Fisarmonica (fee-sor-mon-e-ca) – Accordion

          ….ok I know that is a really random word for today, but the word for today’s post is literally just for one memory…that has now become two….you see, my very first full day in Italy…we were in Rome, and I was with my mum and daddy exploring around the base of the Spanish Steps and grabbing some lunch….we were sitting outside at an awesome little café, and while we were eating, an adorable little man walked over playing on his accordion…and I just remember that making me truly realize, “holy cow, I am seriously in Italy right now, this is absolutely spectacular”….and well I got that same feeling today with another accordion player….this time in Valle d’ Aosta….

            ….early this morning, myself and my favorite traveling companions, Natalie, Rebecca and Paolo, took an 8 am train to Ivrea with a connection to Aosta….this is a town nestled in the valley between the Matterhorn and Mont Blanc….and although we couldn’t see those today because of the fog, (which was a total bummer) but the views were still incredible….I’ve said ti a million times today but I think that I am falling in love with the Alps….they are sooo just plain, awe-inspiring….im breathless everytime….

            …so today was supposed to be an overnight trip, but part way through the day, we decided that was too much time for Aosta, and made the decision to just spend the day there and then come back home tonight….which for the girl with a cold, a test Thursday morning and HER PARENTS COMING WEDNESDAY!!, I was happy to be able to come home, sleep most of tomorrow away (hopefully) and study during the day tomorrow J….

            ….anyways…when we first got there, we immediately found and took the gondola up to Pila, which is a ski resort on top of the main mountain, like it’s so high up that you can’t even see it from the town….and of course, it was for skiers, so there wasn’t much to do, but man the views were just simply amazing, even with the fog…pictures can’t even attempt to do it justice….we had a cappuccino and brioche for breakfast, took in the views, and watched some Olympics in the café….it was a great morning….after we went to explore the few buildings around the ski base, and played in the snow a bit ourselves, before heading back down to Aosta…

            …once in the town we went to find some lunch….we (apparently) walked directly away from the main area of the town, and found this awesome little pizzeria…like one of those places that when we walked in, one of the first tables was just the family that owned the place J…..we proceeded to order such great pizzas J….of course forgetting (again!) that there is no “personal” size here, and that mixed with the fact that in Italy, you HAVE to finish all of your food….lets just say, we ate too much and were there for a long time J haha….but boy it was good….

            …afterwards we started walking back toward the main part of town where the train station was, and found the actual, historical/touristy part of town….and oh my goodness they were spectacular!!....we literally were just winding our ways through this adorable little street, lined with cute little shops, pastecerias, and chocolateirs…..needless to say I was happy….we got gelato from this delish shop, mainly we chose to stop there because I thought the owner was an adorable old man J….

            …it was amazing though, because we were just walking through the historical part of town, and all of a sudden it opened up to ruins!!....the old Roman Theater was spectatcualr, with the back wall still majorly intact! And while we were there, who else would be touring these ruins than a group of motorbikers from Rome….that was a pretty funny sight to see….but I mean they were definitely an odd thing to see, but I guess the ruins were pretty great, so lots of people should be able to see them J…..

this picture is our friendship in a nutshell....i love these people :)

            ….we continued walking all over the town, looking for all sorts of historical sights to see….and after we thought we had seen it all, we headed back to the train, and completely passed out on the train from pure exhaustion from today J….those were good naps J…

           …when we got home, it was off to the store to pick up a couple things, and then headed back to my house, to make breakfast (true American breakfast) for dinner….and let me just tell you, that was one of our best decisions yet!...of course we haven’t been here long enough to be tired of the food and all of it but I defiantly am not….no matter though, it was so nice to have eggs, potatoes, toast, and even found some bacon! It was a wonderful night of dinner and some of the best friends, a girl could ask for….

            …the three of them just left my house a little bit ago, and since my host family is up at the mountains this weekend, the house is mine until later tomorrow night….which is fantastic, so this sick girl is off to sleep after this blog gets a post….and then tomorrow my only plan is to get up, eat, take new medicines, and go back to bed….just sleeping and studying, that’s all on tap for this girl….big life we know J but honestly, I cannot wait!!! Ciao, Ciao for now tutti! 

ps this is for my mum, and my aunts....
...found this in Aosta today in the ruins....apparently Grandpa was traveling with me today :)...