So Wednesday’s fort trip ended with some Maximus Aerilius in my bed afterwards. I was hardly like twelve minutes in when I felt like I couldn’t hold my eyes open any longer, and I had to save the rest of Gladiator for another night.
8:30 still comes too early on these mornings. But our bus was leaving Piazza Gierbaldi by then, and I was not about to miss my bus to the city of Montepulciano. It was another ancient city on my list of places to visit. It didn’t take long to get there, and my attempts to study on the way there were a complete fail, so I listened to my Ipod instead. Such a genius idea considering I just needed some time to myself. I was gorgeous to be able to drive through the beautiful vineyards of Montepulciano, one of the best regions for grows grapes. There were rows on endless rows of vineyards.
So this is why I could never write a book. It would be endless paragraphs of unfinished work. It’s now Monday afternoon. And my story of Montepulciano from Thursday isn’t even finished. But I’m honestly not going to bore myself again with trying to relive every moment from that day, because in perspective, it doesn’t remotely compare to what I’ve done, or where I’ve been since that day. I will tell you this. The fountain that Bella so elegantly sprints through as she’s trying to save Edward in New Moon, is not a real fountain. It was built in Piazza Grande in Montepulciano. And there goes another quaint Italian town that will soon be flooded will countless tourists for the years to come. What “Under the Tuscan Sun” did to Cortona, “New Moon” will soon do the same. It’s a pity that I see more Americans with cameras, and more English than Italian, and more couples with backpacks and fanny packs than true Italian old married couples. I still love Cortona. And will continue to call it home.
But I find myself in Piazza Signorelli on the stairs, with my Coke Zero and fruit Mentos, typing away on my computer. I’m slightly hidden, so hopefully I’m not drawing too much attention to myself. As I sit here, I get faint whiffs of musty old “Italian man”. I’ll miss that smell soon. And I’m pretty sure a tourist just took a picture of me. That’s become a pretty regular occurrence for our group. We’re like rare wild animals that must be captured off guard. And I swear if one of these pigeons drops anything on me….I am not about the climb the hill before dinner in three hours to change.
I can’t believe tomorrow is my last day. And to make matters worse, we have a final exam. I sometimes forget that it’s not all a vacation. Maybe I’ll get some studying in before dinner. But I needed a chance to clear my head and store whatever memories are there on paper. Or on my computer at least. Friday we had our exam. And knowing that we had a free day all day Saturday and Sunday, and had just finished our last test, you can only imagine the damage that was caused. And because the science kids were leaving for Rome Saturday, Friday was also their last night. Friday was pure perfection, or maybe not for everyone. But I did see Cortona in a totally unique and indescribable way. It’s one of those things you maybe only get to do once. But I only hope I get to do again. And my hope for others, is to do the same. Make Cortona your own.
And as perfect as Friday was, Saturday could not have been any more than an absolute dream. I spent the morning sleeping in and some of the girls and I wandered down the hill. They needed eggs and an omelet. I needed Bar 500 and a coke. I spent the afternoon outside in the sun, with my sandwich and a book, and did some sun soaking. It was nice to just breathe in the air and lay in the sun. It’s strange how sometimes I feel like a solar powered body. And I just needed some recharging. A recharging mostly on life. I wish I had Captivating with me right now. But I will tell you this, that book says unbelievably true things. And it really does make me think that there is more to this life than just breathing. But I’ve learned, you can’t find the answers on your own. And God has unbelievable ways of pulling you back to him. I love that.
Saturday night was beautiful and breathtaking. I honestly could sit here for hours and hours and type about the wedding reception that Caroline and I attended with Joyce. Long story short, Joyce sent me an e-mail asking if I would like to join her at a wedding reception for one of Sandro’s cousins who was getting married with their immediate family and was then having a large wedding reception in a 17th century villa garden in Cortona. Not sure how I could have turned that one down. So Caroline and I put on our nicest outfits and heels and took off with Joyce. I have never been so blessed to have had that opportunity. And though I stood out like a girl in an all boys school, I loved it. I met old Italian men and learned of their jobs and journeys. I met old family friends of Sandro’s, who unfortunately couldn’t attend, and was constantly asked if we were the two American girls that everyone was talking about. I ate amazing Tonino’s food, who knew they were holding out on us, saving all their good stuff for wedding receptions, and drank glasses of wine underneath an old tree by a rod iron gate in an old garden. And when I say old garden, I mean Pride and Prejudice and Gladiator like gardens. The large iron gate opened to this gated grassy area, with trimmed bushes lining the walkway, with candles that would soon be lit when the sun goes down. There were lemon trees, and old trees that had grown in the most perfect way to create perfect canopies of shade over certain areas. There were small booths and tables set up with bottles and bottles of wine, adorned with beautiful glasses and appetizers. White clothed round tables sat on different terraces, circled by wicker chairs and more candles. You were greeted by this stunningly handsome old man, who spoke some English and welcomed us to his great estate. As much as I would have wanted to speak to everyone and learn their story, I knew my few Italian phrases would not get me very far, so our plan became to sit at a table with extra chairs, and those who dared to come speak English to us, would stay and enjoy a glass of wine and some stories of their travels and our knowledge of how to make wine.
I don’t think Caroline could have looked any more beautiful than she did for that wedding reception that we knew nobody at. She had bought new Italian leather heels and just had this pure happiness glow to her. We ate and drank to more stories about life, and shed a few tears about how beautiful each other were, on the inside and out. By this point the sun had gone down and I hadn’t even noticed that all the candles throughout the entire garden and different coves and terraces had all be lit. And when it got close to midnight, it was time to head to Casa Bacanella with Joyce, and we walked the same walkway out. But this time it was lit with candles and we were walking out the enormous rod iron gate, and I think when Caroline and I stopped and looked at each other, we both were thinking, were is my family and my dad to finish this walk with me, and to give me away to my one true soul mate. Ha, we both laughed, and took a deep breathe and continued on after Joyce. We’re gonna have to make that happen.
We spent the night at Joyce’s Cortona home. I’m pretty sure neither one of us could sleep thinking about everything that had gone on. And The fact that we had been personally invited for a private winery tour by this sweet lady we had met at the reception. We woke up to find that Joyce had gone to the store to buy more food for an enormous lunch that we would eventually eat later in the day with our new friends from the winery and Gianluca, who Joyce was insistent on that Caroline and I meet. 26 year old friend of her son Francesco. But our private tour of Palazzo Vecchio was unreal. This small boutique winery sat on their own hill, and serious 360 views of all the small hill towns around, including Cortona and Montepulciano. And then not to mention that by the conveinant time of twelve noon, we were tasting her personal wines, a Rosso and two Vino Nobile, all of which were incredible. Not to mention the company of Micheale, Caroline’s new best friend, who apparently “controls the situation”. That man knows how to live life. And ride a bike like Steve McQueen. Maria Louisa owns Palazzo, and has run it since her grandfather gave it to her family. (Side note, I’m surrounded by a dozen pigeons, who have somehow begun to encircle me and move in closer…not ok) But the house on the property is decorated with gorgeous roses, all different colors, and her back patio made for the most amazing wine tasting and appetizer location. After our Sunday wine lesson on how to spend your Sunday early afternoon enjoying wine and good company, we headed back to Joyce’s house.
Her sweet maid Maria, who speaks absolutely no English, but has a heart of gold, had apparently asked Joyce if she could make lunch for us because her husband was away fishing, and she wanted to cook for us. Our lunch on Joyce’s back porch was just unbelievable, and everything from the sage baked bread, to the rice salad and Maria’s meat stuffing zucchinis and fresh fruit with gelato for dessert, seriously made you think, why isn’t every day like this. Gianluca volunteered to drive us home at the end of the day, knowing we had to make it back for our group wine dinner in town later that night, but needed to swing by his “home” to check on wedding reception viewing and planning.
I say “home” because this old mansion looking building, was more than just a home. It was dream house. Like one you would imagine as a little girl and your Barbie dream house. The driveway is lined with those tall skinny trees that make you feel like your arriving at Maximus Aerlieus’s house in Gladiator. On one side is the biggest personal pool I’ve ever see, complete with a grassed walkway down to a small island in the middle. On the other, a grand “guest house” I believe. With a dining room big enough for a wedding reception. We sat under a small tree outside, and met Gianluca’s parents, both of whom make the most amazing Italian couple. Before we left we saw the bikes. And I’m not talking bicycles. These were the most amazing, Batman-like, street bikes I’ve ever seen. Apparently the most expensive, and obviously the best, bikes in the world. I think I nearly cancelled my flight home when I saw them. I would have given anything to ride those bikes. But they were stored away, and we were already late. But it is my mission to one day come back to Gianluca’s beautiful home, maybe for the afterparty for my afterparty of my wedding.
Gianluca took us home and dropped us off at the Fort above our school – good planning on not having to walk up the hill. And as we walked down to our dorm, Caroline and I just laughed at this crazy dream we had both just built up in our heads, because there was no way that actually just happened. All the amazing people we met, who were so delighted to do anything for us, and wanted no thanks at all, kept asking if we were planning on staying. And I wish I could have kept count of how many times we both considered it. Every person we met, insisted that if we left, we would have to be back very soon. And I plan on just that. This amazing town and these Italian people have stolen a part of my heart.
Our group dinner was good. And it was weird to think that this was maybe the last time we’d be eating dinner out in Cortona, not at Toninos. We shared some good wine and some laughs about our day. But my head wasn’t completely there. Because somehow, even after sitting for an hour on these steps, I’m still so conflicted on what my reason was for this trip. Was it to really spend time with Caroline, who has helped me grow and learn more things in these three weeks together, than many of my so called “friends”, who came and went from my life already. Was it to embrace this Italian culture and way of life, that no matter how many people can tell you about, you will never fully understand or appreciate until you have lived a month in their town. Was it a sweet taste of a place where I someday might call my home for longer than these few short weeks that I have spent here.
One things for sure, I am still unsure of who I am supposed to be or where I supposed to go. And there are things back home that will not be able to compare to life that I have lived here. But there are things that I need to get back to, because as they may escape my mind for a day while I’m visiting a winery or enjoying a true Italian meal with five other amazing girls that I am so blessed to have met and now have in my life, they don’t escape my heart. And that’s okay. My heart is a puzzle without any edge pieces. And some pieces are missing and new pieces have been added, and some have been placed away for good and safe storage.
So my hope is that I am so alive when I come home. Please do not live your lives being a distant or non-present person. And my hope is that I can continue to make myself a better person because of this.
Possibly the best way to describe this crazy “thing” -
“You cannot be alive very long without being wounded. The sun rises, the stars follow their courses, the waves roll in crashing against the rocks, and we are wounded. Broken hearts cannot long be avoided in this beautiful yet dangerous world we live in. This is not Eden. Not even close. We are not living in the world our souls were made for. Something’s rotten in the state of Denmark and in our own backyards as we journey through the unknown terrain of the moments and months that make up our lives.”
Monday, May 31, 2010
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Wednesday May 26 - Hung the Moon
We finished class today. Last lecture. Last wine tasting – ended on sparkling wines, amazing. It’s so hard to believe that I’ve been here for over 2 weeks now. And there’s so much I learned and crammed into that time. It’s still overwhelming, and I’m still trying to blend as a Corton-ian. That feel may never come.
I feel so invigorated when I go for my runs here. For one, I feel like I’m unstoppable – until I start running my trail up the hill, and it gets harder and harder, so a scenic break here and there never hurt. But I’m not ashamed to put on my v-neck white tee and nike shorts and wander down into the city anymore. The first day, I was convinced every person that I passed stared at me for an eternity. And though they might, I don’t mind anymore. I live here, and if I want to run, that’s what I’m going to do.
