Why Study Abroad is Worth It

Right now I have a cold,
and I'm tired and feeling a bit discouraged.
However, when I look at photos
of the students in museums,
giving presentations,
and engaged in on-site discovery,
I remember why I'm doing this.

Vegetarian Four Course Meal

To start: a salad of arugula and tomatoes
stuffed with ricotta cheese and herbs

first course: crepes stuffed with spinach and mixed cheeses

second course, eggplant parmigiana

dessert: chocolate souffle with orange and mint sauces

This was just heavenly.
I want to recreate this menu for an Italian dinner for my family
when I get home!!

Piedmont Fall Color

I expected I would miss all canyoning fall color this year
(there's not so much in Tuscany!)
but I spent a weekend in the Piedmont
in mid-October,
and it was gorgeous...

San Giovanni dell'Autostrada

I actually really like ultra-modern churches,
and San Giovanni dell'Autostrada,
near Florence,
was a real treat to visit.

Enchanted Evening in Monteriggioni

Monteriggioni is an utterly charming village
about 20 kilometers or less from Siena.
It is thoroughly touristy
but has good restaurants
and cute shops
and a really nicely preserved town piazza
with a small church,
and best of all,
a completely preserved circuit
of medieval walls with towers.
I was lucky enough to visit on an evening
when I had a rental car at my disposal
(the bus service finishes up much earlier)
so I could linger for late-evening light glow
and full moon rise.
It was gorgeous!

October rose

This was blooming in the warm shade this early October afternoon...

Church and Flag

There was even a giraffa flag at the gateway
to the basilica of San Francesco--
the contrada was really leaving their mark today.

Giraffe Territory

The contrada Giraffa won the palio this last August.
Their flags are still flying all over their neighborhood.
As I walked through these streets this afternoon
(on my way to my own church services)
they were preparing for some kind of neighborhood party--
they were setting up DJs and decorations
and lots of tables in the piazza in front of the big church.
The flags looked gorgeous in the afternoon sun.