I Miei Genitori hanno visitato Siena!
In the Campo
the last day of Fritelle
In the Campo
the last day of Fritelle
school terrace
Siena Duomo
Bologna
Assisi: San Francesco
Spoleto
San Damiano: Assisi
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
Maremma
This past weekend the school took us on an overnight trip to Maremma, Italy. The bus ride wasn't that bad, about 1.5 hrs, and Maremma was beautiful. It's a town to the west of Siena on the water and they have a lot of natural parks.
First, we stopped at the Abbey of Sant' Antimo where we got a very educational and somewhat long winded tour from one of the monks though he was very nice. There was amazing light coming in through the windows and we got to see a little tomb downstairs.
Next was lunch in Montalcino, a cute little town near the Abbey, before heading out to the Banfi Castle for a wine tasting. We didn't see many people there at all. No one really walking around except us but I guess they were all inside taking their mid day siestas. Everywhere we went, the views were fantastic but Banfi Castle especially because there is a lot of surrounding land and large windows. We tried three different red wines that are made in the region and although I'm not a huge wine person, I thought they were all delicious. After we had some time to walk around and take it all in before leaving for the Agriturismo (called Case Cordovani) we stayed at for the night in Magliano (Toscana). The rooms were comfortable and had MTV (including some Italian music videos) and outside each door was a tiny painting of a different animal. I stayed in the horse room.
The Agriturismo the school picked was GREAT and there was even a white bulldog there to greet us at the door. Before dinner we all took a "Turkish/ steam bath" which included a steam room/shower and somewhat cramped but fun sauna which was very refreshing (never done that before). It was a good thing we rested before dinner because it was HUGE. I'm talking like 10 different courses. The agriturismo was similar to the one we stayed at during orientation in that they make all their own cheeses, cured meats, pasta etc. This meal was probably the most food that I have ever eaten in one sitting. I'll just list what we had each so you get the idea: 2 or 3 appetizers including cured meats, wine, cheese, 2 pasta plates (lasagna and other), potatoes with rosemary, home made sausage, lamb, cake. I know I'm forgetting something but you get the general idea. It was basically madness and breakfast was fantastic too including chocolate cake and cookies with home made jam, basically it's okay to have cookies for breakfast in Italy. If you are ever in Maremma I recommend this place.
After breakfast we drove out and before taking a 3.5 hr trek through a park near the sea which was about 8 miles I suppose, we stopped in a makeshift mini aquarium. The hiking trails were kind of weirdly marked and very steep (we all had long pants and jackets because we thought this was some kind of leisurely walk through the forest, we were wrong) but the weather was very warm/ it was beautiful out. We had our packed lunches at the top where there was a panoramic view of ocean and land. The water here is so greenish-blue and definitely beats the Atlantic. It was great exercise and definitely worth it in the end for the view. Even though the water was cold, I had to put my feet in, just because so we sat on a dock after the hike and got some ice cream.
We were all pretty tired by then but the last stop was at Monte Liveto Maggiore, another church but it had a mini museum, an ancient farmacista, and a library with ancient books. Then we all fell asleep on the bus ride home. Such a fun trip.
From far away
A comfy cat outside Banfi Castle
The view from the castle
Our tour guide demonstrating how alabaster is perfect for holding light
Streaming sunlight like lasers
Inside
Sitting on the docks
The view from the hike
First, we stopped at the Abbey of Sant' Antimo where we got a very educational and somewhat long winded tour from one of the monks though he was very nice. There was amazing light coming in through the windows and we got to see a little tomb downstairs.
Next was lunch in Montalcino, a cute little town near the Abbey, before heading out to the Banfi Castle for a wine tasting. We didn't see many people there at all. No one really walking around except us but I guess they were all inside taking their mid day siestas. Everywhere we went, the views were fantastic but Banfi Castle especially because there is a lot of surrounding land and large windows. We tried three different red wines that are made in the region and although I'm not a huge wine person, I thought they were all delicious. After we had some time to walk around and take it all in before leaving for the Agriturismo (called Case Cordovani) we stayed at for the night in Magliano (Toscana). The rooms were comfortable and had MTV (including some Italian music videos) and outside each door was a tiny painting of a different animal. I stayed in the horse room.
The Agriturismo the school picked was GREAT and there was even a white bulldog there to greet us at the door. Before dinner we all took a "Turkish/ steam bath" which included a steam room/shower and somewhat cramped but fun sauna which was very refreshing (never done that before). It was a good thing we rested before dinner because it was HUGE. I'm talking like 10 different courses. The agriturismo was similar to the one we stayed at during orientation in that they make all their own cheeses, cured meats, pasta etc. This meal was probably the most food that I have ever eaten in one sitting. I'll just list what we had each so you get the idea: 2 or 3 appetizers including cured meats, wine, cheese, 2 pasta plates (lasagna and other), potatoes with rosemary, home made sausage, lamb, cake. I know I'm forgetting something but you get the general idea. It was basically madness and breakfast was fantastic too including chocolate cake and cookies with home made jam, basically it's okay to have cookies for breakfast in Italy. If you are ever in Maremma I recommend this place.
After breakfast we drove out and before taking a 3.5 hr trek through a park near the sea which was about 8 miles I suppose, we stopped in a makeshift mini aquarium. The hiking trails were kind of weirdly marked and very steep (we all had long pants and jackets because we thought this was some kind of leisurely walk through the forest, we were wrong) but the weather was very warm/ it was beautiful out. We had our packed lunches at the top where there was a panoramic view of ocean and land. The water here is so greenish-blue and definitely beats the Atlantic. It was great exercise and definitely worth it in the end for the view. Even though the water was cold, I had to put my feet in, just because so we sat on a dock after the hike and got some ice cream.
