Time Flies When You're Looking at Apse Mosaics

This dragon is singing karaoke.

It's my last week in Tuscany, and I can't believe how the time has flown.  Now, as I wash my clothes, grab a bite to eat, or take a trip to the Conad, I think, "This may be my last time doing _____."  It's tragic, yet I am ready for American food, television, and my amazing family and friends!

Friday, the Gruppo Dante went to Assisi-- what an amazing city!  It sits atop a hill (and man, did we walk a lot of stairs and steep hillsides that day!), and many of the buildings seem barely perched there. The Basilica di San Francesco was our destination and we spent a few hours studying the incredible frescoes that depict Saint Francis's life.

Basilica di San Francesco

The stone color-- a light pink and cream-- is beautiful!

From Saint Francis, we were able to see another church that we would visit later in the day--Basilica di Sant Clare.

But before we toured Clare's, we were allowed three hours to grab lunch and roam the city.  After a panini of prosciutto e mozarella, I stopped in almost every tourist shop in the city!

I also visited Iglesia de Santa Maria sopra Minerva.  Currently a church, it was once an ancient Roman temple to Minerva.  The Roman facade is over 2000 years old!

Though the outside is still distinctly Roman, the inside is distinctly 17th century.  So modern!

The Madonna is encapsulated in the original stone work of the temple

Catherine taking a minute to enjoy the artwork...or maybe to rest. :)

My flatmates and I enjoyed gelato (twice) and a breezy rest in the park!  Cara loves having her photo taken!

Kerry, Terry, Jen, and Laura

Last night...my last Saturday night in Siena, I went to dinner with Cara, Catherine, Jen and Kerry.  We went to Papa's, where I've eaten three times this week.  It's very very good!

We used the down-time to take lots of pictures and to people watch...  for example, we saw a dwarf child wielding a sharp steak knife at her father and a French couple who smoked while they chewed their food.  Only in Italia!

The Chianti was fabulous!

Jen is always cold...it was 75 degrees outside last night.

Steak to die for!

After we finished dinner, Cara and I went and sat in the Campo.  The weather was perfect, the sky was starry, and I'll never forget that feeling of peace.