A Weekend Getaway

I have been lucky enough to see and experience a lot of Italy in my three weeks here. I have been to Angihari, Arezzo twice, Perugia, Monterchi, and Caprese Michelangelo. However, all of those trips have been in a group of people who had already planned the trip for me and knew what they were doing and where they were going. This weekend was the first time that I was able to make my own travel plans. During our first week in Italy, a couple joined us for lunch in the palazzo. The woman is a Meredith Alum who moved to Italy with her husband in 2007. This couple, Martha and Ben, live outside of Siena and made us students an offer that we couldn’t resist. The offer was that they would pick us up from the bus station in Arezzo and while driving us back to their house we would stop and see a couple small towns on the way. We would stay in their guesthouse and the next morning they would serve us a small breakfast and drive us to Siena. The next morning they would serve us an American breakfast and drive us back to Sansepolcro. Hannah, Lauren, and I decided that a weekend in Siena sounded like a great idea and a weekend in Siena that included transportation, a place to stay, and an American breakfast sounded even better!
Friday afternoon after class and lunch (we couldn’t miss Margarita’s lunch) we headed to the bus station. Our bus ride to Arezzo was the most interesting bus ride yet. About twenty minutes into our trip the bus driver pulls the bus over on the side of the road and gets out. As we look out the window we see him smoking a cigarette. After a few minutes another bus, which is empty pulls up, and the two bus drivers talk for a few minutes before getting back into their buses and continuing their routes. I now know one of the many reasons why Dr. Webb always tells us not to plan our bus rides and train rides too close together. Just because your bus ride from Sansepolcro to Arezzo is only supposed to take an hour does not mean that you will get there within an hour.
We arrived in Arezzo and found Martha and Ben already waiting for us. After a few minutes of quick hellos and reintroductions we were ready to head out to see a couple of small towns on the way to Ben and Martha’s house. We stopped in Chianti, Gargonza, and Monte San Savino. Chianti had a gorgeous view of the Tuscan mountains. Gargonza was like stepping out of the car and onto the grounds of a castle and Monte San Savino felt a lot like Sansepolcro. The next stop after Monte San Savino was Ben and Martha’s house. Ben and Martha live on a lovely farm that overlooks the Tuscan mountains. After settling into the guest house, which was also very lovely, the girls and I met Martha and Ben on their back deck to enjoy snacks and wine while waiting for the sun to set. Once the sun began to set the scenery that surrounds their house suddenly became even more picturesque than it already was. I tried to take as many pictures as I could of the unbelievable background that was in front of me but none of the pictures were able to do that moment any justice. The next couple of hours of that night were filled with eating, great conversation, and lots of laughing.
The next morning the girls and I woke up and had a quick breakfast before heading out to Siena for the day. We arrived in Siena around 10:30am and had seven hours before Martha and Ben would be back to pick us up. We were a little unsure about the weather because the weather forecast was calling for a possibility of rain but the day ended up being perfect for walking around all day. Lauren, Hannah and I decided that since we had plenty of time to see everything that we would begin the day walking around without a set destination. There were a couple of places that we wanted to see but we knew that if we walked around we would eventually get to all of those places anyhow. The only downfall of making the decision to start off by walking around was that we immediately found places where we wanted to shop. Since we did not want to carry bags around all day and knew that there were plenty of other stores that may have better prices we decided that maybe it was time to head to the Piazza del Campo. After locating the Piazza and walking around for a bit we spotted a stripped tower in the distance. I thought to myself “Oh, what a cool tower.” I took a picture of it and then continued on my way. Our next goal was to find the duomo. After walking up what seemed like a never ending up hill journey we reached a huge stripped building with a stripped tower attached to it. This was the duomo. After admiring its outward beauty and attempting to capture its greatness through pictures we walked into the bookstore across from the duomo. It was in this store that I picked up a children’s guide to Siena and read about the duomo and about Saint Cathrine of Siena. This guide book offered many quick and simple facts such as the duomo that we see today was only supposed to be a small arm of what the cathedral was supposed to be.
Following our trip to the bookstore Hannah, Lauren and I decided that seeing the inside of the duomo was something that we would be willing to pay for. We quickly hopped in line before the line could get any longer and in no time we were standing in the most beautiful church that I have ever seen. Everything about the duomo was breathtaking: the stripped interior, the marble floor, the choir chairs, and the dome! After walking around the church for quite some time, the girls and I sat down in the pews and tried to continue to take in every little detail of the duomo that we possibly could. When we finally decided that there was no way that any of us could ever walk out of the duomo completely satisfied because it was that beautiful and mind blowing, we all walked back out onto the streets of Siena completely silent. There were no words to describe the experience we had just had besides, “Wow!” but that was just not enough. The word “wow” was all that came to mind but it was too simple of a word to describe such a powerful experience. I have heard from others that the duomo in Siena was their favorite and most memorable duomo experience. As excited as I am that I got the opportunity to see the duomo in Siena when I did, part of me wonders if it would have been better to see this particular duomo later on in my trip. Now, when I see duomos in other places such as Florence will I hold them all to the standards of the duomo that I fell in love with in Siena or will I learn to appreciate each structure on its own? We are travelling to Florence next weekend so I guess I will find my answer after visiting the famous duomo in Florence.

