"Who's performing at half-time?" "Yes."

I am sorry that it has been so long since I have updated my blog. We have had a very busy week. Last Wednesday we went to Florence for our field trip. We got to see a lot of buildings, but didn't get to spend a lot of quality time absorbing the architecture. The only thing that we were absorbing was the incessant rain that seems to only appear on travel days.

When I was here in 2004, I hadn't learned about the architecture, only about the history surrounding it. I was much more appreciative of the things that I was seeing this time around. We got to see Santa Maria Novella, Santa Croce and the Pazzi Chapel, Palazzo Strozzi, and the Palazzo Vecchio. After lunch, we went to the History of Science Museum to meet our proffessor for a tour. They have several of Galileo's original scientific instruments. They also have Galileo's right middle finger. I guess even in death he is giving the finger to the all those who thought he was a heretic.

This weekend was jam-packed with activities. On the first Friday and Saturday of the month, the nearby town of Arezzo has an antiques fair. The main streets are lined with all types of junque. There was jewelry, furniture, books, instruments, and even African masks. We walked around for several hours and our professor Tony took us into some buildings that we had only passed by on our previous tour. There are several works of art from famous artists even in this small town. This crucix was done by Cimabue.

Sunday was also a day of fun. Carnivale began last weekend and lasts for the next three Sundays in preparation for Lent. Children dress up in silly costumes and spray confetti or silly string on innocent bystanders. Foiano is a nearby town that has held a Carnivale parade since the Middle Ages. Our group ventured over to Foiano by bus and joined in the festivities. There are four neighborhoods that compete with their floats and each year they are bigger and better. It is quite interesting to watch the mechanized floats squeeze through the narrow and crooked streets. They fold up to fit through the narrowest opening and unfurl their wings/tentacles/appendages in more open streets. Many of us got confettied by small children who quickly scampered for cover behind their parents. One of the local artists that teaches at Santa Chiara was in charge this year for designing a float. It was Alice and Wonderland themed and had people of the neighborhood dressed as cards leading the procession. The music they danced to was "Poker Face" by Lady GaGa and a few AC/DC songs.

So, after we returned to Castiglion Fiorentino, we relaxed for a little while. A few of us went to the local pub, The Velvet Underground (lovingly referred to as the VU) to watch the Super Bowl. We talked about staying until halftime and when I asked about the halftime entertainment, it turned into a bit of an Abbott and Costello moment. They didn't play any American commercials and it started after midnight our time. I was kind of rooting for the Colts, because I know that Lauren would want me to! We made it to the Saint's first field goal, and then headed for home.

Tomorrow we leave for an extended trip to Rome. Our History of Science teacher is taking us to Pompeii on Friday. We are going to see the research labs that are on-site. Look for a new post next week after we return on Sunday.