Greetings from Siena!
I have officially one day under my belt over here. In summation: got here around midday local time after the gautlet of international travel (long flights, not much sleep, a lot of adrenaline). I flew into Florence grabbed my bag and then on my way out an intimidating Italian police officer stopped me and asked me a bunch of questions to which i probably only replied completely honestly to one: what's your nationality. The others I kinda stretched the truth as to not raise any other unwelcome questions.
Thankfully on the bus into Florence I met a girl that is in my program as I saw her looking over the same info sheets I had. Hopped on the bus to Siena, fumbled our way to the hostel and slowly met the other interns as they trickled into the city. Great group of folks btw.
Then we headed out to dinner and the gastronomic endeavors began.
Suffice it to say I am no longer a vegetarian. 5 animals, one meal, no joke. Rabbit, wild boar, chicken liver pate, beef livers, salami and other cured meats. My stomach is a bit thrown off course right now...but the vernaccia, chianti and vin santo all helped in the digestion :) It was worth it and the conversation around the table was truly amazing, so much food talk, as these other folks are very knowledgable in their own ways about a section of the food world (anything from butchery, behind the scenes in the restaurant, commercial agriculture, etc). Eating meat is something I will always have a sort of uneasiness about especially in the states and, in general, commercially but, 'when in Rome' (or Siena)...
After dinner we walked the city and enjoyed the cool night air (as well as some awesomely bad Italian impressions of the beach boys)
Today will probably include more sightseeing, then we head out to the farm this afternoon. Hopefully this is one update of many sporadic ones... Not sure about the whole Internet situation at the farm... But thankfully the lady at the hostel let me use it here.
I have officially one day under my belt over here. In summation: got here around midday local time after the gautlet of international travel (long flights, not much sleep, a lot of adrenaline). I flew into Florence grabbed my bag and then on my way out an intimidating Italian police officer stopped me and asked me a bunch of questions to which i probably only replied completely honestly to one: what's your nationality. The others I kinda stretched the truth as to not raise any other unwelcome questions.
Thankfully on the bus into Florence I met a girl that is in my program as I saw her looking over the same info sheets I had. Hopped on the bus to Siena, fumbled our way to the hostel and slowly met the other interns as they trickled into the city. Great group of folks btw.
Then we headed out to dinner and the gastronomic endeavors began.
Suffice it to say I am no longer a vegetarian. 5 animals, one meal, no joke. Rabbit, wild boar, chicken liver pate, beef livers, salami and other cured meats. My stomach is a bit thrown off course right now...but the vernaccia, chianti and vin santo all helped in the digestion :) It was worth it and the conversation around the table was truly amazing, so much food talk, as these other folks are very knowledgable in their own ways about a section of the food world (anything from butchery, behind the scenes in the restaurant, commercial agriculture, etc). Eating meat is something I will always have a sort of uneasiness about especially in the states and, in general, commercially but, 'when in Rome' (or Siena)...
After dinner we walked the city and enjoyed the cool night air (as well as some awesomely bad Italian impressions of the beach boys)
Today will probably include more sightseeing, then we head out to the farm this afternoon. Hopefully this is one update of many sporadic ones... Not sure about the whole Internet situation at the farm... But thankfully the lady at the hostel let me use it here.
by "great group of folks" do you mean "there are some hotties here?" i certainly hope so. so glad you made it there safely, enjoy your time there (especially with indulging in responsible omnivorism!), keep us posted!
ReplyDeleteOh man. I just wet myself. So jealous. My pitiful Oregon Pinot just doesn't match up.
ReplyDeleteAs always, I will encourage you to stay off the wagon. Keep up the culinary exploits!