Donkeys, Dogs, and Dirt Bikes

Donkeys, Dogs and Dirt Bikes

I’m safe in Siena! It was sad to say bye to the pilgrimage and all the AMAZING people I met there. God really used Rome to bring my faith to life, what an experience, I can’t believe how fast it went. Phase 1 – over. Phase 2 – Just begun.

In two days I’ve learned:
Train station tv screens – pointless
Adventure – nonexistent without something going slightly out of wack
Maps – good
Translation book – very good
Helmets - good head protection against branches
Showers - a great blessing

Well, I guess a Tracie adventure is not a Tracie adventure unless something goes awry…really…it just wouldn’t be the same if everything flowed smoothly. Or, maybe I’m just not meant to travel trains. Either or by the grace of God I made it safely to Siena!

Did I tell you guys about the train in Orvieto? HA! Well, since this is Claire’s computer and I can’t check I’ll tell you or tell you again, :). See, we were headed down the mountain to catch the train in plenty of time, to find out that our 2 o’clock train was late and the biglietta (ticket) man didn’t know when it would be coming. So we went out to wait. We looked at the TV screen to look for our train number, which wasn’t up yet and assumed it wasn’t there. I went to shop for a key chain (unsuccessfully) and when I came back, Brook was telling a man that we were headed back to Roma. The train on track 1 left and at that moment through a lot of broken English, Italian and sign language we learned that our train had in fact been there or track 2 (not 1 as we had assumed) and left 5 minutes ago. We MISSED OUR LATE TRAIN! So then, the next train was late and we got to Rome around 6 pm. We talked to a lady who said that she took that train once a week and it was never late…naturally it would be late the one day we traveled.

So knowing this, you can imagine the humor that follows this next train story. After everyone on the pilgrimage left for the airport, I went to St. Peters one more time which was phenomenal! I then took the Metro, and then found my first train almost all alone! (I only asked for help when I couldn’t find my way out of the metro :). As I found my way to my assigned seat (rather a hassle actually because I got on unknowingly at the complete opposite end of my seat and had to fight a lot of traffic), I wondered what I was getting into. I sat down and looked at my ticket again and realized I told Vittorio the wrong time to pick me up, I had looked at the wrong ticket!! I panicked and made texts and phone calls until it was confirmed he knew to pick me up at 3:30, not 1:30. Well, half way to Grossetto an Italian announcement was made and then we stopped for a half hour. I didn’t know what was going on. Finally I start asking questions and find out that someone had gotten sick and needed to be taken to the hospital. I am glad they were able to get help, but it made me a half hour late. When your layover is ten minutes, that makes you 20 minutes late for your connection! So then I had to find a new train to Siena from Grosseto and call Vittorio again. Thankfully I only had to wait two hours in the most boring train station, ever. Haha.

Well, let me tell you about where I live: It is a comfortable apartment with a rustic touch, which means bugs as roomies, tiny (no oven) kitchen, water with inconsistent temperature and pressure, deer and wild boar at our front door, and a peace that makes you glad to be alive. The spiders, worms and flies are decent roomies, they do not eat our food and stay out of our beds. Claire and I have resigned to the fact that we will never be completely clean for the next 3 months. Oh well.

Today was officially my first day and Claire and I took a day trip to Siena. I am so excited to watch the Palio! Today wasn’t too crazy, but we made some good memories – playing tourist with our maps and attempting to learn Italian. So far my Italian language skills are an epic fail. I tried to order White Chocolate and Mint gelato. Instead I got mint, chocolate and strawberry gelato…almost the same. We also went to a few Churches, one holds a Eucharistic Miracle only presented on certain occasions that I have forgotten and the other had St. Catherine’s head and other relics (though I couldn’t quite figure them out with my very small Italian deciphering ability). These were so cool! I only wish I knew more about them so I could better appreciate their beauty.

After Siena we went to get groceries and the market – which was just like a grocery store. Living on a budget we did the inevitable and bought packaged food – lotsa pasta. Also you have to buy your grocery bags and weigh your own produce! Weird! Tonight I used a pitchfork for the first time and tomorrow we are riding to Monticiano, I’m pretty excited. Really? Riding every day in Italy? God is good. The only downfall so far is that getting to Mass on Sundays is going to be a challenge because the buses don’t run on Sundays. I’m praying God will provide a way. The next two weeks should be interesting because Claire is leaving, which means I have to cook for myself – always a scary idea, especially because our little stove is gas and you have to use matches to light it – I’m terrified of matches! Maybe I’ll eat bread until Claire comes home (she’s the cook )

Oh yeah, why donkeys, dogs and dirt bikes? It’s my lullaby music all through the night, very interesting. Just as a side note…ya know, in case you were curious! But…the donkeys, mule, and horses are super cute! I’ll try to get pics soon. We have two young full grown ponies that are the cutest things ever, there backs are about the height (and size) of a normal barstool.

Okay, there is so much more, but if I wrote every detail, I’d never stop writing. So I’ve given you the highlights. It is quite late, tomorrow is early rise and I’m tired. Oh yeah!! If you feel so inclined to write a letter or something, here is my address: (hint, hint – nudge, nudge)

Tracie Petitti
Podere La Ripa
Frazione Tocchi
53015 Monticiano (Siena)
ITALY


Love you all and as always you are in my prayers. God Bless!
Tracie