Arrezo

 We travelled to Arrezo this morning as a group with our professor Smilja. The town, although much larger than CF, it just doesn't seem to have the same charm. This picture is looking up one of the main shopping streets in Arrezo that has little car traffic and is mostly pedestrian. The shops all remind me of Santa Monica and the fashion for the fall is beautiful. It was fun to be there right now though because tomorrow there is a jousting festival that will take place at the image below. There are 15 or so regions of Arrezo that all have their own crest and colors that are throughout the city. You can see the flags in this picture for one of them. 

 This is where the jousting arena is set up. On the Palazzo in the background, you can see all  the crests of the different regions 

 At the antique market which happens every first Saturday of the month. Like CF the hills to the East of Arrezo are beautiful. Tuscany is amazing.

 One of the funny antiques!

This was the procession of the drums and horses that would participate in the festival. Everyone was dressed up and people all over the city would wear scarves and ribbons to support their specific region! Smilja taught us today that this kind of festival was actually instituted in the times of Mussolini in order to create economic stimulus for the Italian cities. They would reenact medieval festivals in order to bring the city together and attract spectators. We had a blast eating lunch here and walking around the city.

Thinking about football today. Hook em! Sad I am going to miss my favorite season of the year but seriously, could life get better?