Sunday, October 4, 2009 On Friday, with the full intention of getting a head start on my homework, I walked down to the Campo with my “Presence of the Past” reading. Of course, situating myself in such a prime “people watching” location, I got nothing done and instead decided to stop by the ceramic shop and see if Simonitta was working. As I approached the shop she was standing outside and immediately hugged and kissed me, pulling me inside to show off her newest piece of art: a plate for her friend decorated with two salsa dancers and a poem. We talked (in Italian!) about salsa dancing, my classes, Sienese art, and the “mysteries of the heart.” Before I left she gave me her work schedule and made me promise to return for another chat—I can’t wait.
Saturday morning, I woke up just before the buzzer rang and the newest member of Via Vittorio Emanuele, Samanta, finally moved in to complete our apartment! From Sicily, she is a 22 year-old graduate student and self proclaimed “love doctor;” I can already tell that she is going to fit right in.
After meeting our roommate, Sarah and I headed to Poggibonsi for the preliminary round of “Il Pigio,” the annual Tuscan grape-stomping contest. We arrived early and soon realized that we had discovered Podunk, Italy. All the stores were closed, all the streets were deserted, and even the grape stompers sauntered in to the competition only moments before it began. But once the race was underway, the crowd got heated and the seven districts of Poggibonsi (each with its own color) were out in full force with flags, wigs, and horns. Two teams competed for 7 minutes at a time as several competitors filled up barrels with grapes, one or two actually stomped, and another team member pushed the juice through the nozzle. At the end of the seven minutes, each team poured its grape juice into a clear box and the victor moved on to the next round. The winner will not be declared until the last match this afternoon, but my money's on the orange team, last year’s reigning champ and the only district to fill the glass box to the rim.
Sarah and I decided against waiting around for the “night show” competition so that we could be back in Siena in time to go to the discoteca with the ladies. A bus left Siena around 11:15 and we weren’t allowed into the club until midnight, but I have learned that European discotecas really are outrageous; strobe lights, disco balls, and smoke machines included. I finally got the chance to dance and I we all had a good time. We caught the “early” 2:30 bus back to Siena and, needless to say, we then had a slow start this morning.
When we did get moving, several of us headed to the stadium for our first Italian soccer game experience. And it certainly is an experience. The only thing more intense than the angry Italian men booing their own team is the process required to get into the stadium. I had to bring my passport and confirm my name and date of birth just to buy my ticket and then went through several security check points to get into the stands. The Siena soccer team dominated Livorno on the field, but never managed to score and it was a disappointing 0-0 finish. Still, an Italian soccer game is a phenomenal experience.
It’s been a weekend of firsts: first grape stomping contest, first European disco, first Italian soccer game. And even though I’m exhausted and probably getting sick, each "first" was more than worth a sore throat and a stuffy nose. I managed to record a bit of the competion, watch for yourself and see what I mean :)
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