1, 2, BOOM!

We all have rough days every once in awhile even if you are living in Italy. Who knew? This morning we woke up, luckily not too bright and early, and headed off to Perugia for the afternoon. We used the local train station in Sansepolcro and in about an hour and a half we were in Perugia. The weather was beautiful. It was a pretty perfect day for walking around the city: sunny, warm and breezy. We stepped off the train and began our walk up the many hills to the center of the city. Being that it was Sunday most of the shops around the city were closed but the city was still busy none the less. There was a market along the main street. They were selling everything from jewelry to framed drawings of Perugia. After visiting the tourist office and getting maps of the city the 10 of us, 6 girls plus Dr. Webb and John Rose, split up into smaller groups. Lauren and I spent no time beginning our search for food. We walked through a food market where many vendors were selling meats and cheeses. It was very interesting to observe how the food market operated, however, it was not the kind of food we were looking to eat for lunch so we continued our search. We did not want our search for food to consume the majority of our afternoon so we quickly found ourselves in a small shop that served pizza, burgers and falafels. The place did not seem as if its quality of food was all that promising so pizza seemed like the safest option. Of course after all of our searching for a quick and inexpensive lunch, the lady behind the counter explained that they would not be serving pizza for another 30 minutes. Surprisingly not frustrated we decided to continue admiring Perugia and if we eventually found something to eat then that would be great but seeing the city was more important to us. While walking up and down the main street of Perugia I spotted a chocolate shop out of the corner of my eye and immediately thought, “I have to go in there!” Perugia is known for their chocolate so as far as I’m concerned a trip to Perugia without trying their chocolate is an incomplete trip. After chocolate, Lauren and I decided to get off the main street and began walking up and down the side streets. Taking the side streets in Perugia was the best thing that we could have done because we soon found an absolutely breathtaking view of Perugia. It was in this moment that the fact that I was having a rough day and all of the thoughts of how much homework I had waiting for me back in Sansepolcro disappeared completely. All I could think about was how God’s beauty is truly everywhere. Lauren and I sat down and admired the view for about 20 minutes before we started making our way back to the train station. We decided to take one of the earlier trains back home so we could finish our homework. As we were walking back to the train station I realized that I am better with directions that I thought I was. I remembered exactly how to get back to the train station from where we were. Granted, we went back to the train station the exact same way that we had come but we made it to where we were going on time and without getting lost.
Along with realizing that you are going to have rough days no matter where you are, realizing that God’s beauty is everywhere, and that I am pretty good with directions, I learned that there is just something about trains and train rides that put me to sleep. I have yet to be on a train and not fall asleep at some point during the ride. The views that you are able to see while on the trains are gorgeous! Every time that I take a train or a bus ride anywhere within Tuscany I am beyond amazed at how beautiful it is. I still can’t believe that I am living here!

