LYDIA'S BLOG: It’s March!

But as long as the next two months are even half as great as today, I’ll be happy.

I woke up around 9:30 a.m. to shower and finish a scholarship application that my dad kindly printed and sent from home. After an Italian test, I walked out to the dam with Jess.

I read for a while, then napped for 45 minutes. It was wonderful. In the middle of a city, there is calm — almost serenity.

We climbed down, and Caitlin left to go to Maria’s for family dinner. She was making dinner for all of the CCI students — my Firenze family.

I walked around the Duomo with Michelle, Kristy and Laura. It looked pink under the sinking sun. We worked our way toward the Arno to see the sunset.

I had every intention of joining the CCI family at the apartment, but I ended up losing track of time. We were sitting on Ponte a Santa Trinitá when I got ahold of Caitlin. They were just starting dinner. I still needed to go back to the school to get my things and would have had to drag the other three with me since they had the key. I decided to stay on the bridge and bypass family dinner.

After watching the sky turn from pale blue to pink to purple to a dark navy, we left the bridge and walked to Gusta Pizza. Michelle and Laura hadn’t been there before, so since we were in the area, it was a must.

We got there around 6:30 p.m., but it wasn’t open for another half-hour. We sat on the steps of the Basilica of Santa Maria del Santo Spirito and talked until it opened. It was a delicious end to a glorious day.

Tomorrow I’m going to Milan with CCI and business students. We have to meet at the train station at 6:30 a.m. That’s in seven hours. I’m going to bed.

March, don’t let me down.

Editor’s note: Former Grand Haven Tribune intern Lydia Coutré is spending a semester in Italy. She is a junior at Kent State University, studying journalism. Her blogs during her stay in Italy will be posted here and at http://lydiaislost.blogspot.com. All photos by Lydia Coutré.