An interesting afternoon...

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Just a quick update on an entirely strange and exciting afternoon yesterday.... So, after class ended, I was walking with Hannah, my new friend from Bryn Mawr (we didn't really know each other before coming to Italy, but she's wonderful and I'm glad that Italy introduced us to each other!). We are in the process of making plans for a trip on Saturday. We think that we would like to go back to a beach while the weather is still nice, so we were heading to a travel agency to ask about the best places to go and the transportation. While on the way to our destination, we ran into a group of people looking for a different destination- a group of very tired-looking religious pilgrims carrying an enormous cross. Before I knew what was happening, the pilgrims were coming over to us and asking for directions about how to get to the Basicila di San Domenico. I ended up giving them directions in Italian and they thanked me and went on their way. I just stood there dumbfounded and Hannah turned to me and said 'Elizabeth, I think you just gave directions to a group of Italian pilgrims...' As if that wasn't enough for one afternoon in Siena, two seconds later, Hannah gasped and grabbed my arm and exclaimed, 'There's a famous actor!' Indeed, Toby from the West Wing was standing on the corner snapping photos of the pilgrims, and Hannah and I went over and talked to him! (Hannah was so excited that she was trembling with this awed look on her face). He was very friendly and took some time to ask us our names and make a little conversation (when he saw my camera, he said 'oh, is that a Nikon? I think that's the same one I have....' Although my camera is a Kodak, not a Nikon, I really couldn't think of any words, so I just smiled and nodded).
After he walked away, Hannah and I just stood in the street for a while recapping what had just happened to us..... and we both have to admit that we really love Siena!

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Comments

[Leslie Britt]

Ciao bella
Hey there darling, I love reading about all your crazy exploits. I'll be joining you soon on that side of the Atlantic and I hope I have as good a time as you're having :) Miss you, Les