for dessert. The gnocchi was prepared with some of the most gorgeous yellow potatoes that we then kneaded and shaped by hand. The pistou is a version of pesto without pine nuts simply consisting of fresh basil, garlic, olive oil, and salt. Socca is a traditional Niçoise street food made up of just chickpea flour, water, olive oil, salt, and occassionally some herbs (we added herbes de Provence!). It is cooked on a very flat pan and cut into slices to be eaten alone or as a supplement to any dish. Delicious! And don't even get me started on the lavender crème brûlée! The lavender was perfectly subtle and added such an intricate floral flavor to the dessert. And I personally loved getting to torch the sugar on top, as well! It was such a simple yet fulfilling meal that I hope I will be able to recreate again soon. As is the French way, there is nothing like taking a few simple, high-quality ingredients and putting together an unforgettable dish. I felt so immersed in the Nice food culture through this experience, and that is something I will always carry with me!

Tomorrow, I am taking a field trip to the Lerins Islands for my immigration course, and then Saturday morning I set off for a quick 24 hour visit to Lyon for the weekend! I am really excited to explore this city, as it is often referred to as the food capital of the world! I already have reservations in place to visit a cat cafe for lunch, so I am very eager to be around some sweet French cats for the afternoon! Although I think it will have to take a lot of self-control to not come home with one! How cute would it be to have a French cat named Croissant? Or Pain au Chocolat?! Too cute.

After that, the following weekend I will be venturing northward to Amsterdam to explore both the city and the tulip festival! What an exciting and lucky time that we are able to visit right at the start of this iconic event. I cannot wait to take probably a million photos! And if Amsterdam wasn't enough, my final big trip will be to Copenhagen the following week. This one I am personally beyond ecstatic for. Copenhagen has been one of my dream destinations for such a long time, and so far I have heard nothing but stellar reviews from others that have visited. I am fully ready to absorb the Copenhagen lifestyle - they are supposed to be among the happiest societies in the world! And it is such an influential city in the world of sustainability and architecture, so I am very excited to explore that aspect of it as well.

Other than travel, I am also preparing for a pretty rigorous finals week and trying to soak in my final month in France. Oh how time has flown! I have cherished my time here immensely and it is a tad bittersweet knowing it is coming to an end so soon. Although I am also very much looking forward to a happy reunion with my family, friends, pets and plants!

I will hopefully update again soon after some of my upcoming trips!! Until then, I am sending lots of love to everyone back home!! :)

Au revoir!

Allyson ♥️

P.S. Thought I'd share a video from a sweet and funny moment a few days ago. A crowd decided to join in for some line dancing alongside a local musician performing in the square. Really made me smile!!! :)