On Saturday we were down in the lobby by 7 am to catch our bus to Cinque Terre. Our two hour bus then took us to train which connects you through all of the 5 towns. We had the option to hike the trail to the last town or take the train straight to the beach, I picked the easier option. We arrived around 1 pm and had free time until 8 pm. My friends and I began our day looking for food, when we finally picked Trattoria di Oscar. We all had a different varation of a pesto dish because Cinque Terre is located in the Liguria region, home of pesto. Then we shopped at a local boutique and then finally headed to the beach. We then had pesto pasta again for dinner and finished off our lovely day with our favorite indulgence, gelato. We got back to Florence around midnight and headed straight to the residence to go to bed.
Sunday, as usual, was our relaxing day. We had until 2 pm to meet with the group. I used this time to sleep because I was feeling a little under the weather. Then we had the option of free time or pool , but everyone picked free time since we had been at the beach the day before. During free time, my friends and I went shopping and of course, got gelato. The night activity was Top Chef. Each cooking group was handed a bag with given ingredients and we had to make two dishes with those ingredients and had the option to add two other ingredients. Presentation, taste and creativity were the deciding factors for the judges. The two groups that won earned their prize because the 'davids' the boys all came down in just an apron of the nude david, boxers, sunglasses and a bow tie. The girls group that won because they were beyond inventive and used their fennel not just in bruschetta like everyone else , but boiled it to make fennel tea!
Today we had Italian in the morning and then my friend Eleanor and I went to get our favorite lunch. In the mercato, hidden in the fish area is a little stand where small women with long black hair makes the most amazing tomato, mozzarella and pesto sandwich with salty bread. Then we went shopping for presents and I got some shoes! Art history is different today because it will be at night, so we had the afternoon free. I napped, came here and will go grocery shopping after this. Tomorrow, I have to do an oral presentation in Italian that I have yet to write, so wish me luck!
Ciao,
Kenzie
