Thursday, June 12, 2008

The All Important Food Post

Gelato Flavors I’ve Tried So Far:
• Pistachio
• Coffee
• Mint chocolate
• strawberry
• peach
• apricot/pear
• nutella
• cherry
• chocolate
• tiramisu
• hazelnut
• lemon
• yogurt

Favorite Flavors:
• pistachio
• coffee
• mint chocolate
• strawberry
• peach
• apricot/pear
• nutella
• cherry
• chocolate
• tiramisu
• hazelnut
• lemon
• yogurt

I’m mostly kidding. Pistachio, coffee, nutella, lemon, hazelnut, peach, and apricot/pear are the best so far.

To Try Next:
• Raspberry
• Banana
• Caramel chocolate
• Orange
• Blackberry
• Vanilla

The best gelaterio in Arezzo is on the corner about two blocks from the train station. In addition to supplying possibly the most delicious dessert I’ve ever put in my mouth, the people who work there are wonderfully kind and patient. The man who owns the shop knows us now, and is coming to our concerts! Sometimes he refuses to take money for the gelato, just smiling and shaking his head. He doesn’t seem to mind ugly Americans hanging around his store.

Subjects Unrelated to Food:

I have a bass now! It’s a pretty nice bass, too. It’s carved and has a rich sound, even though it’s brighter than my bass at home. The action’s really high, but I figure that will be like practicing baseball with a donut on your bat. You know those weights you put around the end of your bat to swing, and then when you take it off in the game your swing is so much stronger? Maybe my hands will be stronger when I get back to the states? Hopefully? Please? Anyway, it’s not that big a deal. The bigger deal is the fact that I still don’t have a stool. Hopefully Mr. Vitek will come through on that, but I don’t hold high hopes.

Daniel, you’d be so proud of me! I watched a whole soccer game that you weren’t in, and I didn’t even crack a book! I even got to watch the game from the steps of a medieval church! A few nights ago some of the girls from the convent decided it would be an interesting cultural experience to watch the Italy/Netherlands soccer game (Euro championship?) in a pizza bar with Italians. As we’re heading to the bar, we hear what sounds like a very large, very excited mob. As we get deeper into the old city the noise gets louder, until finally we turn a corner and almost plow straight into a giant TV screen. The soccer game is being projected on both sides of this screen at the edge of the old square, drive-in movie style, and hundreds of Italians are running back and forth with drinks, or sitting with their gelato, waiting for the game to start. The excitement is palpable. Once the game began, it became surprisingly quiet, adding drama to the drawn out “NoOOO!”s and cheering that startled pigeons from their roosts with disgruntled squawks that were lost in the din.

Apparently soccer is a big deal in Italy.

Between the contagious excitement and several bottles of vino rosso, our group was shouting “Forza Italia!” right along with the Italians. It was a great night.

My roommate, M, who plays bassoon, turned 20 yesterday. To celebrate, the city of Arezzo held a parade in her honor. A small group of us were sitting in a fancy restaurant, eating pizza and pasta (and other delicious things staring with p), when we heard this loud emphatic drumming. The drumming was quickly followed by the sound of clanging church bells (from the cathedral tower), and crowd sounds. Looking out the window of the restaurant, we can see the first drummers in their bright green medieval garb (complete with multicolored tights) march by. The waiter explains that these are the marchers and dignitaries involved in the Jousting festival, doing a practice run/parade around the city. We rushed out of the restaurant and stood on the stoop to watch the parade go by. There were little kids strutting around in medieval uniforms carrying family flags. Dignified men in helmets bore the flags of each neighborhood of Arezzo and their jousting champions. The mayor, judges, and other dignitaries were surrounded by knights in chain mail and brightly colored uniforms. It was spectacular. We quickly paid for our meal and followed the procession up to the cathedral at the top of the mountain. It felt like the whole city was packed inside, and we could barely see the bishop and the mayor at the front. What a night!

In Other News:
-This Sunday we take a day trip to Florence (Firenze). When I learn the Italian word for “so frickin stoked” I will tell it to you.
-One of my roommates is sick. This is gonna sound terrible, but I’m hoping it’s because of some bad meat she ate, and not the stomach flu like she thinks, because we’ve all been sharing drinks and living in really close quarters…
-The septet rehearsed today, I love this piece, it’s a lot of fun. The bass actually gets really cool parts, and since I’m by myself I get to play with it a bit more. Chamber music is the bomb.
-Daniel: have fun at GSP! I’m so proud of you. If you get time send me an email (something along the lines of “I am alive,” and maybe some stories you can’t tell mom and dad?)!
-I miss you, and I love you.

XOXO
Erin

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

WOW! Can I come play with you? You have all the fun! Remember, I expect you to share these experiences with me when you get home. Come down and we'll hang out for a few days (one, two, whatever...)

Glad you are having a ball. Just can't picture you in a convent. :)

Much love,
Aunt J

Anonymous said...

Erin,
I want some gelato, too! Arezzo sounds like a fabulous place to spend a summer. It sounds like the people are warm and welcoming. A change from New York? I hope you have a great time in Firenze.
Love,
Mom

Anonymous said...

I am very impressed by your correct usage of sports terms. Not only did you watch an entire soccer game, you even knew the name of the tournament that it was a part of.

mad props

Daniel

The Grand Adventures of Erin Elizabeth said...

New Flavors Tried:
-blueberry
-pistacione di something(similar to pistachio, with marscapone and crunchy green things)
-mystery yellow gelato

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