This past week my schedule changed slightly. I will no longer be taking classes on Tuesdays. I will only be taking classes Monday and Wednesday. I was enrolled in a non-credit cooking course Tuesday evenings but had to cancel. The course fees amounted to 75$ a class and although the food was excellent, the teacher was knowledgeable, and the wine was good, it seemed a bit much for the course. 

My Italian has been coming along recently. It is easier to understand those I talk to, but I still find it difficult to hold a conversation. Speaking the language is much harder than understanding it. 

In Tuscany and Its Wines this week we tasted three different wines. Two of which were Tuscan and the third from the region of Piedmont, Italy's northern most wine producing area. We tasted first the Rosso di Montalcino, the little brother of the second wine, Brunello di Montalcino. The two wines are made from 100 percent Sangiovese grapes although the Brunello is made from only the best grapes of the vines. The Brunello must be aged longer and is a much more complex wine than the younger, both figuratively and literally, Rosso. The third wine was a Barolo and, according to my professor, Massimo, the most elegant wine. Personally, I enjoyed the Brunello the most, it was a wine that does not need food for accompaniment, just good conversation.

There is finally a heavy bag in the palestra, besides that, there is not much in the way of equipment. I usually get my exercise from runs, there are four main routes in which I run. The cobblestones are taking a toll on my legs though and there aren't many areas where its avoidable. 

This weekend I look forward to preparing for my midterms. It will be the first weekend in a while where I will stay in Firenze. 

It's time for a run so ciao for now and quench the thirst for knowledge.