GROWING OLD IN AREZZO

Ah, beautiful Arezzo! Where do I begin? This city was the first of our adventures, and wow was it a good one. We began the day figuring out the train station with our large, not very discrete, touristy-group of college kids. When we finally figured out not to cross over the train tracks and were given the "hide your belongings" speech, we were off to Arezzo! A 10-minute train ride and the feeling of becoming local Italians later, we stepped foot into Arezzo where we were then pushed into the hands of our lovely tour guide- Giovanni. Now don't get me wrong, Giovanni is great- but WOW that man can really fly through the city. Emily, Hayley and I found ourselves (many times) momentarily lost from the group in an effort to take in the city instead of take part of the tour. Now granted, I can't tell you much of the history that we were intended to learn- but I could describe some very fabulous dogs in sweaters that were much nicer than mine, the couples in the off distance making out without a care in the world, and of course, the various antique items that Emily and I took mental photos of in order to circle back and take a piece of old Arezzo home with us. Even though we didn't particularly learn the history of Arezzo, we sure were gonna take it home with us.

Now for my favorite part, what I like to call: "the great separation." This is the point of the field trip when we are set free to do as we please. After the tours when we are able to venture on our own and take the town in through our own eyes and not the eyes of someone else. Where school ends and adventure begins. For Emily and I, this happened to entail antique shopping. There was something so appealing to us about taking a piece of Arezzo's history home. SO, WE SEARCHED. We probably saw and touched years and years of objects with histories far more interesting than our own. Perhaps an engagement ring with the greatest of love stories that is now only told by grand-children, a book that was given to a best friend to inspire a passion, or a picture frame occupied by a family so that a daughter knew she was always loved. These were the stories that came to mind as we walked through the vastness of this Antichità Micene. In a world where we want all things new and improved, it’s nice to own a thing of the past.

So, for my piece of history, I invested 6 euro in two softly worn scarfs (that have me looking extremely European if I say so myself) and a small butterfly ring I purchased at the last vendor of the market. We had been searching for rings all day and had no luck because of our American fingers. But in the last little tent sat and very cute, very old couple who had the cutest little butterfly ring in their case that was too adorable to pass up. As I asked to see the ring in my best (but very horrible) Italian, the old man's smile lit up as he opened the casing in which I then told myself "even if this ring fits none of your fingers, you will buy it anyway, simply for this old Italian man." But luckily, the ring did fit, I did buy it, and I will be back to see that same little old man on the first Sunday of March.

On our train ride home, I sat and thought about the significance of this day. What an interesting thought that a day so ordinary to the locals was a day of sweet remembrance for me.

So it goes: Arezzo will forever hold a place in my heart as my first real adventure in Italy. Away from the group, away from school, and in a sweet little town where it’s just fine and dandy to grow old.

<3 Amanda.