When you travel with x number of female companions, you will spend x-squared amount of hours in a store waiting for them to try on stuff. The following takes place between the years 1998 and 2010:
:)
In all honesty, we had a great group to travel with. We were in that store for all of 10 minutes. I just thought this would be funny
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Wait, you're sure we're not back in Wisconsin?
This weekend's selected adventure was to the northern city of Bologna and close by Parma. The rationale was to save the "warm weather" locations (ie Cinque Terre, Genoa) for warmer months. Not a bad idea, but when you go to cold weather towns in the middle of January, it's really cold. Friday morning's train ride took us through a jagged valley full of long tunnels for the train to narrowly snake through. After pulling out of one tunnel, I thought I had returned to Wisconsin. There was snow everywhere! And when we got off the train... a balmy 20 degrees (which I'll take over the -20 they're experiencing in Appleton right now!) The cold wasn't the first parallel between these towns and my home... more on that later.
Bologna is especially known for its university, its food, its museums, and the vibrant nightlife. Rather than pick one of those great aspects to focus on, our group decided to hit all of them. After visits to the Medieval Museum and the Archaeological Museum, we made our way through a jungle of discount-promising department stores towards the center of town. Right in the middle of Bologna (directly adjacent to a McDonald's) are two very unique towers, one of which has a substantial lean to the right. The lean is even greater than that of the famous "Leaning Tower" in Pisa. I'm guessing it leans more because no tourists ever come to Bologna, and if they do, they certainly don't try to hold up the tower in cute cliche photographs. The legend states that Bologna was once home to 190 towers, similar to San Gimignano. Today, roughly 14 towers stand within the old city.
A few lessons I learned over the course of our day in Bologna:
1) There are no bathrooms in Italy. Anywhere.
2) There are no bubblers in Italy. Where can I get my daily fix of bubbles? They seem to frown upon people who tried to drink from the Neptune fountain...
3) Restaurants in Italy OPEN at 8 pm. If you're hungry before this, you have two options: Cry, or go to McDonalds and eat a Big Mac. Though the first option was tempting, that Big Mac was one of the most satisfying sandwhiches I've had in Italy.
4) Despite what travelers in your group may have heard about the food in Spain, the bread they give you with Dinner is indeed included in the price of the bill
5) Nowhere takes credit cards anymore. Cash is the new Visa.
After walking throughout the town, taking in more breathtaking churches, the girls we were with of course had to shop. Now, every store in Italy right now is adorned with a bright red sign reading "SALDI!" January is the big shopping month here- so all the fashionable crap is on sale (It really is crap- their idea of XXL sweaters wouldn't pass for a medium in the US). Anyway, I thought I'd never get out of these stores. Dante Alghieri described Hell as a series of seven circles of torment with Lucifer and Judas chillin' in the middle. In the event that I'm sent to hell (likely for voting for Obama or coveting those Pogs in 1994), it will be one of those department stores. I will see a beautiful, historically significant church on the horizon, with an enoteca on one side and a pasticerria on the other. But I'll be forced to rummage through layers of Italian shiny, puffy purple men's jackets.
For dinner, we asked for directions. Smart move, I'd say. But clearly there were some communication issues. We had asked for pasta, but were directed to the winery adjacent to the city butcher's shop. Though a plate of salami, ham, and cheese sounded quite yummy (I really need to invest in a thesaurus...), we wanted something more "Bolognese." Thankfully, there was a fantastic local place just down the road. We were without a doubt the only Americans within several miles of that restaurant. The waiter was very sympathetic to our Italian 101 speaking deficiencies (it's tough to order pasta when the only thing you can say is "Il mio compleanno e il sette gennaio."), and he recommended a fantastic ravioli dish, featuring fresh bruccioto and feta:
Following an unforgettable dinner, we walked to nearby Via Zamboni, the home of the University of Bologna. The U is the oldest college in the western wold. Today, the whole city takes on a college town feel, with students making up a large slice of the Bolognese population. Interspersed among libraries, bookstores, lecture halls, and museums are vibrant bars and nightclubs, judged by many to be the finest in all of Italy. We spent awhile in an Irish Pub (I don't know if I've been to a bar here that wasn't an Irish Pub), which felt a lot like the Great Dane back home in Madison. Walking back to the hotel on Via Zamboni, I almost felt back home in Madison.
