Window Seat

Challenge no. 5 has been completed! Click on the photo below to view my Window Seat series on Flickr:

Italy Wins

Italy has officially stolen my heart. I'm too tired to search my brain for the most potent adjective to describe our trip, but just know that it was one of the best weeks of my life.

We were lucky enough to experience a wide range of what Italy has to offer, from colossal Rome to a Tuscan village of 200 people and everything in between. My favorite part? All of it. But here are some strong recommendations/opinions while they're still fresh in my mind:

• If you are planning a trip to Tuscany, stay at least one night if not your whole life at Villa San Rocco, a 6-century-old ten bedroom retreat nestled in the hills overlooking Bagni di Lucca. It left me speechless. 
• Best pizza I've ever had: Dar Poeta in the Trastevere neighborhood of Rome.
• Best gelato: Right outside Vatican City at a place called Old Bridge.
• Take the fast trains. Worth it.
• Order whatever your server recommends. Worth it.
• Grappa is a vile substance. 
• Sciacchetra (unique to Cinque Terre) is my new favorite drink.
• Venice is a maze for grown-ups. Whatever you do, get lost in it.

I can mark part of challenge no. 19 off my list (fly across an ocean). And I'll be posting my Window Seat series (challenge no. 5) as well as some other photos in a few days. Right now I have to concentrate on not letting my forehead meet my keyboard.

Stay tuned tomorrow for a big shiny new post.

Camera Adventures

Since three of my challenges involve photography, I've been toying with the idea of upgrading my camera. I've had my Nikon D90 for a few years now, and while it has been the best camera I've ever owned, I'm ready for the next level.

The next level for me is a Canon 5D Mark II. Yes, I'm making the switch from Nikon to Canon. And I don't feel bad about it. I gave a good ten years and thousands of dollars to Nikon.

Knowing I wanted to purchase the new camera before our Italy trip, I took Nikon out for one last adventure over the weekend. Austin, Dagmar, Nikon and I went down to Washington Square Park, found a bench in the sun, and listened to some beautiful live piano music. After a while we ventured out for some falafel, followed by a trip to the art store so I could gather up some watercolor supplies for challenge no. 25.

Many hours later, Austin, Dagmar and I headed home.

Me. Austin. Dagmar.

I left Nikon listening to piano music on a bench in Washington Square Park. For three hours. On a warm, beautiful day. In New York City. Honestly, I almost didn't go back. I was sure it was gone and didn't want to waste a cab ride downtown when I would just end up making an embarrassingly tearful scene in public. But I did go back.

Nikon was still there. Unbelievable, I know. And an embarrassingly tearful scene in public ended up happening anyway. However, it was a short-lived reunion as just this morning I put Nikon up for sale on eBay.

I look forward to my new relationship with Canon and all of the beautiful images we will create together.

Ciao!

Challenge #5 is officially in the works. For this challenge I must travel overseas, ride trains only, and put together a collection of photos titled "Window Seat."

And so, the boyfriend and I are officially headed to Italy in early April. Plane tickets have been purchased. Squealing has been heard. Gelato has been Googled.

Train ride one will be from Rome to Florence. Train ride two will go from Florence to Venice. We will also be traveling about an hour outside of Florence and staying in a countryside villa for a few nights. Just typing that gave me goosebumps.

And, thanks to Eddie Izzard, I think I have a pretty good idea of what Italy is all about:

If anyone has any tips on where to stay, what to do, what not to do, or what to eat, feel free to share in the comments below, or email me here.