I can't get Pandora in Italy so Spotify has come in handy lately although it's not my favorite.
I live in the moment, duh.
Olives. I really like olives right now.
Hot tea in the morning is really good as well.
Where to begin? How about Thursday, Thursday is a good day.
Thursday was the 25th and the 25th is Liberation Day for Italy. I completely forgot about this so around 10 in the morning when I went out to take a walk up the hill I was overrun by bikers, literally. Either as part of the celebration or simply coinciding with this weekend, I'm not sure, bikers overtook Montichiari for the weekend beginning on Thursday. The piazza was transformed in a racing course and the hill turned into a mud pit. It rained for the majority of the weekend so when the bikers would come down from the hill and ride through the piazza they were covered in mud from head to toe. totes cray. Because of the holiday Stephen had the day off from work. For the most part we just hung around the apartment, but in the afternoon we went to join the festivities where we stumbled upon a little make-shift antique/used goods market. Stephen and Jessica bought two paintings for the apartment and then we all got gelato. After that, Jessica and I took a walk around the castle grounds while Stephen went back to apartment. The grounds were small but very pretty. A few weekends ago I took a tour of the castle with Letizia. I want Stephen, Jessica and I to take the tour together before I leave, but the castle is only open on Sundays and special holidays, and seeing as I only have one more Sunday left, which will be spent in Florence, I don't think it's going to happen.
Friday morning the weekly market was set up despite the rain and I met a few friends in the piazza for coffee. I ended up just getting a water because it was so hot. We had a lot of fun just talking and walking around all the booths. The only thing I've ever purchased from the market is cacti with Jessica but it's always fun to just sift my way through the crowd looking at everything. Friday night Stephen, Jessica, and I met two American couples for bowling and dinner in Rezzato. Bowling is a lot different over here. The lanes are shorter and not as well taken care of but no one actually took the competition seriously so we had a lot of fun rolling gutter balls down the curvy, bumpy lane.
Saturday day was spent doing laundry on base and filming with Letizia and Mattia for the music video (which should be out this week--I know all of you are on the edge of your seats with anticipation!). At night Letizia, Mattia, Diletta, and a lot of others went out to Doppio and then Art for Davide's birthday.
I slept like a baby last night and today can hopefully start packing and cleaning before I leave next week.
This morning I had polenta with an over-medium egg, olives, almonds, and raisins. I rarely like eating sweet things in the morning so the polenta and olives really hit the spot. I also drank about a gallon of hot tea so I feel more than ready to start my day.
It's raining buckets here but I don't mind because I feel like having a slow day so I'm glad the weather agrees.
I hope everyone has a good week! I'll be seeing all your smiling faces soon! I can't believe I only have just over a week here. The time has flown by!
Ciao tutti!