Oasis in a Big City

The parks of New York City provide a welcome respite from bustling city and you will find them everywhere! Be sure to check out the High Line walk, an old subway track converted to a park, Washington square park, the roof of the Met, and of course Central Park.
 

CG

Brief yet Lasting Feelings of New York City

Well, I have arrived in New York City after three wonderful weeks in Rome and I feel incredibly at home in this city that I have never seen before. I believe that this is partially due to my last three weeks being in such a foreign place that being back in the United States brings on a sense of unexpected nostalgia. New York is easy to fall in love with. It is so lively. There is no other way to describe it. Rome is a city with a great and powerful past. New York is so young and bursting with people from all walks of life. It is lovely to see mothers walking their children to school, businessmen with fancy suits and briefcases brusquely strolling to their important meetings and young teenagers messing around in shopping centers. It is all very comforting. New York is very much like the Met. It is this conglomeration of immigrants from everywhere. The rich, the poor, the all american, and the fresh off the boat are all thrown together here in New York. In the Met, unlike Italian Museums, there is also this sense of ordered chaos. Run from Medieval to nineteenth century paintings to Egyptian temples all in a matter of minutes. This is New York City to me.

 

Florence

I wish I could have spent more time in Florence. The place was filled with young beautiful people and the places we visited were exciting, spontaneous and adventurous. We accomplished so much each day! Below are a few of my recommended activities!

The Duomo and Climbing the Adjacent Tower

I paid to go inside the Duomo and climb the dome; however, I would actually recommend going inside the Duomo to witness the beautiful painted dome and climbing the adjacent tower for a great view. This way you can marvel at the outside of the Duomo which is far more intricate than the inside and not have to wait in hours long lines.

Pharmacy of Santa Maria Novella

Italy's oldest pharmacy is a delight for all your senses. I went twice. You can come to shop or learn about the history of the business. Well worth a visit!

Sunset at Piazza Michaelangelo

This terrace is without a doubt where I saw the best sunset of this trip. The piazza is just a short walk from the Ponte Vecchio where you can have a lovely dinner afterwords.

The Sunset and a View of the Ponte Vecchio

Oriveto

We woke up early this morning to take a train ride followed by a lift into Oriveto, a small hillside town known for its enormous duomo and world renown white wine. I would recommend wandering through the shops of main street to look at the bright and vibrant pottery and visiting the gelato shop to the right of the duomo (try prune flavored, sound gross, tastes amazing ). Don't forget to visit the Duomo itself, home to the alter cloth with drips of blood on it from the Eucharist. The story goes that a man who did not believe that the bread was actually the body of Christ went to take communion and the bread started to bleed. Word of this story made its way to the Pope who build the enormous church to commemorate the spot. Here are some pictures from my day!