I still don’t speak the language. I almost don’t even attempt anymore because I’m afraid that my Italian will ruin what I order more than what my English might. It’s safer to just go with English and hope that they understand. The Italian language is so much more complex than I would have thought it was. And it doesn’t help that most places here speak English. But then again, when ordering a bottle of wine, “Chardonnay” is the same in whatever language you speak. And holding up two fingers most likely will imply that you want two glasses. I could be from the South Pole and speak whatever language I please, and still be able to get a delicious bottle of Chardonnay with two glasses. How I will miss this place in a week.
So I ran again during my day break. It was short run. And I just did the park down and back, no backside hill today. But it was still great to weave in between trees and get to the end and stand on a stone bench and stare out over the valley. Again I’m so spoiled. I’ll never want to run again when I get home, because nothing will ever be as enjoyable. This little girl was running today in the park and she passed in front of me, and I had to laugh and want to stop and play with her. Her golden curls bounced as she laughed and her parents stood by laughing. What I would give to be in her small shoes…
But after dinner tonight, the girls and I “borrowed” the leftover bottles of wine from the teacher tables – this is what I don’t get, is why we go through a bottle between two people at dinner, and they don’t even finish a bottle among ten of them. Whatever, Daniel always taught us to lag behind because they get the good stuff, and never finish it. Not complaining. And not complaining about the ricotta ravioli, fried chicken, salad, and French fries dinner. With chocolate molten cupcakes for dessert. Please make me hike up and down our hill at least five times before bed.
But with our “borrowed” bottles of wine and some plastic cups from dinner, the girls and I decided to make the hike up to the “fort”. I had never been, but a break from the Lions Well Pub for a night was so needed after last night’s disco techa dance fiasco for the science girl’s 21st. I needed a night to breath. So Carolne Collins and I, with our hiking abilities, tread up the hill, bottles in hand, to what I though could be the top of a volcano. I was wrong, but close enough. Because at the top, was this incredible old church. And then another cobble stone path up the mountain, we reached this grassy patch overlooking the entire night lit valley, old church, with the old fort standing behind us. It may have been one of the most breathtaking things I’ve done in my life. Not only physically, but that hike, even with as much as I’ve felt like the hills haven’t killed me, but still hard on breath at the top, but the view just emotionally took your breath away. I wanted to stay there forever.
So as the sun set, I sat on the top of the mountain overlooking the valley below. I felt like I could see for miles and miles, and that maybe if it had been clear and I looked hard enough, I could have seen the coast. But as the sun went down, I decided to sit on a small rock and look out over the valley. Everything was illuminated with tiny little lights, here and there. And at first I didn’t notice, but when I looked closely enough, all the little lights would twinkle, and I was in heaven. You know when you see a shooting star and somehow your heart just warms. It’s nothing that not everyone can experience in their lives, but when you see twinkling lights, I felt like I was almost in Neverland. Somewhere where I could do whatever I wanted. Didn’t have to grow up. Could be who I wanted. But I couldn’t help but think that I wanted one particular person there with me. I wanted to experience this moment, but it was somewhat taken by my thoughts…
It got cold and the girls and I made plans to pull an all nighter our last night in Cortona at the fort. We figured we could make sunset, a complete visit of all the bars in Cortona, and then back up the mountain by the time for sunrise since nothing every seems to close at a particular time here, and then be back at the dorms by six to leave the next morning. Please let me be able to sleep on the plane home. It sounds like a good idea in theory. Hope it works, I will be even more worthless come Thursday. So because we decided we’d be back and I couldn’t shake things from my head, and I started to get real cold – story of my life lately – we made the trek back down the side of the mountain, which fortunately spit us out above our dorm this time – that was a nice change.
But everything on that mountain made me start thinking about so many things. I wanted a place to clear my head. Didn’t happen. So I leave you with my thoughts tonight before I start watching a movie, from Captivating, ask yourself this -
“why do so few women have anything close to a life of romance/? Loneliness and emptiness are far more common themes – so entirely common that most women buried their longings for romance long ago and are now living merely to survive, get through the week.”
I have no answer. But loneliness and emptiness consumed my mountain view. And maybe it was because I could see, in the valley below, the lights of lives that I want to explore and immerse myself in. Or maybe just because I was cold, I would have given anything for someone to wrap their arms around me and keep me warm, as I watched the lights twinkle, and the moon shine through the constantly moving clouds, almost giving no light at all to giving a bright light to see where I was going half the time when I was leaving.
So for you, my wanted warming arms – “our irst father – the first real man – gave in to paralysis. He denied his very nature and went passive. And every man after him, every son of Adam, carries in his heart now the same failure. Every man repeats the sun of Adam, carries in his heart now the same failure. Every man repeats the sin of Adam, every day. We won’t risk, we won’t fight, and we won’t rescue Eve. We truly a chip off the old block” (Wild at Heart – the man’s version of Captivating). So as an Eve myself, if I don’t have the protection of my Adam, where do I go, what do I do, and in order to have the life that I want, how much do I take matters into my own hands? Or are we forever cursed…
My ending song comes from Ellie tonight.
“I like the way you hung the moon.”
I feel so invigorated when I go for my runs here. For one, I feel like I’m unstoppable – until I start running my trail up the hill, and it gets harder and harder, so a scenic break here and there never hurt. But I’m not ashamed to put on my v-neck white tee and nike shorts and wander down into the city anymore. The first day, I was convinced every person that I passed stared at me for an eternity. And though they might, I don’t mind anymore. I live here, and if I want to run, that’s what I’m going to do.
I still don’t speak the language. I almost don’t even attempt anymore because I’m afraid that my Italian will ruin what I order more than what my English might. It’s safer to just go with English and hope that they understand. The Italian language is so much more complex than I would have thought it was. And it doesn’t help that most places here speak English. But then again, when ordering a bottle of wine, “Chardonnay” is the same in whatever language you speak. And holding up two fingers most likely will imply that you want two glasses. I could be from the South Pole and speak whatever language I please, and still be able to get a delicious bottle of Chardonnay with two glasses. How I will miss this place in a week.
So I ran again during my day break. It was short run. And I just did the park down and back, no backside hill today. But it was still great to weave in between trees and get to the end and stand on a stone bench and stare out over the valley. Again I’m so spoiled. I’ll never want to run again when I get home, because nothing will ever be as enjoyable. This little girl was running today in the park and she passed in front of me, and I had to laugh and want to stop and play with her. Her golden curls bounced as she laughed and her parents stood by laughing. What I would give to be in her small shoes…
But after dinner tonight, the girls and I “borrowed” the leftover bottles of wine from the teacher tables – this is what I don’t get, is why we go through a bottle between two people at dinner, and they don’t even finish a bottle among ten of them. Whatever, Daniel always taught us to lag behind because they get the good stuff, and never finish it. Not complaining. And not complaining about the ricotta ravioli, fried chicken, salad, and French fries dinner. With chocolate molten cupcakes for dessert. Please make me hike up and down our hill at least five times before bed.
But with our “borrowed” bottles of wine and some plastic cups from dinner, the girls and I decided to make the hike up to the “fort”. I had never been, but a break from the Lions Well Pub for a night was so needed after last night’s disco techa dance fiasco for the science girl’s 21st. I needed a night to breath. So Carolne Collins and I, with our hiking abilities, tread up the hill, bottles in hand, to what I though could be the top of a volcano. I was wrong, but close enough. Because at the top, was this incredible old church. And then another cobble stone path up the mountain, we reached this grassy patch overlooking the entire night lit valley, old church, with the old fort standing behind us. It may have been one of the most breathtaking things I’ve done in my life. Not only physically, but that hike, even with as much as I’ve felt like the hills haven’t killed me, but still hard on breath at the top, but the view just emotionally took your breath away. I wanted to stay there forever.
So as the sun set, I sat on the top of the mountain overlooking the valley below. I felt like I could see for miles and miles, and that maybe if it had been clear and I looked hard enough, I could have seen the coast. But as the sun went down, I decided to sit on a small rock and look out over the valley. Everything was illuminated with tiny little lights, here and there. And at first I didn’t notice, but when I looked closely enough, all the little lights would twinkle, and I was in heaven. You know when you see a shooting star and somehow your heart just warms. It’s nothing that not everyone can experience in their lives, but when you see twinkling lights, I felt like I was almost in Neverland. Somewhere where I could do whatever I wanted. Didn’t have to grow up. Could be who I wanted. But I couldn’t help but think that I wanted one particular person there with me. I wanted to experience this moment, but it was somewhat taken by my thoughts…
It got cold and the girls and I made plans to pull an all nighter our last night in Cortona at the fort. We figured we could make sunset, a complete visit of all the bars in Cortona, and then back up the mountain by the time for sunrise since nothing every seems to close at a particular time here, and then be back at the dorms by six to leave the next morning. Please let me be able to sleep on the plane home. It sounds like a good idea in theory. Hope it works, I will be even more worthless come Thursday. So because we decided we’d be back and I couldn’t shake things from my head, and I started to get real cold – story of my life lately – we made the trek back down the side of the mountain, which fortunately spit us out above our dorm this time – that was a nice change.
But everything on that mountain made me start thinking about so many things. I wanted a place to clear my head. Didn’t happen. So I leave you with my thoughts tonight before I start watching a movie, from Captivating, ask yourself this -
“why do so few women have anything close to a life of romance/? Loneliness and emptiness are far more common themes – so entirely common that most women buried their longings for romance long ago and are now living merely to survive, get through the week.”
I have no answer. But loneliness and emptiness consumed my mountain view. And maybe it was because I could see, in the valley below, the lights of lives that I want to explore and immerse myself in. Or maybe just because I was cold, I would have given anything for someone to wrap their arms around me and keep me warm, as I watched the lights twinkle, and the moon shine through the constantly moving clouds, almost giving no light at all to giving a bright light to see where I was going half the time when I was leaving.
So for you, my wanted warming arms – “our irst father – the first real man – gave in to paralysis. He denied his very nature and went passive. And every man after him, every son of Adam, carries in his heart now the same failure. Every man repeats the sun of Adam, carries in his heart now the same failure. Every man repeats the sin of Adam, every day. We won’t risk, we won’t fight, and we won’t rescue Eve. We truly a chip off the old block” (Wild at Heart – the man’s version of Captivating). So as an Eve myself, if I don’t have the protection of my Adam, where do I go, what do I do, and in order to have the life that I want, how much do I take matters into my own hands? Or are we forever cursed…
My ending song comes from Ellie tonight.
“I like the way you hung the moon.”
Wednesday May 26 - Last Lecture, More Thoughts
Today is our last day of lecture. That is so crazy to me. I feel like I have only been here for a week, and now I’m in my last day of lecture. We had a pretty fun night being able to hang out with some of the science students – one of them, it was her 21st. That’s so weird to celebrate a birthday in Italy. Pretty sure she had a good time. Not going to lie, it’s funny when the science kids decide to enjoy themselves, a maybe have a bottle of wine between maybe 4 people at dinner, the dining room gets about twenty times louder and it’s so amusing. They’re probably all feeling awesome this morning. When I think about it sitting outside in the sun during our class lecture break, I can’t help but laugh.
Caroline just read us her notes to “Dr Frank” from our lecture yesterday about how his lectures are less exciting than watching paint dry, in a dark, boring room. Beige, concrete, no windows. I just died. Sona morta. And she reminded me that yesterday during our afternoon lecture, our other adorable teddy bear teacher who lectures in the morning, fell asleep in the back of the class while Frank was lecturing. Please tell me no. It was awesome.
We also had our dessert wine tastings yesterday. And our first wine, somewhat sparkling, was amazing. And when Frank asked us who liked it, all the girls and I raised our hands, and we couldn’t help but laugh because it reminds us of the sparkling wine we always order on Sunday nights. It’s so sweet but so good. But then the rest were similar to straight wine shots – wine tasting like brandy is not my idea of a good wine. For all those looking for a good “dessert” wine (which does not mean it pairs well with dessert, but that it’s intended to be your dessert), I can give you some good recommendations. But I may be enjoying a Chardonnay by myself.
