Day 2 in Italy

Benvenuti to my series of posts devoted to our stay in Siena, Italy. I'm hoping to write down some daily notes about our experiences so our family never forgets this trip. Normally, they won't be as long as this one.

Over a year ago, Andrew had the idea for a research project that would be a perfect fit for the international retinablastoma referral center in Siena, Italy. So he emailed them. Then he worked with his department at the University of Michigan to get funding and put the plans in motion. The rest of the family (myself and the kids) decided to join too, unfunded :(. I won't go into all the details but it wasn't as easy as I've made it sound. However, it was initially just a thought and with A LOT of time, effort, preparation, and certainly a stroke of providence, we are finally here for one month!

Today I woke up with the boys at the crack of dawn. I was initially reminded of all the conveniences that I am accustomed to in America that are not standard in other parts of the world. I was happy to find a toaster but it worked differently and took a few tries to get the toast just right. And I had to use it on the floor next to the front door because there is no outlet in the kitchen. Odd, but not a big deal. Luckily we brought a huge Costco-sized jar of peanut butter for Luke. But I can already tell at the rate he is requesting it, that we have not brought enough. Cam readily accepted toast with nutella instead. I can't believe we are in a country that produces some of the best food in the world, a place where people come JUST to find joy in eating, and Luke would rather starve. But that is a different blog post entirely.



We opened the windows, got dressed and the boys and I went outside to explore the olive tree grove and playground area that is in our backyard. Our apartment is attached to a bed and breakfast. We chose it for the grounds that give us an excellent view of the Tuscan countryside and for the rustic playground equipment. There is a little soccer field, swings, climbing ropes, a seesaw and a bocce court (there is also a pool but it is closed until summer). It is a large area, surrounded by gardens and the previously mentioned grove of olive trees. There is even a chicken coup!

Going outside, without coats, exploring with the boys was so much fun. Especially after the Alaska-like weather we have had in Michigan this winter.

The apartment itself is simple and rustic. I love the high ceilings and little architectural details. There are a few things I don't like about it. Sometimes I feel like I'm camping. But complaining at all sort of puts me in a category of people I don't want to be associated with. Like people who say Hawaii is too hot or New York City is too crowded. We are living in Tuscany! There is nothing to complain about. It is amazing.

After everyone was awake and ready to go, we drove around and oriented ourselves a little. Then we parked at the mall and ate some of Andrew's favorite food from his mission days, piadina. They are amazing. But even more than the food, I think Andrew loved talking with the store owner in Italian. Instant camaraderie. I know I've only been here a few days, but it seems like it is more common here to find people who know how to socialize and interact with strangers as if they are friends. I'm sure I will expand on that thought a little later.

piadina

From the mall there are a series of escalators that take you up to the entrance of the old city of Siena. We probably rode on at least 5 very long escalators. The boys loved it. Then we spent the afternoon dawdling and meandering around the narrow streets of the old city. At the Piazza del Campo the boys LOVED chasing the pigeons. When Andrew and I visited the Piazza del Campo alone years before, we thought Luke and Cam would love running around that place. We were right. So it felt a little dreamy to actually watch them laughing and chasing the pigeons while yelling "birdie! birdie!". I don't really like pigeons but now I see their value.

we have about a hundred pictures that look somewhat like this. it was too much fun to watch them.

little freaky

A large group of boys, probably young college kids, sat nearby and obviously liked the spectacle. They only spoke Italian but had this innocent gang-like quality about them. I can't quite put my finger on it. Think "West Side Story Jets" or "Sandlot" ...something like that. One of them had the Bieber quoff. They probably had as much fun watching my crazy boys chase pigeons as I had watching them burn time because they can.

see the band of boys to the left

Without any obvious explanation, a procession of middle school-aged children marched across the Piazza following one lucky boy proudly holding a contrada (neighborhood) flag. Is it a holiday? Are they showcasing their neighborhood pride? Does this happen everyday? Is this an after-school activity? We will never know.



We got some gelato. I think I may have built up gelato in Luke's mind a little too much. I thought it would be the one staple of Italian cuisine that he would like. But he didn't. I have to include that little detail because I'm sure one day he will realize how crazy that is. Perhaps the goal of this trip is for him to enjoy a cone of gelato like everyone else on the planet.

The rest of the day was spent getting groceries and preparing our first home-cooked meal. Kids were in bed well after 9. We must do better tomorrow.