Travel Diaries: Bye, Bye, Italy!

Being in Italy was definitely one of the best life experiences I've ever had. I met one of my best friends yesterday and when she asked about my trip, I was speechless... And not exactly because I had a bad time!

After trying to come up with some words to describe my trip, I could only say that it was a truly magical one and that I hope the people I was there with will be my friends for life. We usually express all the love that we have for each other and I will do it even in public: I love them with all my heart and this time they gave me the most amazing two weeks I could ever have!

Sadly, I'm back home, sitting in my desk and trying to concentrate on homework... But seeing the pictures of our last supper are definitely much more interesting than whatever theories about syndicalism or environmental economics have to say!

I spent half of my last day in Italy in Naples, where we had the final sessions of the conferences. We then had lunch at Ciro a Medina––again, yes! My choice was a pizza margherita con bufala, a little more elaborated than the day before, and lemon sherbet for dessert.

We arrived in Rome in the afternoon, where we had our last supper. We went to a beautiful place called Ristorante Alla Rampa, in Trastevere. I was very full from all the pasta and pizza from the past few days, so I just ordered some Carpaccio di manzo con rughola e parmigiano. However, I did manage to steal some calamari from one of my friends––and they were absolutely delicious! I ended with a panna cotta with caramel, one of my favourite Italian desserts.

After dinner, we had our traditional midnight walk around Rome––the last one, sadly!––before going to bed. All of us departed early in the morning, when a beautiful, sunny Rome greeted us, inviting us to come back soon!

I probably won't have pizza or pasta at least for a couple of weeks. But I must confess I still feel like dying when seeing all the pictures of food I took during the trip and not being able to taste all of the wonderful dishes I ate.

Love,

Photography: Laura Beltran-Rubio

Travel Diaries: Naples, Day 2

Our second day in Naples was fantastic, although very cold! After freezing all morning in our conferences, we ran to have lunch at my friends' favourite restaurant in the city: Ciro a Medina. They love it because it has the best mozzarella di bufala in the whole world––which is actually true––although it's also got some great pizzas and dessert.

Each one of us had a mozzarella, and then we ordered pizza. I chose a traditional margherita, which was huge and delicious! Although it might have also been a little too oily... For dessert, Hannah ordered a ricotta & pear pie––I was so full I couldn't eat one by myself––and it was truly amazing! I loved it!

We went back for the conferences, and after they finished, my friend Bonnie and I decided to go walking around town and do some jewellery shopping. We were particularly interested in buying coral, which is very important in Naples.

After our wonderful walk, we met the rest of the group and went for dinner at Da Ettore. We had mixed antipasti (eggplant, zucchini, mushrooms and calamari) for starters, and then I decided to eat the signature dish of the restaurant: pasta with potatoes and provolone cheese. I was a little skeptic because it looked more or less like mac & cheese, but I fell in love with it when I tried it. Potatoes and pasta definitely make a great combination and I loved it from beginning to end!

After such a huge dinner, we naturally needed to walk a little more and help our body digest all that pasta. So we went to the pier. Unfortunately, it was very windy and cold... But that doesn't mean Naples isn't a truly magical place. For some reason, I fell as if I'd been taken into a paradise where I'd love to be forever––I'd maybe just change the weather!

Love,

Photography: Laura Beltran-Rubio