Tomorrow’s our field trip to Montepulciano. We’re going to be on our own. Cantinas and enoteccas. It’s going to be a pretty amazing trip. From what I hear, most of the caves that you go into, they store wines, and they have free wine tastings, no obligations. I’m going to try to take my computer and catch up on what I really did last week. It’s getting more and more blurry about the things that we do. Caroline and I just tried to figure out what we did Monday night. It was only 2 nights ago, can’t remember. I do remember getting gelato the past two nights. Not doing that anymore. It’s so good, but so not needed after Tonino’s dinner everynight. Which last night, was quite delicious, but Katie and I definitely needed something sweet.
But in figuring out what we did Monday night, I had to think about what I wore. And I remembered I wore my apparently “very Italian” pink shirt. After dinner, the girls and I went and got gelato, and went down to the wall by the old church, and took pictures with the sunset. They actually turned out fairly decent. Wind blowing and all, it was a pretty awesome feeling to sit on an old stone wall, looking out over the valley, with the sun going down. It was gorgeous. After we went and got some bottles outside Lions Well, and the owner and his best friend were having dinner next door, so they asked me to come “hang out” – not the words they used at all. I never thought I was that sarcastic of a person, but I get that feeling now. I make too many jokes, that clearly don’t translate very well. Most Italians if you make a joke with them, just laugh. And then we all started realizing that they weren’t laughing because it was really that funny, but because they really have no idea what you’re saying. Most of the them have picked up Italian from the groups of UGA students that have come through. But there was this adorable little boy riding his bike around in circles outside the restaurant where we were sitting, and they called him over and he tried to introduce himself in English. His parents were sitting across from us, and were so amused by their little boy trying to speak English to me. He shook my hand and scurried back to his bike. Makes me miss little kids so much.
Speaking of little kids – Burton staff leave today for camp. My news feed is overflowing with how excited they are. And all I can think about is how dead I’m going to feel next Thursday, after a ten hour, maybe more if we have to fly the other way around the world again just to get home, and have to be at camp at nine in the morning. Sorry Drew, I’m about to be the most useless staff member during set up, ever.
My teacher just said, “today we’re trying some Italian champagnes…” Seriously, how do I get credit hours for this? And now I have some random drunk guy from back home facebook chatting me, telling me I need to go to bed. Pretty sure it’s about ten here, four there. You need to go to bed buddy. Stop asking when I’m coming home – haven’t seen you in maybe over a year or two. It is somewhat amusing to be six hours ahead. As Scanlan would say, ‘how’s the future?”, it’s pretty awesome. I feel so productive because the clock on my computer and phone is still set for Georgia time, and so when I send e-mails, it makes it look like I got all my work done super early for Drew. Note to all you wine enthusiasts – don’t swirl your sparkling wine. It kills the bubbles. Side note. Plus goes well with deep fried or raw dishes.
But that reminds me of how amazing Georgia is going to feel. Being here is more than amazing, it still feels somewhat surreal. But I wore my Braves jersey today (I even ran down the hill this morning to grab Caroline and I some cokes from the local fruit stop, in hopes of not falling asleep in our last morning lecture ever), and I felt so American. My Chipper Jones tee and yoga pants and Keens. Ha. I so don’t blend, but I’m somewhat over that. I somewhat feel like a celebrity here, because you’re like a wild species. When people see you they get somewhat excited, like “o, that’s one of them”. Referring to one of the UGA students basically. We’re pretty famous. But I can’t wait to go to a Braves game – I hear they’ve been one a somewhat five game win streak, winning record now at 22-20 and maybe not too far out of first. That’s awesome. I miss watching Heyward, only four days older than me, casually walk up to the plate and destroy a ball out of the park, casually stroll around the bases, gives maybe Chipper or Prado a high five, and get a check for more money than I will see in my lifetime. Yea no big deal, I don’t feel so inferior because of that. Maybe we can celebrate our 21st’s together when I get back in August. Absolutely cannot wait for that. I’m getting old. And being able to order a bottle of wine, in Italian, and pay ten euros for a good Chardonnay, absolutely does not make me feel any younger. Camp will bring the inner kid out soon enough.
In talking about what to do when I get back – Tiger Mountain winery and vineyard. Come August, I’m absolutely going for a visit. Who knows, maybe it’s something that I see myself involved in. I can’t wait to go see the grapes they’re growing and their vineyards. They have an annual harvest party on September 11. I’m so there, and I’m about to be a wine club member. Maybe intern spring semester. Nashville will be hard to give up, but so is wine. Who knows, maybe instead of owning my own restaurant or event venue, I work in a vineyard and host wine tastings. Seems like a pretty reasonable life – and I would love nothing more to spend more time in the north Georgia mountains.
And I have to write how I just started laughing during lecture, only thinking about Claire and how she made it all the way down to the school from the dorms and inside before Caroline C asked her if she planned on wearing her tshirt inside out all day. Only you Claire – and that’s why we love you. Somehow I just typed my way through our entire Sparkling wine lecture. Makes the time pass.
Ps. There will be themed wine parties when I return to Athens – get ready 111.
I’m intrigued to read more Captivating this afternoon. I’ll hopefully get some sun, some reading and maybe even a run in today.
But Daniel, who leaves today, just passed me outside. He takes off today around two. And he just made a comment to Billy that got me thinking. He leaves today, but said it’s weird because he’s leaving, knowing he’s coming back. When all the students left last semester, he said he had to watch them leave, knowing they wouldn’t be coming back…
I will make it back. It may not be in a week like Daniel, but I’ll be back. I want to travel through Italy, maybe even Europe. So Garrett, start saving your “paid work days”. Sometime after I graduate, which is weird to think is in less than a year, we’re going backpacking. I promise to pack lighter than this trip. And Deirdre and whoever else who gets around to reading this, and is up for the challenge, we’re going to do it. We’re going to travel by bus and train to some of the most famous cities, just to say we’ve been there, and some of the least, because most of the time these are the most breathtaking. Stay in hostels (but not like the movie, please). I want to hike and enjoy different cuisines. I want to see the coast and hike up a volcano. I want to take a long train ride, riding backwards, and sleeping in a sleeper cell. I want to visit old cemeteries, and churches, and prisons, and caves. I want to drink more wine and try my luck at different languages. I want to see the art and the architecture and feel so immersed in history. I want to be part of other cultures and experience life as someone who’s not consumed with TV, sodas, fast food, and exercising, which is so American, and so not as much fun as being Italian. And I want to write about it and share it with my future, whether its my husband or kids, and I hope that it explains somewhat who the person I was, and the person I became…
Caroline just read us her notes to “Dr Frank” from our lecture yesterday about how his lectures are less exciting than watching paint dry, in a dark, boring room. Beige, concrete, no windows. I just died. Sona morta. And she reminded me that yesterday during our afternoon lecture, our other adorable teddy bear teacher who lectures in the morning, fell asleep in the back of the class while Frank was lecturing. Please tell me no. It was awesome.
We also had our dessert wine tastings yesterday. And our first wine, somewhat sparkling, was amazing. And when Frank asked us who liked it, all the girls and I raised our hands, and we couldn’t help but laugh because it reminds us of the sparkling wine we always order on Sunday nights. It’s so sweet but so good. But then the rest were similar to straight wine shots – wine tasting like brandy is not my idea of a good wine. For all those looking for a good “dessert” wine (which does not mean it pairs well with dessert, but that it’s intended to be your dessert), I can give you some good recommendations. But I may be enjoying a Chardonnay by myself.
Tomorrow’s our field trip to Montepulciano. We’re going to be on our own. Cantinas and enoteccas. It’s going to be a pretty amazing trip. From what I hear, most of the caves that you go into, they store wines, and they have free wine tastings, no obligations. I’m going to try to take my computer and catch up on what I really did last week. It’s getting more and more blurry about the things that we do. Caroline and I just tried to figure out what we did Monday night. It was only 2 nights ago, can’t remember. I do remember getting gelato the past two nights. Not doing that anymore. It’s so good, but so not needed after Tonino’s dinner everynight. Which last night, was quite delicious, but Katie and I definitely needed something sweet.
But in figuring out what we did Monday night, I had to think about what I wore. And I remembered I wore my apparently “very Italian” pink shirt. After dinner, the girls and I went and got gelato, and went down to the wall by the old church, and took pictures with the sunset. They actually turned out fairly decent. Wind blowing and all, it was a pretty awesome feeling to sit on an old stone wall, looking out over the valley, with the sun going down. It was gorgeous. After we went and got some bottles outside Lions Well, and the owner and his best friend were having dinner next door, so they asked me to come “hang out” – not the words they used at all. I never thought I was that sarcastic of a person, but I get that feeling now. I make too many jokes, that clearly don’t translate very well. Most Italians if you make a joke with them, just laugh. And then we all started realizing that they weren’t laughing because it was really that funny, but because they really have no idea what you’re saying. Most of the them have picked up Italian from the groups of UGA students that have come through. But there was this adorable little boy riding his bike around in circles outside the restaurant where we were sitting, and they called him over and he tried to introduce himself in English. His parents were sitting across from us, and were so amused by their little boy trying to speak English to me. He shook my hand and scurried back to his bike. Makes me miss little kids so much.
Speaking of little kids – Burton staff leave today for camp. My news feed is overflowing with how excited they are. And all I can think about is how dead I’m going to feel next Thursday, after a ten hour, maybe more if we have to fly the other way around the world again just to get home, and have to be at camp at nine in the morning. Sorry Drew, I’m about to be the most useless staff member during set up, ever.
My teacher just said, “today we’re trying some Italian champagnes…” Seriously, how do I get credit hours for this? And now I have some random drunk guy from back home facebook chatting me, telling me I need to go to bed. Pretty sure it’s about ten here, four there. You need to go to bed buddy. Stop asking when I’m coming home – haven’t seen you in maybe over a year or two. It is somewhat amusing to be six hours ahead. As Scanlan would say, ‘how’s the future?”, it’s pretty awesome. I feel so productive because the clock on my computer and phone is still set for Georgia time, and so when I send e-mails, it makes it look like I got all my work done super early for Drew. Note to all you wine enthusiasts – don’t swirl your sparkling wine. It kills the bubbles. Side note. Plus goes well with deep fried or raw dishes.
But that reminds me of how amazing Georgia is going to feel. Being here is more than amazing, it still feels somewhat surreal. But I wore my Braves jersey today (I even ran down the hill this morning to grab Caroline and I some cokes from the local fruit stop, in hopes of not falling asleep in our last morning lecture ever), and I felt so American. My Chipper Jones tee and yoga pants and Keens. Ha. I so don’t blend, but I’m somewhat over that. I somewhat feel like a celebrity here, because you’re like a wild species. When people see you they get somewhat excited, like “o, that’s one of them”. Referring to one of the UGA students basically. We’re pretty famous. But I can’t wait to go to a Braves game – I hear they’ve been one a somewhat five game win streak, winning record now at 22-20 and maybe not too far out of first. That’s awesome. I miss watching Heyward, only four days older than me, casually walk up to the plate and destroy a ball out of the park, casually stroll around the bases, gives maybe Chipper or Prado a high five, and get a check for more money than I will see in my lifetime. Yea no big deal, I don’t feel so inferior because of that. Maybe we can celebrate our 21st’s together when I get back in August. Absolutely cannot wait for that. I’m getting old. And being able to order a bottle of wine, in Italian, and pay ten euros for a good Chardonnay, absolutely does not make me feel any younger. Camp will bring the inner kid out soon enough.
