Submitted by Madison Mozer on the 2017 winter session program in London, England and Tuscany, Italy sponsored by the Department of Hospitality Business Management…
Leaving Volterra was much more difficult than expected. During the week, we were generally pretty bored because it wasn’t easy to get to town and there wasn’t a lot to do at the SIAF. We couldn’t wait to get away from this place, but after much deliberation a small group of us decided to stay and explore Volterra for the weekend. It might have been the best decision we have made so far. Instead of leaving unhappy and feeling like we wasted two weeks here, I have really fun and happy memories, and wish that we were given more time to explore while we were here.
We found the abandoned asylum just outside of town and spent hours walking around the various buildings. We then shopped around the local shops and finally stopped to say good-bye to a dear friend we made in town at our favorite place. Her name is Giusy and she is the manager of a wine bar called VolaTerra. She definitely touched the hearts of our whole group. She spent so much time talking to us and getting to know our stories and it was humbling to hear her dreams of America and all of the places she has been so far in her life. I’m so glad we had this weekend to fall in love with the town of Volterra and it is definitely a place I will dearly miss.