The following are the top 5, as hard as it was to narrow down. Part II will have some other special moments, but these are my favorites:
#5: The four cheese gnocchi at La Bottega del Cafe
I first discovered this dish in June 2007 when I went to La Bottega with a group of interns because Alison had heard about it. I gravitated to that dish and to this day, I've never had anything else at this restaurant as my main course. It is my favorite pasta dish I've EVER had. Done to perfection. Simple. Rich. I've had it at least 20 times that I can recall. And I return every trip to Italy - and I have this dish.
June 2007
#4: Siena with my mom.
My mom didn't have a lot of vacation time when she flew to Italy in September 2007 for my 22nd birthday. It also took a fair amount of convincing for us to go to Siena and not Florence, as I'd been to Florence and told her since she isn't that big into museums she probably wouldn't love it. Siena was magical. It was crisp and cool weather, sunny and clear skies. We stayed at an upscale bed and breakfast with a balcony view of the Siena skyline.
September 2007
Our first morning sporting plush bathrobes, we drank the most perfect cappuccinos and enjoyed a delicious breakfast spread as we dined on the terrace. We did some sightseeing for sure, but this is the moment I remember the most. The other from Siena is walking the fortezza, with a view of Siena on one side and the Tuscan countryside to the other.
September 2007
All in all, it was the most wonderful way to turn 22.
#3: The top of Capri
June 2007
For this one, the picture comes first although it pales in comparison to the experience. It was like heaven, floating above the blue green Mediterranean Ocean with the Amalfi coast misty in the background, the landscape of capri falling behind us. It was the moment I remember thinking this just can't be real, it's better than reality. Capri was like a fantasy, and I hope one day to return.
#2: Taking Nate to Villa Borghese
I spent a lot of time in Villa Borghese during my March 2009 trip, but it was my picnic lunch with Nate that was the perfect day. It started in Campo d'Fiore at 10am, purchasing bread, cheese, meat, croissants, olives, strawberries, and more cheese, followed by a short ride on the 116 bus to the park. Villa Borghese is the largest park in Rome and it's missed by so many tourists. It's absolutely lovely, with picturesque trees and lush grasses.
March 2009
Of course, nothing compares to taking the person that you love, who is on his first trip out of the United States, to this place. We laid on the blanket after eating all the delicious Italian food, just looking at the trees and enjoying the moment. It was cool and sunny, the perfect weather, with the perfect person, relaxing and loving life. Oh, and eating strawberries ;)
April 2011
#1: My first glimpse of the Colosseum.
What could beat my perfect picnic in the park? My first moment in Italy takes the prize. I was 19, summer of 2005, living in London and liking it - not loving it. I'd flown into Rome's Ciampino airport, but due to changes in my fellow students' itineraries, this first moment I was alone - which was probably a good thing. My hostel was near Termini so I hopped on the Metro and got off at the best-sounding stop I saw - Colosseo. I took the fortunate exit that spills you out just across the street from the Colosseum. It was literally larger than life. I felt like everything else in life just disappeared. I'd never seen anything like it (no offense to London). I fell in love with Italy in that moment and if not for it, I never would have returned to live there in 2007. I'm a homebody by nature, and even remembering the feeling I had in this moment it was still very hard to get on that flight for 7 months, going to Italy alone. This moment set the rest of it in motion, and for that I will always be grateful and will never forget it.
July 2005
Stay tuned for part 2 - which holds another set of memories from Italy that are near and dear to my heart!
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