Ho trovato un appartamento

So Wednesday I said I found an apartment. Well, 400€ was a bit much for me and I knew my friend wanted that apartment too. Yesterday I ran into my good friend Daniele and he told me my employer had an apartment for let. I looked at it and its a bit bigger than the other apartment although some things are in a bit worse condition (stair rail is a rope (not all that uncommon here) the bathroom is small and the shower isn't closed off from the rest of the bathroom, etc...). However, unlike the other apartment, the kitchen is much bigger with all new appliances and a washing machine, it has a living room and is 2 stories. Also, unlike the other, I have my own private entrance off the street. So anyone wanting to send me anything can send it to:
Vincenzo Concessi
Via San Filippo, 27
56048 Volterra (PI)
Italia

All and all it has been a great week. Thursday I worked 19 hours and got back into Volterra at 5:30 in the morning. I didn't want to wait another 2.5 hours for the Seminary to hope since I was exhausted so, like Tuesday, I slept on the floor of my bathroom near Fausto's banquet hall. I knew I had to sleep since I would be working a few hours starting at noon at La Vena di Vino [www.lavenadivino.com]. They were expecting 40 people from the US and thus asked me to help set up and get them to buy bottles of wine. (By the way, if you go to the website, in the photo, thats Bruno on the left and Lucio on the Right)

So anyways, its been a long week and tonight I told a few friends to meet me at La Vena di Vino. I'm buying a bottle of Asti to celebrate the week. And if I may, I was thinking of my first time I went to La Vena di vino (we call it La Vena for short). It was the first Saturday after arriving here in Volterra two years ago (June 5th). The night before, June 4th, I was drinking at the Web and Wine more-or-less alone since I didn't much care for the other students that were from Detroit with me. Well later that night (June 4th) Daniele and his police partner Roberto came in and bought me a grappa (a liquior made from the grapes used to make wine). I thought it was a shot and threw it back quickly. They told me I was crazy and that you're supposed to sip it and taste it. So they bought me another. Well needless to say I got pretty drunk and ended up dropping a glass on the glass floor of the Web and Wine that night. Early the next morning, as I went to go pick up my laundry, Daniele and Roberto, still in uniform, were drinking caffe (espresso) outside a bar near where I was heading. The kinda chuckled and said "Forte Vincenzo" [strong Vincenzo]. I didn't recognize them seeing as I didn't remember much from the night before. So later that evening, Saturday June 5th, Daniele walked in the Web and Wine and suggested I go with him and Roberto to this little bar. And then I arrived at La Vena di Vino with them, it was overwhelming; everyone introduced them self and I sat damned-near the corner and drank a glass of Chianti and tried picorino (the local chese). I think this night became important for me because I was finally able to desert the American students I was with and got to meet many locals. If it wasn't for that night, I probably would of went home for my sister's wedding 2 weeks later and not come back to Volterra. Thankfully, I have since been accepted as a Volterran. I think this is why I treasure La Vena so much.

Anyways... that's my story. Oh, and by the way, yesterday I had my first lesson with my Italian tutor. It went well and I think this will work well since its one-on-one. We meet again on Tuesday.

Everyone have a fun fourth of July! I don't work on the 4th but do get to watch the Fifa semi-final match between Italy and Germany. If Italy wins, this place will be crazy! I must go and buy sheets for my bed now.

Ciao tutti!