We were all pretty tired by then but the last stop was at Monte Liveto Maggiore, another church but it had a mini museum, an ancient farmacista, and a library with ancient books. Then we all fell asleep on the bus ride home. Such a fun trip.
Sant' Antimo on a beautiful day
From far away
A comfy cat outside Banfi Castle
The view from the castle
Our tour guide demonstrating how alabaster is perfect for holding light
Streaming sunlight like lasers
Inside
Sitting on the docks
The view from the hike
In the aquarium
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
food
I'll post soon about last weekend in Maremma. Real fun. Tonight we had Chinese takeout for dinner which was fried rice and spring rolls. It was funny. I think the only other ethnic food restaurant in this city is kebab.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Rome (ing)
Today my Italian class watched a Fellini film (I Vitelloni) for the cultural section and then we went to our teacher's house to have lunch! The other Italian class is jealous of us because everyone loves Claudia (our teacher). She's cool, hip and nice. She made us lasagna and wine was brought. Her apartment is baller. She lofted her be d to make more room and has lots of eclectic pictures and furniture. Her place seemed like a perfect expression of her personality.
It's starting to get warm here too. SPRING IS UPON US.
Rome was interesting! It didn't feel like Italy at all and was pretty metropolitan. The subways were just as crowded as New York but had interesting graffiti all over. I went with three friends, and met 2 others when we got there. The bus was comfortable and only took about three hours from Siena. The buses have huge windows so it's nice to just look out on the rolling hills/ sheep/ green land. The Sunday there was the Giornata Della Donna in Italy so admission to the Forum was gratis (free) for all women (woooo). There were a lot of tourists and I can't imagine what it's like during May and June, probably what carnivale was like. For some reason I can tolerate tourists in NYC but in Rome it was a little too much. All in all it was fun. Here are some pictures.
Sistine Chapel
Piazza Basilica
Pieta with dramtic lighting
Rome has so many great ceilings but it hurts your neck after awhile
In the huge basilica
More dramatic lighting
We sat here for awhile
Fontana Trevi at night
Pantheon- so geometric
Colosseum
vicino forum
anche questo
sitting on ancient ruins
Finito
This weekend is Maremma with the school. I hear they have great parks with horses and wild boar a-roaming.
It's starting to get warm here too. SPRING IS UPON US.
Rome was interesting! It didn't feel like Italy at all and was pretty metropolitan. The subways were just as crowded as New York but had interesting graffiti all over. I went with three friends, and met 2 others when we got there. The bus was comfortable and only took about three hours from Siena. The buses have huge windows so it's nice to just look out on the rolling hills/ sheep/ green land. The Sunday there was the Giornata Della Donna in Italy so admission to the Forum was gratis (free) for all women (woooo). There were a lot of tourists and I can't imagine what it's like during May and June, probably what carnivale was like. For some reason I can tolerate tourists in NYC but in Rome it was a little too much. All in all it was fun. Here are some pictures.
academia
Sistine Chapel
Piazza Basilica
Pieta with dramtic lighting
Rome has so many great ceilings but it hurts your neck after awhile
In the huge basilica
More dramatic lighting
We sat here for awhile
Fontana Trevi at night
Pantheon- so geometric
Colosseum
vicino forum
anche questo
sitting on ancient ruins
FinitoThis weekend is Maremma with the school. I hear they have great parks with horses and wild boar a-roaming.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Sun
Today in Art History 2 (curatorial/ museum studies) we met again at the Pinacoteca, actually first in a caffe across the street and then at the Pinacoteca. We talked about what theme we want our show to have and I think we decided on paintings with narrative featuring important saints. We're also trying to incorporate paintings with references to Siena (sienese cloth, sienese architecture, etc). We decided on 7 paintings focusing mainly on medieval and about two from renaissance. I think it'll be really good. We're going to research the pictures and then reconvene next Thursday to discuss. Eventually we're going to put together some combo of displays, plaques, and pamphlets.
On another note, my Italian teacher is awesome. She is so nice (Claudia) and we swapped music. I think our class is going to eat lunch with her on Wednesday. She's pretty young too and she wears funky cool stuff.
The Book Art woman is fun too. She's Australian and ended up living in Italy when she was asked to help restore books that were hundreds of years old in this private library. She often brings in books that shes bound and they're great. She is extremely patient considering there are 8 of us asking her questions all the time. You can tell she really enjoys what she does.
Today was also the first day that it hasn't rained this week and everyone was roaming around the main streets with their dogs.
Tomorrow is Rome! We're taking a 7am bus so I'm not looking forward to waking up at 6am but I think it will be well worth it. I'll post pictures when I get back.
Probably will be getting a housemate from Hungary who is taking a course in art restoration in Siena or Florence.
On another note, my Italian teacher is awesome. She is so nice (Claudia) and we swapped music. I think our class is going to eat lunch with her on Wednesday. She's pretty young too and she wears funky cool stuff.
The Book Art woman is fun too. She's Australian and ended up living in Italy when she was asked to help restore books that were hundreds of years old in this private library. She often brings in books that shes bound and they're great. She is extremely patient considering there are 8 of us asking her questions all the time. You can tell she really enjoys what she does.
Today was also the first day that it hasn't rained this week and everyone was roaming around the main streets with their dogs.
Tomorrow is Rome! We're taking a 7am bus so I'm not looking forward to waking up at 6am but I think it will be well worth it. I'll post pictures when I get back.
Probably will be getting a housemate from Hungary who is taking a course in art restoration in Siena or Florence.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
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