Oktoberfest

This past weekend I was able to go to Germany for the greatest celebration on Earth. Oktoberfest. In Munich. We camped in tents all weekend, drank some German brews, made some friends and celebrated the best heritage ever. Germany felt like home since the second I got off the plane. 

Germany reminded me so much of home

The girls 

Our campsite for the weekend

Matt, Alita and I

 

The best medieval chicken I've ever eaten

Woo Madison!

Pisa Per Piacere

On Saturday (11/9/2010), we went to Pisa. There wasn't much to do in Pisa besides confirm the tower was in fact still leaning and take a picture pretending to hold it up. It was strange. The completeness of it all, it was almost like making an homage to this tower. Not that it was Mecca or anything but the process of getting there solely for the purpose of viewing and taking pictures seemed like it was just for the memories. Something we had to complete. At some point when we were at the tower, covered with Americans, I thought about myself 9 years ago. September 11th, 2001. Never did I think in all that time would I spend my day in Pisa, let alone be in Italy. After these series of thoughts, I appreciated my homage to the tower of Pisa for exactly what it was: for memories.

Here are two cutie nuns walking in Pisa for your enjoyment

World's Best Day

Let me preface this post with a simple sentence. Yesterday (10/09/2010) was the best day of my life. We went to the old citta of Siena and San Gimignano. I can hardly explain how great this day was in words, so pictures must complete my thoughts. What I'm learning in Italy is to really feel. Feel the sun on my face, the gelato in my mouth, to embrace everything. It's opening my eyes.

Inside Saint Catherine's cathedral. Her head is preserved in a case there. 

View of Sienna

Siena

St. Catherine's church

Outside the Duomo

Duomo of Siena

The dome

Alita and I

Nichols, Christina, Alita, me, Lindsay

The Piazza of Siena

Jimmy and I

We stopped for a wine/cigar break

Outside San Gimignano

San G.

Had the "World's Best" gelato

Kate, Alita and I

Viareggio for a Day

Some of us (me, Alita, Jim, Kate, Nichols, Christina and Lindsay) went to the beach on Sunday to end summer vacation right. We took a train (yikes) to Viareggio, approximately an hour and a half ride. It was so worth it. We swam in the Med Sea, gawked awkwardly at men in speedos, had Coronas, played beach volleyball and lived the life. I couldn't have asked for anything more.

Back to front: Alita, Kate, Nichols, Lindsay, me, Jim and Christina all lounging