Fresh Food!
Kendra woke me up at 6:45am this morning. As tough as it was to drag myself out of bed, it was totally worth the effort. We walked a few short blocks to an amazing web of farmers’ market food stalls. It was amazing – vendors selling everything from fruits and vegetables to pastries, cheeses and meat. My senses overwhelmed by the vibrant colors and smells wafting through the air, we perused the wares. As we browsed through the market, we began to plan a feast for dinner. We first bought fresh tortellini, followed by cherries. To top the pasta, we purchased fresh tomatoes and basil. For a side dish, we picked up cucumbers and radishes. We even bought some fresh dates, which I’ve never tried before. Twenty minutes and less than 18 Euros later, we had snacks and dinner.
We returned to the dorm, and joined Kendra’s classmates for breakfast. They suggested that I tag along to their Human Rights class, so I did! For two hours I sat next to Kendra in a sweltering classroom, listening to one of the most distinguished of American judges lecture and question the students about the cases he had assigned. It was interesting, though at times the pace was a bit slow. If nothing else, he is a witty, humorous, and clearly brilliant man. Kendra is very lucky to be taking this class with him, and having the opportunity to absorb his knowledge.
After class, we had our usual meal in the student café. It’s a fabulous place to eat lunch – the large-portioned meals are quite tasty, and the price is right. For less than 5 Euros, even a non-student can eat a filling meal.
This afternoon we finally made it to St. Sebastian’s. Unfortunately, when we arrived there was a Mass in session, so we settled with exploring the friedhof (cemetery). Unlike many older graveyards, the headstones seemed quite new despite the dates etched into the stone. Kendra pointed out that the reason for this was the headstones clearly had been inked. It was an interesting effect.
After wandering for about a half hour, we returned to the dorm and made our dinner. We cooked the pasta we’d bought at the farmer’s market and topped it with the diced tomato and basil. A side salad of radishes, cucumbers, and tomatoes, along with bread, butter, and some Italian Prosecco, completed the meal. We were delightfully surprised when we bit into the tortellini and realized the filling was salmon, not cheese.
We’re turning in early this evening, as we have a big day planned for tomorrow. While Kendra is in class, I am picking up a rental car for our road trip to Hallstatt, the oldest still-inhabited village in Europe. I am a little nervous about driving in Europe, but excited to see how it goes!
