 |
| The gelato store should just leave it on this date. |
Some say that sixteen is super sweet, but I’m going to put all the chips in for 21. Gambling may not be my thing, but I’m willing to bet that I had the best birthday weekend of my life, possibly in the history of the world. I hit the pack-your-bags-kids-we’re-moving-to-a-private-island jackpot. And that island was Capri.
To recap my 21st birthday weekend, with much emphasis on trains, planes and automobiles (and boats): I flew into Naples on September 29 where I met McCallen, Annie and Kara, three friends from Vanderbilt who are studying in Florence. We took a rickety train from Naples to Sorrento, where our gorgeous, two story, glass floored hotel room had been waiting our arrival. That night, I started my love affair with Italian wine, food, limoncello, and gelato, in that order. (Pretty much every meal we ate consisted of those four elements, so I’ll save the details of each meal, all of which I remember every bite. If you are so inclined for a play-by-play of all the food we ate, I’d be happy to give it to you over the phone, but it might take two hours and I would probably cry at the end for how much I miss it.)
 |
| Gelato on our first night in Sorrento |
The next morning, we woke up, pinched ourselves to be sure we were still vacationing on the Amalfi Coast and walked down the cliffs of Sorrento to a large dock, which is essentially Sorrento’s version of a beach. We swam in the Mediterranean, rented a paddleboat and talked for hours in the sunshine as cruise ships and fishing boats went past. That night, we had another delicious meal and went to a bar that apparently every American in Sorrento knew about, and thank goodness – I’ve discovered that going to a bar full of Italians wouldn’t be that fun. The men there don’t often understand (or choose to understand) the words “no”, “stop” or “I am not interested.”
 |
| Walking down the cliffs in Sorrento to the "beach" |
The next day, October 1, rivaled all of the days in my 21 years as the best day of my life. We arrived in Capri by boat that morning, and after quite a long time waiting for a shuttle to take us to the hotel, checking in, and getting on a bus back down to the main area, we were a bit hungry and tired. Luckily, the house was in our favor because when we decided to rent a boat to take us around the island, we had no idea the amazing afternoon we were in for. I think the pictures speak for themselves. Capri is absolutely breathtaking. If there was ever a lull in the conversation as we relaxed on the boat while drinking our wine and eating grapes, crackers and cheese, inevitably one of the girls would say, “Wait. We are on a private boat off the coast of Italy.” Naturally, we would delightfully squeal in response and discuss how lucky we were. I would guess that this happened about 30 times, but that could be a gross underestimation.
 |
| Happy birthday to meeee |
 |
| Leaving the dock |
 |
| One of the many beautiful views from our boat tour |
After the amazing boat ride, we went back to the hotel, still discussing our lucky lives. We went into town for dinner, but we stumbled upon a store where one Antonio Viva was making customized sandals. After a day in Italy on a boat drinking wine, what more could four college girls desire but a pair of shoes made especially for them? Naturally, we all invested in a pair.
 |
| Antonio crafting my new sandals! |
 |
| Caprese salad... in Capri. |
 |
| Off to Naples! |
After waking up the next day and pinching ourselves again, we took a commuter boat from Capri to Naples, where we stopped for pizza in what was probably a mafia headquarters. The excitement of all the organized crime made the outstanding pizza that much better.
 |
| The best pizza I've ever had... someone was probably killed upstairs while I ate it. |
Then we went back to Florence to be reunited with my other dear friend Hannah, who is living with McCallen, and Hannah’s boyfriend Drew, who is studying with me in Madrid. We walked up a hill to the Piazza de Michelangelo for a gorgeous view of Florence at night and went to La Beppa Fioraia for my Italian birthday dinner. We walked around Florence, drank wine in the Piazza Republica, and at midnight, McCallen bought me a celebratory shot at Shots Café. (As I’m writing this, I can’t believe all of this happened. It feels like a dream, but I have the pictures to prove it!)
 |
| The Duomo in Florence |
 |
| Fried pizza rolls and prosciutto for a birthday appetizer. |
 |
| My best friends! (Oh, and Florence in the background) |
Before Drew and I went back to Madrid on my actual birthday, we ate the most delicious sandwiches I’ve ever had at Pino’s with McCallen and Hannah. Then it was on to Bologna where our flight was slightly delayed. Unfortunately, I missed the delicious birthday dinner my Spanish host family had prepared for me, but Mary Jordan told me they enjoyed it, so I felt like I had enjoyed it too.
That week, we celebrated two birthdays! Jennifer, running superstar, turned 21 on Wednesday, October 5, so we went out to dinner at a Mexican restaurant on Wednesday and went out to a discoteca on Thursday! We started Thursday night at El Tigre, a bar that houses the biggest mojitos and most delicious free tapas in all of Madrid. We’ve been back three times since then.
 |
| Birthday celebration #1 (in Madrid, that is) |
 |
| Birthday celebration #2 |
That Saturday, we took a day trip to the lovely Toledo where we consulted our pal Rick Steve’s guide to Spain and learned everything we needed to know about the Catedral de Toledo and El Greco’s famous paintings there. (Amusing moment: we quickly abandoned our self-guided tour when we heard what we thought was a parade outside the church. Turns out it was a protest of the education system, and we couldn’t get back inside. Only in Spain would a protest sound as fun as a street festival.)
 |
| The family |
 |
| Gorgeous altar in El Catedral de Toledo |
 |
| I've been known to take an artsy pic or two in my day. |
Since then, we’ve been in Madrid! We’ve explored new neighborhoods, gone to a parade, went to an amusement park, made new friends and had an amazing time. I do miss the comforts of home (driving a car, Target, queso) but I know that I am so lucky to be here. I’ve played my cards right thus far – I can only hope that my luck here in Europe continues.
