Where is Galileo's Finger?

Buon giorno, mama! (Good morning, Mom!)

What a gorgeous day to be in Florence. Spectacular blue skies, cool temperatures and a full day of learning and adventure ahead.

Taryn and I took our science module to the History of Science Museum. This was a place I wanted to visit last year, but just didn't have the time to squeeze it in. Warren and Marilyn Lovinger asked to tag along, and of course we said yes.

We arrived at the museum a few minutes before opening time and were met at the door by an attractive young woman who began speaking to us in Italian. "Parla Inglese?" (Do you speak English?)" I asked. "Oh, yes. I'm British actually," she said in a lovely lilting accent. Turns out she was doing an internship in Florence. Ironically enough, she didn't major in either Italian or science, but found herself working at an Italian science museum.

A note on the museum's web site had noted that "a section was closed for renovation." I was tremendously disappointed to discover that "a section" was two of the three floors. We did get to see Galileo's telescopes and the military compass he invented, a few astrolabes, and some early surgical devices. One of those devices was a microscope and hammer used in treating skull fractures. Dr. Lovinger explained how it was used. All I have to say is I am very glad NOT to need 17th century medical care. I'll take modern medicine any day.

A student named Lauren was on this module. You might remember her, mamma. She's one of our outstanding volleyball players. I knew she was an accounting major, but I didn't know she had a gift for languages. Turns out she speaks French and Spanish. We discovered this when an Italian tour guide was leading a class through the museum and explaining some of the items on display. "I wish I knew what she was saying," I said. Lauren then began to give us a partial translation.

"Do you speak Italian?" I asked. "No," she shrugged, "but I speak French and Spanish, and Italian is pretty close to Spanish." Holy smokes. I was feeling pretty good about the dozen or so phrases I knew, and here was Lauren interpreting on the fly. All I can say is, we sure have some smart students.

Needless to say, with two floors closed, we were out of the museum earlier than expected (and we didn't get to see Galileo's finger, darn it). Taryn had come in on the late bus the day before and missed the orientation walk, so I showed her all the highlights the rest of us had seen on our tour. By that time it was midday and we stopped at a small stand on the street to get paninis and sodas. I had a salami panini. As you know from my letters last year, I love Italian salami. So far I've managed to have gelato, pizza, and salami. There are a couple of other items on my personal menu I plan to work in before the week is over.

After lunch I went to sit in the Piazza della Signora to catch up on some writing. I wasn't there long before I got a text from a special guest letting me know she was almost to the train station, so off I went to the stazione.

Our special guest was Nan McElroy, a Cottey alum who has been living in Venice for several years. Marjorie Goss had introduced us by e-mail last year after she'd read my letters on the Internet. Turns out Nan is a former student of hers and had written a travel guide to Italy. We corresponded some, and she agreed to meet with us while in Florence. I was going to get an "exclusive" interview with her, and then she was going to chat with students before having dinner with the faculty and staff.

You know that expression about "six degrees of separation?" Well, as we were chatting I found out it was more like "one degree of separation." She told me that she had been a theater major, so I asked if she knew Alfred Fenske, who's directed me in several plays. "Alfred was one of my favorite professors," she gushed. "Do you know him?" She was so pleased to know that I see Alfred several times a month and passed her greetings along to him. But wait, mamma, there's more. Turns out she was a classmate of March Garton's, who has been Alfred's stage manager in the plays I've been in. She is also from Kentucky, same as Dr. Rogers. When she was visiting with some students later, she discovered they live in the same suite she did. Wallace Suite is the name of that suite now, and the students who live there call themselves "The Wallace Warriors." Mary, Kassia, and Keisha made Nan an honorary warrior and had their picture taken with her.

But I'm getting a bit ahead of myself. When I met Nan, she had us hop a Florence bus so we wouldn't have to walk so much. I must say it was nice to be with a native speaker who carries bus tickets in her purse. We went to a nice little cafe where I got to conduct my interview and then we went back to the hotel so she could meet students. She sat in the lobby for close to two hours chatting with anyone who had questions about what she did to what to order for dinner. Students dropped in and out, and Nan was gracious and charming as she answered the same questions over and over.

While Nan chatted with students, so did I. They had the most interesting modules today. Mary and Josie went on a bike ride through the Tuscan countryside. Ashley and Tiffany went to Pisa and climbed the tower. Well Ashley made it all the way up, Tiffany got dizzy near the top and decided not to climb further. Alicia went shopping and was so proud of her new Italian shoes. Florence is home to many leather shops, so I was expecting to see some pointy-toed dress shoes. Nope. Alicia had purchased some blue sneakers. I had to laugh because it wasn't what I expected. Alicia was still quite pleased with her shopping prowess.

Afterward Nan joined the faculty and staff for dinner at Il Latini. We had sooo much food it was almost obscene. We started with prociutto (ham) and bread, then onto tomato bread soup, ravioli, tuscan bean soup, and chingale (pasta with meat). After that, it was time for the main course, a platter of meat with spinach and roasted potatoes. Of course we had to save room for dessert...six different ones came on the platter at our table. We divided them up so we could each have a taste of everything. We still weren't finished. Next was biscotti and vin santo (a sweet wine). Then it was followed my more drinks, a glass of moscato, a bit of grappa, and then coffee. Wow, was I stuffed.

After the meal was finished, I said "Ciao" to Nan, who was staying with friends in Florence, and then I went back to the hotel. Even if it hadn't been bedtime, I was going to have to lay down after all that food.

A full day gone, and tomorrow we go to the Uffizi Museum to look at amazing art.

alla prossima,
your loving son,