Weekend alone--1st mini Marathon

While Lori and the kids went back to Perugia and Assisi this weekend, I stayed here alone.  On Saturday night, I went to Prato to see my favorite Italian band, Funk Off.  They put on the best concerts I've ever seen.  Check them out on youtube if you have a chance.  Then on Sunday, I ran my first mini-marathon, a 12K race through the hills of Florence.  I still can't believe I ran 12K today.  My legs are going to be hating me for the next few days.  

Pictures from this week in Florence

Here are some pictures we took in Florence this week.

Siena September 14

Today we spent our day in Siena in the pouring rain.  It was beautiful, even in the rain.  Amazing art work in the churches and museums.  Also, it is amazing to think that when this art was being created, it was thought of as nothing more than "work" from the hands of hired workers.

Villa Morghen

You can see more pictures and more information if you go to www.villamorghen.com.

Wednesday, Sept 3

School has officially started--both for the BC students and for the Newtons.  The Newton kids are not too happy that vacation is actually over.  They seem to think that they should still be on vacation since we are away from home.  The BC students have a bit better attitude about their schoolwork.  I am enjoying meeting the students and the kids are in friend-heaven.  They have been playing non-stop with college students.  When they're not playing cards (memory, Cash, Golf, etc) or ping pong, they're finding a spot beside someone new at the dining room table or on the bus on the way to Florence.  We have been going into Florence every day just to get used to doing it and to learn our way around.  Soon we'll be starting our cultural classes with museums and artwork, etc.  This Saturday we are planning a day in Orvieto for a street-performer festival.  

Florence and Settignano

We arrived in Settignano on Monday, August 26.  It is nice to be settled into our "own" place, at least for the next 12 weeks.  Settignano is a suburb of Florence, which is on a hill that overlooks Florence.  It gives us a beautiful view of Florence, especially at sunset.

We have been exploring Florence by bus, which the kids are loving.  It is convenient to be on the bus and leaving the car behind because there are no worries about where to park, how much is parking, will I get a ticket?, etc.  We are about ready to sell our car and just relax and enjoy the Florentian lifestyle.

Four students arrived today and we had a good time with them in Florence having pizza and gelato.  I look forward to a fun and educational semester.  

Hopefully, by the end of the semester I can have a conversation with someone in Italian that consists of more than simply asking where the bathroom is.