Veterans Day
Siena, Italia
Monday, Monday, there is not guarantee what that day will bring. It is the first day of school. Both of us have taken courses at the Dante Alighieri School here in Siena. In 2019 & 2020 I was here getting ready for the Italian language test for citizenship. There program is fun and interesting. It also includes cooking classes in the evening.
This time around we are here for two weeks. During that time we will take four cooking classes, Tuesday and Thursday nights. We will also be in class for four hours a day; 9 until 12, for Mary; she has a small class with only two people; 9 until 13 for me, my class is larger.
Mary is enrolled in the beginning class, and I am taking the intermediate class. It seems impossible to me that I am at that level, but I am understanding quite a bit, but not all in class. My class had eight people. A woman from Japan, a grey-haired nun, an entitled young man, an older guy, not unlike myself, a young woman who is trying very heard to learn, a young woman who plays with her phone during class, and a middle-aged priest. It is an interesting mix.
The day began with the placement test. Once we were placed into our assigned classes, the program began. I joined a class that has been in progress for nearly nine weeks. Well at least two of the people have been in class for nine weeks. Some of us, myself and the Japanese woman are new to the class. The instructor in Andrea. I have worked with him before.
By 13:00 my brain was completely fried. It just takes so much energy to listen and try to understand. After class Mary wanted to get some lunch, but she couldn’t decide where. It is Monday so a number of places are closed. We stoped by two or three different places we have eaten at before, but they were all closed – because it it Monday.
Finally, we headed back in the direction of Il Campo, the touristy center of town. There would be a number of choices open here. Of course, now it is getting closer to 14:00 when a number of places begin to close for the afternoon. We walked down a small side street, Vicolo Beato Pier Pettinaio, and went into Ristorante Pizzeria al Piano Superiore. A restaurant “upstairs”.
We sat down and ordered a bottle of water and a bottle of wine. We took our time enjoying lunch and talking about class. Mary had the spaghetti alla carbonara while I chose the grand tagliere. The later being a board with sliced meats and cheese. Only one cheese in this case but very nice.
After lunch we, or maybe just I, staggered back to the apartment. It was clearly nap time. I couldn’t believe it, I woke up from the nap nearly three hours later. We went out for a walk. Stopped at the supermercato and got something’s for dinner and headed back to the apartment. Now it was time to do out homework and prepare for the class tomorrow.
Several hours of studying and was time for bed. I doubt that I will sleep well. My brain is conjugating verbs. Maybe I can use the conjugation like counting sheep. Ha Ha.
Buonanotte e ciao, Enrico e Maria
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