Here are a few pictures of the Bologna campus:
This morning, following a free breakfast at the hotel (what a deal!), we boarded busses for Parma. Not knowing anything about Parma, I wasn't sure what to expect. I had heard that it was the birthplace of Parmasean cheese, so I expected every storefront to be laden with cheesewheels and various other fromages.
Not the case.
Parma is a very eloquent, wealthy city, situated on a river bank, full of parks, beautiful walkways, and purse-inhabiting dogs. The cathedral of Parma, which boasts an eclectic collection of Renaissance art dating from the post-Byzantine era to the 16th century, is one of the more visually striking places I've seen so far. The ascent to paradise that is painted on the dome's interior portrays dimensionality in such a way that one literally feels immersed in the rising.
After visiting the churches, we ended up on an hour journey through the town of Parma, trying to find a "reasonably priced" lunch. Not easy to do in one of Italy's richest towns. We stumbled on a restaurant in Parma's largest piazza, thinking the menu carried the local pasta delicacies that some of us sought. When the food turned out to be highly mediocre, we left scratching our heads. It wasn't until after a trip to the upstairs restroom that we realized that we were not at an Italian bistro, but a sushi bar, specializing in various types of raw fish and seaweed. I'm just throwing this out there: If I owned a sushi restaurant, I wouldn't give it an obviously Italian name. I would also refrain from Italian deco. Just a thought.
Perhaps my favorite moment of the day, besides purchasing a monstrous hunk of Parmagiano-Reggiana cheese, was hearing a favorite tune coming from a local musician. I don't know if he saw my Wisconsin hat (doubtful he could recognize the motion W from a distance of 200 feet), or if he saw a large group of Americans clearly of German origin. Whatever his reasons, this man, sitting on a stool outside an elegant cafe, rolled out the barrel with his accordion. And I don't mean just the chorus- he recited the whole song, as played by the UW Marching Band. Cheese, bars, university, roll out the barrel, snow on the ground... I must have been in Madison this weekend!
Bologna is especially known for its university, its food, its museums, and the vibrant nightlife. Rather than pick one of those great aspects to focus on, our group decided to hit all of them. After visits to the Medieval Museum and the Archaeological Museum, we made our way through a jungle of discount-promising department stores towards the center of town. Right in the middle of Bologna (directly adjacent to a McDonald's) are two very unique towers, one of which has a substantial lean to the right. The lean is even greater than that of the famous "Leaning Tower" in Pisa. I'm guessing it leans more because no tourists ever come to Bologna, and if they do, they certainly don't try to hold up the tower in cute cliche photographs. The legend states that Bologna was once home to 190 towers, similar to San Gimignano. Today, roughly 14 towers stand within the old city.
A few lessons I learned over the course of our day in Bologna:
1) There are no bathrooms in Italy. Anywhere.
2) There are no bubblers in Italy. Where can I get my daily fix of bubbles? They seem to frown upon people who tried to drink from the Neptune fountain...
3) Restaurants in Italy OPEN at 8 pm. If you're hungry before this, you have two options: Cry, or go to McDonalds and eat a Big Mac. Though the first option was tempting, that Big Mac was one of the most satisfying sandwhiches I've had in Italy.
4) Despite what travelers in your group may have heard about the food in Spain, the bread they give you with Dinner is indeed included in the price of the bill
5) Nowhere takes credit cards anymore. Cash is the new Visa.
