Londra e una settimana con i genitori

It is time for a serious update. I have been incredibly busy, but the good kind of busy. Since my last post, I have been to London, Venice, Florence, been on a bicycle ride through the countryside and had a visit from my parents. Phew!

London is at the top of my list of favorite trips. My wonderful hosts and the beautiful weather definitely impacted my impression of the city. A childhood friend of my mother resides with her husband in a beautiful flat in the center of London.  Every morning I awoke to a gorgeous view from the balcony.

Upon my arrival, my hosts took my on a quick tour of their neighborhood of Barbican center and took my to my first English pub. I'm not a big fan of beer, so I insisted on only a half-pint. Not only did I really enjoy the drink, but the atmosphere of the locale was incredible. We were surrounded by the "after-work" crowd - businessmen enjoying a Friday evening after a long week. Everyone was incredibly friendly despite being strangers.

Due to the fantastic weather, I chose to walk nearly everywhere. In fact, I never once took the tube. Even though its faster to take public transit, I think got to know the city on a much more personal level by walking. I walked practically the entirety of London. Barbican to the London Bridge to the South Bank to the Parliament Buildings to Oxford Street to Harrod's to the V&A Museum to the British Museum to Buckingham Palace. Yes I was tired. But ask me where practically any coffee shop is in the city proper and I could tell you (how do you think I managed to walk for ~ 7 hours a day?).

Last week, my parents came to visit my in Siena. While they did a lot of museum-wandering and cathedral-admiring on their own (If I see one more "Madonna and Child" painting........) we had a wonderful time meeting with the Italian family in Porta Romana. When they invited my parents over for dinner, I was nervous. My parents don't speak any Italian and I feared sitting in awkward silence. But the night was quite the opposite. Lots of conversing about culture, the difference between the US and Italy, jokes that lose their wit when translated (ha). I snapped a shot of Roberto showing my parents a map of Italy, giving suggestions on places to go:

And an awkward family photo was necessary:

During the week of their visit, we spent a full day in Florence. There I indulged in my new obsession, Caffe' Shakerato. It is essentially an espresso shot put into a shaker with ice until it is all foamy and delicious. And I get to sip it out of a martini glass. Which makes it better, obviously. 

So as to not make this post unbearably long, I will save Venice for another time. Stay tuned -- only a few weeks left!