[June 1999]
We returned to Italy in early summer of 1999. This time we also planned to include a few days in Provence as well. In fact, we hoped to spend two weeks in Siena studying Italian at Scuola Dante Alighieri followed by a few days with friends in St. Remy de Provence tasting and touring the Provençal countryside.
Our trip begin in Nice, France where we picked up our rental car. From there we drove to Italy, stopping overnight in Levanto along the Ligurian Coast at the Stella Maris Hotel.
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| beachfront at Levanto |
(We had originally planned to spend a couple of nights at the same hotel on our return trip but since the hotel was less than expected we cancelled that reservation. In the end we stayed at a wonderful small hotel just outside Lucca.)
From Levanto it was an easy drive to Siena where we found our apartment at Le Meridiane, a complex of short- and long-term rentals. Located just outside the walls of the city it was close to a bus stop that would take us right into the historic city center. It was also a fairly easy walk as well.
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| Siena skyline |
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| our building at Le Meridiane |
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| our apartment, behind and at the lower level but with a great view |
We spent two weeks at the school which was located close to the fortezza. We had two wonderful teachers for the two-week program, Chiara and her assistant Chicca ("non cheeka" she would always remind us).
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| Chiara |
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| the last day of class we gave her flowers |
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| Chicca |
It was a small class of some ten or so other students, from as far away as Australia and as close as Switzerland.
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| both Australian |
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| Swiss |
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| and course at least two Americans |
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| milling around in the school hallway |
Next up: Siena strolling!
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