Audrey Holsten was one of 15 selected out of 150 candidates to participate in the National Endowment for the Humanities summer seminar on Dante's Commedia in Siena, Italy. Audrey just arrived on June 20th and will be in Italy until August 5.

We are going to try to bring you some of the happenings relatively "live" with photos, journal entries, emails, and all too rare phone calls. Even the lowly Instant Messenger will be used, with healthy editing (of course, the trip/seminar is now over but still lingering in our memories, although appearing more dream-like by the day).

We now have some excellent JOURNAL ENTRIES just in from Audrey for those suffering while gleaning info from the bedraggled IMs. Also included are two more PHOTO JOURNAL selections with some great pics. See her fellow students, shots of the Palio race trials and ceremony, Contrada dinners, her apartment, and many others. Again, be sure to check out the new journals from Audrey; she provides some interesting observations (POST SEMINAR UPDATES coming soon)

---

2003 August 16 Palio winner!
Bruco (Caterpillar) with Berio and Luigi Bruschelli Prevails
2. Civetta (Owl)
3. Niccio (Shell)


PALIO LIVE FEED Down at moment August 16, 7:30am - Things are not looking too great for the August 16th Palio feed as it's been down the better part of the last day (the entire Siena University site was down). The connection was up and running the first 35 hours or so since the 14th. It appears as if it has either been disabled or they are experiencing technical problems. It might just resume with replays AFTER the race since this appers to be slightly different coverage than last race. I'll see if I can find out anything from this end.


Il PALIO LIVE FEED ACTIVE August 14, 11:00am - Amazingly enough, the PALIO feed is now active again, currently showing an excellent mix of tapes from the '54 Palio, interspersed with current interviews, ceremonies, and other things deemed logical via Italian TV, something that is at odds at times with thought on this side of the Atlantic. Sadly, the quality of the broadcast is as down as the US Dollar, so patience and imagination is required. I hope they do manage to shore the connection up before the race - kh


July 14, 11:10am - Ole Audrus was not too pleased I put ye olde phone message online.... I don't think she was particularly enamored with the "Cats" and "Roman Roads" portion of the call. "I sounded like I was calling from The Valley in 'Cali'". Strange, I thought she sounded almost Italian. Regardless, I am out of here in about 24 hours. My mind is completely addled as well, almost as if I have had 12 cups of coffee with only a yogurt in defense. Come to think of it, I DID just do this...despite warning bells going off within my skull.... The status of this site is up in the air over the next few weeks (just like Gray's health). Many thanks go to Pat, Bruce, and possibly Amy for helping out. Any others in area are welcome to pat Gray around the ears if in area (if you can find a parking space). I need to eat something....Anything.. PS: If anyone is so inclined, they can make a large deposit in my bank account. Mail abstrait@yahoo.com for info. I will spend said funds with glee and have fond memories in your name.


PHONE MESSAGE MP3 July 11, 4:59pm - Was out in the water surfing in the late afternoon sun attempting to lose a few lbs (I've lost 12 now) before lumbering onto plane at RDU. Upon return, was greeted with phone message that was cut off after 1 minute or so. It was Audrey singing Rome's praises. Now you too, can listen to the message via an MP3 file! Hit the link above, and wait for 330k automatic download of phone message. Yeah, this is getting a bit over-the-top but I'm in a weakened state.... It's 11pm her time. To repeat message, just hit "refresh" on browser. Note: This message is almost shameless, however.

July 9, 7:30am - I'm getting ready for Rome and I dont have a clean thing to my name. The only thing passable is a straw hat. It still hasn't sunk in that I'll be in Rome in 24 hours. And you'll be on the train from Pisa this time next week... See latest: Photo Journal #6: Leery of camera and the Arezzo Hound


July 6, 9:00am - Breakfast at Wimbledon and Audrey has a day off to catch up on reading. Talked on the phone last night at length - She is really having the trip of her life and loves Italy and the culture, something quite a bit different than Wrightsville Beach, NC. Will she return? Please see Audrey Photo Journal #5 of the Palio shots and trip to Pisa.


Il PALIO BBC Show: RealAudio on The PALIO in English - GREAT! Surf the site while listening to The Palio - This is actually worth a listen to the whole program (27 min). Hear interviews. Songs from contrada Italians. The feeling of Palio comes through here. RealAudio player embedded in page with controls.


July 3, 9:00am - Sadly, the Il Palio Feed below is down currently. I do not know if it will return. Perhaps it will come back up. It was a GREAT race and feed and hope all got to see it. I watched it off and on for the entire evening as there was excellent footage. I tried my hardest to copy the live stream but to no avail. The BBC Palio show is still active and worth a listen. Also, be sure to check out Audrey's journal entries if you havent seen them - new entries arriving July 6.


2003 July Il PALIO! SEE THE 2003 PALIO RACE as it happens! (NOW OFF)

This is exactly what Audrey witnessed! Turn up the volume and live it! They are replaying - cycle through commercials - Watch in slow motion replay after race as the jockey falls into the wall ...you see his horse come around without him (remember, no saddles or stirrups!). Make sure you see both the real time running and the replay. The real time run has the announcers and crowd going berserk! This is the first time this has ever been broadcast live!

UPDATE: As of 5:30, we are now looking at live celebrations at the long tables from the Contrada in Il Campo - Really amazing and such a completely different culture. I have tried to record this but failed. It was hard enough to get the feed on the page... They are replaying the race but not as frequently now. I haven't seen a real time replay in a long while. Wish I could have recorded it.! Take a look and see what's on!


Audrey's Journal Excerpts: from 6/21 - 6/26 | Observations on Italy | Life

7/01/03 Photo Journal 4 - Fellow students - Great Palio Trials - Siena Life

6/30/03 Photo Journal 3 - Palio - Volterra Ruins - Audrey in Volterra

Due Date: July 15 - Will we meet at Il Campo like in a Fellini film?

6/27/03 Photo Journal 2  - Trip to Florence and more on The Palio

6/25/03 Photo Journal 1  - First days in Siena with pictures and comments by Audrey. Although only 10 shots, their quality makes up for quantity..