just got back from my orientation trip a couple hours ago, and we had so much fun.
We started in Verona (where i couldn't stop channeling my inner mercutio) and saw Aida, an opera about an Ethiopian princess falling for an Egyptian general. the singing was great, but the main part that i loved was opera was held in an old roman amphitheater, which actually predates the Colosseum by 50 years. The acoustics were so amazing that they didn't even have to mike the performers, and i sat where people sat almost 2000 years ago. The second night we decided to dominate the hell out of the hotel bar, and pretty much ransacked their wine celler. oops, guess the american in us doesnt fade easily
We then went to Sienna, a really beautiful city that reminded me a lot of Galway, with the gothic architecture and the small, college town feel. I started getting hit pretty hard by allergies, so i didn't get to go out and see the city at night, but a couple of new friends and i shared a bottle of wine out on the veranda over looking the beautiful city.
we finished up in Assisi, which puts san Francisco to shame with the number and grade of the hills. the people of the city must have the most amazing quads this side of the atlantic ocean. I got a chance to see the final resting place and churches of St. Francis and St. Claire, and hear a little more about their history and their impact on the Umbria region and beyond. It was a pretty moving experience to be in the presence of someone who had such a huge impact on the world.
The bus rides were pretty crappy and my allergies were annoying and all, but i feel like the trip was a month, not 5 days. Going out like that really let me key into the culture more then just a couple trips into Rome would have.
let me know what is going on back home, it would be great to hear from some of you. jwarmuth@slu.edu
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