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Cinque Terre
I hiked through 5 separate villages located on a mountain along the coast of Northern Tuscany. The distance in total is about 9 miles long. The Mediterranean looked crystal clear from the mountaintop and the houses hanging from the cliffs were all different pastel colors. I was covered in sweat and dust and the exhaustion I felt in my body enhanced the breathtaking views, with each glimpse telling me it was worth it.
The little group I hiked with consisted of my program directors and one girl from my Italian class. Since the moment I landed in Italy, I bonded with the directors, Teresa, Glenda, and Costanza, more so than any one else in the program so I have spent most of my time with them. We ate at this very nice restaurant in a village right on the water. I had octopus. Yes, I ate octopus. Teresa and Glenda had already fed me other living sea creatures earlier in the week so it wasn't as great of a shock to my stomach. I haven't eaten meat or chicken and do not plan to but the seafood is good and oddly enough I don't feel guilty for eating it. It's such a huge part of their cuisine, especially on the coast, that every time I take a bite of their dishes, I am more immersed in their culture.
After lunch, we bathed in the sea of the fifth village. The waves were still and I could see my legs as I swam away from the coast. When I laid down, next to the directors and the rest of the beach, I laid topless. It was such a liberating feeling, to lie there and feel the breeze on my skin. I loved being exposed. I didn't feel awkward or embarrassed. I felt natural and free.
I have one week left in Lido Di Camaiore and then I move into my apartment in Florence. Once there I will have the opportunity to take cooking classes, go to futbol games, see Puccini's operas Madama Butterfly and Tosca, and a million other things I can't even begin to list.
This country is wonderful. And I am the happiest I have ever been.
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