Perugia, Italy—It feels like something out of a fairytale. The cobblestone streets swivel throughout the city going in between the beautiful stone walls that stand with the ancient buildings. You know those movies set during the medieval times with all those princesses searching for their princes…well that’s the scenery. That’s my life now. Of course there are no real princesses, I don’t expect any frogs being kissed and turning into princes here anytime soon, but the sights are that spectacular. I’m sorry to say that no matter what I write I feel that it will truly never capture the immense beauty this city has to offer.

So as we drove up (and up and up and up…) to the small city of Perugia, my new roommates and I were in awe of what surrounded us. The shuttle slowly slid through the alleyways and up to the top of the mountain we went. Once we successfully climbed the steps to our newly awaited fortress, we were exhausted (yes we each carried 2 suitcases up about 4 flights of stairs but, hey, welcome to Italy) yet ecstatic. We turned the corner and there it was…the most amazing view I have ever witnessed with my own two eyes—right from our living room. We would look at this everyday for the next four months entranced by its mountainous landscape and its ancient buildings atop the hillsides. Every direction told a story, and I wanted to read every word of it.

Now, I know I am sort of writing this post as if it were a Shakespearean play or a Jane Austen novel, but it is that fictitious to me. It’s fictitious in a way that I still can’t believe what I’m seeing is real. It’s fictitious in a way that I am still trying heavily to grasp the fact that I am in Italy. I am experiencing the exquisiteness, the cappuccinos, the fashion, the language, the wine, and most importantly the people. People here are generous and seem to understand the bigger picture in life. They love to laugh, drink, and live.

Just the other day my friends and I went to get breakfast at a local bakery. One of the girls didn’t exchange her money yet and didn’t have enough euros to pay, so the man at the counter politely handed her a chocolate-filled croissant and told her to come back and pay when she had money. People just aren’t that nice anymore. Greed takes over so much, and no I’m not saying that everyone in Italy would do that, but that is just a good glimpse of the people I have met since landing in Perugia 5 days ago. And to be honest, it’s going to be hard to leave.

And side note—no, it’s not really anything like The Godfather…but that might be a good thing!

Location: Perugia, Italy