Cetinaglia Casole d Elsa

For the last couple weeks my Italian culture class has been on and off again because my professor was hospitalized with pneumonia. This week she finally resumed lectures, however we are in a different class room that is literally right across from her apartment so she doesn't have to walk a long way in the cold. And it is getting really cold in Siena right now.

This, unfortunately, means ...

... suits and the women sexy short dresses. There was a live band and huge dance floor with couches and seats all around. Everyone was out on the floor dancing but not your typical club dancing but waltzing, tango, and other ballroom dances. They all floated across the floor professionally flowing perfectly around in a uniformed circle. During fast modern songs they stood a few feet apart from eachother bouncing and bobbing their heads like at an 8th ...

... alone weren’t enough of a draw, the cathedral’s high archways and spectacular dome are supported by really interesting, black-and-white-striped marbled columns that were knock-your-socks-off striking and very unique to any other cathedral we’ve seen. (I likened the interior to “elegant Dr. Suess,” although I’m not yet sure that works!). Also, through a door on the north side, we toured the church’s hidden ...

... life time on this trip already!
Climbed the tower in the main piazza, saw an enormously large pizza and had wild boar sausages for lunch which were a bit gamey but nice.
Went for drinks at Lochness bar and ended up drinking long islands as there wasn't much in the way of wine or beer there.

... with the O'Calahans, Orrs, Harpers and Ina. We had a competition where some riders told a story explaining the empty farm houses in the valleys that we rode pass. The evening concluded after dinner when we retired to our rooms.

Italy Day 14

We rose this morning and had breakfast with the Orrs. Today was planned off day with everyone taking a bus into Siena for a day of touring. Kathie and I had a head start from the day before but joined in for the tour also ...

... because we couldn't get a table anywhere. We got back into our car, drove just out of town, to a bar/pizzeria and had yummy pizza for dinner. Of course, while we were eating the sun went down and that meant our entire drive home, over the curvy dark Italian roads, would be in the dark. It turns out that the roads were marked well and we got home without incident, getting lost, or careening off of the side of a cliff.

... me, tonight!) and we strolled home. A big difference from Frascati: they were rolling up the sidewalks and the town was deserted and quiet by 9:30. We have museum tickets for Florence tomorrow. I will overdose on Renaissance art. No pictures tonight and I will probably not carry the camera tomorrow since they will restrict its use in the museum. Look for more to come after my jaunt through Tuscany and my overnight in Montalcino. Rob

... just arrived, dropped off their bags at the hostel (coincidentally, they ended up at the same place as me), and immediately went to the duomo. I greeted them with a big hug and they greeted me with a look of bewilderment. I don't think they expected that from me - but what can I say? It's the new me - very European! We walked a little bit and then grabbed dinner. Finally, I can have my Florentine steak! I've been saving it for tonight - it's a special occasion and it's time ...

... we attempted to find Bramasole (Frances' home in the movie "Under the Tuscan Sun"). I finally decided to call it quits, after driving around the winding hills and narrow roads of Cortona for half an hour. Nausea got the better of me. Our search for Bramasole obviously wasn't meant to be. It may be another incentive to visit this beautiful town. It started raining 20 minutes after we started our drive up to Florence. When we stopped for gas, you could feel the chill in ...

... and looked at the jewelry shops on the Ponto Veccio (a beautiful old bridge, only one to survive the bombings in WW1). We ate Calzone and Gelati. We visited Michelangelo and Galilao's tombs. i didn't see the statue of David, but i have decided that I will return to Florence before i head back to Oz.We spent the night at camp, we ate at the restaurant, drank wine and were merry. The next day we headed for Rome...