Updates on le grande TRIP

1. I am pretty sure Sarah and I are going to do a mask-making workshop in Venice. It's kind of expensive, but it's also kind of like a master craft class/history lesson through art. Sooo I'm game.

2. There will be a gelato festival in Florence while all three of us are there the first time around. Um. Thank you, gods of food, travel, and timing?

(I found a link for the festival too, but the website's in Italian. So just use your imaginations as to how awesome this will be.)

3. I'm probably not going to be blogging much (if at all) while I'm there. I don't know that this really impacts anyone, but the facts of the matter be: we will be traveling around a lot, I will be journaling, and I won't be bringing my lovely little Bertha. (My laptop. She can't help being a Bertha any more than I can help naming her.) So I will probably post about it when I get back. That, or I'll skip posting about the trip, and I'll end up posting about my post-trip anxiety about not knowing what I'm doing next with my life. (Since you ask, currently I am all back-up plan and very little Plan A. But hey. Europe's inspiring. Right?)

Holy Guacamole, I'm Going to Europe.

I'm actually leaving. Tuesday, to be precise, but today I'm going to stay with my grandma in Westchester, and I'm staying until my flight. I can't believe it. This trip still feels like a crazy fantasy, only now I feel like I'm about to drive to the house that contains the wardrobe through which Narnia is available. (Yep. It's gonna be THAT magical.)

The tentative list of cities I posted in an earlier post ended up being correct, but here is a slightly more detailed itinerary:

Milan (The Last Supper and shopping)

Venice (Tours of lacemaking and glassmaking factories, gondola rides, and the opera!)

Florence (for a couple of days--chilling and exploring)

Pisa (as in, the Leaning Tower of)

Siena (BEACH DAY and a cute b&b)

Rome (Tour of the Vatican, a night walk tour, and a tour of the catacombs!)

Florence (This time a more extended visit)

Milan (ditto)

London (Staying in a family friend's home, and being crazy tourists.)

Paris (Art art art shopping shopping shopping art. Nough said.)

Reasons I'm excited:
1. The things I'm going to see. Architecture, historical landmarks, ART ART ART, and the beaches.

2. The shopping. Designer stores, markets, the LEATHER, lace and glass from Venice, scarves from Paris; you name it, I'm psyched to bring something home from it. (Are Parisian scarves a thing? I feel like they are, although maybe that's just because one of my college roommates had some. I love scarves though, so I'll probably buy some there regardless. AAHH I'M GOING TO PARIS!)

3. The food. Pasta, pizza, pasta, wine, cheese, bread, nutella, pasta, gnocchi, and PASTA. 

4. Getting lost. I'm actually really excited to wander the streets of Venice, Florence, Rome, London, and Paris. I've heard it's the best way to see a city, and I am positive it's a great way to get inspired. Which, for me, is part of what this trip is about: inspiration for writing, art, and finding/creating a frame of mind that will help me stay happy in the next year while I figure out what I'm doing with my life.

5. The people I'm going with. I wish I could bring everyone I love on this trip, but as things are, I have two of the best travel buddies I could ask for. I'm soo psyched to be tripping around Europe with Sarah and Loryn. THIS IS GONNA BE AWESOME!!!! :-D