Piazza Del Campo

The walk to school is the fair and uphill trade off for consuming fresh pastries, pizza, cheese, pasta, gelato and vino on a day to day bases.  You would think I would be a size 0 by how much we walk all day everywhere, but I think it's actually just balancing my food consumption.  But I have notice there are absolutely NO fatty's in Italy.  To make matters worse, we just found the most amazing and cheap catering pastry shop in the building next to our flat.  Although the stairs to our street are painfully steep, we all encourage each other by loudly reciting our stomach contents from the day before.  It also helps that this is our view on the way to school every day.  It's amazing to me how much I would miss if I had a car, or rode a bus.

Calcio

You haven't experienced Italy until you have experienced a soccer game.  The security used for the last soccer game in Siena looked eerily similar to the L.A. riots in the 90's.  These people get a little over excited; flipping over cars, overly intoxicated while getting into fights, mobbing in the streets and such.  I was a bit shocked to not only see several paramedics on hand sitting in the stands, but also police brigades and lines of patrol cars, guns, and street blockades.  Soccer game= neighborhood warfare.

The best source for understanding Italian hand gestures thus far was sitting in the stands watching as Italians were rooting for their favorite players.  Not only did EVERYONE know every chant, but they all stood up and sang each one with such passion and such verve that you would think it was their national anthem.  Which look back, it pretty much is.  I've never seen a group of people become so excited over a game in my life.  I'm talking older ladies jumping up and yelling while waving their flags and refusing to sit down.  I decided to leave a bit early so I could make it home in one piece!

Lucca

We all decided to take the early morning train into a sleepy, quaint, and historically rich town called Lucca.  It’s also a walled city like Siena and has the charm and familiarity of towns I’ve quickly fallen in love with like Leavenworth or Queenstown in New Zealand.  It was a beautifully bright summer day, and we decided the best way to explore this gem was to ride bikes.  Ringing our bells and filling our front baskets with wine from the Lucca region, I stopped and turned to Hayli to ask her; “Is there anything else better than this moment right now..?”  We had no where to be and nothing to do except live and enjoy it then and there.  This is a concept I am no where closer to mastering than the day I arrived.  I’m constantly stopping myself mid laugh to wonder if I’m late for something or forgotten to pick something up.

We all got so much sun, that the train home was more of a nap and the idea of dinner seemed altogether too much effort.  

Giuliana wouldn’t hear of it, and met us at the fountain of Piazza Del Campo to show us her latest cena (dinner) spot.  Down two cobble stone streets and a sharp left into a hidden avenue that we never knew existed, there; under a long grape vine trellis was the restaurant.  If there was a way to save the flavor of the taste in my mouth from dinner, I would do it.  There was something quite incredible about the simplicity of olive oil, garlic, and pici (handmade thick noodles) in cherry tomatoes that can’t be explained.  I am tempted to return for dinner again this evening, and by evening I mean 9pm.  I intend to return to Lucca, if nothing else to see the leaning tower of Pisa.  It might come across as a shock to not see the landmark right away, but I’m starting to see that each day has it’s own purpose and my calendar has no business imposing it’s agenda.  In Italy, the Italians seem perfectly happy with letting the day take them where and with whom it may...

"La bella figura"

Italian's consider the first impression as one of the most important experiences one can have.  La bella figura( to put your best foot forward) is everywhere here.  I'm always amazed at how well dressed older women are.  The perfect red lips, the matching suit, the hair and jewelry carefully designed to compliment their appearance.  In the morning, you can see them walking briskly in heels, tote bag in hand, chatting over what to buy at the market-and more importantly how much to spend.
Presentation seems effortless, yet deliberate and exact.  Even the dog's here seem to strut in a regal manner. It's as if they know that they must exude as much confidence as the person walking them.
Older gentleman with handsome and expensive three piece suits scan the streets, admiring women passing by.  Even the presentation of a cappuccino requires time, artistry, skill.

New York is perhaps the only other place I have seen this type of flawless care and attention to visual appeal.  It's a practice that seems to be losing it's hold on some American's.  Needless to say, I haven't left my apartment without a dress on, shoes to match, and my hair and make up done.  Italy makes me acutely aware of my femininity.  And.. I find it refreshing.

Siena, Il treno

Photos

Antonio

Ciao, tutti!

Today was the first of school at Dante Aligheri.  I couldn't believe how much I was able to communicate in such a short amount of time! Any hesitation in speaking with strangers is absolutely gone.  In fact, I was able to give directions to an Italian couple, and in the same day was able to give directions to an older couple vacationing from New Jersey!  Wine is flowing daily, but it's a different experience here.  It is apart of their culture, a way to connect, to share their hearts with each other.  It is so strange to me that I feel so comfortable and at home with the level of engagement that these people bring to each other's lives and their community.  Life is about good food, good vino, good prosperity, good company.  After school, we went into a very famous deli owned by a very close friend of my professor's.  Immediately upon hearing my and my friends were student's of Guiliana's, Antonio opened a bootle of vino, cut fresh proccutio, formaggio, and proceeded to tell us about passion in life.  He would rather have a customer upset that they couldn't take pictures of him and his shop and offer them complimentary wine and conversation, then allow the tourist to snap shot his life for Facebook.  In Antonio's words, " Without passion, there is nothing.  Life is to be enjoyed, to be lived, to be used up!.."

After buying a bottle from him and walking home, gelato in hand-I realized that truer words were never spoken.

A dopo...

Photos

The charming B&B, Hotel Rotella...