Four men and a little lady

I have.

I have four amigos. I have a VTech (Erik), a Red (Chris), a Brown (another Chris) and an Ian. Even better, I have traveled to Italy – specifically Venice, Florence, Pisa and Rome - for Spring Break with them for the past 10 days.

I have seen the intricate paintings on St. Mark’s Basilica in St. Mark's Square. I have visited the secret torture chambers and prisons inside the Dutch’s Palace. I have bought the most scrumptious chocolate-chip biscotti from the Rialto market. I have floated on the pitch-black canals of Venice while drinking Prosecco and listening to the gondolier sing “Oh Solo Mio” upon my request. I have experienced public transportation in the form of water-taxi. I have been rocked to sleep on the TrenItalia while the country flies by. I have somehow met up with friends even when none of our cell phones work. I have learned that old friends are gracious hosts and fun to catch up with.

I have taken goofy pictures of myself trying to push over the leaning tower of Pisa. I have savored the ooey-gooey cheese of vegetable pizza by the slice – or rather, by the weight. I have peddled myself uphill during at 15-mile bike through Tuscany even when I thought I had no more to give. I have gazed into the abyss of green endlessness divided by wineries and stone cottages. I have tasted smoky Chianti Classico and extra virgin olive oil at a private wine vineyard where Wolfgang Puck himself buys his ingredients. I have devoured fresh tortellini with tomato sauce and crumbly Parmesan cheese and I have enjoyed chilled, alcohol-soaked tiramisu at a restaurant run by four generations. I have been overwhelmed by the hundreds of stands that make up the Florence leather market. I have watched the sun change from yellow to pink on the Vecchio bridge. I have watched couples kiss under umbrellas in the perfectly kempt Boboli gardens. I have dunk stark-white bread into thick, aged balsamic vinegar. I have shared red wine with 15 friends on the rooftop terrace of my bed and breakfast overlooking the Duomo. I have splurged on Nutella-, Rocher- and Bocio-flavored gelato. I have begged people to do photoshoots of me in the countryside of Florence. I have wasted 8 Euros on an Italian club filled with Americans. I have survived a mini flood in my hotel room. I have taken bites of everyone’s food so that I can have a bitty taste of all the food Italy has to offer. I have played charades to help to overcome language barriers.

I have learned that the world can amaze me in hundreds of ways every single day and I have learned just how beautiful life is. I have learned that whoever said there are only seven wonders in the world is completely mistaken. But above all, I have learned that nothing beats four of the greatest guys and a little lady on Spring Break in Italy.