Ciao!

I'm finally becoming more settled in now that I have a routine for classes, and we've had a bit of down time this afternoon.We have a free weekend in Florence to do as we please this week.I think I am going to become the typical American tourists, only without being obnoxious.We are going to climb the Duomo early tomorrow morning.It is supposed to be beautiful, sunny, and the view is an amazing panoramic of the whole valley!I want to check out the Salvatore Ferragamo Museum, the Brancacci Chapel, and the Medici Riccardi Palace to name a few.Other than that I will be continuing to eat pizza, pasta, wine, espresso, and cheese.

After this weekend however, my whirlwind adventures begin.We have a group trip to Interlaken, Switzerland planned.We are taking a train through the Swiss Alps to spend two nights in the mountains.He have a night "sledging" trip planned that will include cheese fondue and mulled wine, plus an hour long sled ride down the mountain.

The weekend after Switzerland will include Pisa and hiking the Cinque Terra, five coastal mountain towns connected by hiking trails.Next we go to the much anticipated Rome.We will see all of the main attractions and hopefully I will have some time to do some discovering of my own.After Rome, things become less clear, but trips to Naples, Pompeii, Bologna, Parma, Sicily, Greece, Vienna, Prague, Copenhagen, and Amsterdam will hopefully all be worked into my adventures.Perhaps that is wishful thinking.

My weekdays at the villa have been filled with reading, some academic discussion, and tons of new friends.I've been running, hiking, and doing a Pilates work out.Today I start an internship teaching Italian fourth and fifth graders English.My friend Jenna and I are working together with a teacher creating a one-hour a week lesson plan.It should be pretty rewarding!

As far as the banks go… I still haven't figured it out.

I really love all of your messages! So, PLEASE keep them coming!

Also, here a few more good websites, for those of you who are interested in learning more about the things that I mention.The first is for museums and the second is for the villa:

http://www.museumsinflorence.com/index.htm

http://www.unimwd.it/

D