In talking about what to do when I get back – Tiger Mountain winery and vineyard. Come August, I’m absolutely going for a visit. Who knows, maybe it’s something that I see myself involved in. I can’t wait to go see the grapes they’re growing and their vineyards. They have an annual harvest party on September 11. I’m so there, and I’m about to be a wine club member. Maybe intern spring semester. Nashville will be hard to give up, but so is wine. Who knows, maybe instead of owning my own restaurant or event venue, I work in a vineyard and host wine tastings. Seems like a pretty reasonable life – and I would love nothing more to spend more time in the north Georgia mountains.
And I have to write how I just started laughing during lecture, only thinking about Claire and how she made it all the way down to the school from the dorms and inside before Caroline C asked her if she planned on wearing her tshirt inside out all day. Only you Claire – and that’s why we love you. Somehow I just typed my way through our entire Sparkling wine lecture. Makes the time pass.
Ps. There will be themed wine parties when I return to Athens – get ready 111.
I’m intrigued to read more Captivating this afternoon. I’ll hopefully get some sun, some reading and maybe even a run in today.
But Daniel, who leaves today, just passed me outside. He takes off today around two. And he just made a comment to Billy that got me thinking. He leaves today, but said it’s weird because he’s leaving, knowing he’s coming back. When all the students left last semester, he said he had to watch them leave, knowing they wouldn’t be coming back…
I will make it back. It may not be in a week like Daniel, but I’ll be back. I want to travel through Italy, maybe even Europe. So Garrett, start saving your “paid work days”. Sometime after I graduate, which is weird to think is in less than a year, we’re going backpacking. I promise to pack lighter than this trip. And Deirdre and whoever else who gets around to reading this, and is up for the challenge, we’re going to do it. We’re going to travel by bus and train to some of the most famous cities, just to say we’ve been there, and some of the least, because most of the time these are the most breathtaking. Stay in hostels (but not like the movie, please). I want to hike and enjoy different cuisines. I want to see the coast and hike up a volcano. I want to take a long train ride, riding backwards, and sleeping in a sleeper cell. I want to visit old cemeteries, and churches, and prisons, and caves. I want to drink more wine and try my luck at different languages. I want to see the art and the architecture and feel so immersed in history. I want to be part of other cultures and experience life as someone who’s not consumed with TV, sodas, fast food, and exercising, which is so American, and so not as much fun as being Italian. And I want to write about it and share it with my future, whether its my husband or kids, and I hope that it explains somewhat who the person I was, and the person I became…
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Tuesday May 25
So I find myself getting further and further behind on my blogs. I take time during my ten minute class lectures to make notes on my computer. I figured that since last week is even further a part of the past, it won’t hurt to push my updates from last week even more. So Sunday was amazing to finally get a chance to really sleep in. I usually have to wake up at like 7:45, well now its maybe more around 8:00 before Caroline and I even think about rolling out of bed, throw on a t-shirt, and walk down to class. Sunday, didn’t even think about getting out of bed before 10:00.
Tonight’s Daniel’s last day. It’s been fun having him come and knock on our window just to visit. He really loves coming and reading his stories and poems to us. It’s so hard not to initially laugh when he reads the first line of his stories, because the thought of Johnny Depp in Secret Window when he’s reading off his computer pops into my head. Gets me everytime. You’d think after awhile the thought would die away, it doesn’t. He had a “work exhibition” last night with Chris, who’s here basically as our translator and tour guide – he has so much knowledge about this place, it’s unbelievable – and Chris showed his pottery and ceramic work, and Daniel read his story. Or I should say Johnny Depp did. All he needed was a beat up bath robe an a little bit longer hair. He shaved his mustache last week, so now he’s sporting the slight facial hair, and with his glasses, it’s undeniably Secret Window. But it was pretty cool to see and hear about the work they’re doing here. What a life to work on your writings or pottery, while living in Cortona, with a bunch of college kids (half of which do study all the time), but the rest of us “vitis” as we refer to ourselves, split bottles of wine at dinner before we even think about studying. Life’s too short to be in Cortona, and not do it the Italian way.
Chris just walked by us laying on the concrete outside – “good morning sun seekers”. Ha, only he would say that and laugh. It’s funny, because he’s the only one that would walk to the back of our field trip coach bus on Friday, and see me and Caroline sprawled out, with our legs intertwined trying to sleep on our 20 minute trip from one place to another, and start dying laughing at us. It really wasn’t that funny, but he thought so, so we just had to laugh.
I took Caroline and April, and picked up Jordan who had started off running but was walking, on my trail up to the backside of the mountain and back down to the other side of the city today. I have really enjoyed my runs the past couple of days, and needed a break from running, and decided today would be a good day to walk, especially because there’s not a cloud in the sky and it’s like 75 degrees outside. So I took them through the park, and up the road past the bed and breakfast I run past. And on the way is Frances Mayes’ house, and then to the top where there is this old church and cute caffe and restaurant. The back part of the trail takes you down the back side of the mountain, past the church with the grand dome on top and the old cemetery (which I visited alone last week). And then we made our way back through town, and I was able to get some more fresh fruit, and we picked up a sandwich from Bar 500 to sit and eat on the steps. We’ve stopped buying lunch everyday in town, but today was totally necessary, and very much overdue.
I’ve started reading John and Stase Eldredge’s Captivating, Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman’s soul. It came highly recommended by Caroline. She’s loved so much to just pick up her book and start reading, pretty much just wherever in the book she feels like most reads to her. Every day she’s told me how much she loves it and how much I really need to read it. She’s such a strong and incredible person. I have never felt so loved by a friend before. She’s so incredibly deep and passionate about love and relationships. I’m going to be so heartbroken to not have her around every day when I get back. I don’t even want to even think about to leave her. What an incredible way to bring someone so influential into my life, to travel together and experience things that I feel are so beyond real life. So I got back from our walk, and decided to take some time to myself outside in the sun and I started reading. I started with the last chapter, and how woman have an irreplaceable role in life.
So I leave you with a quote from the book – “you are a woman. An image bearer of God. The Crown of Creation. You were chose before time and space, and you are wholly and dearly loved. You are sough t after, pursued, romanced, the passionate desire of your Fiancé, Jesus. You are dangerous in your beauty and your life-giving power. And you are needed.”
Tonight’s Daniel’s last day. It’s been fun having him come and knock on our window just to visit. He really loves coming and reading his stories and poems to us. It’s so hard not to initially laugh when he reads the first line of his stories, because the thought of Johnny Depp in Secret Window when he’s reading off his computer pops into my head. Gets me everytime. You’d think after awhile the thought would die away, it doesn’t. He had a “work exhibition” last night with Chris, who’s here basically as our translator and tour guide – he has so much knowledge about this place, it’s unbelievable – and Chris showed his pottery and ceramic work, and Daniel read his story. Or I should say Johnny Depp did. All he needed was a beat up bath robe an a little bit longer hair. He shaved his mustache last week, so now he’s sporting the slight facial hair, and with his glasses, it’s undeniably Secret Window. But it was pretty cool to see and hear about the work they’re doing here. What a life to work on your writings or pottery, while living in Cortona, with a bunch of college kids (half of which do study all the time), but the rest of us “vitis” as we refer to ourselves, split bottles of wine at dinner before we even think about studying. Life’s too short to be in Cortona, and not do it the Italian way.
Chris just walked by us laying on the concrete outside – “good morning sun seekers”. Ha, only he would say that and laugh. It’s funny, because he’s the only one that would walk to the back of our field trip coach bus on Friday, and see me and Caroline sprawled out, with our legs intertwined trying to sleep on our 20 minute trip from one place to another, and start dying laughing at us. It really wasn’t that funny, but he thought so, so we just had to laugh.
I took Caroline and April, and picked up Jordan who had started off running but was walking, on my trail up to the backside of the mountain and back down to the other side of the city today. I have really enjoyed my runs the past couple of days, and needed a break from running, and decided today would be a good day to walk, especially because there’s not a cloud in the sky and it’s like 75 degrees outside. So I took them through the park, and up the road past the bed and breakfast I run past. And on the way is Frances Mayes’ house, and then to the top where there is this old church and cute caffe and restaurant. The back part of the trail takes you down the back side of the mountain, past the church with the grand dome on top and the old cemetery (which I visited alone last week). And then we made our way back through town, and I was able to get some more fresh fruit, and we picked up a sandwich from Bar 500 to sit and eat on the steps. We’ve stopped buying lunch everyday in town, but today was totally necessary, and very much overdue.
I’ve started reading John and Stase Eldredge’s Captivating, Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman’s soul. It came highly recommended by Caroline. She’s loved so much to just pick up her book and start reading, pretty much just wherever in the book she feels like most reads to her. Every day she’s told me how much she loves it and how much I really need to read it. She’s such a strong and incredible person. I have never felt so loved by a friend before. She’s so incredibly deep and passionate about love and relationships. I’m going to be so heartbroken to not have her around every day when I get back. I don’t even want to even think about to leave her. What an incredible way to bring someone so influential into my life, to travel together and experience things that I feel are so beyond real life. So I got back from our walk, and decided to take some time to myself outside in the sun and I started reading. I started with the last chapter, and how woman have an irreplaceable role in life.
So I leave you with a quote from the book – “you are a woman. An image bearer of God. The Crown of Creation. You were chose before time and space, and you are wholly and dearly loved. You are sough t after, pursued, romanced, the passionate desire of your Fiancé, Jesus. You are dangerous in your beauty and your life-giving power. And you are needed.”
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Sunday May 16 - Arezzo, Monte San Savino, and Pergo with Joyce
So I feel like I have been putting off blogging for days just because the next one I really needed to do was about my time with Joyce. And it's not that I didn't want to write about my time with her, but the amount of information I feel like I took in with her was so overwhelming. I feel like when I got back Sunday, and everyone from my group asked me how my trip was, they got way too much information than they really wanted. It was such a life changing trip to take and the amount of information I learned from Joyce, from her stories and just from what I observed, has made me really rethink so many things in my life.
So for those who just want to know about my adventures traveling and abroad, this may be one you skip, but I really suggest you don't. This woman Joyce is absolutely amazing. And things we did and talked about will probably trickle in and out of my blog for my rest of the time here in Cortona just because there was so much, and I don't even know where to start.
But I guess I have to start with how I "know" Joyce. And the scariest part of my trip on Saturday getting to Arezzo was definitely the part that I was getting on a bus, in a foreign country, to really meet someone that I don't even remember. So the story goes that almost ten years ago, I believe, my parents and their best friends traveled to Italy, and in doing so decided to rent a house in Monte San Savino to stay at for a couple weeks. So they rented this house from Joyce. And being the arms always open person that she is, she welcomed them into her home in Arezzo and really made a bond. And then a year or so later, Joyce and her son Francesco made the journey to Atlanta, and there are some incredibly embarrassing pictures of me when I'm probably in 5th grade, with my braces and a sweet ponytail hanging out in the fountains at Centennial Olympic Park with Garrett and Francesco (her son who is only maybe a few years older than Garrett). I could not have looked any different, minus the fact that when Joyce found me on Saturday I had my hair in almost the exact ponytail that I had once worn that day at Centennial Park. I guess you really do never grow up.
But Joyce has so much history to her. But really she just has four homes, one in Arezzo, one in Monte San Savino, one in Prego in Cortona, and one on the coast somewhere. She allows family and groups to come stay in her homes from maybe around June to October, not including her gorgeous home in Arezzo where she and her "husband" Sandro live. I put some pictures of the houses up on my facebook album of Arezzo. They are absolutely breathtaking. She really has invested so much of herself and her time to taking care and decorating these homes. She actually graduated college majoring in French and maybe Literature. And part of her story of graduating in French and then going on to teach French in a prestigious all girls school in the north is how her story in Italy got started. But interior decorating was always her passion. And it's great to see how much she really loves to take the time to make these houses her projects. They really are so incredibly beautiful. I told her that I would be back shortly and that she better be expecting me to come stay in her houses. I absolutely can not wait.
