Double Header, but the reward of wine

Today, our professors held a double class session; that is three hours in the morning and three hours in the afternoon. The time went surprising quickly, and our group's study of the Commedia was a lively discussion for most of the allotted time.

After our evening class, some of us journeyed over to the enoteca at the Fortezza.  Armed with six bottles of Tuscan wine, we climbed to the top of the structure and drank our dinner while enjoying each other's company and also the gorgeous sight of Siena. My favorite wine of the night was a Spumante Noir, a bubbling white almost champagne like wine.  Delish!

While spending a few minutes reading Lord of the Rings for pleasure this afternoon, I ran across something that seemed to fit my feelings for today:

Home is behind, the world ahead,

And there are many paths to tread

Through shadows to the edge of night,

until the stars are all alight.

Then the world behind and home ahead,

 We'll wander back to home and bed.

Mist and twilight, cloud and shade,

Away shall fade! Away shall fade!

Fire and lamp, and meat and bread,

And then to bed!  And then to bed! (FoTR 77-8)

So many enlightening, encouraging, and inspiring things have happened during the trip. From the words of Dante to the paintings of Botticelli, our group has experienced some of the most spectacular artistry. We wake eager each morning and put ourselves to bed in a state of exhaustion each night, but the journey is worth every aching joint and every fried brain cell. :)

Tomorrow, we have class again, but also a tour of the Duomo here in Siena.  Then we leave for a weekend in Rome on Thursday morning.  That means my blogging with probably have to wait until Sunday.