We just got out of the Medina, which is the largest car-free urban environment on the planet. It was really something else. We decided to hire a guide for a few hours to take us through the streets of the market place. This was the best idea we had had all day seeing as the place was practically a labyrinth. I bought some spices, tea, and bartered for a rug. We finished our tour with a helping of couscous and mint tea.
A mother, her two daughters, and myself seemed to be the only ones on the train from Pisa Central to La Spezia that evening. After asking the train man multiple times and having him yell at me in Italian as he didn’t speak English, all four of us determined which train we had to get on from there to get to Riomoerre. This occurance brought us together and we decided to hike Cinque Terre the next day together. The city of Riomaggiore was jaw dropping. It sat right on the water almost. The building and houses were all painted these red and yellow pastel colors. My hostel wasn’t bad. There were two girls staying in my room as well. They were from America as well and had been living in Spain for a year teaching English. I awoke the next day and met the girls at 8:00. We set out on our hike. The hike was amazing. It wasn’t too difficult either, just narrow and a lot of stairs in some places. We stopped off and had lunch in Vernazza. Our lunch was only sandwhiches but the view was enough to make up for that. We reached the final town around 16:00; took the train back to our town that we were staying in and said our good bye and went on our separate ways. That night I had three different girls staying in my room with me. There was Maria Isabel Lachenauer who was studying abroad in Scotland. Then there were these two girls/women from the States as well who had been living in Switzerland for over a year as nannies. They seemed like fun; If wouldn’t have had a 5:25 train in the morning I would have liked to go out that night with them. They were Allie Minnie and Shelley Albano. As a product of me waking up at 4:45 and hurrying out the door to catch my train I left my Chacos in my room that night. This picture is the last they were seen. It’s early in my trip and I can’t let that discourage me. Away we go to Amsterdam. 
I have much to tell and many pictures to post but I'm pretty sure this internet cafe is going to chop off my arm as payment on my way out. So stay posted.
I am the only American in all of my classes. While this is nice that I've got the edge on English, I'm called on often and asked my opinion. With each answer I give I feel as if I am answering on behalf of America, answering simple questions with nervousness and ambiguity.
Yesterday a huge earthquake hit Chile just before dawn. Leaving over 200 dead and counting. Usually I would wake up and tune in to the news and see this and think "wow that's horrible" and go about my day. This morning I woke to my Chilean room mate, Eduardo. His eyes were tired stricken and his face was contorted with worry. He had been up most of the night trying to get in touch with his family, of which he has still to do. He was able to talk with his cousins but has still yet to speak with his family. I can only imagine what a horrible feeling this must be for him. To be an ocean away from his family and not know of their well being. It made me proud to hear him say he was thank full for Obamas promise to come to aid if needed. I hope his family is safe and that he gets to speak with them soon.
This is the Murinsel. It rest in the middle of the Mur which runs through the center of town. Inside there is a cafe and an amphitheater. I have still yet to go inside, I always just walk by and look.
