to recap:

In Florence we added arugula to street pizza

and to goat cheese gelato.

We saw some fancy scientific instruments,

then left Florence for The Leaning Town of Pisa and its Perfectly Normal Tower.

Our traveling companion Catbee held the tower up

and flew over it!

Áine visited a labyrinth in Lucca

and we worked on a farm

picking lettuce

playing with bees

and having a costume party. I say samurai, Áine says Darth Vader. (photo by Á).

Our host Vanessa with her bees.

The farm was in the town of Castelvecchio, a medieval villa.

Bells from towns throughout the valley tolled the hour.

We parted ways. I went to meet a long-lost relative (more on that later),

while Áine hiked her legs off at the Amalfi Coast (photo by Á)

A fish swimming the labyrinth. (photo by Á)

We reconvened in Alvignano, a small town outside of Napoli where Áine's relatives live. No pictures got taken during our three days there — too busy eating, I guess. A special thanks to Angela, Vera, Vincenzo, and both Raqueles for making us feel like royalty.

We climbed Mt. Vesuvius. Áine looked into the crater.

Now, we are on another farm, this one in the mountain country of northern Italy. Milk cartons are German on one side, Italian on the other. When you picture us, picture us in Heidi.