More pictures

Where the opera will be performed

Lucca at night

Duomo- Siena

Amazing street performers in Siena

Italian class

More Montepulciano

Vineyard

The Boys

Montepulciano, great view

Snuck down to the vineyard

Andrew and I enjoying dinner

Montepulciano

Tuscan Landscape

Andrew, Nathan, Michael, Anthony and I

Wine cellar

Lots of wine :)

Down in the depths, the whole gang

Wine country

This weekend was the best so far in Italy. I traveled with Anthony, Nathan, Andrew and Michael to the Chianti region of Italy. We rented a little Italian car and hopped on the road to a small town called Montepulciano. After about a little over an hour we arrived there and it was a very small town with lots of hills overlooking many many vineyards (around 65 within a few kilometers of the town).
We walked around and got a great lunch and fit in a little shopping before the tastings began. After lunch we visited about 5 or 6 shops that give free wine and cheese tastings, and it was unbelievable. Many of these shops had intricate wine cellars that we got to tour as well. We also learned a lot about the wine of this particular region.
After we had basically tasted at all the shops within the town we decided to venture out into the vineyards. We visited two different vineyards that were absolutely beautiful and tasted some more wine. Then we finished off our time in Montepulciano with a wonderful dinner overlooking the town and the beautiful Tuscan landscape. I could not have asked for a more perfect day.
After dinner we headed to the town of Siena (where I had been once before when I was younger). We checked into a nice hostel and then walked around the town a bit before we came back to the hostel to play spades until late in the evening.
The next morning we saw the Duomo and main piazza of Siena. We also went to Mass which was lovely, although the singing was pretty mediocre, just once I want to hear a great choir...
After Mass we stumbled upon two street musicians both playing the accordion. I believe that they were the best street performers I have ever heard. They were playing intricate classical music repertoire flawlessly.
After that we hopped back into the car and made our way back to Lucca. Overall it was a wonderful weekend. I am so glad that I have made such great friends with these brass boys. They are really nice guys, and I have had so much fun traveling around with them.
I will post pictures soon!
Miss you all, love Kaye

Pictures around Lucca

Cinque terra

This weekend was incredible. Saturday morning Anthony, Michael and I headed on a trip to Cinque terra, Rick Steve's fav destination in Italia.

Cinque terra is a group of five coastal cities that you can hike through and the three of us decided to hike them all, a total of 9 km. While 9km is not much of a hike, the uphill and downhill trek was much more difficult than we had anticipated, but still so much fun.

Vernazza was my favorite town on the left.




I wish we had time to swim, but unfortunately only my feet got a taste of the Mediterranean. After a long day of hiking we hopped back on the train home.

Anthony and Michael with their beers on the train :)

Italian Dinner

Last night Nathan, Catherine, Anthony and I traveled to a small town about 30 min from Lucca to see some friends the three of them had met last year. We arrived at the train station in Montecarlo (not THE Montecarlo) and found the Pizzeria that Rossano and his wife Francesca own, however it was closed. After a few minutes of being upset that the Pizzeria was closed we went to a group of men down the street to inquire if they knew Rossano. Rossano's father was sitting amongst the group and led the four of us to their home to greet them and give them a book about Chicago style pizza Nathan has purchased for them as a gift.
When we arrived they were both so surprised that they had come back, I of course was not part of the original crew so they were confused by my presence, and they welcomed us into their home. They have a newborn baby named Amanda who was precious. We talked for awhile and Catherine and I played with Amanda and then they invited us to stay for dinner. She cooked an egg and cheese appetizer, salad, bread and a delicious pasta with fresh tomatoes. It was a fantastic meal accompanied with wonderful new friends.
I feel as though I got an authentic Italian experience and hope that more will come my way as I continue here in Lucca.

I am having a wonderful time. Lucca is incredible and work is a little hectic but is slowing down now that everyone is getting into a routine. I miss you all and hope you are having wonderful summers. Please email with updates on your life!

Pictures from Paris

Paris

I had a lovely time in Paris with Sarah. She was such a great hostess. The first day after recovering from jetlag I walked all over and saw Notre Dame and the Opera House. After that we had dinner and drinks with a few of Sarah's friends.
The second day I walked to Musee D'Orsay which was AMAZING! There was a whole room dedicate to Van Gogh, Renior, Monet, Manet, and the list goes on and on. The Museum is located within an old train station so it was extremely interesting to see the curatorial decisions that were made.
I left Paris yesterday and arrived to Lucca around 7pm. Words cannot describe the charm of this city. Little boys play futbol in the Piazza, old women drink cappuccino on the stoops, people on bicycles dodge the foot traffic. The sights and smells are wonderful and I know I will adore ever moment I get to spend here.