San Domenico

So I spent the day in Siena. Woke up at 6 AM, hopped on a bus and the rest is history, as it were.

This is the main square in Siena. 

I noticed a few things in particular while I was there:
1) San Domenico has a basilica in Siena = crazy awesome. I bought a rosary, medal, and book in the gift shop.
2) The layout and architecture of Siena is incredibly similar to that of Florence. Only difference is the streets are about ten to ten thousand times more confusing than the ones in Firenze.
3) I thought Settignano was hilly until I started walking in Siena... good grief...

I hope I don't have to explain this one...

I'm sure you're wondering why I haven't mentioned San Gimignano yet... and there's good reason for it... the bus schedules are all wacky on Saturday and we got out of Siena later than we had expected so by the time we had gotten to the bus stop we needed, it was too late for it to be worthwhile to go there especially with it about to rain. I think Siena alone was worth the trip, though.

Inside the Basilica di San Domenico are the remains of St. Catherine of Siena -- her incorruptible head and finger. It was weird to see someone who had been dead for so long have such humanly features. To be quite honest, it was kind of creepy... but cool nonetheless. McKenna and I wandered the streets and small markets for the rest of the day. 

Tomorrow doesn't slow down at all for me. AS Roma v. Fiorentina is tomorrow! Woot! I can't wait for this game. I've been planning for it since I got here, as most of you know, and it will be a once in a lifetime experience. Pray the soccer hooligans don't get too rowdy or just pray for a good game -- either will do.

Monday we leave for Umbria!!!!

You can't stop or I will pass you
If you slow down, I will out last you
But when you're down you won't find me laughing
And just one question I might ask you
But it might sound like a disaster
Can you make this thing go faster?

Kudos if you know the song without having to look it up. I know my brother Anthony will get it in a blink.

Ciao my friends! Until we meet again!

God bless!

A Simply Packed Weekend

O man, this is going to be an interesting weekend. Today has been slightly crazy but completely awesome. After lunch today, Daniel, Adam, McKenna, and I went to grab our tickets for the AS Roma v. Fiorentina game on Sunday @ 12:30. It's hard for me to believe that I will be going to see my favorite futbol team play live. Of course, before I even get to the game I have a trip to Siena and San Gimingnano tomorrow. Things just keep moving and they don't look to be slowing down any time soon. Monday morning we leave for Umbria and Perugia. It is unbelievable. Only four weeks left before I'm back in the states, yet there is so much to do before I even get to that point. Cinque Terre is coming up as well. For those who don't know, it's a beautiful beach town that has become somewhat of a tradition for the BC students who study in Florence to visit at least one time.

If I recall correctly, this was on top of the old armory in Berlin, Germany.

So after we went to get our tickets, we continued down in to Florence to get out of the Villa since a majority of the group is out on weekend trips. I ended up buying a pair of sunglasses and a great authentic Italian leather wallet with the Fiore on it, much like my journal, that I think is going to be a great lasting memory of my time here in Florence. After wandering for a few hours, we stopped by the super market on our way back to Settignano and I picked up some more cookies and wine. Seems like forever since I've had a bottle of wine at dinner.

That gets us to just about the present. I spent the time since I finished dinner to now reading. I finally finished reading Wizard's First Rule and will soon be starting the second book of the series called Stone of Tears. It has been a good long time since a book or series has grabbed my attention in such a strong fashion.

This is the cover art from the second book.

I think that's all, my friends. Until next time!

God bless!

Happy St. Patrick's Day and Italy Unification Day!

Today has been pretty crazy when coupled with last night. The 17th of March is when Italy was officially unified as one complete country 150 years ago. It's funny... Benedictine is older than Italy. Went out with Dylan to Lion's Fountain (pretty much an American bar) for a drink or two to honor both St. Pat and Italy before heading back to the Villa to relax for the night.

You know, it's weird to think that I'm going to be back to the states in about a month; yet I have SOOO much planned to do before I leave. It's crazy. Siena and San Gimingnano this weekend. The latter is known as a city of towers. At its peak, there were over 70 towers in the town. It should be pretty awesome from what I've heard from people who have already gone. Sunday, of course, is AS Roma v. Fiorentina. Can't wait for that! Umbria and Perugia next week... it never ends! haha

This was at a church in Vienna and for the life of me I can't remember the name. I apologize if any of these are repeats... I lose track sometimes... :-P

What else... what else... There really isn't much more that happened today. Maybe something interesting will happen tonight? Maybe? If so, I'll update again. But... seeing as I don't have anything else to say... buonasera!

God bless!

A Friendly Discussion is Always Welcome

Today has been pretty interesting. Not for anything that I've done or seen in Europe, but rather upon the intercourse between a status I posted and the discussion that followed with an old friend from high school. Here's the full quote that I partially cut as to fit in to my status character length.

Because, Richard, many people must be ruled to thrive. In their selfishness and greed, they see free people as their oppressors. They wish to have a leader who will cut the taller plants so the sun will reach them. They think no plant should be allowed to grow taller than the shortest, and in that way give light to all. They would rather be provided a guiding light, regardless of the fuel, than light a candle themselves. Some are simply blind to the truth and fight for the lies they hear. And some find, once that guiding light is lit, that they are wearing chains, and then it is too late. 

pg 150 Wizard's First Rule

       Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander 

This is the cover art for Wizard's First Rule (at least my copy).

I've been reading it over break (finally caught up to where I was in the book before I left for Europe and stupidly left it behind) and I stumbled upon this quote about a week ago and it struck me as very profound so I wrote it down in a notebook on my computer. I was reading further today and I remembered the quote so I looked at it again and decided to post it on Facebook to see what everyone else thought about it. It had the desired effect: it sparked a dialogue that I so enjoyed. If you're curious, I'm tagged in the note and it is still somewhere near the top of my profile.

It is for this reason that I thoroughly enjoy Terry Goodkind, even though I've read so little of him. He is very good at portraying real world problems in a totally fantastic world where it is put to the extremes. I'm really looking forward to reading the rest of Wizard's First Rule as well as the rest of his series.

Anywho, that was the interesting section of my night. I took a nap today (my first one in Florence) and woke up for dinner. Then a group of us retired to the main classroom to watch the new Get Smart. So all in all it has been a great, kind of slow, but great day. Tomorrow we don't have class in the afternoon so I'm going to get my tickets for the AS Roma v. Fiorentina game as well as visit the Academia to see the David. This weekend I'm heading off to Siena and San Gimingnano for a day trip on Saturday with Pietro and Father. Umbria and Perugia next week with Assisi mixed in there somewhere. I'm really going to miss this place in a few weeks. 

Oh, but I've noticed I'm close to 1500 hits! Let's see if I can get to 2k before I leave Europe!

I love you guys!

God bless.