Monday July 26th

I must write to finish out our day and evening from yesterday.  Mollie explained the day, but didn't go into the detail of how we are almost able to find our way around without the precise mapquest that I did or our Italian atlas.  We find our selves usng the famous Laura Law "it feels like this direction" to which my sister generally replies "then we should go the opposite direction".  Since I have been in the drivers seat you can guess which way we go!  To our surpise it is working.  Mollie is even getting in the game and using her instinct!  Afterall whats the worst thing that could happen?  We get lost in Italy?

Last night was my night for the Andrea Bocelli concert.  What a night.  It started out with me barely catching the bus. I had assumed that they had left without me and was prepared to drive, but when I walked by there they we waiting for me! When I boarded the bus they all cheered for me!  I was sitting with a group from England and had a nice chat.  They made sure to tell me that I had better not be late when the concert was over, as they weren't waiting for me -nice!

The concert was everything that I thought it would be.  It was about 70 degrees out with a light breeze.  The setting was in a field that had been made into this ancient out door theatre.  There was completely clear with the exception of the full moon that was rising right above where Boccelli would be performing.  I swear when he took to the stage the moon shot to attention in mid sky!  The voice ringing in this field literally brought tears to my eyes - and I don't mean subtle tears - I mean Steel Magnolia tears.  I had goose bumps throughout the concert.  The orchestra and chior with him were wonderful as were some of the quest duets - all operectic with the exception of one gentleman.  To end the eveing they all did his closing song and there were big helium ballons that had some sort of candle flickering in them that were set off to go meet the moon.  A spectacluar vision. I  am so glad that I took the chance all those months ago to build a trip around this one night.  I was not dissappointed and must say that it is something that I would do all over again. The only challenge that I had was when leaving.  The concert did not end until midnight so it was very dark .I had a little map that I could barely see, so I stopped to ask 3 or 4 police men where the shuttle busses to Vollterra were.  None of them spoke any english.  By now I was tired, hungry and in a sea of non english speaking people.  I was starting to panic a little - you know like when your a little girl and get lost and can't find your parents!  Yep - that was the feeling.  I decided that I had to calm down, quit crying and put my big girl panites on or walk 37 miles to Volterra.  I literally stood still, took a deep breath and told myself to think in Italian, put my sentences in Italian first and then ask my question.  I'll be go to heck!  It worked!  I went back to the last police officer who spoke no english and asked him "Sa deimie dovey e sue autobus andare Volterra?  Within  minutes I was sitting safely on the bus for the next hour waiting for the other idiot that couldn't find it!  Much better than the option of walking!  This entire evening is an experience that will go down in my personal history as one of the great ones!

Today - we are going to explore Volterra.  As we were trying to find our parking spot the other day we ran across some etruscan ruins so we will start there and then hit some of the museums and shops.  Our hope is to continue with the physical excersise and great food!  We are finding that we are seeing just what we want to and the fun part for this first part of the trip is that I am getting to explore some old favorites with Mollie and I am looking forward to the new places we will go! 

Cioa sono domani
Laura