Tenuta di Lupinari Tuscany

... mind up that I was going to wait until I got back, but I didn’t want to wait any longer. So Katy and I weaved our way through the booths looking at purses and going back to look at purses and being positive that I was getting the right one. I had seen several I liked in Venice, and I found them again when I got here, but nothing was sticking out (except, of course, a purse that was WAY too expensive). So I kept looking. FINALLY I saw one that I ...

... Cranberry Sauce, Stuffing, Potatoes, and Mixed Vegetables. For dessert pumpkin pie, ice cream, and apple cider! It was nice to spend the night with classmates and a few professors.

Friday night, we had yet another Thanksgiving with all of my friends. Everyone prepared their favorite dish and we spent the night telling stories of our families Thanksgivings.

I'll update you soon,

Siara

Hi Everyone!

After an exhausting weekend in Brussels, I was in for yet another treat with cooking classes in Florence. Organized by my school, a group of us met with a chef for some lessons.

We were taught how to prepare typical Tuscan cuisine including Ribollita and Stuffed zucchini-flowers.

Everything was delicious & I look forward to trying these recipes at home!

I'll update you soon,

Siara

... and since the moment we arrived we were welcomed as part of the family. It was sometimes difficult for me to really take part in conversations as the main language is Italian. Anyway I could help out in daily activities and in this way get to know the people, animals and area. The surroundings are amazingly beautiful: in the mountains, Forrest everywhere and almost no roads. Most settlements of the Valle are only reachable ...

... with the O'Calahans, Orrs, Harpers and Ina. We had a competition where some riders told a story explaining the empty farm houses in the valleys that we rode pass. The evening concluded after dinner when we retired to our rooms.

Italy Day 14

We rose this morning and had breakfast with the Orrs. Today was planned off day with everyone taking a bus into Siena for a day of touring. Kathie and I had a head start from the day before but joined in for the tour also ...

... cook again tonight I made cheesy pesto mashed potatoes with peppered chicken and Brussel sprouts in garlic oil. It was nice to eat a home cooked meal again. Afterward I attempted to make Panna cotta it has to cool until tomorrow, will see how it turns out because we couldn't find vanilla. Day 22 (Th) Today Michele, Alli, and I have to give our presentation on traditional Italian meals. The presentation went very ...

... I've been reading a recent historical novel -- The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant -- that takes place in this period, which makes it especially easy to visualize the events that took place where we are walking. It also emphasizes how much the world has changed, and how much of that change emanated from that time in this place. Saturday afternoon Paula went out window shopping and I wandered to the north and east of the apartment. Discovered an almost Parisian boulevard, out of the ...

... owner, Marco, suggested that we go for dinner at a restaurant here. So the troops were gathered, our dorm and a few others, including Marco, and off we went. Oh my god, there was so much food and wine and it was oh so good. We then went to a bar where I just could not drinl due to the large quantity of food consumed. The bar was pretty cool. Fnky, nice lighting, lounges, it was heaps good. Today most of the museums are shut, but it ...

... whats going on here. So read what you will and ignore other parts, but hey, its my trip and I wanted to write what's going on leaving out only a few details that are in my personal journal ;0 We love to hear from all of you so keep the emails and questions coming, and I'm sure i will post either tomorrow or Friday from Rome. Dania is currently rereading Angels and Demons so she can take me on a tour of Rome of sights in the book, should be awesome! Talk to you soon, Ciao Matt

... on the buildings, and a nice crafts market and farmer's market. We drove along the edge of the Black Forest in Germany, but didn't have time to really explore - although we did stop for a local flea market (very bad) along the way. We arrived back in Amsterdam safe and sound at about 10:30 Saturday night. This gave us Sunday to recuperate and begin preparations for our trip home to the U.S. the next week. We definitely had a ...