After walking throughout the town, taking in more breathtaking churches, the girls we were with of course had to shop. Now, every store in Italy right now is adorned with a bright red sign reading "SALDI!" January is the big shopping month here- so all the fashionable crap is on sale (It really is crap- their idea of XXL sweaters wouldn't pass for a medium in the US). Anyway, I thought I'd never get out of these stores. Dante Alghieri described Hell as a series of seven circles of torment with Lucifer and Judas chillin' in the middle. In the event that I'm sent to hell (likely for voting for Obama or coveting those Pogs in 1994), it will be one of those department stores. I will see a beautiful, historically significant church on the horizon, with an enoteca on one side and a pasticerria on the other. But I'll be forced to rummage through layers of Italian shiny, puffy purple men's jackets.
For dinner, we asked for directions. Smart move, I'd say. But clearly there were some communication issues. We had asked for pasta, but were directed to the winery adjacent to the city butcher's shop. Though a plate of salami, ham, and cheese sounded quite yummy (I really need to invest in a thesaurus...), we wanted something more "Bolognese." Thankfully, there was a fantastic local place just down the road. We were without a doubt the only Americans within several miles of that restaurant. The waiter was very sympathetic to our Italian 101 speaking deficiencies (it's tough to order pasta when the only thing you can say is "Il mio compleanno e il sette gennaio."), and he recommended a fantastic ravioli dish, featuring fresh bruccioto and feta:
Following an unforgettable dinner, we walked to nearby Via Zamboni, the home of the University of Bologna. The U is the oldest college in the western wold. Today, the whole city takes on a college town feel, with students making up a large slice of the Bolognese population. Interspersed among libraries, bookstores, lecture halls, and museums are vibrant bars and nightclubs, judged by many to be the finest in all of Italy. We spent awhile in an Irish Pub (I don't know if I've been to a bar here that wasn't an Irish Pub), which felt a lot like the Great Dane back home in Madison. Walking back to the hotel on Via Zamboni, I almost felt back home in Madison.
Here are a few pictures of the Bologna campus:
This morning, following a free breakfast at the hotel (what a deal!), we boarded busses for Parma. Not knowing anything about Parma, I wasn't sure what to expect. I had heard that it was the birthplace of Parmasean cheese, so I expected every storefront to be laden with cheesewheels and various other fromages.
Not the case.
Parma is a very eloquent, wealthy city, situated on a river bank, full of parks, beautiful walkways, and purse-inhabiting dogs. The cathedral of Parma, which boasts an eclectic collection of Renaissance art dating from the post-Byzantine era to the 16th century, is one of the more visually striking places I've seen so far. The ascent to paradise that is painted on the dome's interior portrays dimensionality in such a way that one literally feels immersed in the rising.
After visiting the churches, we ended up on an hour journey through the town of Parma, trying to find a "reasonably priced" lunch. Not easy to do in one of Italy's richest towns. We stumbled on a restaurant in Parma's largest piazza, thinking the menu carried the local pasta delicacies that some of us sought. When the food turned out to be highly mediocre, we left scratching our heads. It wasn't until after a trip to the upstairs restroom that we realized that we were not at an Italian bistro, but a sushi bar, specializing in various types of raw fish and seaweed. I'm just throwing this out there: If I owned a sushi restaurant, I wouldn't give it an obviously Italian name. I would also refrain from Italian deco. Just a thought.
Perhaps my favorite moment of the day, besides purchasing a monstrous hunk of Parmagiano-Reggiana cheese, was hearing a favorite tune coming from a local musician. I don't know if he saw my Wisconsin hat (doubtful he could recognize the motion W from a distance of 200 feet), or if he saw a large group of Americans clearly of German origin. Whatever his reasons, this man, sitting on a stool outside an elegant cafe, rolled out the barrel with his accordion. And I don't mean just the chorus- he recited the whole song, as played by the UW Marching Band. Cheese, bars, university, roll out the barrel, snow on the ground... I must have been in Madison this weekend!
