Madeline Sughrue ’24

One of the reasons that I chose to study abroad in Italy is because of my heritage, as my mom is 100% Italian. However, my dad is almost completely Irish, so I felt it was only fair to visit Ireland too. Seeing my best friends who are studying abroad in Galway having a blast via social media may have been a bigger factor in my decision though…

The fun that I saw from afar certainly translated to my trip. The second I got off of my bus, my friends welcomed me by taking me to a pub (it was 3:00 in the afternoon might I add). Little did I know it but this was a glimpse of what my trip would consist of, as we spent 75% of our time in pubs. I am definitely not complaining though, I am now a huge fan of hard cider and “Baby Guiness” shots.

I learned that people are not just spending time in pubs for the alcohol, but because of the amazing live music that so many have to offer. From traditional Irish folk music to covers of modern songs, the performers brought a special ambience to each bar.

“Special” is certainly a word I’d use to describe Ireland. Everyone is so friendly, even my cashier at the drug store gave me such a sincere “have a great day!” I hope I inherited more Irish genes than Italian ones in terms of kindness, as the people I encounter daily in Florence aren’t necessarily the friendliness. I can’t wait until I can return to beautiful Ireland, but for now I’ll keep the other homeland company 🙂

 

I was apprehensive about leaving Italy for the first time since I’ve been here, but Barcelona did not disappoint. My trip can pretty much be summed into two words: sights and snacks.

In terms of sights, I went to amazing tourist attractions. I’ve never been to Barcelona before, but luckily one of my friends with whom I was traveling had been a few years ago with her family, so she knew all the important spots to visit.

Our first spot was the Sagrada Familia. This 172 meter Catholic basilica was nothing short of breathtaking. I learned that construction began at the end of the 19th century, yet it is still under construction today! The church’s outside sculptures portray biblical scenes, and the inside is equally as stunning, with stained glass windows lighting up every corner of the church.

Another sight that we went to was the Carmel Bunkers. This spot is at the top of a hill that allowed us to see a stunning view of the entire city. We went at sunset and took photos, but pictures cannot do the jaw-dropping sight justice. I highly recommend going if you’re visiting this city, but do not recommend wearing boots during the hike 🙂

Now, the most important part, food! Although I’m very grateful to be eating authentic Italian food everyday, I have to admit that I was eager to eat anything that wasn’t pizza, pasta, or a panini.

When we first arrived in the city, we stopped at La Boqueria, a food market that sold anything from fresh-squeezed juice to fried octopus. When it came time for dinner, most restaurants didn’t open until 9:00 PM! One of the nights we went to a small tapas restaurant, and actually ran into a group of other Holy Cross students who were studying abroad in Rome! Such a small world.

Overall, it was an amazing weekend with beautiful views and delicious food!

 

Italy is constantly exceeding my expectations.

Last week my class took a day-trip to a small city in Tuscany called Lucca, and we went inside one of the churches there.  I was captivated by its beauty, so much so that I sent a photo to my family and said that it was “the most beautiful church I have ever been in”. Little did I know that a week later during my trip to Rome, I’d be standing in the most famous church in the world, St. Peter’s Basilica, that put the church in Lucca to shame.

A similar thing has been happening to me with the food here. When I was in Rome, I bought a cannoli from a small bakery by the Trevi Fountain. After pretty much inhaling the dessert, I posted on my Instagram that that was “the best thing I had ever eaten”. Not even three hours later that title was rivaled with the Cacio e Pepe pasta that I ate for dinner.

On my first day in Florence, I could not stop taking pictures of every cool building, view, car, etc. that I saw.  My camera roll is now filled with pictures that always manage to “one-up” the previous one, so I think I just need to accept the truth: there is no “best” thing in Italy. If you try to search for the best of something here, there is always going to be something else that compares. I need to accept that for all the cities, food, museums, etc in this country, one is not better than the other. Rather, they all exist together to make this country the unique place that it is.