Trip to Siena with my new Italian friends.

Last week I met this wonderful Italian lady at the Hot Springs in Petriolo Italy. Her name is Lilla. She invited me to come eat dinner and stay with her in Siena Italy. So on Saturday Lila, her friend Francesca and I went to see her daughter perform in a break dancing competition in Florence. After that we took a train to Siena to Lila's house. She lives in the hills of Siena. We ate delicious pesto pasta when we arrived at her house. I read somewhere that when an Italian family invites you over for dinner it is always customary to bring a gift, such as a bottle of wine. I don't know if it's true, but when I pulled out a bottle of Chianti from my backpack Francesca and Lilla were very excited. It was really neat.

I woke up early on Sunday morning to coffee with Francesca. For lunch Lilla taught me how to cook her speciality "Artichokes and Garlic Potatoes." I tried Buffalo Cheese also. It was delicious. After we ate Lilla said she had a surprise for me and took me into the garage where she had a piano. I don't think I have ever been so happy to see a piano. It felt so good to be able to play again. I hadn't realized how much I missed it. We finally left Lilla's house and they took me into the city to show me around. It was so amazing. Siena is like Florence but smaller, less people, less modern, more hills and cleaner. Or at least that was what I was able to gather in the few hours I walked around. They showed me the right bus to take and I headed back to Florence on Sunday night.

We only spoke in Italian. I probably only spoke 20 words in English for the duration of my trip. I am far from fluent but it felt so cool to get the basic gist of what was being said and be able to convey my basic thoughts. It blew my mind how kind and hospitable these women were to a complete stranger. And not even that but a stranger who barely spoke Italian.

When we were on the train Lilla called her friend Giovanna who lives in Naples. Lilla asked me if I wanted to go to Naples and stay with Giovanna next (this) weekend. Of course I said yes.

They say the best food in the world is in Italy and that the best pizza is in Naples. I am finally fulfilling the sumation of my existence: to eat the worlds best pizza. And if Giovanna is even half as amazing as Francesca and Lilla I know I am in for another warmhearted Italian weekend.

(Ended up not being able to go to Siena because of a boyfriend...or something rather. Lilla and Francesca still rule.)