My students in the Teatro Romano, en route to the Museo Archaeologico.

On Friday afternoon, we took a class field trip up to the Museo Archaeologico, which is in a villa at the top of a big hill overlooking the Teatro Romano (the Roman theater). Here are all of the students sitting in the Teatro Romano. The museum has lovely examples of floor and wall mosaics, excavated from Verona sites, as well as other architectural fragments. There is also a collection of tiny bronze figures, probably funerary, and bronze and glass domestic items. Well worth the hike up and the view of Verona from the top is spectacular! For more pictures, go to my Picasa album.

Dinner with Federica and Karen

The rain ended in time for me to meet Federica at the Cafe Casa Blanca for a spritz. Karen Hillson, the art historian from the NH Art Institute joined us and we all went out to dinner at the Antica Trattoria Pero d’Oro--the Golden Pear. Another delicious meal, this time (for me) fettucine with artichokes and Vitello Tonnato--which was awesome! Vitello Tonnato is cold sliced veal with a thin layer of mayonnaise sauce--flavored with tuna and capers. Molto delicato. Panna cotta with caramel sauce for dessert--the caramel sauce was dark dark dark, almost the color of chocolate, and fabulous! Cafe completo (with grappa) to finish us off. A delightful evening with delightful company. Buona notte.

Il Vicolo

Today is a rainy Saturday--I started the day at the public market at the Stadio, where I bought assorted cheeses (Stracciata, Gorgonzola, ricotta, and Asiago Pressato). Also a bag of apricots (local) and some fresh organic asparagus. We beat the rain home and I've been puttering ever since.

 Here are some pictures of Il Vicolo, the house where we are all living (me and six female students). I have a kitchen/livingroom and a bedroom, all well furnished and very comfy. My kitchen has a *red* refrigerator--very flashy. I love it! My living space is large enough to hold my class in, which works quite well. I have a projector, computer, and wireless internet access. What more could I need? It also makes it possible not only to teach about foodways, but to allow the students to experience tastes of those foodways. This will be fun for all.

Last night, we all went out for dinner to the Trattoria Isola, a local restaurant that I had found in the SlowFood guide and which I loved the last time I was here. It lived up to my memory of it. The food is all home cooked and local and delizia!!!! I had a primi of fettucine with salmon and a secondi of bacala with grilled polenta. The dolce was semifreddo amarato. All mouthwateringly good. Several of the students tried horse, yes horse, as in cavallo--a local specialty here in Verona. It was lots of fun!

More soon. Many adventures still to come.

Italian Class

Today we had our first Italian class, courtesy of Lingua.it. Lingua.it is an established language school with a branch in Verona. Their method is Italian-only from day one--and by the end of two hours, all six of us were able to "interview" a staff person from Lingua.it, asking her for her name, where she came from, where she lives, how she was feeling, and what she likes to do. Obviously a very successful method (and the teacher was excellent)!

Earlier in the day, I had my first meeting with my Mediterranean food class--six students, a cozy seminar. The classroom is lacking in a few basics (internet access), but certainly adequate and the problems will be resolved eventually. Although it had been a gorgeous day when we went into class, by the time we left, it was pouring rain. We darted from arcade to arcade, trying to stay dry, all the way to Piazza Erbe--where three of us ducked into a cafe for lunch. Pasta with pesto, basic, but delicious. I also managed to squeeze in a little grocery shopping today--dishwashing soap, a sponge, and other basics--so now am feeling quite settled. Tonight I am nesting, eating some fresh asiago with olives and a drizzle of olive oil. Just San Benedetto (so far) as accompaniment. Hoping to give a blog tutorial to some of the students later on--they all have to create blogs as part of the course, sharing their food explorations. I'll post links as they appear. More soon.

Verona!!!

I am in Verona, safe and sound, and it is great! Our flight was long and uncomfortable, but we all got here without any probs. Federica, our wonderful local arrangements person, spent the day with us, getting the students oriented (and keeping them awake). We all had dinner at a cafe on the Piazza Bra--a big city center area w/many cafes and a Roman coliseum in the middle. Lots of fun. Today, I got up early, went to a cafe across the street for cappucino and brioche, then went grocery shopping. All morning, orientation, then we went rafting on the River Adige, which flows through the center of the city. We went under twelve bridges, some fun rapids, and spend about three hours basking in the glorious Italian sunshine. Afterwards, Federica and I went to a wine bar and had spritzes--Aperol and prosecco, I think. A perfect way to end a perfect day. Tomorrow, the work starts. Classes begin, and I have an Italian class from 4-6 as well. This is a wonderful life. My apartment is lovely. Wish you were here to see it all. You would love it!