Siena

We are staying very busy between classes and travel and I haven’t had time to catch up on all that we have been doing. Tonight, Vito Albanese, a local mask maker, came to the Casa to do a demonstration and sell some masks. I have been looking forward to this night all week and it definitely exceeded my expectations. Vito used to have studio in Florence where he made masks for both tourists and for the theater. He is quite the Italian artisan! He now works with his wife in Reggello (the town we are staying in) and has one son. He makes masks out of paper mache and leather. Several of his masks are hanging in the classroom here at Casa Cares and I have had my eye on them since we arrived. There has been one in particular that I have been thinking about purchasing for Mark, but I’m not going to post a picture of that one—it’s a surprise! I was so happy to hear that it was for sale when I asked Vito this evening. I am so happy (and Mark will be too) that I have purchased a handmade Italian mask. It has been, by far, the best purchase yet!

Today was a long day of classes and hearing about counseling in Italy. Tomorrow (Thursday) is a visit to Pisa and Siena. I’m going to take a Dramamine before this bus trip tomorrow. I got very motion sick (along with 95% of the rest of the participants on the bus) on the last trip to Siena yesterday. I never get motion sickness and it was the pits! We have almost a two hour trip to Pisa and Lucca tomorrow so I am prepared. Siena was amazing. It is an ancient, medieval city and well known for tourists. Although the city has stretched beyond the brick walls, much of it and its inhabitants still live enclosed in the wall. The pictures above are from Siena. The famous Duomo church, or main cathedral, is inside the city and it was stunning. I was so moved by all of the art and stories in the church. I had a wonderful lunch (cod stuffed ravioli) at a hole-in-the-wall restaurant with no other tourists (thanks, Rick Steves!).