Winding down from the summer

It has been way too long since I last wrote, my apologies due to computer problems. The end of my summer has been busy with adventures into Nashville, Skype dates with friends from school, a museum visit to the Frist, discovering Dragon park and lots of baking.

Whenever family comes down to Tennessee we try and give the grand tour and show them several different parts of Nashville and one major part being down town. Pointing out landmarks, LP stadium, and some delicious restaurants, music row (country music), and the Honkie Tonk bars! I am including a photo album of my adventures down town and some of my favorite places. So if you have never made it this far south or are curious about Nashville and where I live check it out!

One of my other favorite places in Nashville is the Frist Museum and I have gotten the opportunity to go twice this summer (ok, the exhibit never changed, but I loved it so much I went again with friends!) Currently, the exhibit is The Golden age of Couture: Paris and London 1947-1957. I wish women still dressed like that today.

Now your probably wondering what's Dragon park? Well I found in the local paper a list of things to do in Nashville and one of suggestions was seeing this mosaic dragon that resides in a park. Kids can play on it and climb all over it. It is an amazing discovery and piece of art. Here is a look at it and I am also going to add an album with even more pictures!

I have been also taking advantage of one of the best inventions ever made while being home this summer and that is Skype. I still have a little over a week until I leave for Florence and a few of my friends have already begun their study abroad adventures so I have been keeping in touch with them.

One of my friends I have Skyped and been in touch with this summer is Nelly who is a great friend of mine and who will be studying in Copenhagen very soon. She has filled me in on my summer and also let me know how WOW (wilderness orientation weekend) went in July (since I only got to do a POW!). Here is her experience and story she shared with me.

I love the woods. I love backpacking. I love being grungy. Make the mistake of mentioning tarps to me and you’ll find yourself the audience to a 20 minute dissertation on the best ways of keeping rain off your gear. That being said, it was only logical that I would sign up to co-lead the Green Mountain Backpacking W.O.W.

Our route took us from Hazen’s Notch to Spruce Ledge- a distance of about 15 miles. That might not sound like a lot for three days of hiking, but the Greens would never be described as the easiest terrain out there. Not only did we contend with the obvious steep and long ascents and descents, there was also the small matter of rain on day one of the trip. Anyone who’s spent any time in Vermont knows that rain means mud, and lots of it. Vermont is a beautiful place year round, and as usual, the woods did not disappoint. The rain cleared up quickly, leaving us a gorgeous view to enjoy from the fire tower on Belvidere Mountain. Devil’s Gulch was as excitingly treacherous as usual, with the damp mossy rock adding to the excitement. We were quite pleased to make it through with only a couple of scuffs and bruises.

Now, I don’t think anything can beat the peacefulness of sitting around a campfire without hiking boots on, drinking hot chocolate, stargazing, and talking to hikers you’ve met along the trail. Us students at Saint Mike’s love our school, and we love talking about it to anyone who will listen. It was great to spend a weekend with the next wave of students, and it’ll be particularly nice to see them around campus next year.

Finally I will conclude with some pictures of what I have been baking and cooking!Buon Appetite