Italy, come to find out, is full of surprises.
On Saturday my friend Mary and I met up for some museum seeing, meaning I got to see the Uffizi and David once more. I also got personal with Venus and realized she has GOLD hair, which is pretty awesome...Botticelli you genius you.
After all of that we made our way to a joust! Which was put together by a medieval reenactment group! they decided on a need to compete with one another in jousting and fencing so they had a big event, and had the money for tickets go to charity and it was wonderfully fun! It was great to see that it was not staged (okay they were really competing, but yes the costumes, parade and dancing were all a little "staged") because the horses were visibly antsy, they would pull little stunts and other little problems, stamping their feet, nipping at the other horses. They were beautiful beasts, all at about 18 hands I would say, and the owners, for being Italians were pretty tall too. They all wore their uniforms, and had names, which probably identified them to some part of their family and historical past. I spent two and a half hours there, and didn't even notice it as I snapped photos. A wonderful treat, which left me in a happy mood walking home and into bed.
The next morning, bright and early Mary and I went to Lucca, and rented bikes for €3/hour to bike around the city walls for a few hours, through the little town, and had lunch. Lucca, which I also visited the Sunday before really grew on me this time. I loved biking through the town, and see the city in a new way. The weather was also not so hot, so it was more comfortable for me. Mary loved the quiet, still and peaceful neighborhoods and people. I find it a refuge from the chaos that is Florence and swarms of tourists, Lucca was so green, and welcoming, a real Tuscan treat and the medieval walls added a lot of charm to its facade.
After lunch we took the train to Viareggio, where I got a different beach experience. Unlike Marina di Pisa it was VERY beachy, covered in tourists from Italy and beyond, but it also had glorious waves I could swim and jump through and get to feel like I have FULLY had a beach trip. At 22, I feel part of the club now. The surprise there was the mountains in the back drop! BEAUTIFUL steep cliffs rising from the hills, snow covered and dominating the landscape. That was very cool, and helped with me missing REAL mountains.
I was also the WHITEST person at the beach, no one starred too much at my glowing translucent skin.
By 7 we were on a train home, and 9 at our apartments ready for bed.
Today is more Medieval fun with the celebration of St. John the Baptist, with a gory, crazy and violent "football" match where the men basically beat each other too a pulp. My history teacher participated one year and came out with broken wrist, ankle, collar bone, and a black eye, and claims he was in better shape than some. I won't really get to see the game, I didn't get tickets, not knowing I NEEDED to, but I should get to see the parade, and the fireworks tonight.
CIAO!
On Saturday my friend Mary and I met up for some museum seeing, meaning I got to see the Uffizi and David once more. I also got personal with Venus and realized she has GOLD hair, which is pretty awesome...Botticelli you genius you.
After all of that we made our way to a joust! Which was put together by a medieval reenactment group! they decided on a need to compete with one another in jousting and fencing so they had a big event, and had the money for tickets go to charity and it was wonderfully fun! It was great to see that it was not staged (okay they were really competing, but yes the costumes, parade and dancing were all a little "staged") because the horses were visibly antsy, they would pull little stunts and other little problems, stamping their feet, nipping at the other horses. They were beautiful beasts, all at about 18 hands I would say, and the owners, for being Italians were pretty tall too. They all wore their uniforms, and had names, which probably identified them to some part of their family and historical past. I spent two and a half hours there, and didn't even notice it as I snapped photos. A wonderful treat, which left me in a happy mood walking home and into bed.
The next morning, bright and early Mary and I went to Lucca, and rented bikes for €3/hour to bike around the city walls for a few hours, through the little town, and had lunch. Lucca, which I also visited the Sunday before really grew on me this time. I loved biking through the town, and see the city in a new way. The weather was also not so hot, so it was more comfortable for me. Mary loved the quiet, still and peaceful neighborhoods and people. I find it a refuge from the chaos that is Florence and swarms of tourists, Lucca was so green, and welcoming, a real Tuscan treat and the medieval walls added a lot of charm to its facade.
After lunch we took the train to Viareggio, where I got a different beach experience. Unlike Marina di Pisa it was VERY beachy, covered in tourists from Italy and beyond, but it also had glorious waves I could swim and jump through and get to feel like I have FULLY had a beach trip. At 22, I feel part of the club now. The surprise there was the mountains in the back drop! BEAUTIFUL steep cliffs rising from the hills, snow covered and dominating the landscape. That was very cool, and helped with me missing REAL mountains.
I was also the WHITEST person at the beach, no one starred too much at my glowing translucent skin.
By 7 we were on a train home, and 9 at our apartments ready for bed.
Today is more Medieval fun with the celebration of St. John the Baptist, with a gory, crazy and violent "football" match where the men basically beat each other too a pulp. My history teacher participated one year and came out with broken wrist, ankle, collar bone, and a black eye, and claims he was in better shape than some. I won't really get to see the game, I didn't get tickets, not knowing I NEEDED to, but I should get to see the parade, and the fireworks tonight.
CIAO!
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