Blogs from Siena, Tuscany, Italy, Europe - page 9

Today was a wonderful adventure in Tuscany!! We left the hotel around noon and traveled to the town of Siena, not really knowing what to expect. We arrived to find a beautiful piazza with the famous Duomo. First we toured the Santa Maria della Scala museum. We saw the Comune di Siena, their permanent exhibits, a special Michelangelo exhibit, and a special restoration exhibit. There has been excavation and restoration by the town of Siena in this building. The building began as a hospital and place for orphans to come and eventually be launched into life. This all occurred in the 13th, 14th, & 15th centuries. Then we toured the Duomo (Cathedral), baptistery and crypts. The artwork, portraits, carvings and church were phenomenal. After many hours of walking, we began our trip back towards San Gimignano. ... read more

Quick update... I just wrote on Friday, but my Sunday story needs to be written. SO there's this beach in Follonica, Italy. And my friends and I decided to go there for a day trip on Sunday. I got up at 7am and headed to the bus stop to buy my ticket, because my friends had all bought theirs on Saturday. "I would like to buy a round-trip ticket from Siena to Follonica, please," I said in decent Italian. "There is no room on the return bus," she says. Cool. So I call host-mom, and she tells me to go, and just take the train home. Okay. So me, Lisa-Ray, Sarah, Zac, and Katy catch the bus and ride to the Villagio Svissero stop in Follonica, where the free public beach was. Just an fyi, the ... read more

I cannot even BELIEVE it's been just four days since I arrived in Italy. So much has happened. I'm in a constant state of being stunned silent, confused, feeling stupid, and trying to find humor in the stunned silence, confusion, and stupidity. And I can't possibly be turning 21 on tuesday because I feel like a 2 month old. My communication skills are that of a tiny baby. When I got on the plane, I had no phone, no internet, and no friends. I made 2 during the flight, which was rather exciting - a 26 yr old Israeli/Russian man named Boris and a 47 yr old Italian woman named Annamaria. We talked pretty much the entire flight. The first of many things that I never expected myself to do. lol I landed at 8am, in ... read more

Got up fairly early along with Pegah and Laura to make our day trip out to Siena, supposedly a smaller but equally as appealing city as Florence. We had planned to hop off the train on the way there in some tiny town to grab a traditional lunch. We decided to just pick a random number (2) and then get off the train after two more stops. Stop number 2 at that point ended up being Siena. FAIL. Probably worked out for the best though as Pegah had to head out fairly early to catch her train down to Sorrento. Wandered through the medieval streets for a little and ended up in the main square which I heard many considered the most beautiful in the world. Don't think I would go that far but it is ... read more

Siena!!! Che bella citta! I arrived in Seina, and what a beautiful city! It surrounded by villas and farms and little towns on rolling hillsides! I am staying on just the outskirts of the city, and it is so beautiful! The veiw! The garden! Oh my! I went into the center just for a while today. I was so exhausted! But I walked around the main piazza called Il Campo. Each year in July they have a famous horse race there called palio. This city is much smaller than the others I have visited so far. Much more tranquile! (until someone scores in a world cup game then the noise coming from the bars is quite boisterous!) I also walked to Il Duomo. It was simply breathtaking. And from there I just wandered around wherever it ... read more