The adventures of a Tuscan Queen!

The Tuscan queen you ask? Yes, I have been on the adventure of a life time. Back in October I found myself asking to go to Florence Italy to assist with a Study Aboard program at the university. After a 20 minute conversation at the Denver airport with a “would be” colleague…I was going to Italy. I left May 17 for my transatlantic journey. I returned from Italy Sunday afternoon…having been there for 4 weeks. It was magical, one breathtaking moment after another. I will attempt to transport you to Italy in the coming months with pictures and stories. I fully intended to blog from aboard….but each day was spent in full emersion. I fell into bed each night like a school girl thinking about her first love.

After getting off the airplane May 18^th, we hit the ground running. I wanted to experience it all…I figured I could sleep when I got home. We had cooking classes with prominent Italian chefs; we attended lectures by important statesman (woman) regarding wine tasting and pairings, olive oil, cheese and the Slow Foods movement (which started in Italy); and a key researcher, who has linked the Mediterranean diet & lifestyle to reduced cardiovascular mortality. We studied food production, food systems and the "built environment"…and their relationship to a healthier lifestyle. We went to the Chianti region, Siena, Montepulciano (where the movie “New Moon” was filmed…so I’m told by the students)….and yes, the tower is still leaning in Pisa. I will give you a blow by blow of each day’s adventure and all the things learned, as me and 45 other students of the Mediterranean Diet and Lifestyle explored Italy. Oh yeah….my beloved sister and sister-in-laws showed up for the journey also.

O.K……there were a few things I didn’t “GET”, nor was I pleased about while studying aboard. The public toilettes cost euro ($$) to use….and you would think that once you’ve paid to do your business…you would at least have a toilette seat. I didn’t think that was too much to ask.

When I asked why…the answer: “No reason”… “This is Italy.” That became the reason for everything we didn’t "get."

Until next time…… Ciao Bella

Le Greta