i momenti più dolci

I've been here for over two months now... what!? The past couple of weeks have gone by quickly, interspersed with a few days that felt every bit as long as they were. I feel much more acclimated and like life has settled into somewhat of a rhythm, as it should- I can take the bus without having to look at my map, the guys at the fruit and vegetable stand down the street know me and when someone asks me for directions I can often tell them where to go- or at least tell them I have no idea in Italian. But then there are times when I remember that I'm living in Italy and I'm blown away all over again, hope those don't stop until I leave. Here are a few of the sweeter moments of the past two weeks:

Hike to San Luca!

Mika and Ally, we were nearly there at this point..

most of the path up to San Luca is covered by
these porticos. yes- steps and porticos and steps

the front of the cathedral! 

first day warm enough to wear a t-shirt, we were thrilled!
the Italians still wore their puffy jackets and
scarves though, as to not catch a cold

it's kind of hard to see this because Mika wouldn't let me
take a picture from the front in case they got creeped out...
but this is the cutest little old couple who brought coffee
in a thermos to drink at the top of this hill- they were so
precious, one day when I'm old that will be me and I will
gladly let college girls take pictures of how cute it is

Ally (UCLA) and Mika (Cal)! 

sun sun sun

Going out to dinner with Jenny and listening to live jazz!! They sang some songs in English and some in Italian- so talented, so fun, so delicious!

so, so good

he could move those fingers so fast

so I kind of wish I was a jazz musician

Getting hot chocolate with Carol- she is from Spain and is so sweet, so fun, so good to be around! And Italy puts hot chocolate on a whole new level- I think there were at least 50 options on the menu involving all sorts of flavors. It might have taken us 15 minutes to pick what to get.. 

Visiting Shelby in Torino for her birthday!

21 looks good on her, am I right?? 

some random castle looking thing in a sweet park
near where she lives

there is also a pretty cool looking fountain to the
left, which the people taking our picture thought was
unnecessary to include

bigger random castle looking thing

AND we went snowboarding about an hour and a half away in Bardonecchia where they had the winter olympics in 2006! I wouldn't say the day went smoothly exactly... we missed our train connection and almost went to Milan on accident and I almost died on those lifts that were made for skiers but it was awesome. Absolutely beautiful and one of those places that reminds you of how tiny you are in the best way- perspective, such a gift.

ok if you look really closely you can see these little orange
poles that are dangling from a wire-- those are the ski pull lifts.
for skiers no big deal! enjoyable even! for me, on a snow board
and never having used one before- nightmare. the first time it
slipped out from under me i freaked out but was able to pull
myself back up- the second time i was not quite so fortunate.
i was holding on to the pull and sliding on my butt up a steep
hill and literally remember thinking that if i let go it would
be the end of the world. it wasn't. i let go and shelby and i crawled
through the woods to get back to the run, i was so freaked out
though, and a little bit angry, a lot of bit defeated.  

real emotion in this picture ha- but i got over myself
after taking a few steps through the trees and falling
waist deep in the snow. that snapped me out of my
fear/frustration and i laughed harder than i had
in a long, long time. we were both laying there and
crying from laughing so hard. good memory!!

shel was riding behind me so she watched me being dragged
on my but and (graciously) tried not to laugh until i was
finally able to- then she lost it 

Last night I missed the bus in the center to go home and had to wait for the next one, I saw the bus pulling away as I was walking up and was quite honestly annoyed. But I walked into the main piazza while I waited and was amazed at how quiet and empty it was. During the day it is so full of people and sounds and movement but late last night it was sweetly still. I was pulled out of my frustration and rush and into enchantment and peace, going from merely glancing at a place I see every day to marveling at the beauty of it. I was thinking about how people say life never slows down and recognizing I need more moments like this one. Where I can get outside of myself for a second and be captivated again by how huge the world is and how sweet life is, stopping to listen as it all sings of the glory of the One who created it.