I can’t believe I have been here in Florence for over a month already! It’s starting to cool down and there are fewer tourists around the center of the city, which has been really nice. I can finally walk around and not have to push my way past sweaty groups of people.
2 weeks ago I mentioned that I was going to Chianti with my Mediterranean Food and Culture class. It was gorgeous and a lot of fun! The weather ended up being perfect (sunny & 75) and we ate soo much! The winery we went to showed us the process for making their wines and cheeses before we tried them. My professor taught the class about the Wine Classification System in Italy, different pairings of wine and food, and how to read a wine label.
I also went to Ravenna, a city near the east coast of Italy. There I had the opportunity to visit churches that have the most incredible mosaics I have ever seen! It was a little overwhelming thinking about how many little pieces there were and how long it must have taken to create the images. I took a few pictures of the mosaics, but they don’t do it justice. In person you can see the sunlight reflecting off of the gold pieces and how shimmery it is.
Last Sunday, Fiorentina played A.C. Milan in Florence! There was no score, unfortunately, but Fiorentina should have won. The game was super exciting and the energy of the fans was crazy! Hopefully I can get to another game while I am here.
This past weekend I went to Split, Croatia! The bus ride was super long (like going to Georgia long), but it was worth it. I went on a tour of Diocletian’s palace, white water rafting, on an island hopping boat tour, and traveled to Krka National Park. The boat tour was definitely my favorite part and the weather was perfect that day. My souvenirs include lots of pics and 3 euro worth of leftover Croatian currency. 
