The Placement test. And food.

Buongiorno, or for my friends/family reading this back in New England -- Buona mattina. It is 3pm but it has already been a long day. This morning we walked for the first time to the university. It is attached to a mall (?) which is strange but convenient. We took a placement exam to test our abilities with the language. Although I found the test VERY difficult, I placed higher than I thought--success! I'm expecting quite a challenge tomorrow when classes start, but I am equally excited to be speaking only Italian for 4 hours every day. Being in an apartment with 8 Americans, we speak more English than Italian.

Yesterday evening we met our Contemporary history professor, who took us on a brief tour. It was a great chance to see some of the le strade piccole, away from the main road.

la pizza marinara

Il primo corso di Siena

I just got back from my first Sienese run! It felt so good to get back in my routine. This morning, we walked over to La Fortezza Medicea and I returned there for my run. Concerts and festivals are held there in the summer, but it is mostly a walking loop in the off-season. It has a beautiful view of the city.

Also, I had gelato for lunch (because why not?)

View from Fortress

Outside the Fortress

Grom Gelateria. I had pistachio e chocolate hazelnut. YUM!

Pizza Pizza Pizza!

I don't think I'll ever get tired of taking pictures of my meals:

La Pizza Napoli - anchovies, capers, pomodoro sauce e formaggio.
Plan for tomorrow: There is a running loop right outside the city center and I plan on finding it. I miss running every day, but I'm not trying to twist an ankle on the cobblestone streets! Supposedly there are also several gyms nearby which my suite mates and I are going to investigate.

Buona sera tutti <3

It is another beautiful day. One of my roommates arrived today and we explored the city a bit. It is amazingly easy to get lost in this city, but just as easy to find your way again. Every back road we took eventually led back to Piazza del Campo. And I got a macchiatto for 1 euro down the street from the apartment. I could get used to this!

I'm also sensing a gelato tasting in the near future....

Buongiorno! Today is absolutely BEAUTIFUL. I was sweating in my coat sitting by il Campo, and probably managed to get a little sunburnt. I walked around aimlessly this morning, admiring and wanting to take pictures of everything. Elena treated me to my first Italian breakfast (although it was at noon): un macchiato caffe ed un brioche. Che squisito ;)

Terrifying update:

I just arrived in Siena. My wonderful adviser Elena found me at Piazza Gramsci even though I took the wrong bus. The roughest part of the past 24 hours was the grueling 5 hour long wait at the Rome Aeroporto for my bus to take me to Siena. Apparently I have the next 4 days to explore and do whatever I please. Pictures soon of my apartment. But now I need some Zzzzzz's....