An average Sienese weekend

Sunday, September 27, 2009

For the first time since my arrival in Italy, I have finally spent an entire weekend in Siena and it has been lovely. I haven’t been feeling my best lately; everyone at IES is sick and my throat and nose are acting up, so it was a good weekend to stay local. Friday morning I had my Italian class with only one other student because the three others were either braving the police station for their permits or were too sick and sent home by our professor.

The first weekend after classes was a welcome break and I spent the afternoon struggling through my art history reading (in Italian) and catching up on various chores. The night ended with tiramisu and nocciola (hazelnut) gelato from our favorite Kopa Kabana (we’re quickly becoming recognized regulars). The weather is still so beautiful that I couldn’t help but take a long walk and revel in the fact that I am living in such a breathtaking place – the reality of this semester still hasn’t set in.

Saturday I was up with the sun; it’s impossible to sleep in when its rays light up our entire apartment. I attempted a yoga video that was part of my package and found that tile flooring, while beautiful, is really, really hard. Afterwards, I went for a run and found that the Sienese are not accustomed to joggers. If I don’t get hit by a crazy moped or bus driver before I leave, I will consider it a successful semester. Italians rival New York taxi drivers.

After a quick shower, Daniela, Sarah, and I began our trek towards the train station in anticipation of finding a grocery store that was rumored to have more variety than the God-forsaken Conad. What we found was an American’s food utopia. While still lacking in the selection to which we are so accustomed, “Pam” is two times the size of Conad and sells both baking supplies (apparently most Italians don’t use baking soda?) and ingredients for non-Italian type food. Sarah, our Mexican food aficionado, was in heaven.

Several more hours of translating/struggling through my art history reading and we finished the day in the Campo. We decided to take a chance and try a new gelato place where I ate two of the best flavors I’ve had yet: mascarpone e nutella and biscocroc (basically, cookie). Thank goodness an Italian “small” always comes with two flavors, I could never choose just one.
This morning we hurried to the 11am mass at the Duomo where we were met by more nuns than I have ever seen in one place at one time. Apparently, today is the jubilee celebration of San Vincenzo and the Bishop of Siena came out with a whole entourage of priests to say mass. While the grandeur of the ceremony was a unique experience, the hour and a half service was a bit long to stand squished in a hot chapel. (Though I was pleasantly surprise when I was able to follow much of the homily -- the Bishop speaks very slowly)

Now I’m up for an afternoon of skype and homework; a relaxing day to hopefully knockout this oncoming cold. I love traveling, but my first average Sienese weekend was an absolute success.