Yesterday, me and five other women that I have met through school (Melanie from Switzerland, Denise from New Zealand, Julia from Seattle and Allana from Boston) all took a little trip to Bagno di Petriolo, the natural hot springs.
First we met for a little picnic lunch with cheese, fruit, nuts and wine. Then we hopped on a bus for a 45 minute ride, arrived and then we hiked for about 15 minutes down to the water. The only other people there were about 12 Italian men; we almost felt like we had walked into a secret "men only" meeting or something. They did not hesitate in staring at us pretty much the whole time (who can blame them though...we are a lovely group of foreign women:)! We all decided that despite it being a bit awkward, we didn't care...and with that we took off our clothes, walked carefully over the rocks to the water...almost like a line of little ducks and waded in the water. It really was a beautiful day and the water was SO hot, but so relaxing. We used the mud, which we scopped from the bottom floor of the pool and piled it on our faces. It was endearingly silly watching all of us put the mud on and then lounge our green-faced selves in the water...in the middle of the woods.
After about an hour, we hiked back to the bus stop and came home. It was such a great afternoon with these women, although we all felt very tired and relaxed...and dehydrated from the amazing detox effects of sulfur! Today I am still feeling the effect of the sulfur. This place is definitely not frequented by many tourists which is nice! Unfortunately (or fortunately) a large hotel is being built at the top of the hill from the springs so I think that in about a year, the atmosphere of the springs will change and take a different shape, inviting more tourists and money. I am very happy I was able to experience it before it changes.
sabato 24 marzo 2007
A lovely German woman and a car named "Otto"
About two weeks ago a reserved German woman came to Saena Iulia to take Italian language classes. I believe it was no coincidence that she was "mistakingly" put into my class which consisted only of me and my teacher Mauro. I say "mistakingly" because she was clearly more advanced in Italian than I and should have been put in the higher level class (which she was in the following week, but for the first week I got the pleasure of her presence).
Let me back up a bit for an introduction...her name is Birgit (pronounced Bear-get), she is from Germany and in her early 40's....not married and no children. She has the prettiest face...you know the kind that is photogenic...great shape and great skin...light skin and dark short hair. Oh that reminds me, she is a photographer...sort of retired from it and is here working with a family taking care of a home and children. Birgit is yet another woman like the others I have met who got tired of the same ole life and decided to come to Italy.
She invited me to spend the day with her last Sunday....oh I wish you could have been there because it was such a wonderful Sunday! She picked me up...she has the funniest, yet most adorable 17-year old car which she lovingly calls Otto. Birgit explained that Otto used to be a taxi in Romania; she drove Otto from Germany...I think this car loves her as much as she loves it because I think it might be a small miracle Otto made it here. Otto makes a very loud...rather comical loud noise driving along the windy roads and the cleaner mechanism for the wipers doesn't work so while she poured water on the windows, I turned on the wipers. We make a great team. Oh...and the driver's door is a bit temperamental so she has to go through the passenger side to unlock the door. I love Otto...in fact I would love Otto to meet Miata:)
So our first stop... San Galgano...this place is an amazing an old church surrounded by green rice fields which will eventually turn to fields of bright yellow. Birgit describes the Abbey of San Galgano as "something between a ruin and a church." See the pictures and descriptions on the website to get a glimpse into what I really can't describe at this moment without going on and on. Otto definitely needed to rest, so after Birgit and I visited the church, we took a walk up a country road and went into the lovely little chapel which holds a sword in a stone -- a miracle performed by St. Galgano. Then we stepped into a little gift shop where we were "greeted" by a grouchy old Italian woman; she was a delightful woman of few words and more grunts than anything. Her mood was lightened a teeny weeny after I bought some of the albicocca marmellata (apricot marmalade) which I gave to Silvana (my house mom) as a gift.
Birgit, me and Otto then stopped by a delicious lunch at Albergo Ristorante Da Vestro. I ordered gnocchi pasta with gorgonzola and a warm spinach salad with garlic (I knew I couldn't get through a blog without talking about food!)
After lunch we headed to the Bagno di Petriolo -- the natural hot springs in the woods. Birgit had spoken of this place earlier in the week and wanted to take me there. Along the way, we talked and laughed about Italians way of "collecting" or being "collectors"...of anything really...walking along here and there and collecting rocks or nuts or anything that suites a fancy. So as we drove along and every so often saw someone on the side of the road walking around and bending over to pick something up, we would point, giggle and say "another collector..."
Finally Otto gets us to Bagno di Petriolo. This is a place in nature...in the woods and hills about 45 minutes outside of Siena where there are natural sulfur hot springs. I was so ecstatic that Birgit shared this place with me! It was a bit too cold to get in the water that day, so we just soaked our feet. It was also a Sunday and very busy with many people. Clothes and underwear hung on the near by trees. This wonderful place in nature is no posh spa, but the simplicity of it is quite refreshing. We decided that we would share this wonderful place with the other women at school and all come out together. Exhausted, but satisfied with our day, we hopped in Otto and came back to Siena.
