Benvenuti a Siena and Its Amazing "cibo!"

Unsure of what to write about on my first blog for this Siena excursion or how I could cram every amazing memory I’ve made in the past few weeks into just one post, I’ve decided to narrow my topic down to the absolutely delicious Sienese cuisine. Already an avid food photographer (okay, okay, just for Instagram and Facebook) at home, I have been on top of the food photos everywhere we’ve gone from the day we arrived. One of the best ways to learn about a culture is through its cuisine, and Siena does not disappoint.

             

On our first morning in Siena before orientation, our Italian roommate Michela took us to this amazing little bar directly off of the Piazza Del Campo called “Key Largo” where we all got delicious caffellattes and pastries. The bar has a second level and through a small door off the seating area at the top is a balcony to overlook the entire city. It was a warm welcome to Siena on a cold morning, and a wonderful view to start off our trip.

             

Another one of my favorite meals so far was my first chance to try Italian pizza. Discovered at a small restaurant again off of the Piazza Del Campo, we truly found a hidden gem with wonderful pizzas and a great house wine! The pizza in Italy is a lot thinner, and the sauce and cheese are so fresh. I will never be satisfied with delivery pizza at home again after this trip.

 


Another great thing you MUST try here is the Ribollita soup (a traditional Sienese dish). It is a staple at almost all restaurants and each one adds their own personal touch. It is a warm soup with mixed vegetables, beans, bread, and spices and it is just perfect on a cold day. I haven’t tried one I haven’t liked! (And I’ve tried 3 in the 3 weeks I’ve been here!)

           

 Desserts are another wonderful treat in Siena. There are pastry shops down almost every street and each one is better than the last. You will quickly realize that the Italians LOVE their Nutella! Mini Nutella-filled croissants have been my favorite and they can be found at the Panificio Bar Pasticceria right down the street from CET. They’re a perfect snack in between classes and the women in the shop are very sweet and patient when you speak with them in Italian.

            

There are many more things I’ve had in Siena that have been delicious including pasta, salads, vegetables, chocolates, and things I’ve made up in my own kitchen that have turned out amazing. Whatever your taste buds desire there is something you’ll love waiting for you in Siena!

Madison Bedford, University of Virginia

Snow, Rain and Hail

I write this first blog to prospective and declared CET Siena(ers) from the comfy couch of my homestay. Cuddled up under my blanket, thankfully, I do not have to go to class this Monday morning as it is snowing in Siena and the whole city has essentially shut down!!! When it snows, the buses don’t run so no one can get to work. Having been here in Siena for almost three weeks, it is not a coincidence that the snow came at a perfect time for my classmates and me to have the morning off. After two weekends in a row of traveling, I think we can all say that a couple hours to get ourselves back together is just what the doctor ordered. I am a New England girl, and being pretty familiar with inclement weather, I have felt right at home here in Siena, Italy.

            

After these past weekends of traveling, there are so many clothes to wash, photos to upload, and homework to finish up. Here in Siena, we have almost all Fridays free of class, which makes traveling every weekend too good to not take advantage of. My first weekend here, all ten of us in the program hopped on the morning bus to Firenze, to spend the day. This major Tuscan city is so close by and a perfect trip for a day of sightseeing. Having Florence less than 1.5 hours away by bus makes Siena really feel like our home outside of the big city. Walking around Florence and ending up at the top of Piazzale Michelangelo was the moment where I realized, “Wow! After a week and a half of being here, I am actually in Italy.”

             

I spent the night in Firenze and the next morning hopped on a bus with my friends from another program to Venezia, destined for Carnevale (Via bus2alp.com, which I highly recommend to all).One never realizes how much of a task it is to find the perfect mask for dancing in Piazza di San Marco until you see five stores on a street filled with their beautiful creations. 

And here enters my next encounter of precipitation-Rain. It poured the whole day in Venice and we froze. However, that did not stop us from enjoying ourselves. We had an amazing time exploring Venice’s water-filled beauty and I plan on returning on a weekend where the rain does not confine us to the indoors. The city is truly unique where its system of public transportation is basically a boat subway. This Blew my mind. After a long day of trekking through the rain, my friends and I realized that it was about time to give in and have a drink at the one place we knew would make us feel at home, the Hard Rock Cafe in Venice. So American of us, but it had to be done.

             

When I finally arrived home Sunday night to Piazza Gramsci in Siena, I was welcomed back with another one of Mother Nature’s presents, a hail storm. After losing my umbrella in Venice, I lacked coverage and was being pelted by the tiny, frozen rain balls. I had to run home as quickly as possible. I cannot even explain the relieved feeling as I walked into my warm, Italian homestay where my host mother greeted me and immediately offered tea and biscotti. I had survived the weather and made it home; Siena is where home is for now.

Megan Kessler, Brandeis University

Student Correspondent Spring 2013