Blogs from Siena, Tuscany, Italy, Europe - page 8

This day started out as a total disaster! I was supposed to wake up at 7am because I had to be at the opposite end of the city to catch a bus for the daytrip to Siena and San Gimignano. My alarm clock went off and I hit the snooze button like always. What felt like 5 minutes later, my phone starts to ring. I answer it, and it was my friend Emily asking where I am. Apparently it was 7:50 and I had hit the off button instead of the snooze button by accident. I assure Emily that I am on my way as I jump out of bed and hang up the phone. I threw on the first clothes I lay my hands and grabbed my wallet and camera and sprinted out of my ... read more

From vacation week to the final haul... Coming home from Dublin was a big to-do. 5am bus, 8:30am flight, 2:00pm train, 5:00 arrival at Siena, then had to sleep outside of my host family's apartment in the freezing cold, like a poor beggar, all curled up next to my backpack, and wait for them to get home from Florence at 8:00pm. It was really, really cold. I was really, really grateful at 8pm. (and a little numb, too.) Within a few days, host-mom was being her ridiculous self, repeating sentences over and over and speaking to me condescendingly, and I was very, very angry, and almost hit her, and also almost flat out turned my back on her, and man did I write a whole lot of nasty things about her in my journal that night, ... read more

Today we left Rome. We had a great time staying at the BnB but it was sad for us all to say goodbye to Maia. The kids were very fond of her and Isabel particularly wanted to give Maria a gift. and each of the kids prepared a farewell/thankyou card. Maria also gave us a gift - an antique book on Rome. It was a great start to our holiday. La ringrazio molto Maria!! We travelled via shuttle bus to the car depot and found our new car - the Renault Grand Scenic. During the paper work it became apparent that the Tom-Tom only provided coverage for France - not all of Europe as we had arranged! The Eurolease guy explained the Australian paper-work never requested the full coverage and there was nothing he could do ... read more

Today left Florence & caught bus to Siena which took 1 & half hrs. Saw some nice countryside on way - its autumn here so some beautiful autumn leaves and its nice & green. Our hotel is nice and again central, bout 10 min walk frm bus stn. We walked around the historical centre where no cars are allowed so much quieter and laid back than busy florence and theres lots & lots of wine shops selling very cheap wines of the local region - Chianti & other luscious reds of Tuscan origin. We visited the cathedral which was different again then others we've seen - had lovely, inlaid marbled floor throughout all with different designs, and not all religious, one showed knights on horseback battling. It also had a room with frescoed ceilings and walls ... read more

So every time I write one of these things, I have to go back and look at my last one so I don't repeat anything, and it always surprises me. Seems like my 'emotional' definition of Italy is constantly changing. Last time, Italy was about loneliness and interesting experiences (good and bad) with Italian men. I still remember it all, but things are just so completely different now. Life just has a different... vibe, you know? And it'll probably change again tomorrow. Let's see now. I left off with my story about hot prosciutto man... That brings me to my first day of real classes. So I think I'll break this down for you class by class, because otherwise my coherency would be at stake. (JSYK, my morning routine from a month ago still applies. I'm ... read more