Submitted by Alyssa Mojica on the 2020 winter session study abroad program in Italy sponsored by the Department of Philosophy and the Honors Program…
This week, my study abroad group traveled from the city of Rome to the scenic, quaint town of Sorrento. Waking up and being able to sit out on the balcony of the hotel and look over to Mount Vesuvius has been wonderful! The hike up Mount Vesuvius was breathtaking…literally, it was a pretty steep incline! I give the bus drivers a lot of credit for being able to navigate those switchback roads. The view of the coast from the top of the crater was magnificent and put into perspective just how grand the volcano and the surroundings areas are. This area is known for its produce, which is confirmed by the vibrant orange and lemon trees that line each corner and can be found in gardens all over town—not to mention by all the lemon—and orange-flavored foods and pastries. It has been quite the change going from the bustling streets of Rome that remain active at night and then coming to a town that is currently off-season, but it was a nice change for a bit. My group hiked a trail called the Path of the Gods that is truly indescribable and cannot be justified with photos. After three hours of scaling up and down rocks, tripping over tree roots, and taking in the most amazing view, we arrived at a tiny cafe at the end of the trail. The shop owners were so kind and made us the best bruschetta I have ever tried as we watched the sunset from their balcony, and it was so heartwarming to see how welcoming and happy they were to serve us. My group will soon be traveling from Sorrento to Florence where new adventures indubitably await.
