Weekend adventure to Siena

View from a random street in Siena

 Bonjorno amice,
sorry it's taken me so long to write again. I like to put pictures up with my posts and since my pictures are all on an external hard drive (since I have a trillion) I do this when loading pictures. The pictures I am loading are from Siena! We went on Saturday with our great neighbors Shannon and Elena. It was a great day adventure. We took the train which was so cheap and easy, only about an hour and a half trip. When we arrived, we probably looked clueless on how to get from the train station to the main part of the city. We had an idea but it's not very clear, so we finally made it to a bus. Those drivers are so insane I almost fell over multiple times or since I was by the door, almost flew out. (let me just say everyone here either in car, truck, bus, bike, vespa...they are all insane and they WILL run you over). Immediately when we got off in the center, I loved the city, it is truly medieval. The architecture is fabulous and very different from Florence.

interior of Siena Cathedral

 We knew we wanted do three things; climb up the bell tower, see the civic museum and Siena Cathedral. We went to the cathedral first. Let me tell you, my mind is still in shock. The amount of detail in every part is something that I doubt we will ever see done in the future. The facade was a hint of what was inside (see picture) the stripes are dizzying and the patterns on the floor were just as intense. It's funny how when we study these in art history, they are just another picture but when you actually see them it becomes something different. That's why I love my art history class here so far, the first three lessons are on site. Last week was San Miniato this week is Santa Maria Novella. As our professor said to Rebekah today "We just have too much art" as she was overwhelmed telling people about everything they saw even if it wasn't related to the class.
   So after the cathedral we made our way to find lunch. Quite an experience. We walked in thinking we would get a menu but he said or we think he said, the menu is outside so we had to get back up and figure out what we wanted. In Siena, it is not as common to find English speakers or translated menus so I just picked something. It was delicious but I still have no idea what it was. (see mom I'm not that picky!) After a great lunch we wandered around just looking at anything and everything. It's a city that doesn't have a lot "to do" but there is a lot to see. By the time we found our way back to the tower area (where they have the famous horse races) they CLOSED the tower....dumb drizzling rain. So we decided we'd come back in a few weeks and do both since those tickets were cheaper together.
With slightly bummed attitudes we decided we needed some coffee and gelato. We stumbled into this fabulous place where we were graced with someone who knew english. Therefore I decided to go for ordering a cappucino with Bailey's because I would have no idea how to explain that in Italian. Well, even though this guy knew english he still gave me the funniest look thinking I was insane for asking for such a thing. Finally he was like okay we will try it for you. Then I said, no you should try it. He still thinks i'm a lunatic but I bet one day when he is working by himself he will secretly try it and think i'm a genius! We finally headed back, then the party began! Neighbor pasta night! We each made a different pasta and vegetable. oh and wine...duh. I bought Asti for them to try for dessert (anyone who wants a good sweet wine should try it). It was a fabulous day and night.

Our comfort.

Well I am about to be late for my Web Design class that I have at 6pm on Mondays....such an odd time. It throws me off. I will write again soon.
Ciao. Ti amo.
oh and Happy Valentine's day
Lauren

Just Saturday...

You should know what this is.

Today began with homework and ended with well, it hasn't ended but we just ate dinner in the apartment. We realized our room is very tricky since we have no idea how light it is outside from in there. The blinds close very well so we finally came back alive around 11...oops. BUT we still had an eventful day. We relaxed, I made scrambled eggs for breakfast (thank you dad for that valuable lesson on cooking in my youth) and delicious coffee with my new obsession the Italian coffee maker. Finally after I finished my reading it was already 3! Time flies, that will be my overall feeling after this semester. We decided to get our butts out the door and explore for some pictures. 

   We knew the Chocolate festival was still going on so we headed that way to capture some of it's glory. So many things to look at, the word spread since yesterday because it was SO busy! I am sure you wonder, well did it taste good? I finally broke down and bought some since I took several pictures of the chocolate at this particular stand and it was DELICIOUS. I am not sure exactly what I got since I just pointed to two pieces but I know I enjoyed them. We got slightly overwhelmed and headed back towards the Duomo to take some pictures while it was still light outside. Well it just so happened that as we walk up there is just a little communist demonstration going on...no big deal. Rebekah and I were like bees to the hive, we walked right up to it to get some pictures. I didn't feel intimidated since people around didn't seem to be harmful. It was only when a line of cops fully armed and with guns and other weapons came walking up the street behind the march. I decided they looked intimidating so we walked off as the crowd was chanting. We quickly made it back to our street where I bought some pretty earrings from this really sweet elderly lady who owns a shop a few doors down form us. 

Yes, I ate this. SO good

The sign for the carnival.

 

We returned to our humble abode and made plans to go out with our neighbors for a night on the town. Since we were in need of more wine, we walked a few feet to the market for vino and other necessities. I made whole wheat pasta (apparently not a trend, there were only about 3 boxes available) with tomato sauce and the chicken we'd bought at the meat market a couple days ago. YUM yum. That's all i've got for now! I will eventually upload some pictures to facebook but honestly I am lazy. Facebook picture uloading has become a hassel. 

Miss y'all, Love

 LJane

I gave in

Buonasera!
Well, as I was making my coffee today in this sweeet Italian coffee maker I thought, I want to show this to people so this is my blog :). Hopefully it will provide some entertainment and documentation of life here in Florence. I might share this with my amazing roommate Rebekah, she is in class so we shall see.

Italian coffee maker! 

Today was the last day of classes for the week, I can already tell this is going to go by SO fast. This week was the first week of classes. I am very pleased with all of mine! I can honestly say this is not going to be a "blow off semester" like people assume studying abroad is. I have 15 hours; Italian, Wine and Cultures (much more complicated that you'd think), Web Design, Fashion Illustration (5 hours in one day!) and an art history titled "Lost symbolisms and Secret Codes in art". One great thing I have notices so far just in the first day of classes, the teachers are SO enthusiastic about their subjects and life as a whole. At least 3 of them said "life is too short so I am doing what I love" or something to that effect in their introduction. For example, my wine teacher was previously a CEO of some local and international companies and one day just gave it all up because he said it wasn't fulfilling so now he is following his passion for food and wine. My understanding is that he is still very successful in what he does. I already have so much respect for him, how often do people have the courage to truly do what they love no matter what.

My successful cup of coffee

I had Italian this morning. I am very appreciative of the class but it is quite intimidating since she will not say a single thing in English during class. Afterwards I decided to walk back to my apartment but not before walking through the flower market! It's so beautiful, I bought two plants each only 1 euro. Rebekah and I were missing grass and trees....so I bought colorful flowers :). We are going to break in our kitchen tonight by making a chicken pasta dish. We bought chicken yesterday during my break between classes at the huge meat market. It was very intimidating but wonderful to experience. We finally found chicken through all the cow tongues, hooves, stomach linings and such. The butcher even sliced it and tenderized it for us, all for 2.50 Euro. Since we have all this chicken I searched for some recipes. If anyone has some suggestions on what we can cook with a toaster oven and a stove, please we need help!

My 1 euro flowers 

Well this is already a lot of writing, I have a lot more that has happened or more great experiences but I will not bore you. This weekend we are planning on taking pictures of Florence and visiting a site or two.

Love you all,
Ciao, Lauren