Videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuK4PC8NfSs&sns=em

The one above is from a Tuscan winery and the one below is of Montepulciano.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uw-kszuBHw&sns=em

Saturday, May 21

Pienza, amazing views

Tried to get myself in the photo

Pienza

Sitting in Pienza

Poppy field, very rare

Winery

Group photo

Winery

Winery

Montepulciano

Italian racecars

Video of bike riding in Lucca

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZF4llkcHScY&sns=em

Copy that link to see the video.

Friday, May 20

I saw this cute shirt at the terra futura, sustainability and Eco friendly exhibit

Weird little onion tart we made today, those are anchovies on top

Pizza that we made today

Three men riding a tandem bike in Lucca

Action shot of me riding in Lucca

My favorite so far

Gusta pizza and my Italian beer, yum!

Day 3

Today we had class this morning and this afternoon. We had a speaker this morning on the slow foods movement, he was one of the first ones involved in it when it started in 1989. The slow foods movement means "good, clean, and fair." Slow food can be described as local, fair to producers, environmentally-friendly, tasty, etc. Or you can think of it as the opposite of fast food. I had heard of this initiative but didn't realize that this concept is world-wide. Many people in many countries are involved in the slow food movement.

This afternoon we learned about olive oil and tasted some different varieties. We also made pesto, bruchetta, and tapanade (made from olives). All were really yummy.

Glenda and I walked around for about 2 1/2 hours after class just running errands, etc. We are going to eat a yummy dinner tonight. I have figured out that it is almost impossible to trade US dollars here, no one wants to do it. The bank has done it for others, but not for us. You have to fill out paperwork that's way too complicated for trading money. Some Italian people are really rude but some are really nice, if you meet the right ones.

We are averaging anywhere from 18,000 to 28,000 steps everyday. That's between about 6 and 8 miles of walking. This trip is not for the weak, our legs and feet are sore everyday but not driving anywhere is nice. I may regret saying that if it rains. Tomorrow is a fun day, we will be visiting an exhibit about sustainability tomorrow then making pizza in cooking class then taking the train to Lucca where we can rent bikes and ride all around the city. Everyone who has been there says they love it.

Day 2 pics

This picture from the market was funny to me

In front of the Duomo. You cannot tell how huge and amazing this place really is from pictures

In front of Louis Vuitton, down the street from our apartment

Full day 2

Today was my 2nd full day but it seems like I've been here longer. Glenda and I had an adventure looking for a bank to trade some of our US dollars. First off, banks here have the craziest hours, from 8:30 am to 12:30 then closed til 2:30 or so then open for another hour. Second, none would trade our dollars for euros. We found out that one bank would do it if we showed our passport but when we got there after class, it was closed for a meeting. Porca vacca!

We went to the market and I got some bananas and strawberries. I also got a delicious cannoli and 2 wonderful looking muffins for breakfast later, they were very reasonably priced. We had class this afternoon and made hummus and tzatziki, which were both yummy.

The language barrier isn't as bad as I thought. I can say a few words and point my way through that. A lot of people speak english at least a little bit.

We have been looking all over for this specific gelato shop and I think we figured out where it is. It's the same one we went to on my first day here, it's supposed to be the best.

Tonight we will have dinner that the students will prepare, I hope they wash their hands first! Tomorrow night for dinner we are trying a supposedly awesome pizza place, yay!