Let me back up a bit for an introduction...her name is Birgit (pronounced Bear-get), she is from Germany and in her early 40's....not married and no children. She has the prettiest face...you know the kind that is photogenic...great shape and great skin...light skin and dark short hair. Oh that reminds me, she is a photographer...sort of retired from it and is here working with a family taking care of a home and children. Birgit is yet another woman like the others I have met who got tired of the same ole life and decided to come to Italy.
She invited me to spend the day with her last Sunday....oh I wish you could have been there because it was such a wonderful Sunday! She picked me up...she has the funniest, yet most adorable 17-year old car which she lovingly calls Otto. Birgit explained that Otto used to be a taxi in Romania; she drove Otto from Germany...I think this car loves her as much as she loves it because I think it might be a small miracle Otto made it here. Otto makes a very loud...rather comical loud noise driving along the windy roads and the cleaner mechanism for the wipers doesn't work so while she poured water on the windows, I turned on the wipers. We make a great team. Oh...and the driver's door is a bit temperamental so she has to go through the passenger side to unlock the door. I love Otto...in fact I would love Otto to meet Miata:)
So our first stop... San Galgano...this place is an amazing an old church surrounded by green rice fields which will eventually turn to fields of bright yellow. Birgit describes the Abbey of San Galgano as "something between a ruin and a church." See the pictures and descriptions on the website to get a glimpse into what I really can't describe at this moment without going on and on. Otto definitely needed to rest, so after Birgit and I visited the church, we took a walk up a country road and went into the lovely little chapel which holds a sword in a stone -- a miracle performed by St. Galgano. Then we stepped into a little gift shop where we were "greeted" by a grouchy old Italian woman; she was a delightful woman of few words and more grunts than anything. Her mood was lightened a teeny weeny after I bought some of the albicocca marmellata (apricot marmalade) which I gave to Silvana (my house mom) as a gift.
Birgit, me and Otto then stopped by a delicious lunch at Albergo Ristorante Da Vestro. I ordered gnocchi pasta with gorgonzola and a warm spinach salad with garlic (I knew I couldn't get through a blog without talking about food!)
After lunch we headed to the Bagno di Petriolo -- the natural hot springs in the woods. Birgit had spoken of this place earlier in the week and wanted to take me there. Along the way, we talked and laughed about Italians way of "collecting" or being "collectors"...of anything really...walking along here and there and collecting rocks or nuts or anything that suites a fancy. So as we drove along and every so often saw someone on the side of the road walking around and bending over to pick something up, we would point, giggle and say "another collector..."
Finally Otto gets us to Bagno di Petriolo. This is a place in nature...in the woods and hills about 45 minutes outside of Siena where there are natural sulfur hot springs. I was so ecstatic that Birgit shared this place with me! It was a bit too cold to get in the water that day, so we just soaked our feet. It was also a Sunday and very busy with many people. Clothes and underwear hung on the near by trees. This wonderful place in nature is no posh spa, but the simplicity of it is quite refreshing. We decided that we would share this wonderful place with the other women at school and all come out together. Exhausted, but satisfied with our day, we hopped in Otto and came back to Siena.
mercoledì 21 marzo 2007
Slumber Party!
Well....at least it felt a bit like a slumber party...something that felt warm and comforting to me...yesterday, I spent the afternoon with Julia (my housemate), Alana (artsy photographer type), Melanie (30 something from Switzerland), Birgit (40 something from Germany), Syliva (30 something from N. CA), Denise (40 something from New Zealand).We met at the school apartment where Sylvia, Alana and Denise are living. We enjoyed tea and biscotti and chat in English about our lessons. Just sitting in a group circle with these women while sipping tea and eating cookies...well, it was so cozy and made me miss my girlfriends back home. Hearing each one talk about her experiences and plans...it's very exciting and insightful in knowing and understanding them.
Denise cut my hair and Julia's hair and then we all put on pumpkin papaya masks, compliments of me:)... Watching all of the ladies put on the masks and hearing them giggle in the bathroom as their staired at each other's white faces...it was so silly and fun!
Then we planned a girl outting this Friday at the natural hot springs in the woods (can't wait to tell you about it!) We also decided to pack a picnic with wine, cheese, meat, fruit and nuts...I am in charge of the fruits and nuts!
Going to New Zealand for a Haircut
Yesterday I got my hair cut and styled by Denise who is a new student at the school. Denise is a "cute as a button" New Zealander with trendy sense of style and adorable freckles, dark skinned and petite. Her accent is so great and strong! She is married and 40 or 50 something and is travelling alone for the next several months. Luckily for a few of us ladies at school, she brought her tools of the trade! I love the way she cut and styled my hair and well now... I may need to take special trips to New Zealand to get my hair done...but she is actually retiring and wants to be a wedding planner, but for now, she is staying in hostels and using her skills to make money along the way. She also cut Julia's and Alana's hair -- we all look so adorable!!!! Unfortunately for all of us at the school, she will only be here for one week studying Italian in Siena. Have I mentioned how much I LOVE meeting all of these wonderful women who are travelling alone, freaked out, but enjoying every second?!
sabato 17 marzo 2007
Pienza & Cheese, Cats & Pasta
This week we all went to Pienza, a near by small town...about 45 minutes from Siena. I really enjoy the bus rides to these towns we get to visit every week...the scenary is breathtaking and almost too much to take in, but the slow bus along the curvy roads helps to see everything. I also like to sit and listen to the various conversations going on in the bus...okay, I like to ease drop on what the students are talking about...it makes me shake my head or laugh or smile.