But after she met me in Arezzo and we walked around for a bit, her trying to convince me I need to buy new shoes because seeing me in my chacos was making her cold, we finally headed back to her home. But we chatted for a bit on the way back, but I had a hard time concentrating on some of the things she was saying because I was engrossed in the land and scenery around me, and still so amazed that I was where I was.
Her house is breathtaking. It has seven bedrooms and maybe eight baths. The house itself is over 500 years old and has so much history to it. It's built like a tower with surrounding levels connected to the tower, with a massive patio deck - so absolutely perfect for a massive party - and a pool, back deck, and "guest house" where Sandro's older son, wife, and 14 year old son live. It has maybe four bedrooms, as the guest house. Ridiculous. She brings me in the house and puts me in the elevator...strange to me. But come to find out, the house is three floors, but she and Sandro only live on the third floor because they decided that they didn't need to space and wanted to be closer. So they only use the third floor, complete with three bedrooms and baths, a full kitchen, and living area.
So Sunday night I finally made it home from my travels in one piece. Not sure how I fully survived and was able to make it back to Cortona in one piece, but I did. And to me, that's so mind blowing. I actually traveled, alone, in Italy, and was okay with it. But I couldn't believe to tell you the warming comfort I had when Joyce pulled up to the grand circle at the bottom of Diavolo (my best friend the massive hill), and I couldn't wait to walk up and see everyone that I had left behind for only 30 hours. I was able to text Caroline and meet up with her and Katie and April, the girls as I refer to them, though Claire and Caroline C were not there, and met them at Cafe Celesoni. My heart and head were full of so much that I had experienced that I felt like I wanted to tell them everything, but was so worried I couldn't shut my mouth. But it also felt better to hear that I hadn't really missed anything while I was gone. I always want to be part of the action, and never not do something, and going to Arezzo was just what I needed. But in our attempt to go get one drink and finish our catching up at Lions Well, two bottles of wine, two bottles of sparkling wine, and a couple of beers and a pina colada later, I somehow had the girls in tears about my story from the weekend.
I can't help but want to be able to tell her story to everyone. I clearly wasn't the only one that thought that there was something much bigger than what was seen on the outside there in that weekend trip....
I'm picking up this blog almost a whole week after I started writing it. I feel awful that I couldn't get it all out in one sitting, but there was so much that I really had to take in. I think honestly what had the girls in tears almost a whole week ago when I had returned from Arezzo, was my story of the love that Joyce has for her husband, and the life that she lives.
Joyce talked my ear off on the way back from being downtown. I wanted to take it all in. But when we got to her house, and she shoved me in her tiny little elevator up to the third floor, the first thing she did was yell for her Sandro. She piped up like when you see a husband come home from work, and yells, "honey I'm home." Granted hers was in Italian, but it didn't matter. I knew exactly what she was yelling, saying something around "Sandro my love, I'm home. Where are you my love?". She could not have been any more exciting to see him. I personally couldn't wait to meet his strapping man that she called her love, that she's lived with for almost 21 years now, and still gets overly excited when she gets home to see him.
I'm not going to lie, when I met Sandro, it didn't all quite make sense. Joyce was this overly excited about life person, with so much energy and life and youth to her, that when I met Sandro, he didn't give off the same era. I didn't take me long to pick up on something, something that didn't quite seem right. And when I finally did figure it out, Joyce had told me that Sandro had Parkinson's.
But the way she talks about him, and the way she loves him, hasn't changed from the day they met. She still calls him her strapping handsome lover that she met on a blind date through a mutual friend that set them up together. Now he's older and the Parkinson's has taken a lot out of him, she still loves him the same way she did when he was younger. He shuffled over from his chair and gave her a kiss and welcomed me to his house. Sandro doesn't speak a lot of English, but he's learned some over the years. He actually reads National Geographic, and that is where he's learned a lot of what he knows. Because Joyce speaks every language under the sun, their communication efforts are a piece of cake. But they almost don't even have to be speaking to each other to really feel like there is something there.
We were already late coming home, and from what I heard Sandro liked his eating time schedule, and we were definitely late on his time, so I figured he had already eaten. But also come to find out, when he heard that Joyce was bringing a guest to dinner, he had told her that she absolutely had wanted to wait to eat with us. When we sat down at dinner, Joyce had started talking to me about things here and there, and Sandro would try to follow and somewhat try to input. But when Joyce turned to him to talk for a bit, they went on in Italian for what seemed like forever. I loved sitting there listening to them speak to each other. And a one point Joyce turned to me to apologize that she just hadn't seen Sandro in a few days and just really needed some time to catch up and ask him how his doctor appointments and things were going. I absolutely understood. I even felt bad that I had taken away so much of her time that she had always devoted to him. But they way they conversed, and the way she looks at him with deep love, and even wants to hold his hand at the dinner table, and joke to him in English, and she pushes him to speak to me in English, and translates for the both of us - it's just nothing I've ever seen before.
And I sit here Sunday morning, almost a week later, and now I start to cry because now I really understand where the girls were last Sunday when they heard my story. You can't help but sit there and witness these two people, one who's so full of life who would give anything to make her lover happy and healthy. I want that. I think everyone does. It's just sometimes a hard and scary thing. I have to think about Joyce who was left by her husband when their son was only four years old. How do you go on with your life after that? How did she manage to get where she is today? She loves everything about Sandro. She loves his house, and his sons who live less than a hundred yards from their house, and she loves his sons' wives and fiances. She loves to just be around Sandro. She wanted him around when she would talk to me in English, just so she could have him around. And they both live on only one floor of their gorgeous three floor house - their reasoning, they don't need it, they just want to be close, even though because of his Parkinson's, Sandro has his own room. The rest of the house is amazing, but because Sandro is so immobile, they keep it simple, make him safer and more comfortable.
Our plans for Sunday were to go shopping and then to go get lunch somewhere. But Joyce informed me Sunday morning that things had slightly changed. She told me that Sandro had asked that if he cooked lunch, if we would come back and eat with him. And of course, I wasn't going to object. And by the time we got back from our quick shopping trip, the table was completely set, two plates, two forks, knife, spoon, drinking glass, wine glass and napkin per person, plus extra plates, more food, olive oil, more wine, the works. It was pretty amazing to see that. And to know that he just wanted us there. Even though he really did hate being left alone with me because he has such a hard time talking in English, and an even harder time understand the things that I asked, he just wanted Joyce around. And she wanted to be around him.
There is obviously something unexplainable in a relationship like that. I feel like Joyce has a lot to do to take care of Sandro, but he clearly gives so much happiness back to her. And I'm not sure how the first 21 years of their relationship was. From the looks of the pictures, it was an absolute dream. There are gorgeous pictures of the two of them hiking, and hunting, and pictures of each other that one of them would take when they went on trips together.
I stumbled across this bible verse yesterday, and it reminded me I needed to finish writing about Joyce. It's Genesis 29:20 -
So Jacob worked seven years to pay for Rachel. But his love for her was so strong that it seemed to him but a few days.
I love this. And sometimes in the world today, you don't see this. But there are those few moments, where Sandro spent his entire morning getting lunch ready for us, or when Joyce would call for her love as soon as she walks through the door, that makes me think.
So for those who made it through this post, sorry it was another long one. Trust me, it's about forty times shorter than it should be for everything I experienced, but I wanted to keep it doable. But I hope it gives you a glance into something really amazing, this Italian love that you see now and then, is something that I hope for everyone.
1 John 4:18 -
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear...
So for those who just want to know about my adventures traveling and abroad, this may be one you skip, but I really suggest you don't. This woman Joyce is absolutely amazing. And things we did and talked about will probably trickle in and out of my blog for my rest of the time here in Cortona just because there was so much, and I don't even know where to start.
But I guess I have to start with how I "know" Joyce. And the scariest part of my trip on Saturday getting to Arezzo was definitely the part that I was getting on a bus, in a foreign country, to really meet someone that I don't even remember. So the story goes that almost ten years ago, I believe, my parents and their best friends traveled to Italy, and in doing so decided to rent a house in Monte San Savino to stay at for a couple weeks. So they rented this house from Joyce. And being the arms always open person that she is, she welcomed them into her home in Arezzo and really made a bond. And then a year or so later, Joyce and her son Francesco made the journey to Atlanta, and there are some incredibly embarrassing pictures of me when I'm probably in 5th grade, with my braces and a sweet ponytail hanging out in the fountains at Centennial Olympic Park with Garrett and Francesco (her son who is only maybe a few years older than Garrett). I could not have looked any different, minus the fact that when Joyce found me on Saturday I had my hair in almost the exact ponytail that I had once worn that day at Centennial Park. I guess you really do never grow up.
But Joyce has so much history to her. But really she just has four homes, one in Arezzo, one in Monte San Savino, one in Prego in Cortona, and one on the coast somewhere. She allows family and groups to come stay in her homes from maybe around June to October, not including her gorgeous home in Arezzo where she and her "husband" Sandro live. I put some pictures of the houses up on my facebook album of Arezzo. They are absolutely breathtaking. She really has invested so much of herself and her time to taking care and decorating these homes. She actually graduated college majoring in French and maybe Literature. And part of her story of graduating in French and then going on to teach French in a prestigious all girls school in the north is how her story in Italy got started. But interior decorating was always her passion. And it's great to see how much she really loves to take the time to make these houses her projects. They really are so incredibly beautiful. I told her that I would be back shortly and that she better be expecting me to come stay in her houses. I absolutely can not wait.
But after she met me in Arezzo and we walked around for a bit, her trying to convince me I need to buy new shoes because seeing me in my chacos was making her cold, we finally headed back to her home. But we chatted for a bit on the way back, but I had a hard time concentrating on some of the things she was saying because I was engrossed in the land and scenery around me, and still so amazed that I was where I was.
Her house is breathtaking. It has seven bedrooms and maybe eight baths. The house itself is over 500 years old and has so much history to it. It's built like a tower with surrounding levels connected to the tower, with a massive patio deck - so absolutely perfect for a massive party - and a pool, back deck, and "guest house" where Sandro's older son, wife, and 14 year old son live. It has maybe four bedrooms, as the guest house. Ridiculous. She brings me in the house and puts me in the elevator...strange to me. But come to find out, the house is three floors, but she and Sandro only live on the third floor because they decided that they didn't need to space and wanted to be closer. So they only use the third floor, complete with three bedrooms and baths, a full kitchen, and living area.
So Sunday night I finally made it home from my travels in one piece. Not sure how I fully survived and was able to make it back to Cortona in one piece, but I did. And to me, that's so mind blowing. I actually traveled, alone, in Italy, and was okay with it. But I couldn't believe to tell you the warming comfort I had when Joyce pulled up to the grand circle at the bottom of Diavolo (my best friend the massive hill), and I couldn't wait to walk up and see everyone that I had left behind for only 30 hours. I was able to text Caroline and meet up with her and Katie and April, the girls as I refer to them, though Claire and Caroline C were not there, and met them at Cafe Celesoni. My heart and head were full of so much that I had experienced that I felt like I wanted to tell them everything, but was so worried I couldn't shut my mouth. But it also felt better to hear that I hadn't really missed anything while I was gone. I always want to be part of the action, and never not do something, and going to Arezzo was just what I needed. But in our attempt to go get one drink and finish our catching up at Lions Well, two bottles of wine, two bottles of sparkling wine, and a couple of beers and a pina colada later, I somehow had the girls in tears about my story from the weekend.
I can't help but want to be able to tell her story to everyone. I clearly wasn't the only one that thought that there was something much bigger than what was seen on the outside there in that weekend trip....
I'm picking up this blog almost a whole week after I started writing it. I feel awful that I couldn't get it all out in one sitting, but there was so much that I really had to take in. I think honestly what had the girls in tears almost a whole week ago when I had returned from Arezzo, was my story of the love that Joyce has for her husband, and the life that she lives.
