Today I realized that only two of these three expressions are appropriate to start a conversation with. You don't say goodnight to someone unless you plan on leaving them alone and letting them sleep. I'm glad Dr. Dawson pointed out that these expressions translate quite literally.
We began our day with breakfast which was served until 8:30, and I'm surprised I made it because last night I inadvertently fell asleep on top of my sheets and only under the comforter, I'm guessing I was too tired to notice. The urge to sleep in was strong but breakfast is the most important meal of the day and sleep is for the weak.
The Italian breakfast, like dinner, is different from what we're used to. It's kind of like the continental breakfast you get at hotels but the cereal bowls are about 20 times smaller (or at least today they were). I ate a regular piece of bread with my meal and attempted to determine if the amount of walking we would do this semester would cancel out the weight I gain from the amount of bread in the Italian diet. And of course, I had a much needed cappuccino.
We headed into town at about 9:30 for a walking tour around Assisi to learn a little about the city itself, it's construction, and the life of St. Francis.
Assisi, located in the Italian region Umbria, was constructed before the rise of the Roman Empire, and like most civilizations at the time, it was built on a hill for protection and to keep watch for invaders.
Following the history of the city itself, we saw several buildings and learned about their significance. We had a chance to visit the Basilica di San Francesco where St. Francis is currently buried. His body had been moved various times in the past due to claims from officials in other towns of apparitions in which St. Francis would request to be taken to their city to rest. They would then steal the body from the basilica without notice. Dr. Dawson ensured us that the tomb was now sealed. I didn't consult St. Francis, but Assisi is probably the best resting place for him.
Fun fact: Francesco means "little French boy" in Italian. St. Francis' father was a cloth salesman who imported his materials from France, so this was a nickname used to poke fun at him. Anyone whose name is Francis or any variation thereof was named after St. Francis' father, the original "Francesco".
After seeing more of the city, we stopped in a "bar" or café, where I got a small cappuccino. This morning the temperatures were in the 30's, which is one of the reasons we stayed inside for about 20 minutes. The other reason we stuck around is because Italians rarely take beverages, especially coffee drinks, to go. It is typical to stand at the bar or take a seat while you enjoy your drink, and leave only when you are done. This particular café had to go cups, but that is not to be expected. I really like the idea of that, although it may take some getting used to.
After a little more walking, we went off on our own to have lunch. I had a panini with prosciutto, mozzarella, and arugula, served on a bread board. So cool.
After lunch, a few of us decided to venture il Rocco Maggiore, from which there would be a beautiful view of Assisi. This took a lot of climbing but the cold air made for a refreshing little hike. And the view was more than worth it. I can't include a picture that does the view any justice but only a panoramic one that can give you a general idea of what we saw.
After class, there was a short break and dinner began soon after. Although it was Saturday night and some of the group ventured into town to drink wine and socialize, I opted to stay warm under my covers and try to get a good sleep. In other words I changed my mind about sleep being reserved for the weak.
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