Dove aquacalda?

I took a day trip to Siena this past Saturday with David, Hannah and Chloe. We took the train early in the morning and were starving by the time we got in (didn't have time for the usual breakfast).  Chloe, being the navigating champ she is, found us this amazing deli/market called Gino Cucino (in the pictures it's the door surrounded with purple flowers). I got a sandwich with parmesan and pancetta...yum. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.

So...we heard there were hot springs in Siena and all brought our bathing suits in preparation. We went into a tabacchi to buy bus tickets and ask which bus took us to the hot springs, or we translated it literally - aquacalda. He told us the bus to take and it was about a twenty minute ride. We got excited when we started seeing aquacalda everywhere. We got off the bus stop where the bus driving told us and walked to where the signs were pointing. We walked into a building and here is the conversation that ensued (courtesy of Chloe's blog).

David: Is this where the pool is?
Front Desk Lady: Yes.
Hannah: How much is it? 
Front Desk Lady: It's 5.20, and you can stay until 4pm.
Hannah: Only 5.20? That's so cheap.
Front Desk Lady: Okay, all of you?
David: Yep
Front Desk Lady: There are a few open lanes for swimming, and you have to wear swim caps. Did you bring your own?
Chloe: No.. what if we just want to sit in the hot pool?
Front Desk Lady: Uhm.. yes, you still need them, I might have some extras..
David: Wait, is this the natural hot springs?
Front Desk Lady: No.. this is just a pool.
.... 
David: But it's called "aquacalda"?
Front Desk Lady: That's the region. The Siena hot springs are about 40km outside Siena.

It was for all intensive purposes, a YMCA. So that's how are day went. After that we took some time to lay in the grass next the building where are dreams were shattered before making our way back to the center. We visited the duomo and then stopped at a cute market on a side street to get a beer and eat some cheetos. Strange day.

Friendly faces, fancy food

My lack of posting has been due to visits from home! My father and Leslie joined me in Florence for the weekend. Our time together was spent catching up over delicious meals and walking around the city. I bought my first Florentine leather purse! It's the perfect size and it feels like butter. We had high noon tea at their hotel, the St. Regis and a dinner that left me in a meat-coma for the remainder of the night. Our time together went by in a second, I didn't know time could move so fast!

Purse purchase 

First day of class

Prosciutto and melon

"All my life I had let others provide for me, and while I loved the people who had nurtured and built me intellectually, I felt that emotionally it was time to look after myself" -The Power of One

 Today was my first day of class. Thursdays are my easiest days, I only have Italian at 3:00. I still can't get over how gorgeous the campus is! Pictures don't even do it justice. It's very distracting to look out the classroom window and see rows of olive trees, large cypress trees and villas in the distance. I took my time walking the 4.7 km to class. Unfortunately, it's all uphill. Coupled with the heat of the day, I arrived at class looking as though I had just completed a triathlon. By the time I walked back down after class the sun wasn't as high and downhill was more pleasant. Last night I went to dinner with my roommates and some of their friends from Wake Forest. We then went to a bar called the Lion's Fountain Irish Pub, which is clearly made for the 6,000 American students that flock to Florence. The ceiling was covered in T-shirts from American universities and they played a weird mix of music. For some reason they played 'Sweet Caroline' twice, odd choice.

 These pictures are from a park on my way to school. It seems incredible that it's so easy to stumble upon beautiful, historic monuments.

The Italian slow pace is going to take some getting used to. I've already been enjoying dinners that last hours, leisurely walking and the general lack of urgency that Florence provides. Even the pigeons are more relaxed!