Everybody loves la bella Italia

It's nice to find other people's experiences and accounts of visits to and travels around Italy sometimes, and know that I'm not the only one that has a huge travel crush on this country! 

Almost everyone I know that has ever been absolutely loved it, and wants to go back. And despite, or perhaps because of being faced with challenges to my ideas about the way things should be done (pre-Erasmus I was fairly stuck in the British way of doing things) I can't wait to return, this time hopefully to work! 

Here are some of my favourite images at the moment...

The Fresh Exchange - this is a blog run by a husband and wife duo of designers from Northern Michigan. I'm so happy I stumbled across it; their ideas and photography are sublime. 

photos of the Northern region of Piemonte and the West coast paradise of Cinque Terre found here and here

Travelettes - I've been following this travel blog run by girls for a year or so now, and find it my 'go to' source for information and tips about a new place. With several contributors from across the globe, it is a perfect collection of articles for any female traveller.

photos of Trastevere, Rome and 'the longest portico in the world' in Bologna here and here

Life and Times of Victoria Rose - one of my friends from university is currently on her year abroad in Parma, at the Conservatorio I attended on my Erasmus year.It is so nice to see another point of view on the charming little city.

photo of Parco Ducale in autumn found here

Italia, ti voglio bene. 

Snapshots of Italy

I spent nine months studying in Italy a couple of years ago, and have been thinking about it so much lately, mainly because friends are embarking on their erasmus placements at the moment. I have a renewed interest in the country that I'd had quite enough of by the time I'd left. It's fast becoming my first port of call for future travels. Some picture memories of a few little trips...

Florence markets at Christmas time.

Venice at Carnival time; directions to Piazza San Marco; Steph, Emma and Jess outside the Basilica; Jess and I with our amazing facepaints.

Cinque Terre; the evening view from Portovenere; Vernazza from the hillside path towards Monterosso; enjoying a game of cards, some olives and a well deserved glass of Sangria after our trek.

Venice take two; the island of Burano with streets upon streets of brightly coloured houses.

Florence take two; Helen outside the Duomo when she came to visit from France; a view of the city.

Stained glass window in Siena; a view of the Campo; incredible food for dinner.

Good times.