Domenica: dance, mozarella, and meditation sul monte

Buona sera! Began today by dancing around in the fitness room (so not the same as real dance class) and taking a lunch trip up to Bar Lidia with Erica (today I was greeted with a "Ciao bebe! sandwich? sandwich? two sandwich?" to which I always have to respond "no no, io vorrei in un piatto...").

This evening, Audrey, Erica and I went up to San Miniato al Monte - the church above Piazza Michelangelo known for its gorgeous views and the daily "Gregorian Chant." We went in freely (no snobbiness in this church, just an open doorway), and sat ourselves in the crypt to listen. Religion in Italy is so different than religion in the states - it's not hard to understand why religion was, and still is, such a large component of culture here in Firenze. In San Miniato, we were surrounded by artwork, sheltered in a dark, cool building overlooking all of Firenze, listening to the enchanting harmony of the monks. No wonder why religion affects people so much - it was the perfect environment for meditation and spiritual awakening and all that jazz. I wish I could have recorded it, but I found a clip on youtube of the same chant in the same church - it's not the same as actually being there, but this gives you an idea. It was a very zen experience.

(San Miniato al Monte)

(this one's for you, Marc!)

(Hi Audrey!)

That's all for today. Shout out to the Aunts (that was for you, Baba. No more complaining now). Tomorrow Erica and I are taking a trip to the mall for a final round of finding cheap Italian couture, then another week of classes (my eighth week of class here in Italy, isn't that crazy?).

Ciao Amori!

Laura