Interlaken, Switzerland!

Two weeks ago, I nearly lost my mind trying to cancel my Florence 2 Interlaken trip with Bus2Alps. I knew it was going to be expensive and cold and I just didn't want to deal with all that, but they wouldn't let me cancel it because I used a $10 off discount code. Well, that was the best mistake because Switzerland is gorgeous. 

We arrived at 3AM Friday morning at Backpackers Villa hostel and of course I got no sleep at all, but what's new? When we all woke up and took our first step outside, I couldn't believe it. The sky was blue, it was warm, the scenery was PERFECT. I couldn't waste the day, so I spontaneously booked the next paragliding session. And it was so worth it:

UNREAL

Lake Thun 

Lake Brienz

with my roomie :)

At the Schuh (pronounced as "shoe") Chocolate show!

With Anna and Nicole, our hostel roommates!

Switzerland is statistically one of the happiest countries in the world, and even though everything is extremely expensive, I can definitely see why people would be so happy to live here. People are nice, scenery is gorgeous, and their dogs are adorable! I really had the best time :)

fyi... I found crispy m&m's! They were discontinued in the US in 2005 and I've been waiting to get my hands on them. Well, I'm nearly finished with my second bag hehe.

Food of Italy

Honestly, it doesn't matter how many times I ate out for dinner or which fancy restaurants I've been to. The best meals I've had have always been in my cooking class. Today, we made pasta from scratch and veggies with the ever so popular bechamel sauce. For dessert, we made puff pastry cookies with hazelnuts - a true simple delight! So my professor lectures a little too much in the beginning of class and rushes us out at the end, but I love her and I love this class.

Tagliatelle con ragu and Raviolo spinaci e ricotta

Verdure di stagione alla Parmigiana

Venezia

I went to Venice this past weekend for the Carnival and despite the freezing weather and having to wake up at 3am to catch the 4:30 train, I had the best time. The moment we stepped out of the train station, we were stunned by the Grand Canal. Wow, was all I could think or say - it really was everything I imagined it to be. Although we were each carrying massive bags, I know for the first time, I forgot how exhausted and freezing I was. We took the ferry (Venice's equivalence to our MTA system) and walked over bridges to get to our apartment on Calle Mussato O Tasca where we stayed. It was an amazing deal since it's about five minutes to the Rialto and the person who owns it, Massimo, is absolutely the sweetest!

San Marco, Venice

When your staircase leads straight into a river...

Eggs, corn and a breadstick. Our 3 euro dinner!

I absolutely love their fresh market! It's huge and beautiful!

They're quite famous for their seafood, who would've guessed?

View from Ca' Rezzonico

Carnival in San Marco!!

Rialto

With basically only two full days to explore all of Venice, I bought a 48 hour ferry pass (which I absolutely abused) and a museum pass that grants entry into 11 museums. I was able to go to 4 of those museums plus the Guggenheim, but I really wanted to visit them all! Since it was freezing the entire weekend, I was constantly craving their hot chocolate, which is absolutely a drink from heaven. We went on a hunt for the perfect hot chocolate and found that my favorite bar is Caffe dei Frari. The bartenders are friendly, the hot chocolate and hot wine are delicious, and the atmosphere was absolutely perfect.

On our way home, our train got stuck on its way to Prato for three hours (and I thought our MTA system had terrible delays). We later found out it was because several rocks shattered the window in one of the cars. It took us about 6 hours to arrive back in Florence, but I was in good company and remembered to pack snacks, so there really weren't any complaints. :) When we finally arrived back in Florence after a long day of train delays, I felt something strange - a sense of comfort I haven't felt since I arrived.

Venezia, you are gorgeous, but Firenze is home.

Pisa and Lucca

First train ride to Pisa!!

Little alleyway where the best pizza in Pisa is :)

YAY only reason to come to Pisa!

Artichoke, prosciutto, cheese, mushrooms, oregano, garlic.

Obviously finished it all! haha

On the city walls of Lucca, Italy

NEW YORK NAPKIN!

Went on my first ride on trenitalia this weekend! It was confusing, but great! On Sunday I went out to lunch at Gusta Pizza across the bridge for the first time too. GREAT pizza! I can't tell if that one was better than the one in Pisa, but it's definitely closer so I will absolutely be going back again. :) I also met two people from Australia while cheering on the Giants for the superbowl. They won!! This weekend was exciting and relaxing at the same time, I loved it! 

VENICE NEXT WEEKEND!

Fa Freddo.

Most days, I like to cook and enjoy a girls night in, but other days, I like to spoil myself:

I went on a lovely date with Molly at Acqua Al 2 and ordered an entree sampler. It was amazing and beautiful! Their walls have plates that are decorated/ autographed by famous people who have come there to eat.

Did I mention how it's 30 degrees in Europe? What better way to thaw our hands and faces than with a 3.50 euro cup of hot chocolate? Absolutely worth it.

Their central market. There are so many selections of fresh produce and meat, I hardly know where to begin. I could stay there all day just admiring their colorful products and taking in the sweet aromas.