Skiing in the Italian Alps

Ten of us decided to try skiing and/ or snowboarding in the Italian Alps on Sunday, January 27. We booked the trip through a travel agency and took a bus that left near the Brignole train station at 6:30 am. The ride was about 2.5 hours long, arriving around 9:00 to the slopes in a town called Limone...most of us slept the whole way there. We went prepared as best as we could with our newly purchased ski bibs, goggles, gloves, etc.- all during saldi (sale) of course! Apparently, unlike American ski resorts, this one did not have changing facilities or lockers- so we changed on the bus, left our bags on the bus, rented our equipment, and hit the slopes! Four of us ventured out and tried snowboarding, the rest stuck with skiis. For the most part, the snow was in good condition and the lift lines were not long at all. The only tricky thing was knowing what type of slope the lift took you to! A few of us mistakingly took a lift to a black diamond slope and spent a majority of our time trying to get back down. Another tricky aspect of the lift for the novice snowboarders was getting off of it. This didn't work so well, atleast once that I witnessed, when all 3 on the chair fell to the ground as they tried to get off of the lift (simultaneously trying to avoid getting hit by the chair as it continued on the track). Then, a couple in our group were good enough to explore on their own and go down pretty much any slope they wanted. Everyone's skills progressed as the day went on, and though we all had different experience levels, we all had fun and plan on making another ski trip to the Alps.

Hiking through Cinque Terre

Hiking through Cinque Terre was definitely an experience that I will never forget. Not only was it one of the most beautiful places I have ever been but the actual hike itself was quite a challenge. We started at the little town of Riomaggiore and hiked about 30 minutes along Via dell'Amore to Manarola. The next stretch was about an hour to the town of Corniglia. It was really quaint and had a comfortable charm to it. Unfortunately not many of the stores were open since this isn't tourist season. This was good though because the trails were not crowded and we could really take our time and enjoy the scenery. The next stretch was about 1 1/2 hours to Vernazza. We hiked through some beautiful olive tree groves, it was almost like a fairy tale. This part of the hike was a bit more strenuous with the amount of stairs and hills but we made it. The last stretch which was
about 1 1/2 to 2 hours long was definitely the hardest and by the end of the hike everyone felt like they could just break. The last stretch to Monterosso al Mare although very challenging straight up and down, was well worth the hike. The jewel toned water and cliff side villages gave a whole new perspective on life. Everyone lives so differently here, it is a much more relaxed and simple way of life. I wouldn't have missed this opportunity for anything, and seeing this magnificent area has truly been an experience I will never forget.

This is home for the next 4 months....

It is hard to believe that we are finally here, and that it has only been a week since some of us began moving in to the villa. This past week has being incredible. From flying in to Genoa and having a chance to see the Alps from the air, to moving into a villa that is located in the mountains with 21 people that you will be living with for the next four months. Our location couldn't get any better. The villa is nestled in the mountains and we have an incredible view of the city as well as the water (The picture is a view from the balcony outside my room.) But this location does come with its price. In order for us to reach the city to do any field work, shopping, or anything else, we have to scale down the mountain in the forms of stairs and ramps. We go up, down, and all around, on some of the steepest hills you will ever see. By the time we get back to the villa, we are all ready to pass out and go to sleep. In time though, I believe that we'll adjust and when we come back home, we're going to be in great shape. We begin our traveling across Italy and Europe soon, and some school work is ahead of us....so one thing is for sure....this semester is one that we will remember for the rest of our lives.