I really don’t know where to begin with discussing my immediate love for Florence. I’m incredibly happy that we’re able to stay in such amazing apartments for the week and that a large portion of this trip is in this city because there is so much to see and do here. Prior to coming here, when I pictured Florence I literally only pictured the Duomo and the red rooftops of the buildings surrounding it. Now I know that it is so much more than that (not the the Duomo isn’t amazing, because it is, and I haven’t even climbed it yet). It’s just that there is so much history, beauty, and overall life going on in this city. In just four days, we have been able to experience more than I could have hoped for.

My favorite day so far was cooking with Chef Marcello and visiting the Tenuta del Palagio winery. The meal with the chef was by far the best meal I’ve ever had, and I loved getting to hear a little bit about his assistant’s cooking background. When she told us that she had been cooking for a living since she was a child, I wasn’t surprised. The way she was able to so quickly form tortellini and perfectly cut the dough made it clear that she was far more an expert than I could ever be.  As far as the winery, the funny thing is I don’t even like wine, but being able to just sit with my classmates and enjoy a relaxing evening talking and snacking was all I needed. As if being in Florence alone wasn’t enough, I got to say I was fed by a professional chef and drank wine in the Italian countryside, and all in one day.