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Bravo Bene, Mange Dormir: The Opera L'Italiana in Algieri
Last night was the villa's night out at the opera. After scarfing down a dinner, we boarded the 7pm train into Florence. It was a very nervous train ride, since the ticket validator had recently broken. If the Italian train officials see you on the train without a validated ticket, its a huge fine, regardless of the strength of your case. Anyway, they weren't there, so we got off safely.
Arriving well before the opera began, many of us headed across the street to a local caffe where I enjoyed a dish of tiramisu. I'm trying to decide what is better, tiramisu or tiramisu gelatto. They each have their strengths. Right now I think the gelatto might actually better. That's definitely the case with chocolate mousse.
The opera began, and of course, it was in Italian. The opera was Rossini's famous "L'Italiana in Algeri," a comedy about an African king who kidnaps an italian woman. Here is what I think happened:
The king of the oompa-loompas, who also happened to be the sultan from Aladdin (whose pet was Simba from the Lion King), was bored with his wife, who looked like peach from Mario Brothers (all her servants looked like that mushroom guy from Mario... I guess Mario is an Italian name right?). So, she tries to marry her off to one of his slaves, who happens to be an Italian guy. Searching for a new wife, the sultan from Aladdin gets his buddies to go to Italy and kidnap a woman in a wedding dress, which of course they do. However, they also bring back her uncle, who looks just like Willie Wonka (do you see the connection yet?). Willie Wonka I guess was also her lover, that part of the show went way over my head.
But he wasn't her real lover, her real lover was the prisoner of the sultan. The second act of the show is about their attempts at escaping back to Italy together, leaving the sultan in Algeri. In my favorite scene of the performance, the Italians dance around with balloons shaped like Italy, ride on a giant cannon in the shape of a wine bottle, and wave a giant Italian flag around. Their plan is brilliant: feed their captor Italian food, and convince him that Italian people only eat and sleep. Of course, this sultan is an intelligent man, so he falls for it (I would have too). They begin shoveling massive quantities of Italian cuisine in his face.
While he is eating, a ship magically shows up. They get on this ship and sail back to Italy.
At least, that's what I thought happened, though I was likely very wrong. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed the experience. My favorite part was just listening to the orchestra- especially their intonation. Sounded just beautiful. Apparently the overture from this opera is one of the more famous orchestral pieces.
So a fantastic night of cultural enrichment. Planning on heading to Bologna and Parma this weekend, with a possible Sunday day trip to Perugia!
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Saint Jimmy Johnson/San Jimmy Johns-o/ The correct spelling is... San Gimignano
Today began almost identical to yesterday, by boarding the train for Santa Maria Novella at 9am. When we got to the station, we searched out the Siena bus company, and purchased tickets to the hill town of San Gimignano!
The town itself is in the middle of nowhere. However, this makes for an incredibly scenic drive in through rolling hills, past hordes of cyclists, and right through the heart of wine country. I noticed the altitude increasing as we pulled in to town by the way my ears were popping- and by the sudden temperature drop when I stepped out of the bus.
There are roughly six or seven roads that run throughout the city. Each passes giant medieval piazzas that feature roman cisterns- wells that have operated and brought fresh water to the city since the era of the Caesars. The obvious feature of the town is it's "sky scrapers." People come from around the world to take pictures with these enormous 12th century towers that seem to rise in to the air out of nowhere. We climbed the largest one, "Torre Grosse," located at the Palazzo Communale (or old city hall). Like most towers or high rises in Italy, the climb was narrow and constricting, and I got stuck several times (attempting to make a resolution to lay off the gelatto--- not gonna happen!). The view from the top was arguably the most striking in Tuscany. Since there is nothing around the town for miles, you can look out over rolling hills and lush fields and see the towns off in the distance. You can even make out the mountains that form Florence's valley.
Of the 72 towers that once stood in this town that spans approximately 2 miles, there are only about 14 that still remain. I read that it was once possible to cross the entire town by walking on top of the towers. The initial structures were built for defensive purposes- to protect the Guelph city from Ghibbeline invaders. The rest were built by patriarchs of the region's richest families- whose big egos led them to make even bigger towers.
