Today the group headed up to Fiesole, the quaint hill town above Florence that affords an incredible view of the city below. When we arrived, as I was giving a small introduction to the town, an elderly signora, who later introduced herself as Lucia, interrupted my speech to share additional information (in rapid-fire Florentine) about Fiesole. She pointed out that Leonardo da Vinci had tested his flying machines on the hill behind us. Wow! When we parted ways, the students yelled out a big "Grazie Lucia!"
Next, the group headed up a vertical (ok, not really, but it seemed like it!) path, so that we could take a group picture at a clearing above Fiesole overlooking Florence in the valley below. Then we split up into small groups and did a photo scavenger hunt, the fruits of which I will be sharing with you over the next couple of days on this blog.
After the photo shoot we had a picnic of build-your-own sandwiches, with the freshest fixin's from the Mercato Centrale (thanks William!)--tasty sliced salami, fresh turkey, and prosciutto crudo, mozzarella, the reddest vine-ripened tomatoes I have ever seen, and bread made this morning, with a dash of extra virgin olive oil and salt. Oh, and we had the sweetest red cherries for dessert. Tasting even the simplest ingredient can be an experience unto itself here in Florence.
We have just gotten back, and now the students have free time for the next few hours. We will meet again on the Staff Terrace for a catered dinner and then we'll be off again to enjoy the musical stylings of an American high school band and the Battistero!
All in a day's work!
Stay tuned in the next couple of days for photos from the students' photoshoot extravaganza and an account of our trips to San Gimignano and Siena tomorrow!
A presto,
Janet
Program Director
Florence
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