"Let us celebrate the occasion with wine and sweet words." - Plautus

I had a fabulous birthday celebration and it's not even my birthday yet!  This weekend, a few of the greatest people you could ever know, accompanied me to Tuscany for a weekend to learn about wine and rekindle the friendship that has been suffering from distance these past few months.  I think we can all agree, we needed this weekend.  
We all met at the train station in Florence and spent the next two hours gushing over one another. Telling stories, laughing, showing off all of our fabulous discoveries, and just relinquishing the reunion that we had waited for all semester long.  Then we arrived in Montalcino to stay with Azzurra's cousin, Stella, who makes wine.  She housed us in her beautiful home, fed us the best food I've had in forever, and shared with us her passion for wine, inspiring all of us to discover our own passions.  
Stella took us to her vineyard and explained to us why she chose to make her wine organically: to maintain the integrity of the soil and of the grape and not force-produce her product. 

The reason this area is known for their wine is because there are over 36 types of soils within the region of Montalcino and the specific grape that makes Brunello, the wine Stella produces, can only thrive in this environment.  They have tried to grow this grape in Napa and in other places within Italy and it never works.  

Also, because of the varieties of the soil, no year is ever identical to another. So cool.

 She said that although the product may be just as good if it is mass produced, there is an energy and a beauty behind allowing nature to create something on its own. Each time it does, something slightly different is created.  It isn't necessarily better or worse, just different.  She emphasized that this is what makes Montalcino and Brunello so special, the uniqueness of each "batch" and each type of grape.  
I think the reason people gravitate toward this region and toward this wine is while the rest of the world continues to mass produce everything, the authentic and unique element continues to disappear.  People desire, long for, and seek out that authenticity because it is so rare. 


Friday night, after having the best pasta of my life, my friends surprised me with early birthday gifts, since most of them will not be in London to celebrate with me.  Very unexpected and so thoughtful of them.  I laughed and cried with each card and gift.  They know me so so well.


We all fell in love with the Montalcino. It's quaint town, beautiful landscape, and passionate people.  I can say with full confidence that Montalcino is by far my favorite destination of this semester.  I connected with the simplicity of the lives of the people there. It reminded me of the south and yet I also connected with the passions that these people had and the purposeful choice of careers and surroundings.  Everything was done with intention.  That is something that I believe I am seeking as I travel and continue my education.   It was very meaningful to find a place that incorporated all of the things that I see as important and be in a place that I felt at home.  I can't express enough gratitude to Azzurra and Stella for sharing this place with us.


After a fabulous day and a half in the Tuscan countryside, we headed to Florence, where Chelsie and Kooper showed us around their city.  We all stayed in the Pepperdine Florence house and it was exciting to see other Pepperdiners that we hadn't seen in so long!  That night, we went dancing until way too late and had a ball just being with each other.  The next morning, before we all left, we went to one of the Florence flea markets and to the oldest Pharmacy in the world. Both were incredible.


This weekend was inspiring, rejuvenating,  and most of all so much fun.  I once again realize how incredibly lucky I am to be surrounded by these girls who inspire me each time I am with them.  Together we are discovering our passions, our joys, and discovering ourselves.  I can't imagine a better group of people to be sharing such an important journey with.  This is what friendship is about and I have the best friends a girl could ask for.  


"But looking back now I feel like our lives changed because they had to, and that the real magic of the pants was in bearing witness to all of this and in somehow holding us together when it felt like nothing would ever be the same again. Some things never would be, but we know now that no matter how far we traveled on our own separate paths, somehow we would always find out way back to each other. And with that, we could get through anything.  Cheerso us. Who we were, and who we are. And who we'll be. And the sisterhood. And this moment, and the rest of our lives. Together and apart." -Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants




This weekend was my last travel weekend. I have three weeks left in London and my mom is coming on the 25th! Get ready to read stories about all of my Christmasy adventures, my actual birthday celebration (along with Azzurra's mother's birthday celebration) and the fabulous things I discover about London.  Afterall, I could stay here for three years and still not do everything that I want to.


Pictures are coming when I get a chance!


Love you all!
Carson