After sleeping poorly all night, I finally just got up around 7:10 so that my friend Megan and I could go to the local Friday market. It wasn’t too exciting because they were just setting up but there were fresh fruits, vegetables, cheeses, and fish, but it was certainly reminiscent of the Monday markets I used to frequent in Arad. One of the fish kiosks displayed not just your usual salmon and tuna, but octopus and sting ray. Only 12 euros a kilo, a real bargain. I then walked back towards the center (Santa Ciara) but passed the local church along the way. Taking inspiration from my friend Joe’s “open door policy,” I saw an open door and of course, proceeded to go through it. You have to understand that this town has a population of only 13,000 so this church isn’t anything grand like you’d see in Florence or Rome. That being said, it’s still pretty incredible.
 |
| Collegiata (our neighborhood church) |
The Corinthian-capitaled columns that line the nave, the carved wooden kneelers for the choir in the semicircular apse, a massive pipe organ balcony; it’s just incredible that this tiny town could produce something this impressive over five hundred years ago. We left the church and went back to the center (Santa Chiara) for breakfast and then went on another walking tour of the city. Lunch (which of course was awesome) was followed by nap time. No joke, the city shuts down from 1 until 4 so that everyone can go home to eat with their families and take naps. I wanted to try to stay awake so I attempted to watercolor. Note: I have never watercolored and it’s been a long time since I have done any kind of freehand drawing/coloring.
 |
| the view of Santa Ciara from my window |
 |
| my attempt at watercoloring the view from my window |
Eventually, time caught up with me and I just took a nap but hey, I managed to stay awake for at least a couple of hours. After nap time was a travel info session so we could learn how to use the trains and what to say to make sure we get on the right one (va bene per Castiglion Fiorentino) and then we had an Italian survival crash course. I know I’ll be saying mi despiace, non lo so (I’m sorry, I don’t know) a lot. Dinner came next, of course accompanied by a bottle of chianti, and then a few of us went to the teatre communale where the city was honoring, I think, a retired pianist by having a concert for him.
 |
| fellow students sitting in theater boxes across from mine |
It was really neat to 1) see the theater with it’s 19
th century architecture and painting, and 2) to go to an event with locals, especially when there is classical music involved. I thoroughly enjoyed the concert though it lasted a little too long. After the concert, we met up with other people on our program at a pub called the Velvet Underground. Pretty much everything here is called a “bar;” cafés, pubs, clubs, just about anywhere you can sit around and talk. The Underground was more of an American style bar with music and lots and lots of Italians. Everything here is super expensive, except for the wine of course. People on my program were buying Texas Teas for 5 Euros (about $6.80). It was basically like Logan’s or Mad Hatter’s, nothing special but it was neat to be surrounded by Italian people our age. My internet is being a little sketchy right now so I'll have to post photos later.
Ciao until next time,
Becca
No comments:
Post a Comment