Il profondo mistero di ciò che stai dicendo mi infuoca il cuore

This past week has been full of classes, homework, and more classes. The semester is in full swing, but I will not complain because I am in ITALY! Since I’ve been here I’ve really surprised myself. I am such a family oriented person and my friends mean the absolute world to me. I was a little nervous before I left about how I would feel about leaving my family and friends for almost 4 months. Since I’ve been here I’ve been so content and excited about this adventure that I haven’t had time to let myself sit down get homesick. I do miss my family and friends and wish that they could experience part of this adventure with me but I refuse to waste this opportunity wishing that I was back in North Carolina. North Carolina will be just where I left it in December. However, I was super excited when I got to skype with my best friend this week! It’s so strange and a little frustrating at times that my best friend is not here to share these memories with me but the one thing that some of the girls here keep saying is that everyone they love is in their hearts and therefore they are here with them. What a great way to look at things.

I think it is absolutely amazing how fast all of us girls got to know each other and how close we have become. Within the first week of our being here I realized how hard it was going to be not only to leave Italy but to leave these girls. Living with 9 other girls has been fun and not nearly as challenging as I thought it might be; granted we do live in a palace and there is plenty of room for us all to spread out. I feel like the Palazzo Alberti and these girls have become my home away from home. I can’t imagine what it will feel like when I first get home and sit down for lunch at a table that sits four people instead of twenty or what it will be like to not all be in the kitchen making dinner together. I have a feeling that life is going to be quiet.

While out for drinks the other night us girls were sitting at the table discussing how we wanted to go somewhere this next weekend. After a day of classes and an afternoon of homework here we are, four girls, at a dinner table deciding on a whim that next weekend we will go to Rome. Never would I have ever imagined that I could sit down at a table and realistically say, “Let’s spend next weekend in Rome.” What an awesome and humbling experience. It was in that moment that the reality of how fortunate I am hit me!

I hope everyone at home is doing wonderful! Hugs and Kisses to you all!

You're like a backseat driver but with food

Let me start off by saying that I am so blessed! I've been in Italy a little over a week now and each day I realize more and more just how beautiful and priceless this opportunity is and I am beyond grateful.

Last weekend, our first weekend in Italy, was spent making new friends. I have come to realize that there is no better way to learn about and experience a culture than to experience that culture with someone who lives in it. Saturday night most of us girls went out to dinner with Giacomo and Giacomo..now affectionately referred to as Giacomo uno and Giacomo due. After enjoying great pizza and even better company we were off to the discoteca. What an experience that was! The night was full of dancing, laughs, and many memories! The DJ even played Greased Lightning and for anyone who knows me and how much I love my Grease soundtrack can just imagine how exciting that was! Sunday was spent having lunch with Dr. Webb, John Rose and all of the girls. We sat outside to eat on what had to be, hands down, the most beautiful day in Italy thus far. The first course consisted of great bread and pasta which I ate way too much of and was full by the time the next course had come out. Lucky for me, because I was so full, I decided to eat just one of the meats that had been served to us. Later, I was informed that the meat in which I did not eat was rabbit. Thank you Lord for not letting me eat little bunny foo foo. After lunch I could not bring myself to go back and sit inside the palazzo so we walked around the town for a bit. Later, Nicole, Hannah, Lauren, the Giacomo's and I went around saw the most beautiful views of Tuscany. Tuscany is, without a shadow of a doubt, my new favorite place!

One of the most interesting things that I have learned while in Italy is how amazing it is that you can put two people side by side who do not speak the same language and yet they communicate and still form connections and build friendships together. I have both witnessed this happen and experienced this for myself and it is truly astonishing.

I am so excited to see what the rest of the semester holds! :)