HAS IT ONLY BEEN A FEW DAYS since I arrived? Well, it sure doesn’t feel like it. When we arrived I was more than excited about Cagli. The ideal Italian town, Cagli was something I had never seen. I was used to the Florence and Rome-esque tourist traps where cheap trinkets litter the streets, followed closely by English-speaking vendors.

Instead, Cagli provided authentic Italian culture and a very new experience. These last few days have provided plenty of surprising and sometimes awkward moments. I think the first may have been the first night at Caffe del Corso. Upon entering, music and shouts from those already inside erupted and filled the streets of Cagli. I’m not sure I’ve ever had such a welcome.

-Ian Roeber
(Gonzaga)