Let me apologise, I've been absolutely rubbish this
month. Especially considering that last month I was basically blog obsessed. I
doubt anyway cares that much, but if by any chance I have left you high and
dry, I am sorry.
June has brought some good things. The weather has
shifted to a true Mediterranean climate. Very hot and sunny. I wake
up every morning eager to get up, for the sole reason that my bed has been
baking in the sunlight since sunrise. During the day, as keen for a tan as any
Essex girl may be, I fear burning on my way to get a coffee. It is glorious!
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| A view from my spot on the sand.
One way we've been making the most of this
beautiful sunshine is by making the occasional day trip to Castel Gandolfo. The
nearest beach to Rome (Ostia) is famously ugly... or at least that's what the
real Romans tell us. Although I suppose they've never been to Southend pier and
are simply used to the beauty of the Amalfi coast. Either way, I plan to go
there eventually, but the lake is about an hour's train ride away from the city
and is beautiful. We went mid-week, before the school's finished and so only
had to share the shore with about six other people. Perfection. Bliss. You take
my point.
We loved our afternoon. We sat of the sand, read
books and sporadically went to swim in that gorgeously blue water. We wandered
away for coffees and ice creams and came home tired by the sun and our lazy
day, during which I read at least half of ‘The Battersea Park Road toEnlightenment’.
It is said that in summertime the days grow longer
and the nights shorter. However, this has not been my experience. As summer has
begun the Italian population seems to have woken up from a semi-hibernation and
is completely rejuvenated. For the past 3 weeks I haven't returned from a
Saturday night out earlier than 5am. Gosh.
Furthermore, most of our favourite events have
moved from little clubs into large open air spaces. Fun! Most of them also have
booths selling very cheap wine. Double win!
   
Now I remember why I wanted to move to Italy.
Sunshine and wine.
I would never claim to be a football fanatic.
Mostly because at my first attempt my brother and all male friends would jump
in with controversial comments about how I've never cared in the slightest.
That may be true. I'm not overly bothered. However, this month we've all been
getting very much involved with the Euros and... well, drunk beer. In the group
stages we've been showing our support for both England and Italia, but if
things go well over these two evenings we're going have to make a very tough
decision Blood and patriotism vs. we're in Italy and would have to take some
stick. Only time will tell...
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Despite all this revelry in the sun this month has
also had it's challenges. My next work deadline is approaching and, as you may
remember from here, all the work I have to submit to Warwick this year must be
written in Italian. I've now completed my second module report and am
researching an planning my final extended essay. There had to be some price for
this beautiful year abroad! However, despite the freedom of the essay I'm
hating it, partly because it's hard to concentrate on anything in this heat.
And the fact that I'd rather be outside playing!
Well, I'm now closing in on the end of my Italian
adventure, but I'll be sure to keep you posted on the rest of my fun. Also
rather excitingly, after four years of friendship my friend Jess and I now live
in the same city- even if it is only for a few.
I have a match to pay better attention to now. This
is why we don't usually watch them at home...
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