Hardest thing I've ever done

So we made it to Ravenna, although we missed our connection in Bologna and had to catch another train at a later time. Who could have forseen how hard it would be to get 12 people with tons of luggage through a train station that requires you to go down underground to get to the other side of the tracks, but has no elevators or escalators? I am really nervous about making my way back to Rome alone with luggage, but hope to jettison several pounds of stuff before then. And based on what I experienced today, I will probably be throwing most of my clothing away by then.

We are staying in a sports complex which is very interesting, but very hot. I'm sleeping on the top bunk of an IKEA bunkbed which is about as wide as a two by four and sits out from the wall by several feet, so I'll be lucky if I go a month without having a fall, which woudl be very embarassing. Our room is also very hot, especially on the top bunk. But that's actually heaven compared to the dig itself.

First day: pick axe, shovel, wheelbarrow, repeat. Pick axe, shovel, wheelbarrow, repeat. Pick axe, shovel, wheelbarrow, almost throw up, repeat. Lunch. Repeat for four more hours.

Our site has not shade and it is HOT out here! Despite all of our most valiant efforts at reapplying sunscreen we have all burned, but luckily everyone was wearing hats, so no face sunburns. It is impossible to dig in long pants because it is so incredibly hot, although several of us trie dtoday. Luckily I had on the rockclimbing-type pants that can zip off into shorts, and was able to convert when we stopped for lunch, otherwise I probably would have passed out at some point. The Italian women are digging in bikinis, and it is starting to look like a good idea.

The site may end up being interesting, though, and the work may not be so demanding once we clear the first few layers. Today was just sheer grunt work, clearing the brush and breaking up rocks and digging down through about 2 feet of topsoil. I was frankly amazed at how much dirt we were able to move in one day. There is something kind of soothing about the work, once you start to more or less float away from your body because of the heat, if you know what I mean.

Anyway, we seem to have found some sort of building already, and hit a wall, so when we get back tomorrow we will start there. It was exciting to find something so quickly. Now we just have to wait as it emerges to find out what it is...it may be a storehouse, because we found lots of amphorae sherds (handles from pots, etc.), as well as several pieces of worked bone. The director thinks it may be a bone-working workshop actually. However, it could also potentially be a house, as the structure next door is. The Italian team has been excavating it for several months and have found some interesting things, including two large amphorae (the tall, slender jugs) with the skeletons of small children in them.

So that's basically what I have to look forward to tomorrow. I don't feel like I did too poorly today, although I did really think I was going to be sick once. I think we all did. I am in terrible shape apparently, but hopefully that will change over the next few days. Plus, Taco says that my wheelbarrowing technique (we are required to call them "chariots" at the site) is charming. That running start thing really works!

And now the bad news...I was able to get to in internet point to write this by walking into town about 20 minutes and working some sort of deal with a guy who owns the bar next door to where I am now...it's an internet point that's closed during the summer, but our dig director was able to talk us in. I don't know how frequent access will be, but I'm thinking not very, so please forgive long absences on my part. Also, I have no real phone access so any calls to any of you will be few and far between. I will try to get an address for the complex we are staying at to my mom sometime soon, though, if anyone wants to send mail.

Everyone else is done internetting, so I should sign off as they are waiting on me to walk back to the hotel.

Hope everyone is well and staying out of the sun!

Ciao,
Candace