I met Giulia for the first time after many emails backwards and forwards, one sunny afternoon at Santa Margarita Square in Venice. 
We were part of the 'buddy' scheme set up between my university and hers whilst I was out there studying and luckily we hit it off right from the beginning and kept in contact when I got back.
Best of all, my new Italian friend came over to England to stay for a few months in Exeter on Erasmus! After spending a few months here she's sadly soon flying back to Italy...the day I get back from Milan! So a last reunion was needed before she went back. 

Giulia and I at a masked ball in Venice

Whilst having lunch at the Delaunay, I mentioned to Nadia that I was planning on visiting Giulia in Exeter on Thursday. She said she had a friend studying at the university there too who she hadn't seen in a while and so I suggested she travel down with me and pay her friend a visit-a train journey with this lovely to keep me company, yes please! 

So a few texts later and train tickets booked that evening, our spontaneous adventure was ummm...planned! 

Exeter is such a beautiful place, filled with historic buildings, little cafés and plenty of hills. It was such a lovely sunny day so we decided to relax on the green outside the enchanting cathedral and chatted away until it was time for lunch and a little tour of Exeter.

We peered into the ruins of towers and churches...

walked around the town centre and did a bit of shopping-Exeter has an amazing shopping hub with one of the best stocked high street shops I have ever seen! 

and walked along the canal at Exeter's historic Quayside. I am most certainly a city girl, but I love being anywhere near water, it has such a relaxing and calming effect...especially when the weather is this gorgeous! 

We even passed by the famous Gandy street, which is believed by some to be what J.K Rowling based Diagon Alley on!

I love visiting new places and had such a lovely and relaxing day there. It was so nice seeing Giulia and spending the day with her before she went back home to Italy. I'm really going to miss her so thank god for Facebook!
Maybe another spontaneous trip to visit her is in order sometime soon, this time to Venice...I wonder if I can get Nadia to come with me this time?! 

Have you been to Exeter before? 
What's your favourite place to visit there?

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