Yesterday as the group photo of Summer 2008, Gonzaga in Florence. We trekked (and it is a trek) to Piazale Michelangelo for the great backdrop of Florence for the photo. Then afterwards I attended vespers at San Miniato al Monte with four students. It was a beautiful and peaceful service. And the crypt was nice and cool, which it was not outside. I then took the four students to dinner and we had a great time. This was a perfect Study Abroad day! [View Full Entry]

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Here are the pictures of Cortona. I can't seem to figure out how to add them to the other post! [View Full Entry]

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Ah Cortona, land of the Tuscan sun. Well, not really. I was promised Francis Mayes' stlye "Under the Tuscan Sun" but got more of under the Tuscan drizzle. Nevertheless, the town is beautiful and I had a lovely time with some GU alums at their villa. We made pizza in their outdoor pizza oven and through the rain were treated to a rainbow over the valley. The pictures will have to wait, I can't seem to upload them! [View Full Entry]

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Spent the weekend in Rome with Father Maher, his twleve students, Shannon McCambridge, her son, sister-in-law, two nieces and nephew. We went on thursday via the Eurostar train which takes only an hour and a half. Michael met us at the train station, put us on the bus and we headed to the pensione. We got settled and met his students for a trip to the North American Pontifical College and the view from their roof is amazing. We headed to dinner and then Michael took me for a walk around the city a bit before we sat down for cannolli [View Full Entry]

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Since we do not have classes on Friday and it appeared the weather was going to hold, I headed out for Santa Croce, which is really not really far from the Duomo. It is a more working class area. The church is a Franciscan church. Many of Italy's famous scientists are entombed there as well as others. They include Galileo and Fermi. The imposing statue of Dante was moved to the next to the chruch from the Piazza square. The Cimabue Crucifix is hanging in theor museum after it was damaged and restored from the 1966 flood. [View Full Entry]

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Greetings! I am almost at the end of week 1 in Florence. It is hard to believe that this much time has gone by. At the end of classes today, week 1 of classes is over and the students head out for a weekend trip. I hope their hiking isn't too dampened by rain. Not much new to report since yesterday, but I am posting some photos. A lot of them were taken from my apartment window. They include some of the 1000 mile car race that went through FLorence, some of a footrace the next morning, some of folks reading [View Full Entry]

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I arrived Friday around 13:00, just about an hour after expected. All is going well. My apartment has a great view and the next time I lug my laptop to school I will upload some photos. Having no email at hom puts a damper on that (and so does the rain we've had). My exploring has been limited by the rain and jetlag worse than I anticipated, but still, all is well. Classes have begun in earnest and so far they are going well and most students seem, for right now, to be students! I am hoping the weather holds this [View Full Entry]

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In about 36 hours I will be headed off to Florence, Italy for my 6 weeks teaching and one week traveling. Although, there will be some traveling in that 6 weeks of teaching, too! I am packed. Well, I have all the things I want to bring fitting in my one suitcase, but I fear it is too heavy. I will have to work on that. And I am packed with suggestions, too. Everyone who has gone to GIF has a list of places for me to see, things to do, places to eat, things to see. I hope I get [View Full Entry]

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