Joyce talked my ear off on the way back from being downtown. I wanted to take it all in. But when we got to her house, and she shoved me in her tiny little elevator up to the third floor, the first thing she did was yell for her Sandro. She piped up like when you see a husband come home from work, and yells, "honey I'm home." Granted hers was in Italian, but it didn't matter. I knew exactly what she was yelling, saying something around "Sandro my love, I'm home. Where are you my love?". She could not have been any more exciting to see him. I personally couldn't wait to meet his strapping man that she called her love, that she's lived with for almost 21 years now, and still gets overly excited when she gets home to see him.
I'm not going to lie, when I met Sandro, it didn't all quite make sense. Joyce was this overly excited about life person, with so much energy and life and youth to her, that when I met Sandro, he didn't give off the same era. I didn't take me long to pick up on something, something that didn't quite seem right. And when I finally did figure it out, Joyce had told me that Sandro had Parkinson's.
But the way she talks about him, and the way she loves him, hasn't changed from the day they met. She still calls him her strapping handsome lover that she met on a blind date through a mutual friend that set them up together. Now he's older and the Parkinson's has taken a lot out of him, she still loves him the same way she did when he was younger. He shuffled over from his chair and gave her a kiss and welcomed me to his house. Sandro doesn't speak a lot of English, but he's learned some over the years. He actually reads National Geographic, and that is where he's learned a lot of what he knows. Because Joyce speaks every language under the sun, their communication efforts are a piece of cake. But they almost don't even have to be speaking to each other to really feel like there is something there.
We were already late coming home, and from what I heard Sandro liked his eating time schedule, and we were definitely late on his time, so I figured he had already eaten. But also come to find out, when he heard that Joyce was bringing a guest to dinner, he had told her that she absolutely had wanted to wait to eat with us. When we sat down at dinner, Joyce had started talking to me about things here and there, and Sandro would try to follow and somewhat try to input. But when Joyce turned to him to talk for a bit, they went on in Italian for what seemed like forever. I loved sitting there listening to them speak to each other. And a one point Joyce turned to me to apologize that she just hadn't seen Sandro in a few days and just really needed some time to catch up and ask him how his doctor appointments and things were going. I absolutely understood. I even felt bad that I had taken away so much of her time that she had always devoted to him. But they way they conversed, and the way she looks at him with deep love, and even wants to hold his hand at the dinner table, and joke to him in English, and she pushes him to speak to me in English, and translates for the both of us - it's just nothing I've ever seen before.
And I sit here Sunday morning, almost a week later, and now I start to cry because now I really understand where the girls were last Sunday when they heard my story. You can't help but sit there and witness these two people, one who's so full of life who would give anything to make her lover happy and healthy. I want that. I think everyone does. It's just sometimes a hard and scary thing. I have to think about Joyce who was left by her husband when their son was only four years old. How do you go on with your life after that? How did she manage to get where she is today? She loves everything about Sandro. She loves his house, and his sons who live less than a hundred yards from their house, and she loves his sons' wives and fiances. She loves to just be around Sandro. She wanted him around when she would talk to me in English, just so she could have him around. And they both live on only one floor of their gorgeous three floor house - their reasoning, they don't need it, they just want to be close, even though because of his Parkinson's, Sandro has his own room. The rest of the house is amazing, but because Sandro is so immobile, they keep it simple, make him safer and more comfortable.
Our plans for Sunday were to go shopping and then to go get lunch somewhere. But Joyce informed me Sunday morning that things had slightly changed. She told me that Sandro had asked that if he cooked lunch, if we would come back and eat with him. And of course, I wasn't going to object. And by the time we got back from our quick shopping trip, the table was completely set, two plates, two forks, knife, spoon, drinking glass, wine glass and napkin per person, plus extra plates, more food, olive oil, more wine, the works. It was pretty amazing to see that. And to know that he just wanted us there. Even though he really did hate being left alone with me because he has such a hard time talking in English, and an even harder time understand the things that I asked, he just wanted Joyce around. And she wanted to be around him.
There is obviously something unexplainable in a relationship like that. I feel like Joyce has a lot to do to take care of Sandro, but he clearly gives so much happiness back to her. And I'm not sure how the first 21 years of their relationship was. From the looks of the pictures, it was an absolute dream. There are gorgeous pictures of the two of them hiking, and hunting, and pictures of each other that one of them would take when they went on trips together.
I stumbled across this bible verse yesterday, and it reminded me I needed to finish writing about Joyce. It's Genesis 29:20 -
So Jacob worked seven years to pay for Rachel. But his love for her was so strong that it seemed to him but a few days.
I love this. And sometimes in the world today, you don't see this. But there are those few moments, where Sandro spent his entire morning getting lunch ready for us, or when Joyce would call for her love as soon as she walks through the door, that makes me think.
So for those who made it through this post, sorry it was another long one. Trust me, it's about forty times shorter than it should be for everything I experienced, but I wanted to keep it doable. But I hope it gives you a glance into something really amazing, this Italian love that you see now and then, is something that I hope for everyone.
1 John 4:18 -
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear...
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Saturday May 22 - Field Trip To Ag HS and Il Falcone Winery
So I know I'm so far behind on my blogs. But bear with me. I've been so incredibly busy, and just really haven't had a time where I'd rather type than sleep....and I would so love to be sleeping right now. But today was so absolutely incredible. So my next few blog will totally be out of order, but I've taken notes and tomorrow when I'm just chilling overlooking the valley or sitting at a cafe in the square, I promise to catch up on my blogging. And get my work done for camp that I am so far behind on. I keep telling Drew to be expecting all my work sometime soon...ha, well let's just say he keeps waiting on it.
But today was our second field trip out of four, I think. And so our schedule goes, we had a test yesterday, and then a field trip today. Our first stop this morning, leaving at 8:30am, in which I thought Caroline was seriously going to leave me because I got up to shower this morning and definitely ran down the huge hill with her for the bus...and were there before any of the teachers, but our stop was at the Agricultural High School here in Cortona (which is a lot bigger region than I thought it was). But our stop there was so interesting. No one at the school spoke any English, so everywhere we went we had to have a translator. The first part of our day was spent in the high school's computer room where the Vice Principle and two students gave us a presentation about an eco-friendly winery that they will be planting on the school grounds here in the next year, and a second presentation about a GPS system that will help winemakers know where to dump chemical wastes, and something else about knowing where certain things can go and can't go in the field.
The school is enormous. It sits on like 600 acres I believe. And it's so weird to hear them call it their high school because the kids are just hanging out outside, smoking a cigarette, and listening to American pop music. And the land is gorgeous. The best part - the school's areas of study are all agricultural based, with viticulture and winemaking, restaurant and hotel management, and culinary skills. The school actually has it's own wine making and barreling facility. Ha, thinking of Wesleyan having a vineyard and winery on campus just makes me laugh. But we got a tour of their "winery" where they crush and ferment their grapes, and then bottle and store them. It was crazy to actually see all the work that really goes into making a wine in person. And seeing actual wine barrels storing wine, so crazy. The smells were so amazing, and I could have stayed there forever. Until they told us that the culinary student's lunch they prepared for us was ready...
So we walked into one of their buildings, which they use for educational purposes, and they had set up an appetizer and wine tasting for our group. These students were like 14 and 16 years old, in their first years of restaurant management, and were practicing how to serve wine and serve appetizers to use. I can't complain at all. In addition we got to actually taste some of the wine that we had just seen in the winery being bottled. For enjoyment, the school makes a sparking wine that apparently isn't very easy to make, but is so enjoyable, that they do it anyways. And when we sat down for lunch, we all knew we were in trouble when we looked at the three course menu, and there was so much food about to come out, along with three more wines. Wasn't sure how we were going to survive after we had trampled through their vineyards for an hour previous to lunch. But I got so excited to see lasagna. I was ready to challenge theirs to my spinach and sausage lasagna that I've enjoyed making...these first year culinary students showed me up. The lasagna was so good. And you want to keep eating it because it is so good, but you also know that there is so much more food coming. And I would really love to not explode. But then they brought a strip steak looking meat over a salad and cherry tomatoes and roasted potatoes. I have never seen such amazing looking food, and the few bites I took because I was already donezo from the lasagna, were so delicious. So when I heard it was just pineapple for dessert I was excited I wasn't going to have to miss out on some delicious dessert if I didn't have any, until this boat shaped looking 1/4 of a pineapple came out, sliced and drizzled with what looked like strawberry daiquiri, and I knew I was going to feel my lunch for the next two days. This pineapple dessert was so amazing. They had cut them in fourths, and then sliced pieces of the pineapple and positioned them to make the fourth to look like a boat with seats and sprinkled it with a strawberry daiquiri topping. First year high school students made this....
Not to mention the wine. But I can't even describe in any details after that lunch.
So we all piled back on the bus after lunch, and I think almost every person on the bus was laying in their seats, asleep and holding their stomachs hoping it wouldn't explode because we all ate way too much of this amazing food. You just couldn't stop it was so good. Thank you Chris for waking us up after what felt like two minutes laying down. But we made a quick bus trip down the road to a local winery.
Caroline Collins and I decided we would hike the short trip from where the bus left us off to the winery versus taking rides from the little shuttles because we felt we needed some air. And as I walked up towards this amazing winery, I couldn't help but feel like I was so out of place. This place was one of the most gorgeous places I have ever witnessed. This guy that greeted us and took us around his winery, was the only heir of his families winery business at the winery, and all the girls couldn't help but swoon over him. He owns and operates what we heard was maybe the 6th most sought out resorts in all of Italy. Dear future husband, I found our honeymoon destination. It's apparently 600 euros a night to stay, but it would be worth every single penny. This place was decorated with gorgeous flowers, and this crystal clear blue pool that I wandered over to by myself. Then in addition, this guy makes his own wine there on site. And he took us to all his wine making facilities. And at the end of the tour he goes, "ugh, all this has made me thirsty, let's go drink." He took us to the canopy deck decorated with flowers and crystal wine glasses all around, and had us taste three of his personal wines that he had harvested and bottled. What an experience to sit looking up to Cortona, in the sun, with an Italian winemaker and winery owner, as he describes his favorite white, sparkling, and red wine to each of us as his butler pours us another glass. Claire accidently broke hers, and he could have cared less. He was just enjoying our company as we still all tried to pick our jaws up off the ground. I'm still in awe thinking about it.
But honestly the coolest part of my day had to be when he asked if he could have a couple of volunteers to help him open his wines. Me, thinking...when will I ever be in Cortona, or even in this incredible winery and resort again, volunteers to help out. So out he pulls a massive machete and his sparkling sangiovese wine (the only ever made in the entire world). And he proceeds to tell that I have to take the machete and slice the top of and he would then serve it to everyone...ha. I was thinking, what did I get myself into, and he demonstrates how to hold the bottle and how to chop the top by sliding the machete down the bottle and hitting the lip of the bottle, and then telling me to wait and then hold the bottle upright. So he handed the bottle over to me, and I think about the time that I counted to two, my eyes were already closed, and I slid the knife down the bottle with probably too much force, and all I remember was laughing and screaming when I heard the top pop off and there's sparkling wine everywhere...because expert me dropped the bottle. Way to go. It was so hard to remember everything I was supposed to do without killing myself and everyone standing around taking pictures, and trying to grasp a huge chilled bottle upside down. But he told me I could still be hired. Done. To all those back home, when I'm not on the plane next Wednesday, it's because I'm machete-ing sparkling wine bottles in Cortona at one of the most famous and beautiful resorts I've seen. The two girls after me who tried couldn't get the top to pop, so at least I was proud that I did that. And I feel like I wasted a perfectly good bottle of wine spraying everyone, but literally, what an amazing adrenaline rush. I think Caroline caught a good picture of it. And I have my bottle top that I sliced...with a machete.