While walking down the streets of Pienza I could smell the cheese in the shops...wow...very pungent smell...not so pleasant, but just new and interesting. The group split up and Julia and I decided to venture off on our own. We talked a little, but just mainly enjoyed our view and surroundings. Our best discovery of the day was not a little shop, not wine and not an adorable Italian man, but rather 4 cats all lounging together in the sun, next to them a bowl of pasta that someone had left them....if you could have seen this...comedy...well, I guess even the cats in Italy eat pasta!
The group gathered together again to eat cheese and drink wine...divine, divine, divine.
While walking down the streets of Pienza I could smell the cheese in the shops...wow...very pungent smell...not so pleasant, but just new and interesting. The group split up and Julia and I decided to venture off on our own. We talked a little, but just mainly enjoyed our view and surroundings. Our best discovery of the day was not a little shop, not wine and not an adorable Italian man, but rather 4 cats all lounging together in the sun, next to them a bowl of pasta that someone had left them....if you could have seen this...comedy...well, I guess even the cats in Italy eat pasta!
The group gathered together again to eat cheese and drink wine...divine, divine, divine.
lunedì 12 marzo 2007
Santa Barbara Sunshine!
This past weekend was very cold with lots of wind...I really miss the sunshine....but really...I'm not complaining!:) Pasta is a nice way to warm my soul and I am getting plenty of that!Nevertheless, my dear friend Marjorie is in Santa Barbara right now and we caught one another on email. I expressed my being a little chilly and so she "whooshed Santa Barbara Sunshine" to me....and voila!... Che bello con molto sole stamattina e non vento (it's nice with lots of sun this morning and no wind)....I think that's how you say it! Grazie cara mia amica Marjorie!
venerdì 9 marzo 2007
My Italian Lessons
My Italian is coming along...still slowly, but surely! While I am struggling through this process of learning Italian, I am learning something new about myself and having an epiphany about this whole process every day I have a lesson.
My teacher Sabrina is so patient and has a great approach to my challenges. I really feel like a child wanting to please my teacher by doing well! Each lesson is becoming a sort of therapy session for me too. Sabrina says "To speak another language is to have another soul." And speaking another language is "to travel inside yourself". Amen! That's why I am having such a hard time with this...I definitely am set in my ways and I can feel that there's this other spirit/person/soul that wants to express itself, but I am really struggling. In fact I am sort of being stubborn about the whole thing. Sabrina said I speak better Italian when I have had a glass of wine because my jaw is not so tight...hmmmm...wine everyday before my lesson...probably not such a good idea!
I am reminded that I have ALWAYS found a way around homework, tests, etc. or I have made an exception to the rule. This philosophy for me in America has actually really worked out making life and college interesting and I was always coming up with creative ways to get around the task. In the end, I had succeeded in creating my own way, but honestly not learning what was intended in the first place.
There is NO way around learning Italian in Italy except for just learning it. Plain and simple....well, actually not so simple! I have decided to extend my studies one more week; I wish so much I could study longer, but it's just not in my budget. I will study at Saena Iulia until March 25th and I will also stay with my host family until then. Through this process of learning Italian I have also realized this is something I want to continue when I get home whether it's through a conversation group or continuing education.
Italian word for the day: Magari! (if only!) In my case...if only I could speak Italian perfectly!
My teacher Sabrina is so patient and has a great approach to my challenges. I really feel like a child wanting to please my teacher by doing well! Each lesson is becoming a sort of therapy session for me too. Sabrina says "To speak another language is to have another soul." And speaking another language is "to travel inside yourself". Amen! That's why I am having such a hard time with this...I definitely am set in my ways and I can feel that there's this other spirit/person/soul that wants to express itself, but I am really struggling. In fact I am sort of being stubborn about the whole thing. Sabrina said I speak better Italian when I have had a glass of wine because my jaw is not so tight...hmmmm...wine everyday before my lesson...probably not such a good idea!
I am reminded that I have ALWAYS found a way around homework, tests, etc. or I have made an exception to the rule. This philosophy for me in America has actually really worked out making life and college interesting and I was always coming up with creative ways to get around the task. In the end, I had succeeded in creating my own way, but honestly not learning what was intended in the first place.
There is NO way around learning Italian in Italy except for just learning it. Plain and simple....well, actually not so simple! I have decided to extend my studies one more week; I wish so much I could study longer, but it's just not in my budget. I will study at Saena Iulia until March 25th and I will also stay with my host family until then. Through this process of learning Italian I have also realized this is something I want to continue when I get home whether it's through a conversation group or continuing education.
Italian word for the day: Magari! (if only!) In my case...if only I could speak Italian perfectly!
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