Am I really in Italy??? I think it is still hard for me to comprehend that! I left on Halloween and got here Friday afternoon around 1pm local time. At this time, I had already been up for 24 hours as I can't sleep on planes whatsoever. I knew that if I came to Tyler's apartment and tried to nap, that nap would be about six hours long and I wouldn't be able to sleep at night. I fought to stay up and made it to about 9pm before going to bed. Jet lag, the seven hour time difference, and that 32 hour period of no sleep has really been kicking my butt! I am having a terrible time adjusting to a new schedule and I am a big, lethargic mess! I am hoping that by the end of the week I will feel more caught up!
Besides feeling tired, I am having an amazing time so far and absolutely loving Italy! It is so beautiful here. Driving from the airport to Tyler's apartment, we must have passed dozens of little vineyards. It is so quaint and peaceful that it was pretty much lulling me to sleep on the car ride home! The apartment Ty has for the year is very nice. We even have a spare bedroom if any of you want to come visit :)
Friday night I was obviously useless and Tyler let me be a big bum. On Saturday night, we went to dinner with some people from Tyler's team. Let me tell you - this was an event! We drove up into the hills to this little restaurant. I am sure if it were daytime, the view would have been breathtaking. They said on a really clear day in the summer, you can see the sea. As we were seated, we were handed menus and I tried so hard to understand what I was reading. Can't even lie - I don't think I understood one word! The Italians we with were so helpful at letting us know what everything was. They told us that we would order an appetizer, then pasta, then meat and potatoes, then dessert, then coffee. UMM WHAT?! How in the world am I supposed to eat all of that?! And how do people stay in shape eating like this?! They decided to order some appetizers for the whole table and I just went with a pasta for my meal. They brought out 2 big bread baskets and they told us that in northern and southern Italy, they don't typically eat bread with all of their meals but here in Forli, they eat bread with everything. Hello Kayla - you are in heaven!! Bread is like candy to me so I am perfectly fine with this tradition! Soon after the bread was brought out, appetizer after appetizer was brought out. I couldn't even keep up! I think in the end we had 7 different appetizers. This is only the beginning people.
Next was pasta. I got a pasta with a red, meat sauce and Tyler got a pasta with mushrooms. The meat in my pasta was so tender and Tyler's mushrooms were so fresh (of course I tried his!). The noodles were also fresh and I am sure they were made right in the restaurant. The pasta was amazing. My first experience with true Italian pasta did not disappoint. Next they brought out steak and potatoes. I wish I would have taken a picture of how big these steaks were. They had to have weighed at least 4 pounds and bigger than my face. I was already full after the appetizers and pasta but I had to try this steak. Best. Steak. Ever. My gosh! It was so tender and you could just tell how fresh it was. And the potatoes?? Ok I will try that too. Just as good! They were seasoned with butter and garlic and they were fantastic. I have died and gone to food heaven aka Italy.
I also got to experience my first Italian wine. I think by the end of Tyler's season, I am going to be so picky with my wines! I couldn't even tell you what wine I had but I know that it was wonderful! It isn't that ten dollar bottle that I pick up with my girlfriends from the grocery store for wine night! Don't worry girls, I will share my new knowledge on wine when I get back :)
I couldn't even think about dessert after taste testing all of these amazing foods but they insisted that I must try something. Italians do not take no for an answer! So Tyler told me he would split something with me (which means I try it and he eats the rest haha). We got what was almost like a custard that had a lemony taste with nuts and berries. Again, very fresh and although I am not a huge lemon fan, I really liked it.
After three hours and being put into a food coma, I had my first Italian meal. Since then, everything I have tasted has blown me away. How is everything sooooo good here?! I think that I could make this whole blog solely on the food that I eat here!
Besides eating and sleeping, I have gotten to experience a few other things. Tyler had a game on Sunday and it was so nice to finally see him play again! Forli has some very passionate basketball fans and they support their team win or lose. There was so much energy in the arena and I am happy that Tyler is on a team where the fans are excited about basketball. The fans are so proud of their team and they love watching the players work hard. They cheer for everyone but boy, if they don't like something they will let you know that too! There were a few iffy calls that the refs made and the crowd was enraged. Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, was screaming at the refs. I couldn't understand what they were saying, but I can just about imagine. Here I am, this little American girl sitting in my seat wide eyed, while everyone else is on their feet screaming. Even though the atmosphere got a little intense, I would rather the fans be so supportive of their team than just sit there and not care at all.
After Tyler's game, we went to dinner (again I could share how AMAZING the food was, but I am sure you get the picture by now) and walked around the center. The center is not the biggest but it is beautiful. It has lots of little shops, bakeries, restaurants etc. Tyler insisted that we get some gelato so that I could try it (I think he secretly just wanted it himself). Once again, I can't explain to you how sweet and delicious it was. Sitting in the center in Forli, Italy with my husband, eating Italian gelato on a gorgeous 60-something degree night in November, I realized once again how blessed we are. Tyler and I both realize that this is an experience that we will forever cherish. We are both so happy to finally be together and and we are enjoying every minute of it. We have already made wonderful memories in just the past few days that I know we have a lot in store for us to come!
Tyler and I at our first Italian dinner together
My first glass of Italian wine!
I couldn't even think about dessert after taste testing all of these amazing foods but they insisted that I must try something. Italians do not take no for an answer! So Tyler told me he would split something with me (which means I try it and he eats the rest haha). We got what was almost like a custard that had a lemony taste with nuts and berries. Again, very fresh and although I am not a huge lemon fan, I really liked it.
After three hours and being put into a food coma, I had my first Italian meal. Since then, everything I have tasted has blown me away. How is everything sooooo good here?! I think that I could make this whole blog solely on the food that I eat here!
Besides eating and sleeping, I have gotten to experience a few other things. Tyler had a game on Sunday and it was so nice to finally see him play again! Forli has some very passionate basketball fans and they support their team win or lose. There was so much energy in the arena and I am happy that Tyler is on a team where the fans are excited about basketball. The fans are so proud of their team and they love watching the players work hard. They cheer for everyone but boy, if they don't like something they will let you know that too! There were a few iffy calls that the refs made and the crowd was enraged. Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, was screaming at the refs. I couldn't understand what they were saying, but I can just about imagine. Here I am, this little American girl sitting in my seat wide eyed, while everyone else is on their feet screaming. Even though the atmosphere got a little intense, I would rather the fans be so supportive of their team than just sit there and not care at all.
Trying to get an action shot of Tyler (#8)… This is about the only one that wasn't so blurry!
After Tyler's game, we went to dinner (again I could share how AMAZING the food was, but I am sure you get the picture by now) and walked around the center. The center is not the biggest but it is beautiful. It has lots of little shops, bakeries, restaurants etc. Tyler insisted that we get some gelato so that I could try it (I think he secretly just wanted it himself). Once again, I can't explain to you how sweet and delicious it was. Sitting in the center in Forli, Italy with my husband, eating Italian gelato on a gorgeous 60-something degree night in November, I realized once again how blessed we are. Tyler and I both realize that this is an experience that we will forever cherish. We are both so happy to finally be together and and we are enjoying every minute of it. We have already made wonderful memories in just the past few days that I know we have a lot in store for us to come!
Gelato :)
The Center at night
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