Catching Up A Bit

Three days ago in the morning I finally walked around with my camera. I walked along the top of an ancient aqueduct, right where the water would have flowed. It’s crazy how casually history is treated here, simply because it is such a part of everyday life.

Later that day I went to the train station, which is a dungeon, I believe, and the only remaining part of a fortress that had been destroyed by conquerors. In the United States it would be a museum but here it is not only the train station, but also home to several stores, and the rest of the rooms are left mostly empty with only the occasional sign about the actual history of the place.

Speaking of history, I was reading about the history of Perugia the other day and it’s so violent. Not only did power constantly transfer by bloody means, there was also vicious infighting. The Baglioni family “when not poisoning their outside rivals, killed siblings on their wedding nights, kept pet lions, tore human hearts out of chests for lunch, and married their sisters. In a conspiracy so tangled it’s almost comic in its ghastliness, the bulk of the family massacred one another on a single day in August 1500.” Also, in the Middle Ages apparently a popular Perugian sport was to play a game called Battaglia dei Sassi which involved stoning one another until at least a few dozen were dead. Sounds like fun.

On Saturday we went to check out the open air market. I was picturing it to be like the farmer’s markets we go to in Boston, just on a grander scale and with other types of items. Therefore, I was surprised and not too pleased when it was a gigantic parking lot filled with tractor trailers. It was crowded and most of the shops reminded me of the set-ups that the men in New York City with sunglasses on a garbage bag have (and snatch up when policemen come by). Still, it had good prices and I’m sure if you were willing to dig through things you could have found some good deals. We didn't stay too long and got back on the MiniMetro (yay!) to stop at the big grocery store. We had a huge list of stuff and were able to get most of it so we had plenty to carry.

After that I finished writing my short essay for Italian class and then had dinner before heading out to hang out with Chris and two other girls. We walked around and then got some gelato before walking some more and then just sitting by one of the many gorgeous overlooks and talking.

Yesterday was the Arcadia field trip. I think we were all surprised when the bus stopped at the farm because the area looked more like a suburban area as opposed to a rural one. We watched some women make pasta and a few students assisted, then met with the women in charge of the Arcadia program, and then walked around the farm with one of the men. Apparently in a recent worldwide competition for olive oil they got third place, which is very impressive. We also got to watch an older man weave baskets, which was probably my favorite part, aside from the view of Lake Trasimeno. We then ate lunch in this gigantic rec room. It was five courses and pretty good food.

Today I began two new classes and they both seem like they will be good. Mondays are the days that I have the most class but it seems like it won't be too bad.


This fountain is from the thirteenth century.


There is always a crowd on the Duomo steps, it's a popular place to hang out.


See the stone line going through? That's the top of the aqueduct that you can walk over.


I really like the doors here.


The views aren't bad, either.


It was rainy but this was the pretty view we were treated to.


Beans they gave us to try.


The horse attacking Jamie.


I bought a kilo of delicious dark chocolate (over two pounds) for 4.50 Euro. I have to saw at it with a pocket knife but it's completely worth it.