My middle-aged weekend :-)

Photo Credit Christine Amoresano

Hey everyone!

I would like to apologize for the lack of posts recently; my computer crashed a little over a week ago and I have not been able to get on a school computer for long enough to write a blog. But now I have 2 hours until my next (and only) class today so here we go!

This past weekend was jam-packed with activities that really kept me quite busy. My program, Academic Programs International, sponsered an excursion to Bologna for the day on Saturday. We toured the city, which is absolutely beautiful and has great shopping, which I didn't know until I got there and only had enough cash on me for lunch... but perhaps that's for the best because I didnt end up spending anything on shopping! :-) In addition to great shopping the city is home to bolognese sauce, which obviously I had to taste while I was there. Delicious and cheap, just the way i like my food! Bologna also lays claim to not one, but two leaning towers-- clearly architecture is not their strong point! We climbed the taller of the two towers (499 steps.. I guess they just got too lazy to make that 500th...) and were rewarded with beautiful views of the city and surrounding hills. I promise that once I get my computer working again I will post pictures galore!

After Bologna we took a trip to a balsamic vinegar farm where we recieved a tour explaining how it is made and a sampling of their products! This was really neat because the farm has been in the same family for at least 4 generations and they are some of the friendliest people I have ever met. They were even willing to let us sample balsamic vinegar that has been aged for 50 years! Clearly I am keeping my taste buds happy this semester.

On Sunday my friends and I decided to go horseback riding through the Chianti region, because we had heard that the program through which we had discounts was absolutely phenominal. And it was. We got 2 hours of horseback riding through the most beautiful country I have ever seen, tasted wine from the vinyeard through which we had ridden, a full 4 course traditional tuscan meal on a secluded lake, and a wine tasting at a larger vineyard that explained the different types of wine so that even the uninformed (read: me.) could enjoy.

Not only did we recieve all this, but because apparently we waited longer than they usually have clients wait (we didnt notice a thing) we were offered a second day of horseback riding for free. Obviously we went back the next day.

When I told my friends from Stonehill and home what I had done this weekend, I got a few snide comments about how my chosen activities were something thier parents would do. I know they're just jealous, however, as clearly I had one of the best times of my life.