Live-Or-No...in Livorno

Finally, another post! Yesterday Gina and I woke up and decided to just get on a train and go to Livorno. We didn't know anything about the city, how long it was to get there, just up and went. We got there and rumor on the street was they had white beaches - why not! We asked the man working in the tourist booth where the white beaches were, in our broken Italian, and then hopped on a bus which took us to the coast. We didn't know anything about the bus system: how long it was to the beach, where the beaches were, what the beaches 'stop' was called. We ended up just hopping off at a spot and walked a good fourty-five minutes, just taking pictures of the coast. We eventually hopped back on the bus, and luckily our bus pass wasn't expired - we still had 10 minutes - because there was an inspector checking bus tickets. Luckily we both still had ours too! It was the first time I've ever been asked/checked for my ticket. We rode a little longer and then got to the end of the route. We ended up doing a little cliff climbing and we found the BEST view of the day, right on top of a cliff, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. We took some pictures, took refuge in the sun for a while and did not have a car in the world. 

It was so good to be by water again, and I was actually reminded of Florida at first glance. There were palm trees in Livorno and the sea smelt just like the ocean that I've smelt from back home. It was in the 60's and a tourist could not have asked for a better day. The sea itself looked just like jewels on the water, it reminded me of Incubus's song "I Wish You Were Here.

"I dig my toes into the sand,

the ocean looks like a 1000 diamonds strewn across a blue blanket.

I lean against the wind,

pretend that I am weightless,

and in this moment I am happy..."

All in all it was a great day - not knowing our way around made the adventure even better in the end. We never did come across the white sandy beaches that we were told were here but it didn't matter - it was the first time I was somewhere and completely felt like home. I think the sea had a lot to do with it - or it could have been the guys in speedos, you decide.

This upcoming week is midterms and to be completely honest, I have put them on the back burner until today. My day is going to consist of studying and staying in, probably with a little gelato break though. Midterms shouldn't be that bad, it reminds me more of a test back home. However, after this week, we leave for Greece lasting just over a week! We stay on the island of Corfu for three, and then in Athens for three, with traveling to and fro the other two days. I'm excited and it's just dawning on me that when we get back from Greece, it will be almost April! Time is flying by so fast. 

As fast as time is flying, I am trying to soak everything in: the culture, language, sights, smells, feelings, sounds. It is at sometimes overwhelming but I am beginning to feel at home here. Every now and then I think about being back in the states after studying abroad and how awkward it is going to be to have to drive every where and once again rely on a car. AND not walk past the Duomo everyday to get to class. There will definitely be pros and cons but I'm just going to keep trying to live up Italy and Europe as much as I can!

I hope everyone is enjoying wherever they are and God Bless!

Alicia