One week in.

So I have been here a week and it still feels like I am on the set of a movie. This week really is one of the best weeks of the year to be in Arezzo: it is the Giostra! Jousting has been around forever in Arezzo and they take the tradition very seriously. Arezzo has four quartiari (neighborhoods) that will compete on Sunday for the golden lance! Our neighborhood is Santo Spirito, whose colors are yellow and blue. Each quartiari has their own crest and colors; everyone wears the scarf of their neighborhood all week. We wore them on the first day of school! It is a mixture between OU/TX and Hogwarts in Harry Potter. There is so much pride. We actually got to see the jousters practice one night this week. Every night this week there has been huge celebrations, parades, and pure excitement!!Tonight each neighborhood will shut down a street and have a huge four course meal with everyone! Tomorrow morning they actually take the horses in the churchs to bless them; it is good luck for that quartiari if the horse poops in the church!






I also went with Kate to Florence for the day yesterday! It is on a 5 Euro train ride and it was truly magical. We were only there for a few hours shopping but I was blown away. I cannot wait to go back.

Our art history class was on Thursday and a suave Italian named Danielle showed us around Arezzo. He actually took us under one of the main churches, San Francesco, to an archeological dig and we saw an Etruscan road from 3 B.C. I was in shock! So incredible to think what is under this whole city! We also walked the line Napoleon walked when he was here. Danielle also took us to the old city villa of the Assi Family, one of the wealthiest and most powerful families in Arezzo. The frescos were from 1200.








This is our school. The Univsersita di Siena at Arezzo.




This morning I got up early and went to the antique market that takes place the first Saturday of every month. I couldn't help but think of PawnStars! It was so incredible the things they had. The tents seemed to go on forever, each vendor with something completely unique.