The first week in Siena felt
like a month. It was stretched out and exhausting from all of the new
stimulants I was being exposed to (in the best way possible). Adapting to
listening to Italian, learning to use keys on very old doors, finding my way
through crooked streets that don't even remotely resemble the logic of a grid,
resetting my schedule to get accustomed to long morning classes, afternoon
adventures, late dinners, and nighttime escapades, not to mention meeting tons
of new people at once, made for a dense week. Now it feels as if time has flown
by. The past two weeks just vanished. There's so much life happening in Italy
that it's nearly impossible to keep track of it all.
The first week was really the
period of adjustment, which culminated in a class trip to the Terme dell’Antica
Querciolaia, local Tuscan hot springs. The water is pumped from the surrounding
mountains and the sulfur does wonders for one's skin. There were about 6 pools
ranging from hot to hotter to extremely hot (Italians call them cold, warm, and
hot). As long as you remember to apply sunscreen and drink water, it is one of
the most relaxing activities to experience. It's very much a reset button. The
bus ride there is through scenic, rolling hills and the ride back is behind
your eyelids.
At the start of the second
week, there was a shift for everyone in terms of changing habits. Grocery store
visits, home cooked dinners, and evenings at Piazza del Campo started becoming
frequent occurrences. The Sienese Art and Architecture class began and
Professor Silvia Giorgi took our group around the city, commentating on Siena's
history and development along the way. We learned to distinguish between
Romanesque and gothic architecture and to identify construction during the
Russian (barbaric) occupation. At Fonte Branda, Silvia explained the advanced
engineering applied by the Etruscans in terms of water transportation and
protection in Siena. Her city tour added another dimension to our acquaintance
with Siena.
The weekend offered a chance
to go to Firenze for a day. The temperamental weather gods smiled on us; it
stormed on our bus ride in and the skies cleared as soon as we stepped out of
the bus. It was the perfect day to go to Piazzale Michelangelo and the public
gardens. En route, we found an excellent café just outside the walls at the
base of the hill that lead to our destination. Our unplanned adventure lead us
over a few bridges, through the gardens, nearly up a tower, around the Duomo,
to the world's best gelateria, Caffé Perseo, and best panini shop, I Due
Fratellini, (I say these things with absolute confidence). We walked without a
plan or a map and also found ourselves in the finest stationary store I have
ever had the pleasure of perusing, Il Cartiglio. Their items are handmade in
Firenze and absolutely breathtaking. In the San Lorenzo market, we practiced
our hands at bargaining, with various levels of success. After 8 hours, the
clouds began rolling back in and we decided to roll out.
We caught a 5:20 bus back to
Siena, which offered the opportunity to power nap before heading out to watch
the Italy v. England World Cup match. That evening is a story for another time.
Right now, Siena awaits.
Eve Litvak, Brandeis
Summer 2014
