Domani! Domani! Ti amo, Domani!

Lara gets here tomorrow! I'm so excited I could scream. I've really been looking forward to spending my vacation with someone who a) actually has a brain, and b) will enjoy the same cultural experiences as I want to. Hooray! And we're planning a trip to Paris in a couple of weekends and I'm so excited.

After class today, Maggie, Lauren and I went to the absolute most precious stationary shop I've ever seen in the entire world. Everything is handmade. You can buy large sheets of decorative paper, journals, leather-backed notebooks, fountain pens, stamps--everything. It's so quaint and adorable, and behind the register you can see the tables where they're slicing paper and making their beautiful creations.

I found a vintage leather bag at a shop near the school and it's on sale and I want it really bad. I'm trying to talk myself out of it though, because it won't hold as much as I want it to and I really need to get a leather bag to hold my school books. This one is more of a purse, but it's only €40 on sale. Either way I'm sure I'll go back to that shop, because the owner was so sweet and I really want to find something there. Lauren got a broach from the 1950s and after she paid for it he handed her a decorated cookie wrapped in cellophane with a ribbon, "My wife makes these," he said. Today is one of the days I appreciate people. I've needed one of those recently.

I had a pretty good fourth of July, even if I wasn't in America to celebrate. We went to the grocery store and bought everything for a classic cookout. I made burgers on the stovetop, our friend Betsey made deviled eggs (and tiramisu), and we bought potato chips and watermelon. After dinner we took a cab to an art park a little outside the city center. There was a 4th of July festival going on for the American's in the area. It was really strange--a random Italian band covering American classics while a mass of people aged 18-80 danced in the grass. We hung out off for a while and then took a cab back to meet some friends in the city.

I didn't think I would, but I miss the American "culture", whether we believe we have one or not. I miss ice in my drinks and free water at restaurants and a big washing machine and driving my car. But most of all I miss you guys.

Time to go read for Art History tomorrow. It's our first day visiting a site so I'm really excited. It's so hot out though, and my professor likes to ramble on while we stand in the middle of a sun-scorched piazza. Definitely wearing something comfortable.

Ciao,

Athena

P.S

I also miss air conditioning. I'm sitting in my dining room with a portable air conditioner plugged in with the hose hanging out the window just so I can be blasted with cool air. It is glorious.