When I Leave

I wasn't planning on posting again before I left town. I didn't really have much to say, and figured the posts after getting to Europe would be much more entertaining. Turns out I was wrong. Last time I left for Italy was in August of 2005 and that week the Beehive (a little shop in town) burned down... first up and then down. The whole strip of businesses had smoke damage and a partner business moved across the street. This partner is a wonderful little restaurant called the Honeycomb. Get it... beehive and honeycomb. Yeah anyway, Mom and I went to the Honeycomb yesterday for lunch and had a nice little time, the power went out but it was really windy out so no one really thought anything of it. Shortly after we left the the roof on the Honeycomb blew off. Talk about a windy day... apparently there was cold front coming through. Heaven forbid I ever leave town for good. I really don't think either of these events had anything to do with me leaving but it is rather amusing that they both happened right before my departure.

Wine Tasting

Last night I had the most wonderful going away party with wonderful friends, food, and wine. Bruce Cochran who lives here in Arkansas came to the party to share 6 fantastic wines from different regions in Italy. Since I just started to really like wine in the past two years (thanks to spending some time in Italy two years ago), I usually like to stick with white wines... a Pinot Grigio or while in Italy just the white house wine. I was happily surprised that each wine I tried I enjoyed. Traditionally in tasting you need to start with the lighter wines and get darker... the reds are more complex in flavor, and then end with a dessert wine of some kind. The wines we tried in order:Pinot Grigio from Trentino. Ferra & Perini (white)
Malvasia from Emilia-Romagna. Giannelli de Maris, Vigna Case Rotti 2005 (white)
Barbera from Piedmont. Ferra & Perini (red)
Chianti Classico from Tuscany. Ruffino Aziano 2005 (red)
Nero D'Avola from Sicilia. Nu Har, tentua rapitala (red)
Malvasia Dolce Frizzante from Emilia-Romagna. Rosa di Bianca (white semi-sparkling dessert)
It wasn't a wine tasting where you sip the wine, find all of the flavors and spit it out. It was relaxed and as we sipped our wine, Bruce shared with us the region the wine came from, the grapes, and the difference between a $100.00 bottle of wine and a $10.00 bottle of wine. As much as I love to spit good wine into a jar, I really would rather just sit in good company, drink good wine, and have good conversation. And because of that, last night was perfect.

(the picture is of each wine in order that it was tasted)

I Have A Home

Most of you know that I will be leaving for Italy in a couple of weeks and live there for 6 months while I study. While I am living/traveling in Europe my blog will be mostly about that experience but will of course include really neat things that I find. I will share shops, restaurants, and sites to see.
The best news is-- I finally got the information about where I am going to be spending those 6 months. I am in Florence (which was the plan) and in the residential area but only a 20 min walk from school. I'm so excited to learn about a new area in town. Last time I was there I was living in the historical center I had the most amazing view of the Duomo from my bedroom window, and was so close to everything. This time I will be in an area that will have more residents than tourists, yet everything that people come to Florence for is just a walk away. I will get to walk along the Arno River everyday on my way to class and see the hills surrounding the city. Another perk-- I have my own bathroom. I was planning on my own room along with 2 others for the two friends I am living with, but a shared bathroom. First floor apartment so less stairs than last time and really my own space!