I pride myself on writing about only what is true to me. However, August’s recap will be a little different… because for the first time ever on this blog, it contains pictures not taken by me and places not visited by me.
As most of you know already, I flew back to Los Angeles in early August on family emergency. Meanwhile, D stayed on and continued with our travel plans through Italy. This was a slightly cruel twist of fate because the only reason we had planned for Italy was because I had never been there. But nevermind that; family wins top priority. D promised to send me a ton of pictures so I can still experience Italy through him. Every morning, I woke up to digital “postcards” of what he’s been up to that day. And now, I’d love to share them here.
But we’ll start this recap from the beginning of the month, when I was still a girl wandering around France. After we said bye to our new friends in Lyon, we headed to Paris for one day and one night, mainly because the easiest/cheapest way to get into Italy was out of the airport in Paris.
But there was also another huge reason: One of D’s uncles happened to be in Paris at the same time with his family! We had a lovely day strolling around Luxembourg Gardens and catching up over dinner.
1. Luxembourg Garden // 2. one of those giant raspberry macarons that I love so much // 3. Dinner with D’s uncle’s family! // 4. Luxembourg again, with the fountain
[Sidenote: we decided on a burger joint and though I asked for my patty medium, it came out practically like steak tartare. I managed to get it down (despite throwing up inside a little bit) because somehow, I feel like sending your food back is a huge faux pas in France. Oh Paris, your food is so disappointing after Lyon.]
After Paris, we flew into Italy! Bologna was our first stop. It was the cutest little town and of course, I couldn’t wait to eat pasta bolognese from its place of origin.
1. Bologna tower // 2. mortadella, a Bolognese specialty meat // 3. tagliatelle al ragù // 4. corridors + arches
Unfortunately, after only two days in Bologna, I flew back to Los Angeles. The rest of my month was a series of buses and hospitals. So I will let D take it from here!
While in Bologna, D took a day trip to Ravenna, where he visited the UNESCO sites to see the early Christian Byzantine mosaic artwork.
can you believe this is all mosaic?!
Next, he headed to Florence, where we had booked a room in a guesthouse for two weeks. I’m glad we did that because D was able to meet some friends through the guesthouse.
The Duomo
He stayed pretty busy in Florence, taking day trips to…
… Siena:
… while cruising through the beautiful Tuscan countryside:
… and San Gimignano:
… and Cinque Terre:
… and Pistoia
D ended his month in Rome, where he later spent the next three weeks.
I know D was a little nervous about traveling on his own, but I think he may have ended up enjoying it a little too much, as he’s already anxious for the next solo adventure. :P
And of course, there was a lot of eating. I have to admit that this was what I was most jealous of! While I was mostly subsisting on hospital cafeteria food, D was eating:
And yes, I hated him a little. :P
I’m still working on catching up on my monthly re-caps! The one for September coming soon! Have you been to Italy?
Oh man! I love all these snapshots, Anna!!! It looks like you guys made it to lots of different regions– which is so cool. I’d love to go to Cinque Terre and Tuscany. I’ve been to Italy a few times (Rome, Florence, Venice, Milan and the Amalfi Coast) but there’s still so much more to see!
I didn’t get to go to most of these places, but I’m glad I was able to experience them through D’s pictures! I would have to give him the credit for the photos :). I really hope to return someday and experience Italy for myself!
Oh whoops! Haha I knew that you and Dan were apart for awhile when you were down here, no idea why that didn’t click for me. All right, I guess we’ll both be dreaming of Italy then!
That’s the biggest steak I’ve ever seen in my life! I really like D’s photos of Cinque Terre! x
Me too! The Cinque Terre pictures are the most beautiful! I think it’s probably just impossible to take an ugly picture of that area. I really hope to see it myself someday! x
All of the food looks absolutely amazing, but I don’t think they can beat those views! Everything looks absolutely beautiful!
I know… Italy looks like such a dream, doesn’t it? I really hope to go back someday and experience it! And of course, to eat all that amazing food!!
I would have loved to read a special guest post where D chronicles his incredible solo (food) adventure. I feel you. If someone shares those food pics with me while I was having hospital food, I would hurl a brick at him! :D
Ha, I’m still waiting for the day he’ll guest post too. I’m not holding my breath. I know… isn’t it sad that I feel like i missed out the most on food?
Those pics are beautiful and how disappointing you couldn’t see it for yourself. I would have so frustrated. Why didn’t he come home with you? I’m sure you are nicer than me, because I would have been a mean lil mama. Haha.
I wanted him to stay in Italy and have fun for the both of us :). And plus, we had already booked everything and would have lost thousands! It’s okay, I’m sure I’ll get to go back someday! :)
Love D’s photos :) And wow to all of that food, I am drooling right now! I hope you get to see these parts of Italy at some point in the future, I am positive that you will x
I’m sure I’ll get to go back too and eat all that food! Italy will always be there :).
That’s such a lovely thing for D to do! Plus it’s nice to wake up to photos like that to get you through the tough time. Maybe you’ll get to go back on day! Florence is a beautiful place, although I might be biased since I have been twice now! We didn’t get a chance to explore the Tuscan countryside though… I might have to go back for that. I think Italy is a beautiful country.
Also, if you don’t mind me asking, how is your sister doing? I hope very well!
I’m so glad you had such a special Florence trip! :D I really wanted to go wine tasting in the Tuscan countryside, as I’ve been enamored for forever by pictures of those rolling green hills. Next time!
And I don’t mind at all! She’s doing REALLY well! Her recovery period was very fast and she’s pretty much back to normal now!
Oh the rolling hills, to beautiful.
That’s fantastic to hear! It does sound like she made a speedy recovery, but can’t complain, that’s excellent news. I wish her all the best :)
It looks like he had a great time, eating his way through Italy! :) I want to visit Cinque Terre someday. Those photos are to die for!
I know!! I can’t believe how beautiful Cinque Terre looks. I must go there someday myself too!
That’s such a cute thing to do, guys! Hopefully you get to reunite soon? The last time I was in Italy was with my family… but oh man, do I remember that amazing food! Those photos have me drooling. I want to visit Cinque Terre one day :)
Hopefully everything is going well for you, Anna!
Thanks Michelle!! We’ve been together again for about a month now (I’m just sooo behind on blogging and these re-caps)! I met up with him in Japan at the very end of September :). I was really jealous of him for all the delicious food he ate!!
Oh yay! I’m glad everything worked out :) Haha and I totally feel you on being behind!!
Must have really kept you strong Anna waking up in the mornings to see D’s photos whilst you were back in the states and so sweet of him to share it all with you like that. We visited Cinque Terre, Florence and Venice this year and absolutely loved all those places. I really hope you’ll get to wander back towards Italy one day again on your travels so that you can pick up where you left off ☺
I’m looking forward to your post of Cinque Terre, Shikha, because I’m sure you will be a lot more descriptive that what D was able to tell me, hehe. But the photos are so gorgeous and practically speak for themselves! I’m positive I’ll get to go back to Italy someday :).
Wow! What an impressive tour of Italy! I’m super jealous this all sounds amazing! What a shame that you missed it – but like you said family first and that’s what’s important in the long run! How awesome that D was sending along little photos though, makes you feel a part of it I guess? :)