Yesterday we went to the small city of Viterbo with one of the guides from our school. He took us on a tour of the city including MANY churches. The quote of the day was "I have a big surprise for you all, another beautiful church!" (said by our guide Masimo in an itialian accent, of course). We also had another very filling three course meal there and I had my first caffe (italian coffee). It is a shot of expresso that they serve you after your meal with one pack of sugar to pour in it. I didn't really like it, but I have found a new love for cappuccinos! We also went to a big market in the center of the city where they sell clothes, purses, bathing suits, jewlery, shoes, pots and pans, and many other little things. Luckily, the fashion in these small towns is not like in Florence, Rome and Milan so I have yet to buy anything other than food. Mom you should be proud.
When we got back from the trip to Viterbo all 30 of us went to the town center where the bar is and hung out for the night. They were having an Italian actor there to the bar so it seemed like the entire town was gathered around taking pictures and hanging out. It was a lot of fun, but a long day. We probably walked 6 or 7 miles around the town and then my friends and I went for a run when we came back to Tuscania so I was exhausted.
Today was our day off so 28 of us went to a lake about 15 minutes away. I'm not sure what the name of the lake was, but it was on top of a volcano or something like that. The sand was not sand...it was black ash that was ground up and looked like black sand. It was very different, but so beautiful and we had a ton of fun together. It is extremely hot here, so it was nice to be by the lake and in the water with friends. We did learn to never trust transportation systems in Italy! First our bus making us wait 3 hours the first day and then breaking down and making us wait another 3 on the first day we got here. Then today our driver brought us to the lake at 2 and was supposed to pick us up at 6. When he got here he told us he needed to change it to 7 and we said that was fine, but then 7 rolled around and we got a phone call saying he wouldn't be there 'till 7:30...then he called again and said he would be there at 8. Finally he showed up at 8:20 to take us back to the hotel and we had to pay 10 euros each for the trip. It was surprising that this happened again because both means of transportation were set up by our school advisor here, but apparently we need to tell them an hour before the time we actually want to leave so it will be fine if they are late.
A few of my friends and I just went down to the town center to get some crepes and we are eating them now so pictures of these two days will come a little later when I download them.
Hope everyone is surviving hurricane Irene. I've seen pictures and it doesn't look too pretty!
Good luck and I miss everyone :)
Storm wasn't too bad in Brookfield, just a little windy & rainy. Heard that the waves were crashing a lot in Cape Cod, and power is/was out for a lot of Connecticut. River people are still keeping an eye on the height..expecting higher flooding Tues & Wed. Oxbow & Jumpin' Jacks buildings are both half underwater.
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