Mountain Lodge

This weekend I went to the mountains near Bergamo with about 30 other ERASMUS students and it was AMAZING!! We left on Friday night and drove for 45 minutes up a twisty mountain path that, I have to admit, made me fear for my life a little until we reached a huge Mountain Lodge hotel at the top. As it was pitch black it was impossible to see and also freezing cold so we made our way inside to find our rooms and unpack.

We sat down for a three course dinner (which we had every lunch and dinner time) and got to know our fellow students slightly better. It was then time to grab some drinks and play some games before heading into the 'club' which was a room adjacent to the hotel with lights, table football, seats and most importantly a stage! We stayed up until five in the morning talking to people we didn't really know beforehand until it was impossible to keep our eyes open any more. 

Saturday morning, was very chilled with people not getting up until gone 12pm however, as I can't stay in bed that long I went and sat outside with some of the other early risers. As soon as I walked through the door onto the balcony my jaw dropped...

This is what I had missed the night before! The beauty of it was that it wasn't cold and so we could sit and soak up the sun before lunch. It was the loveliest atmosphere I have been in since being here, with everyone telling jokes and laughing. (They way I describe it, it sounds like a scene from The Secret Seven but it was cooler than that.)

At lunch we were each given our own secret challenge that had to be completed by the end of the weekend otherwise you had to walk home...although I am not so sure they were being serious.

After lunch we went for a walk up the mountains which I was completely under prepared for but it was fun nonetheless! They told us it would be close to an hour before we reached the top but in actually fact it was closer to 30 minutes. It was worth it in the end though.

We returned for dinner and then the party games started again along with the dancing. Although at first when we were told 'The dancing happens in the room next door' I have to admit I was a little dubious BUT it was actually perfect for the amount of people we had and lots of fun. 

It was sad to leave on Sunday but, eventually it was time to head back to reality and even though we already knew most people before I think it is safe to say that everyone felt that little bit closer as a group.

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Lazy Days.

For three weeks now I have been living in Italy and there is one thing that comes to my attention every day. Italians are the most laid back people in the world! They don't walk with a purpose or speed, their administration systems are completely lacking in organisation (which for an English girl makes everything all the more stressful) , there are no exact plans about what to do or how to do them just a rough idea about what is going on. You get the point. In a way it is nice to know that noone will care if I don't do something right on time but it is also a little frustrating when the only response you receive to questions is 'domani'.

So, being in the spirit of trying new experiences I have decided to embrace the Italian way of life.

Hanging out on Piazza Vecchia like the tourists before heading off for a glass of wine at one of the nearby caffes...somewhere in the world it was past 5pm.

Alcatraz, Milan. A huge warehouse of a nightclub, not exactly my cup of tea but and interesting experience all the same.

Il Fornaio in Citta Alta is literally the best bakery here. You can get pizza the size of your face, fresh sandwiches, pasta dishes or something a little bit sweet if you fancy. It beats a Boots meal deal any day!

The thickest hot chocolate you will ever have will be Italian.

Practising my baking skills like any good Italian girl should! These Slutty Brownies were AMAZING!

And finally lunch of Casoncelli alla Bergamasca with fresh orange juice and Pride and Prejudice to keep me company at Via Tasso Cafe. Pin It