After climbing to the tower, we had lunch in a cafe. With the sun pouring down on the medieval piazza, it could not have been a more perfect and relaxing atmosphere. The local wine is Verrancia San Gimignano, a variety of white that is in the exact center between bitter and sweet whites. Essentially, it would be impossible not to enjoy this wine. As I ordered the bottle for our table, I was the first to "taste" it. I wasn't aware of the wine etiquette in Italy. The waiter pours whoever ordered a taste; they taste the wine and if they like it, the waiter will serve everyone starting with the first woman to his left. I also learned that it is poor form to hold a glass of white by the glass, instead it must be done with the stem so that the wine won't overheat. SOPHISTICATION!
After lunch, we took a little hike to what we thought said medieval fountain. I think it must have been a medieval bath or possibly a well... This is what we found after following these signs in to the middle of nowhere:
We also found a beautiful hiking trail that surrounds the entire town. Though not marked by any signs or mentioned by any guidebooks, this trail was my favorite part of the town. The whole trail was a panoramic outlook, overlooking centuries old villas and vineyards. Here's a few pictures from the trail:
After walking back in to town to grab some gelatto and some souvenir bottles of wine, we boarded a bus that was overflowing with tourists, locals, and Italian middle schoolers. I literally had no room on the bus- my face was shoved in to some one's arm pit, and my arm pit was flush against someone's face. Beautiful. It was very funny to hear all the Italian kids ask the bus driver to stop (they yell PROSSIMA!!!!!!). Since they all were getting off at the same stop, they took turns yelling Prossima for several minutes. It was quite funny. Speaking of Italian middle schoolers, I got an internship teaching English at Sesto's Middle School- I start a week from Wednesday!
Should be a terrific week coming up- going to the pub tomorrow night to watch NFL games, opera tuesday night!
Bunoa Sera!
The town itself is in the middle of nowhere. However, this makes for an incredibly scenic drive in through rolling hills, past hordes of cyclists, and right through the heart of wine country. I noticed the altitude increasing as we pulled in to town by the way my ears were popping- and by the sudden temperature drop when I stepped out of the bus.
There are roughly six or seven roads that run throughout the city. Each passes giant medieval piazzas that feature roman cisterns- wells that have operated and brought fresh water to the city since the era of the Caesars. The obvious feature of the town is it's "sky scrapers." People come from around the world to take pictures with these enormous 12th century towers that seem to rise in to the air out of nowhere. We climbed the largest one, "Torre Grosse," located at the Palazzo Communale (or old city hall). Like most towers or high rises in Italy, the climb was narrow and constricting, and I got stuck several times (attempting to make a resolution to lay off the gelatto--- not gonna happen!). The view from the top was arguably the most striking in Tuscany. Since there is nothing around the town for miles, you can look out over rolling hills and lush fields and see the towns off in the distance. You can even make out the mountains that form Florence's valley.
Of the 72 towers that once stood in this town that spans approximately 2 miles, there are only about 14 that still remain. I read that it was once possible to cross the entire town by walking on top of the towers. The initial structures were built for defensive purposes- to protect the Guelph city from Ghibbeline invaders. The rest were built by patriarchs of the region's richest families- whose big egos led them to make even bigger towers.
After climbing to the tower, we had lunch in a cafe. With the sun pouring down on the medieval piazza, it could not have been a more perfect and relaxing atmosphere. The local wine is Verrancia San Gimignano, a variety of white that is in the exact center between bitter and sweet whites. Essentially, it would be impossible not to enjoy this wine. As I ordered the bottle for our table, I was the first to "taste" it. I wasn't aware of the wine etiquette in Italy. The waiter pours whoever ordered a taste; they taste the wine and if they like it, the waiter will serve everyone starting with the first woman to his left. I also learned that it is poor form to hold a glass of white by the glass, instead it must be done with the stem so that the wine won't overheat. SOPHISTICATION!
