Day 43

    Buongiorno

       Day 43 has been pretty low key. I may have had a bit too much wine last night because I wasn't my go get-tum self this morning:) So I just took it easy and planned some things to do, took care of my tax refunds (for purchases) and really just hung out. Sometimes you need days like this. I hardly even took any pictures today.

      Remember when I told you I was going to go to Cinque Terra and then decided I would wait until I got to Florence? Well going by myself just didn't feel like something I wanted to do, because the little towns are pretty remote and it is off season so there wouldn't be many people there. No tours even go there until April. So I hired a private guide and I am going Saturday at 8am. I am so excited and this way I will get the history and be able to see so much and get so much more out of my time there.

     I also went to my cooking class tonight, it was so much fun. There were 3 young girls in the class with me from Israel, Canada and Switzerland. They were nice and we all had a good time. The Chef was funny and cute. (a nice combo). We made Pizza, Gelato and a Sweet Salami Roll (no meat involved, just looks like a salami). The school was great and I go back tomorrow for a four course meal class, being off season I am the only one signed up. I hope it stays that way. It would be amazing to have a private lesson. Then on Thursday I signed up for the Risotto and Biscotti class. It was so good to be back in a kitchen. I think when I get home I will be a cooking maniac. Oh and the Chef today kept calling me Chef which was so cute.

     I was thinking today what I have learned about travelling since I have been away. I have learned that when travelling alone you meet a lot of people, that men are the same everywhere only a lot more aggressive in Italy, that you can take care of your tax refunds in town and not at the hectic airport, that having an IPhone is a must have, that trip advisor is a great travel tool, say yes when invited to do something, drink wine (because it's fun), have skype to stay connected, travel light, send boxes home to stay light, keep a positive attitude, that it's fun to get lost, travel by train as much as you can, travel in the off season to avoid crowds, be careful with your camera when taking photo shoots, that having a blog is so much fun, that the world is huge and I want to see as much of it as I can, that travelling alone is quite fun and so is traveling with others, that it's fun to experience big and small hotels, to utilize the concierge, don't worry about time (unless you have to be somewhere), be spontaneous and just do whatever you feel like, that TV in Europe sucks, that having a netbook is a great idea, having two adapters is a good idea, always ask for an upgrade (with a smile), take pictures of street signs so you remember where you came from, take day trips, sleep when you're tired, only bring your most comfortable shoes (I did), take a class in something you like, learn basic words of the language spoken (I have), There are so many more but I just wanted to share some thoughts with you.

     I hope all of you are doing well and I will be writing to you tomorrow.

                                                                                      Love , Laura

                                                            

   The class at Intovola

   Thought for the day:

   I have heard experience is what you get when you make a mistake.

   I believe experience is what you get when you live.