Made best friends with the winery owner. He came over and sat at our table after we had finished our wines, and asked if we wanted to see his falcon? Ha, yea. So his pet falcon, where the the resort gets its named, was just chilling on it's stoop right near our walkway. So he walks up to it and it tries to fly at him, and luckily she's got a leash tied to her foot. Apparently she's moody because the seasons are changing. And I wanted to turn to Caroline and be like, you wouldn't have to even pay me to sit on that stoop and watch the seasons change, if I could stay at that place forever. That falcon has the best job. She needs an attitude adjustment. But we went back to our canopy to enjoy some company, and the owner tells me he's so tired. So in apologizing for wearing him out, he tells our table that he's tired because he hosted a party for over 3000 people the night before. Ha, yea buddy, you can be tired. Perfectly legit excuse. Come to find out, he had his club opening last night. And then tries to tell me where it is off some exit near the city. No idea what he was trying to tell me - my Italian navigation skills were slightly hindered and not a top notch at the time - but I got to work on it, because he invited us next weekend to his club La Vista. VIP treatment and all. Thank you professor Frank for adding that we have our third exam the saturday morning after. But I'm feeling like again, you're only in Cortona once. And the girls are so excited about going to a real club, and VIP treatment. After today, I can't even begin to envision what a VIP treatment would feel like. I felt like I should have paid over 300 euros for what I got to do today. I can not believe that happened.
As the day was closing, we all had to say goodbye. So all the girls lined up, and we got our customary Italian double cheek kiss by the owner (who I'm not even going to attempt to guess at his name, but I got his card, so I'll figure it out later, but I don't want to completely butcher it), and we went on our way back to the bus.
I could have sit there all day. I have never felt so at ease and so happy in such a long time. There wasn't a thing on my mind but how lucky and amazing what I was experiencing was. Our bottle of wine from the night before when Caroline, Claire, Caroline C, Katie, and April and I all went to dinner said it right:
Two things in life are always sincere: Friends and Wine
But today was our second field trip out of four, I think. And so our schedule goes, we had a test yesterday, and then a field trip today. Our first stop this morning, leaving at 8:30am, in which I thought Caroline was seriously going to leave me because I got up to shower this morning and definitely ran down the huge hill with her for the bus...and were there before any of the teachers, but our stop was at the Agricultural High School here in Cortona (which is a lot bigger region than I thought it was). But our stop there was so interesting. No one at the school spoke any English, so everywhere we went we had to have a translator. The first part of our day was spent in the high school's computer room where the Vice Principle and two students gave us a presentation about an eco-friendly winery that they will be planting on the school grounds here in the next year, and a second presentation about a GPS system that will help winemakers know where to dump chemical wastes, and something else about knowing where certain things can go and can't go in the field.
The school is enormous. It sits on like 600 acres I believe. And it's so weird to hear them call it their high school because the kids are just hanging out outside, smoking a cigarette, and listening to American pop music. And the land is gorgeous. The best part - the school's areas of study are all agricultural based, with viticulture and winemaking, restaurant and hotel management, and culinary skills. The school actually has it's own wine making and barreling facility. Ha, thinking of Wesleyan having a vineyard and winery on campus just makes me laugh. But we got a tour of their "winery" where they crush and ferment their grapes, and then bottle and store them. It was crazy to actually see all the work that really goes into making a wine in person. And seeing actual wine barrels storing wine, so crazy. The smells were so amazing, and I could have stayed there forever. Until they told us that the culinary student's lunch they prepared for us was ready...
So we walked into one of their buildings, which they use for educational purposes, and they had set up an appetizer and wine tasting for our group. These students were like 14 and 16 years old, in their first years of restaurant management, and were practicing how to serve wine and serve appetizers to use. I can't complain at all. In addition we got to actually taste some of the wine that we had just seen in the winery being bottled. For enjoyment, the school makes a sparking wine that apparently isn't very easy to make, but is so enjoyable, that they do it anyways. And when we sat down for lunch, we all knew we were in trouble when we looked at the three course menu, and there was so much food about to come out, along with three more wines. Wasn't sure how we were going to survive after we had trampled through their vineyards for an hour previous to lunch. But I got so excited to see lasagna. I was ready to challenge theirs to my spinach and sausage lasagna that I've enjoyed making...these first year culinary students showed me up. The lasagna was so good. And you want to keep eating it because it is so good, but you also know that there is so much more food coming. And I would really love to not explode. But then they brought a strip steak looking meat over a salad and cherry tomatoes and roasted potatoes. I have never seen such amazing looking food, and the few bites I took because I was already donezo from the lasagna, were so delicious. So when I heard it was just pineapple for dessert I was excited I wasn't going to have to miss out on some delicious dessert if I didn't have any, until this boat shaped looking 1/4 of a pineapple came out, sliced and drizzled with what looked like strawberry daiquiri, and I knew I was going to feel my lunch for the next two days. This pineapple dessert was so amazing. They had cut them in fourths, and then sliced pieces of the pineapple and positioned them to make the fourth to look like a boat with seats and sprinkled it with a strawberry daiquiri topping. First year high school students made this....
Not to mention the wine. But I can't even describe in any details after that lunch.
So we all piled back on the bus after lunch, and I think almost every person on the bus was laying in their seats, asleep and holding their stomachs hoping it wouldn't explode because we all ate way too much of this amazing food. You just couldn't stop it was so good. Thank you Chris for waking us up after what felt like two minutes laying down. But we made a quick bus trip down the road to a local winery.
Caroline Collins and I decided we would hike the short trip from where the bus left us off to the winery versus taking rides from the little shuttles because we felt we needed some air. And as I walked up towards this amazing winery, I couldn't help but feel like I was so out of place. This place was one of the most gorgeous places I have ever witnessed. This guy that greeted us and took us around his winery, was the only heir of his families winery business at the winery, and all the girls couldn't help but swoon over him. He owns and operates what we heard was maybe the 6th most sought out resorts in all of Italy. Dear future husband, I found our honeymoon destination. It's apparently 600 euros a night to stay, but it would be worth every single penny. This place was decorated with gorgeous flowers, and this crystal clear blue pool that I wandered over to by myself. Then in addition, this guy makes his own wine there on site. And he took us to all his wine making facilities. And at the end of the tour he goes, "ugh, all this has made me thirsty, let's go drink." He took us to the canopy deck decorated with flowers and crystal wine glasses all around, and had us taste three of his personal wines that he had harvested and bottled. What an experience to sit looking up to Cortona, in the sun, with an Italian winemaker and winery owner, as he describes his favorite white, sparkling, and red wine to each of us as his butler pours us another glass. Claire accidently broke hers, and he could have cared less. He was just enjoying our company as we still all tried to pick our jaws up off the ground. I'm still in awe thinking about it.
But honestly the coolest part of my day had to be when he asked if he could have a couple of volunteers to help him open his wines. Me, thinking...when will I ever be in Cortona, or even in this incredible winery and resort again, volunteers to help out. So out he pulls a massive machete and his sparkling sangiovese wine (the only ever made in the entire world). And he proceeds to tell that I have to take the machete and slice the top of and he would then serve it to everyone...ha. I was thinking, what did I get myself into, and he demonstrates how to hold the bottle and how to chop the top by sliding the machete down the bottle and hitting the lip of the bottle, and then telling me to wait and then hold the bottle upright. So he handed the bottle over to me, and I think about the time that I counted to two, my eyes were already closed, and I slid the knife down the bottle with probably too much force, and all I remember was laughing and screaming when I heard the top pop off and there's sparkling wine everywhere...because expert me dropped the bottle. Way to go. It was so hard to remember everything I was supposed to do without killing myself and everyone standing around taking pictures, and trying to grasp a huge chilled bottle upside down. But he told me I could still be hired. Done. To all those back home, when I'm not on the plane next Wednesday, it's because I'm machete-ing sparkling wine bottles in Cortona at one of the most famous and beautiful resorts I've seen. The two girls after me who tried couldn't get the top to pop, so at least I was proud that I did that. And I feel like I wasted a perfectly good bottle of wine spraying everyone, but literally, what an amazing adrenaline rush. I think Caroline caught a good picture of it. And I have my bottle top that I sliced...with a machete.
Made best friends with the winery owner. He came over and sat at our table after we had finished our wines, and asked if we wanted to see his falcon? Ha, yea. So his pet falcon, where the the resort gets its named, was just chilling on it's stoop right near our walkway. So he walks up to it and it tries to fly at him, and luckily she's got a leash tied to her foot. Apparently she's moody because the seasons are changing. And I wanted to turn to Caroline and be like, you wouldn't have to even pay me to sit on that stoop and watch the seasons change, if I could stay at that place forever. That falcon has the best job. She needs an attitude adjustment. But we went back to our canopy to enjoy some company, and the owner tells me he's so tired. So in apologizing for wearing him out, he tells our table that he's tired because he hosted a party for over 3000 people the night before. Ha, yea buddy, you can be tired. Perfectly legit excuse. Come to find out, he had his club opening last night. And then tries to tell me where it is off some exit near the city. No idea what he was trying to tell me - my Italian navigation skills were slightly hindered and not a top notch at the time - but I got to work on it, because he invited us next weekend to his club La Vista. VIP treatment and all. Thank you professor Frank for adding that we have our third exam the saturday morning after. But I'm feeling like again, you're only in Cortona once. And the girls are so excited about going to a real club, and VIP treatment. After today, I can't even begin to envision what a VIP treatment would feel like. I felt like I should have paid over 300 euros for what I got to do today. I can not believe that happened.
As the day was closing, we all had to say goodbye. So all the girls lined up, and we got our customary Italian double cheek kiss by the owner (who I'm not even going to attempt to guess at his name, but I got his card, so I'll figure it out later, but I don't want to completely butcher it), and we went on our way back to the bus.
I could have sit there all day. I have never felt so at ease and so happy in such a long time. There wasn't a thing on my mind but how lucky and amazing what I was experiencing was. Our bottle of wine from the night before when Caroline, Claire, Caroline C, Katie, and April and I all went to dinner said it right:
Two things in life are always sincere: Friends and Wine
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Monday May 17
Monday
I hate that I’ve gotten so far behind on my blog. But there is such little time to really sit down and write about everything that happens. By the time I make it back to my room at night, I’m dead. Sona morta.
But Monday was Caroline’s Birthday eve. Not that any great thing happens on a birthday eve, but I was determined to make Caroline’s 21st the best birthday she’s had. And with that comes multiple days of celebration. But once again, it was raining. That’s what, like 7 straight days of rain. I feel like I’m living in Seattle. Where it’s cold and rainy, and now windy every day. However, I’ve been told the weather is going to get better. I’m holding my breath.
So right after lecture on Monday, Caroline and I headed down the hill to the square to grab a quick lunch. We’ve tried so many different lunch spots since we’ve been here, but have totally settled on Bar 500. Somewhat disappointing because it is so touristy in that the waiters all pretty much speak English and the music played is all American, but the food and drinks are beyond good. They serve over like twenty different combinations of coffee, espressos, lattes, cappuccinos. You name it, they’ll make it. But the best part is their fresh sandwich they make. They have all these different flavored foccacia breads – sunflower seeds, artichoke, roasted tomato – and then they make different combinations of sandwiches – like tomato and mozzarella and sprouts, turkey and brie, ham and this mustard pesto sauce and cheese – all of which they make fresh and then put on display for you to pick out. I am absolutely addicted to the artichoke foccacia bread with the tomato, mozzarella, and sprout sandwich. And then to top it off, they make it a panini, and put it on a panini press and warm it up for you. All for the reasonable price of 4 euros. Nothing compares to a toasted panini and a Coke Zero while sitting in the square watching the towns people coming out for lunch.
