Written by Italy & Greece Students, Ally and Malcom
What’s New in Our Journey?
Welcome back! We just finished our trek on the Via Francigena, visiting our first two cities, Florence and Siena. The group enjoyed the beautiful scenery along the trek and admired the historic architecture in both cities. Along the way, we had the chance to bake bread, try medieval sword fighting, and visit the world’s best gelato place. This week has been great and we are excited about the following weeks!
Top Three Highlights of the Week:
- Trekking is not an easy task, but the journey is worth it. We got to try the world’s best gelato and happened upon some of the most beautiful sights.
- Our group also got a little taste of medieval fighting, wielding heavy swords and shields and being led around by a “servant” from the 1500s.
- In the final parts of our hike, we tracked across the Elsa River, hoping stones and stopping to capture the miniature waterfalls that the vibrant aqua the river provided. The best highlight was our first trekking day when we arrived at San Gimignano—an eight-mile hike rewarded with the best gelato in the world, making every step worth it.
Challenges We’ve Faced (and Conquered!)
One of the challenges this past week was being on the move almost constantly. It was tough to find time to decompress and truly relax. That’s why Florence provided a much-needed break from the daily hustle. It gave us some good R&R.
Reflections and Gratitude:
The amount of gratitude the group had, for the 40-kilometer hike, in five days, and the strength it brought us to climb the bell tower in Florence, and also be grateful for rest, not to mention laundry. In general, the trip helped us to reflect and build gratitude for simple things, and that realization held us closer to the environment around us. We’re all excited to continue learning about what the world has to offer and how our roles can make a difference.