After lunch, we took a little hike to what we thought said medieval fountain. I think it must have been a medieval bath or possibly a well... This is what we found after following these signs in to the middle of nowhere:
We also found a beautiful hiking trail that surrounds the entire town. Though not marked by any signs or mentioned by any guidebooks, this trail was my favorite part of the town. The whole trail was a panoramic outlook, overlooking centuries old villas and vineyards. Here's a few pictures from the trail:
After walking back in to town to grab some gelatto and some souvenir bottles of wine, we boarded a bus that was overflowing with tourists, locals, and Italian middle schoolers. I literally had no room on the bus- my face was shoved in to some one's arm pit, and my arm pit was flush against someone's face. Beautiful. It was very funny to hear all the Italian kids ask the bus driver to stop (they yell PROSSIMA!!!!!!). Since they all were getting off at the same stop, they took turns yelling Prossima for several minutes. It was quite funny. Speaking of Italian middle schoolers, I got an internship teaching English at Sesto's Middle School- I start a week from Wednesday!
Should be a terrific week coming up- going to the pub tomorrow night to watch NFL games, opera tuesday night!
Bunoa Sera!
Friday, January 22, 2010
It's funny, because it leans. And it's not supposed to. Aha!
Today was yet another epic journey through Tuscany to two very different towns. Pisa, a touristy and otherwise very urbanized town, followed by Lucca, a hip town that maintains its laid back medieval feel with the help of the colossal walls that still stand around the city.
We began the day by taking the 1 hour train ride from Firenze to Pisa. The train actually drops you off about 2 miles from where everything is in Pisa... but we enjoyed our walk through the streets, especially marveling at another Arno River crossing.
After crossing the Arno, we continued our journey through the streets of Pisa. On this day, I looked even more like a tourist than normal, thanks to my handy blue backpack I brought along. Though it's meant for long trips with lots of luggage, I used it today to tout our lunches and extra jackets around. Amazingly, the backpack doesn't weigh me down thanks to its sleek design. Or maybe because I possess superhuman strength. But, given the amount of gelatto I've been eating on this trip, I'd say it's probably the former.
When we arrived in Pisa (where there is a large, somewhat tilted white tower in case you didn't know), we saw many tourists waving their arms frantically in the air. I was perplexed by this at first, and began to ask around about this mythical tower dance. See the below:
Meagan here thought these people were flirting with the tower... And this woman was waving at the tower like she was riding in a parade:
However, it took my ingenuity to realize that we were actually in grave danger. The tower was about to come to life and force us to buy cheap souvenirs such as Pisa boxershorts and tower shot glasses! So quickly, I did what any self-respecting man would do... and I pummeled that tower in to the ground!
After taking several touristy photos, we promenaded around the park that the cathedral, baptistry, and leaning tower are located in. Overall, Pisa is strikingly beautiful. Yes, there are kitchy souvenirs and tourists everywhere, but it is certainly a must see for anyone in this part of Italy. Here's a picture of our group of sojourners from today in front of Pisa:
After Pisa, we boarded the train once again for a strikingly beautiful ride through the Tuscan countryside, a place I can never grow weary of. Past snow-capped peaks, symmetric olive groves, and gaudy hilltop villas, the train chugged along until we reached Lucca. Lucca is a medieval town that has never abandoned its large city walls from the 12th century. Rather, it has embraced them as central to its town identity- and put a large park and path all along the top. This wall is so enormous that you can bike all the way around it, while admiring the gothic churches and distant mountains. Another perk, it's only 2 euros to rent a bike for an hour!
After we returned our bikes, we picked up some gelatto for the road. Mine was "chocolate mousse" flavored, though flavoring was an inaccurate term. This must have actually been chocolate mousse. The creamy, rich, milky sensation of that gelatto after such a relaxing ride on una bicicletta made for a great ending to the day.
