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Study Abroad -- Siracusa
Ciao a tutti!
As promised, I'm writing all about the fabulous weekend I spent in Catania and on Mt. Etna. I spent Friday in Palermo for my art and architecture class, and on the way home that night we heard about the Palermo-Catania soccer game, which was pretty wild. They have a rivalry almost as bad as the Red sox and the Yankees, so the fans outside the stadium rioted and threw flash-bangs, which killed a policeman. Because of this, soccer is canceled indefinitely in Sicily.
My flatmates and I arrived in Catania on Saturday for the beginning of the 3-day festivities of st. Agatha, patron saint of Palermo (feb. 5), and were disappointed when we found out that the events of the night before had caused officials to cancel most of the events of the festival. We did get to see some processions and people carrying the candeloras, these huge wooden decorated pillars that look like candles. each profession has their own, and we got to see the grocers carry theirs to the duomo and put it inside with those of the bishop, flower-makers, butchers, bakers, etc.
We went hiking and skiing/snowboarding on Etna on Sunday, and had a blast. We spent the morning hiking the north face of Etna in the snow for 3 hrs, culminating the ''walk'' by climbing up a 35 degree slope of pebbles and ash to see inside the 3rd highest crater on etna, which was pretty cool. it was absolutely gorgeous and so clear that we could see all the way to reggio calabria.
Two of my flatmates spent the afternoon skiing while the rest of us took snowboarding lessons (btw eleanor, I did not attempt to snowboard, I did). It was a bit difficult and a little painful, but a lot of fun. The instructor could only speak italian, but two of us spoke reasonably well and translated for the other girl, who didn't speak any italian at all. I did really well, and was told that I was one of the best beginners that they'd ever had. I think I like this snowboarding thing...
We went home sunday night, did homework, ordered pizza because we were too tired and sore to make dinner, and went to bed. It was REALLY hard to get up this morning, I was so sore. We had such a fun time we're going to try and go back again some weekend, probably before the end of March.
Because I forgot my camera I don't have any photos for y'all but my friends took a ton so as soon as they put them on facebook I'll tell you all how to access them.
love to all,
Elizabeth
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