Day 52: Best. Field. Trip. Ever.

Thursday - July, 8, 2010:

I knew today was going to be good -- I had a feeling (que the Black Eyes Peas song)! Everyone had talked for weeks and weeks about the Ninfa Gardens, so my expectations were pretty high.

Y'all. I wasn't nearly prepared enough for what I saw at this place -- it was the most gorgeous garden (more like a park in size) I have ever seen. I was completely blown away. I think I filled up half of my memory card snapping pictures, but no amount of pictures could do this place justice. It's something you must experience first hand. If you want a short background on the garden because you're asking yourself "Ninfa what?" (like I was yesterday), here it goes -- Sparknotes version:

So now you know a little bit of the background -- let's get to the good stuff, pictures! Keep in mind that it is a billion more times breath takingly gorgeous in person:

{It sits in the valley of these hills and that, combined with the stream running through it, allows the Ninfa Gardens to house all different types of plants from all over the world!}

{Their are still the remains of an ancient castle spontaneously situated throughout the garden}

{The cute little stream}

{I was trying to practice my shutter speed technique with this miniature waterfall -- I don't think it went to well... see for yourself...}

{Curl and Becca hiding in the fauna}

{Caitlyn and me}

{Some more of the old castle -- I love how the plants grow over it, around it, on it... anywhere!}

{Shellie and Curl posing for the cameraaa}

{I love this little patch of trees in front of the castle!}

{Mmmmm... Lavenderrrr}

{I love the color orange}

{I wanted to jump in this stream so incredibly badly}

{The water was crystal, crystal clear!}

{And maybe my favorite part -- the chinese bamboo!}

{And the water was drinkable -- some girls even filled up their water bottles. Hey, it's better than paying 2 Euro for .5 liter!}

{More bamboo. I couldn't get enough of it. I want it in my backyard!}

{Chelsea's orange shirt matched the color of the orange flowers perfectly, so I forced her into taking this solo shot}

{Don't make us leaveeee!}

Our guide practically had to kick us off of the property because we weren't going to leave -- I didn't want to leave! Well, we snapped our last pictures and took in our final view of the landscape and sadly climbed back onto the big blue bus. Once on there, we had a short drive to our next spot -- a winery! I told you it was going to be a good day :)

The Marco Carpineti winery produces organic wine and it is owned (and named after) probably the cutest man on Earth -- I wanted to take him with me! We got there, unloaded from the bus and were greeted by Marco Carpineti. Inside the storage house, he explained how they produced the organic wine. It was the most interesting process! Something about taking pure wine and adding sugar and yeast to it... Letting the yeast absorb something... Then the bottles are rotated upside down, letting the residue sink to the neck of the bottle... Then freezing the neck of the bottle to remove the residue.... And many more steps. I probably just butchered that process, so my apologies Marco! He explained the whole process to us and showed us around the winery and then we got to the best part -- the tasting and lunch!

{Marco showing us how it's done}

{Checking the pressure inside the bottle}

{Bottles, bottles, bottles everywhere!}

{I loved him -- he was so patient and sweet to us!}

{The label maker}

Where to begin.... I'll start with the setting -- one long table by itself on a terrace, overlooking the valley of vines. The first course of the best meal ever (or maybe it was because we were starving) was gnocchi in tomato sauce. Yum. Yum. So that was basically lunch, right? Nope! Just a starter -- next they brought out all of this food!! Canteloupe wrapped in prosciutto, buffalo mozzalerra balls, bruschetta, some delicious beans that I don't really know the name of and so much more. This is also when they brought out the wine for us -- red, rose and white! I thought the white wine was one of the beat so far this summer, I loved it. Also, I was so excited because I loved the red wine! Is my palate changing? Hope so! We just had so much fun over lunch -- I don't know if it was the organic wine, the heavenly food or having the terrace to ourself, but we had such a good time!

{Brittany and I about to indulge in our gnocchi}

{Gnocchi! Its just so fun to say. }

{And the wine! Do you prefer...}

{White?}

{Blush?}

{Or red? Take your pick}

{And just when we thought we we're stuffed to the brim... cherry and chocolate ice cream!}

When it was time to go and Cinzia told us to head to the bus, we all looked at eachother and said in unison "naptime!" The winery was the last stop of our day (and it's only 2:30 - scoreee) so our bus ride would take us back to the palace. With a full somatch, reclined seats and the right playlist -- it's lights out for the Chigi group!

The rest of the afternoon consisted of a brisk jog to Genzano with Emily, packing, homework, repacking (after two months, you get pretty sick of wearing the exact. same. clothes.), watching the new season of So You Think You Can Dance and more homework!

We are off to Amsterdam this weekend and I won't have my computer, so no posts until Monday. I hope you can make it! (Sarcasm.) Cross your fingers that the Netherlands do well in the World Cup because we will be there!! Have a great weekend everyone :)