But there's more! On our way back, we expected to be going all the way back to Santa Maria Novella, the Florence train station. Instead, the train pulled in to the Sesto train station, just a few blocks from where we live. So we made it back to the Villa, even in time for dinner... which was a delicious blend of eggplant, pesto noodles, fresh bread, and shrimp rissoto tonight, in case you were wondering!
Off to bed... More adventures await tomorrow in the medieval town of San (can't spell this yet...) Giononmo?
Arrivederci!
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Oh look, a church!
Between my first taste of italian cheesecake and some more romps through the mountains, it's been pretty relaxed these last few days. This morning, those of us in Mariotti's art history class got up early to go downtown. We visited two places. First was Palazzo Davanzati, a gothic palace built in the 13th century for the Davanzati family. Today, the palace is a museum displaying life in a medieval home. I particularly enjoyed all the defensive mechanisms designed in the buildings- a double layer of huge wood doors, holes in the ceiling to throw rocks on people's head, and trap doors to escape (with openings to throw hot lead on people's faces). All of these were necessary in the 13th century palace to defend from street fighting aristocratic families, like the Montigues and the Capulets. Often, the brawls in the street were between the Guelphs and the Ghibbelines, or those who were loyal to the Holy Roman Empire and those who were loyal to the pope. Imagine a horde of angry libertarians coming at your house with battering rams, torches, and crossbows....
Another interesting aspect of the museum was the indoor plumbing. This palace was clearly one of the wealthiest palaces in the city, as evidenced by the large drain on the floor which emptied both roof water and sewage in to the tunnels below. According to our world renowned art history professor, the palace also included one of the first bathrooms... "in the history of bathrooms." In addition to the illustrious johns, the walls were lushly decorated with painted on tapestries. Yes, that's right, the walls were painted to make it look like there were tapestries- Since these decorations were so expensive, even the wealthiest Florentine families had to resort to the imitation brand, or, the Steve and Barry's of the tapistry world.
After the palace came a visit to the Bascillica of Santa Croce, a franciscan church with famous paintings by Giotto and his pupils. We didn't have too much time so we rushed by Gailileo and Michaelangelo's tombs (they're not really important anyway) to see many of the paintings. The church itself was designed by Arnolfo di Cambrio, one of the bigger names in 13th century Florentine art and architecture (which is why it looks like the Cathedral of Florence, which he also designed).
Another interesting feature of the church was the tombs on the floor- you literally cannot step anywhere without trampling someone's headstone. So sorry, Medici and Bardi families. Though you were the wealthiest and most powerful bankers in the world, I stomped all over you today (respectively, of course).
This afternoon featured yet another run into the mountains- my endurance is building up daily. On the way back, an Italian woman asked me for directions somewhere. Not understanding much of what she said to me, I replied "non capisco. Sono Americano. Mi dispiache." Thank you first week of Italian 101!
Off to hear some "American Music" at a bar in Florence... big day in Pisa and Lucca tomorrow! Arrivederci!
First, a Few Videos
I know I've neglected to share enough videos on this site. With the sleek and slender usability of my Flip camera, I really need to pick up the slack in that department. Anyway, here are a few for now!
If this works, the above video is an aerial view of Florence shot from San Miniato al Monte--- sorry if it's shaky... my hands were freezing!
If this works, the above is either a video of us climbing a tower in Siena, or an aerial view of Siena from the top of the tower. We'll find out soon.
Finally, this is a video tour of our villa, taken on our first day. The area you are seeing is the Count's apartment... where the rich cats hung out. The student quarters are slightly less nice--- but only slightly.
If this works, the above video is an aerial view of Florence shot from San Miniato al Monte--- sorry if it's shaky... my hands were freezing!
If this works, the above is either a video of us climbing a tower in Siena, or an aerial view of Siena from the top of the tower. We'll find out soon.
Finally, this is a video tour of our villa, taken on our first day. The area you are seeing is the Count's apartment... where the rich cats hung out. The student quarters are slightly less nice--- but only slightly.
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Villa Corsi Salviati
