Perugia

Last weekend Leah and I zipped off to Perugia, which is about 2 hours northeast of Roma. The train ride was easy. And we got into Perugia at about 10:30. We stayed within the walls for the night. We got dropped off at a hotel, and it was weird cause we were just dropped off in this back alley with no one around.

The next day Leah and I walked around the city. It's pretty small, as most hill towns are, with pretty views and narrow cobblestone streets. Did some shopping. Leah got a great coat. Then we went to find our hostel, which was a few kilometers outside the city. We had to take the bus and while we were on it, we saw someone who looked about our wage with a hugeass backpack on. We suspected we were going to the same place so Leah asked her and she was! Good thing too, because she had printed out the directions, but I had forgotten to. She is from Canada and graduated from high school last year and is backpacking around Italy, then WOOFing on two farms in Italy and two in France ALL BY HERSELF. Pretty ballsy, eh?

So we got to the hostel, which is a cute little farm down a long dirt road. There were all sorts of animals: horses, chickens, ducks, goats, sheep, a donkey, and dogs. The dogs were adorable and I got to play with them which was awesome. It was run by a guy, Manuele, who is about 30, and his grandparents work on the farm because they live nearby. The hostel has two volunteers, one was from Canada and one from Philly/Florida/Columbia. We pretty much just hung out Saturday. We walked to the Baci chocolate factory, but it was closed. Wah. Then we went on a bike ride up to this little town Boneggio. Like really small. A church and about 5 houses. Amazing views though!

Then Saturday we got to go out with locals! One of the volunteers has a thing with a local guy, Michele. So we went out with them, and then met the other volunteer and Manuele in town. (Sidenote: italians are crazy drivers.) So the way it works is you go into a store that sells alcohol, and buy a beer or something in a bottle. Then they pour in into a cup and everyone just brings their drinks into the piazze. We got one drink and then went to a bar. I got a pretty good beer there called penny something. It tasted similar to guiness. Then Manuele left with some of his friends and Michele brought Leah, the volunteers, and I to a club. Michele haggled the price down to 8 euros to get in. We danced until like 4am, it was fun! The music they played was hilarious. Korn and Rage Against the Machine, and the next thing I know there were playing house music, then raggae...

The next morning we woke up bright and early to cook with nonna Rita. It was kind of a cooking lesson, but at the same time, it was like don't get in Rita's way. She liked me and called me Betta. Over the course of over 4 hours we (nonna Rita) made pasta (yup, HOMEMADE), sauce, potatoes, a bunch of crostini, salad, and three cakes. I think I'm forgetting stuff? But it was freaking delicious. And got to eat with the whole family. There were like 14 of us. It was so nice!

Got back to Rome at about 9pm Sunday. And came home to no internet. Awesome, right? Going to Orvieto this weekend. And about to book my trip to Barcellona! That's how they spell it in italian.

Homework time.