Ferrara Update

Buongiorno!

My Italian has gotten so far as "Inglese?" And "Non capisco." (Just kidding, we're learning.)

Yesterday we had the unique opportunity to hear the Orchestra a plettro Gino Neri. It was like nothing I'd ever heard before. It was all strings and percussion, with guitars, string basses, and a couple sections of different sized mandolin-looking instruments. Since they only spoke in Italian, I'm not too sure of the details of the group, but it was definitely interesting to hear.

Another interesting site we visited was the oldest wine bar/shop in the world (literally!), al Brindisi. People have been drinking here since the middle ages. I don't have any pictures at the moment, but it was a beautiful old stone building where the wine drinkers spilled out into the street. Another wonderful way to pass the evening in Ferrara.

Here are some more pictures from our trip.

Kori and Katie enjoying the Italian cafes at night.

Ferrara is a walled city, with walls from both the medieval and Renaissance periods. The wall around the city is 9km, and has been converted to a park. You can walk all along the "ramparts" or on the trails outside the walls.

This is the Teatro Communale (City Theater) where the majority of the talks for the conference are being held. I can't imagine a more beautiful setting. How many of you have listened to scientific lectures from your own personal box seat?

We took a large crowd out to dinner on Wed night. I haven't tried anything that wasn't wonderful, although we suspect they might have given the unsuspecting Americans some cured horse meat.

This is a Renaissance palace appropriately named the Palazzo dei Diamanti (Diamond Palace). Each of those blocks is marble carved into the shape of a diamond. It was stunning, and like nothing I'd ever seen before.

This castle (Castello Estense) is the 2nd location of our conference. It is unique and impressive. The poster session yesterday was in a room that must at one point have been the dungeon.

The castle (right in the center of town) even has a moat! Can you believe that?