Monday was also our group picture. So all the science kids and our viticulture group gathered with all our professors, translators, and random other group members on the set of stairs that leads up to the city hall-ish building for the town. I want a copy. Katie, April, Caroline and I all gathered at the top and sat with Dr Brannen as the rain started to fall. How typical that it would start to rain. So they snapped a couple pictures and then we grabbed our rain jackets and rain inside Molesini’s grocery.
Marco, who did our first complimentary wine tasting with the science kids the first night we got here, owns the local wine shop and grocery store. He’s such a cool guy. He is your classic Mario looking Italian, and he loves our group. And the best part, he hosts weekly free wine tastings in the town center for the entire town. He could not be any nicer and more in love with wine. Plus he supplies all our food and wine for our daily wine tastings. He just pops out of no where when you’re least expecting it and says “ciao”. So Caroline went and got some Nutella from Marcro’s grocery store. Thank goodness for that grocery store, and Caroline’s ingenious purchase.
But props to Marco for Monday’s wine tasting. Our theme of the day was white wines from North Italy. They were amazing. Already being a white wine fan, most of the wines we tasted were blends, and included some type of Chardonnay. I put some of those in my blog. They were so well flavored and full bodied, and to make things even more amazing, it had the best cheese pairing and Caroline demolished the Salmon that came with it. But we decided, one of the first meals we want when we get back is sushi.
So for Caroline’s birthday eve we decided to go chill at Lions Well for most of the evening. Patrick, the vagabond that showed up at our school almost five days ago. He was awesome. His story, which is so even more awesome, goes something along the lines of he was going to be studying in Cortona starting in June, so he decided to fly over about a month early, and was going to drop his stuff off in Cortona that he would need for th rest of the summer, and then take his bike and a 23 hour train ride to Amsterdam to take a 25 day cycling trip from Amsterdam to Cortona. His bike never showed up. So for like four days he just somewhat hung out with our group. Pretty cool story. His bike arrived today, so he celebrated his last night/Caroline’s birthday eve with us Monday.
Probably some of the most memorable moments and it is so humorous to be sitting in class the next day, and Caroline or I will just start laughing, and look at each other, and pretty much just know....
I hate that I’ve gotten so far behind on my blog. But there is such little time to really sit down and write about everything that happens. By the time I make it back to my room at night, I’m dead. Sona morta.
But Monday was Caroline’s Birthday eve. Not that any great thing happens on a birthday eve, but I was determined to make Caroline’s 21st the best birthday she’s had. And with that comes multiple days of celebration. But once again, it was raining. That’s what, like 7 straight days of rain. I feel like I’m living in Seattle. Where it’s cold and rainy, and now windy every day. However, I’ve been told the weather is going to get better. I’m holding my breath.
So right after lecture on Monday, Caroline and I headed down the hill to the square to grab a quick lunch. We’ve tried so many different lunch spots since we’ve been here, but have totally settled on Bar 500. Somewhat disappointing because it is so touristy in that the waiters all pretty much speak English and the music played is all American, but the food and drinks are beyond good. They serve over like twenty different combinations of coffee, espressos, lattes, cappuccinos. You name it, they’ll make it. But the best part is their fresh sandwich they make. They have all these different flavored foccacia breads – sunflower seeds, artichoke, roasted tomato – and then they make different combinations of sandwiches – like tomato and mozzarella and sprouts, turkey and brie, ham and this mustard pesto sauce and cheese – all of which they make fresh and then put on display for you to pick out. I am absolutely addicted to the artichoke foccacia bread with the tomato, mozzarella, and sprout sandwich. And then to top it off, they make it a panini, and put it on a panini press and warm it up for you. All for the reasonable price of 4 euros. Nothing compares to a toasted panini and a Coke Zero while sitting in the square watching the towns people coming out for lunch.
Monday was also our group picture. So all the science kids and our viticulture group gathered with all our professors, translators, and random other group members on the set of stairs that leads up to the city hall-ish building for the town. I want a copy. Katie, April, Caroline and I all gathered at the top and sat with Dr Brannen as the rain started to fall. How typical that it would start to rain. So they snapped a couple pictures and then we grabbed our rain jackets and rain inside Molesini’s grocery.
Marco, who did our first complimentary wine tasting with the science kids the first night we got here, owns the local wine shop and grocery store. He’s such a cool guy. He is your classic Mario looking Italian, and he loves our group. And the best part, he hosts weekly free wine tastings in the town center for the entire town. He could not be any nicer and more in love with wine. Plus he supplies all our food and wine for our daily wine tastings. He just pops out of no where when you’re least expecting it and says “ciao”. So Caroline went and got some Nutella from Marcro’s grocery store. Thank goodness for that grocery store, and Caroline’s ingenious purchase.
But props to Marco for Monday’s wine tasting. Our theme of the day was white wines from North Italy. They were amazing. Already being a white wine fan, most of the wines we tasted were blends, and included some type of Chardonnay. I put some of those in my blog. They were so well flavored and full bodied, and to make things even more amazing, it had the best cheese pairing and Caroline demolished the Salmon that came with it. But we decided, one of the first meals we want when we get back is sushi.
So for Caroline’s birthday eve we decided to go chill at Lions Well for most of the evening. Patrick, the vagabond that showed up at our school almost five days ago. He was awesome. His story, which is so even more awesome, goes something along the lines of he was going to be studying in Cortona starting in June, so he decided to fly over about a month early, and was going to drop his stuff off in Cortona that he would need for th rest of the summer, and then take his bike and a 23 hour train ride to Amsterdam to take a 25 day cycling trip from Amsterdam to Cortona. His bike never showed up. So for like four days he just somewhat hung out with our group. Pretty cool story. His bike arrived today, so he celebrated his last night/Caroline’s birthday eve with us Monday.
Probably some of the most memorable moments and it is so humorous to be sitting in class the next day, and Caroline or I will just start laughing, and look at each other, and pretty much just know....
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Favorite White Wines Tasted
. Cabreo La Pietra, produced by Folonair, Vintage 2007
Complex, moderately intense aroma, with oak, butter, vanilla
Full bodied and lengthy finish, with woody, buttery, and layered taste
Pair with gorgonzola cheese, intense flavored grilled fish with sauce
. Guerrieri Rizzardi "Costeggiola", produced by Guerrieri Rizzardi, Vintage 2008, Chardonnay and Garganega blend
Fruity, caramel, apple, white peach and almond aroma, moderately intense, fruit, and butter
Smooth and very well balanced, not crisp with a slight nut taste, moderate finish
Pair with Italian delicacies and seafood
. Broy Chardonnay blend, produced by Eugenio Collavini in Collio, Vintage 2006
Very complex aroma, with butter, honey, and vanilla, peach and melon, fruit
Rich, balanced oak, and honey taste with a long finish and smooth non tangy
Pair chilled with appetizers and room temperature with warm chicken or grilled fish
- Wine Journal wines tasted: 23
Complex, moderately intense aroma, with oak, butter, vanilla
Full bodied and lengthy finish, with woody, buttery, and layered taste
Pair with gorgonzola cheese, intense flavored grilled fish with sauce
. Guerrieri Rizzardi "Costeggiola", produced by Guerrieri Rizzardi, Vintage 2008, Chardonnay and Garganega blend
Fruity, caramel, apple, white peach and almond aroma, moderately intense, fruit, and butter
Smooth and very well balanced, not crisp with a slight nut taste, moderate finish
Pair with Italian delicacies and seafood
. Broy Chardonnay blend, produced by Eugenio Collavini in Collio, Vintage 2006
Very complex aroma, with butter, honey, and vanilla, peach and melon, fruit
Rich, balanced oak, and honey taste with a long finish and smooth non tangy
Pair chilled with appetizers and room temperature with warm chicken or grilled fish
- Wine Journal wines tasted: 23
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Post To Do's
1. My time with Joyce (this may be a long one, there is so much to say)
2. The wines we've tasted, their flavors and ideal pairings, and my ratings
3. My letter "to you"
4. Updated Bucket List...Italian Style
5. Monday's small adventures and Caroline's Birthday eve
2. The wines we've tasted, their flavors and ideal pairings, and my ratings
3. My letter "to you"
4. Updated Bucket List...Italian Style
5. Monday's small adventures and Caroline's Birthday eve
The Bucklet List...Italian Style
1. Ride on a vespa
2. Stomp grapes with my feet
3. Visit the cemetery located just outside the Cortona gates
4. Walk all the way around the city
5. Have a conversation with someone who doesn't speak any English
6. Buy wine from Marco
7. Hike up to the top Cathedral and have a picnic lunch
8. Run up the diavolo hill
9. Eat a homemade Italian meal
10. Witness true Italian love
11. Write a "to you" letter
12. Find the secret bakery
13. Travel outside Cortona by myself
14. Give a wine a 5 Star rating
15. Convince someone to stay for the rest of the summer and live it up for me
16. See the Italian coast
17. ...
To be continued.
2. Stomp grapes with my feet
3. Visit the cemetery located just outside the Cortona gates
4. Walk all the way around the city
5. Have a conversation with someone who doesn't speak any English
6. Buy wine from Marco
7. Hike up to the top Cathedral and have a picnic lunch
8. Run up the diavolo hill
9. Eat a homemade Italian meal
10. Witness true Italian love
11. Write a "to you" letter
12. Find the secret bakery
13. Travel outside Cortona by myself
14. Give a wine a 5 Star rating
15. Convince someone to stay for the rest of the summer and live it up for me
16. See the Italian coast
17. ...
To be continued.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Saturday May 15 - Arezzo
Absolutely the most amazing day that I have had so far. Words can not even explain how incredibly crazy today was. My bus ride was quite the success. And I figured when the bus pulled over in a town square and even the bus driver got off, that it might be time to get off the bus. I got dropped off in this small town, at the intersection of two huge streets. So standing in the middle, I basically had four options to take. I had to meet Joyce at a café outside of a church, so I figured I might head towards this chapel looking point that I saw up on the hill. I have to say, I navigate Italy a lot better than I have ever navigated in Georgia. Literally up the hill ten minutes later, I find the café where I’m supposed to be…only problem is, I’m two and half hours early. So I start to wander around. I come across some old churches and buildings and wander outside the city gate and then back in. And then I notice this big church where there seems to be somewhat of busy people running around. The front two massive wooden doors are open and there are men in tuxedos and corsages and a picture man somewhat standing at the doors greeting people, so I kinda sneak it to figure out what’s going on. And the most amazing thing, there was a wedding about to start, in this huge church, in Arezzo. So I snuck my way into the crowd lining the aisle, and sure enough, a few minutes later the wedding procession all stood, and the bride walked through the two opened wooden doors (under a bright blue umbrella because it has not stopped raining for 3 days straight). She looked beautiful and I watched this amazing bride and her father walk down the aisle and watched and listened to their Italian wedding, almost like I knew the family. As amazing as all the architecture is here, this was probably the most breathtaking part of my trip. I couldn’t stop smiling, thinking that I had traveled, by myself, in Italy, and was witnessing the most amazing Italian wedding, inside this incredibly overwhelming Cathedral. What a feeling, it’s so indescribable. I really wish I could also describe the multiple other places I saw, and their incredible architecture, but I really saw so much just by wondering around, that it was so hard to remember to what I’d seen and what I hadn’t.
After the wedding, I decided I wanted to see what else I could discover. Maybe not the best idea, considering I had no map and no way of communicating. I truly wandered too far and ended up getting lost for about 25 minutes trying to find anything that I had recognized to get back to my little café. I learned my lesson to not travel alone without an umbrella because men will walk up to you and cover you with their umbrella and ask something….not sure what, my Italian hasn’t gotten to that language yet.
I ended up calling Joyce when I finally found my way back and discovered she was still over an hour away. So I found myself wandering over one more street in the other direction, and I hit the jackpot. It was basically shopping heaven. An Italian street lined with incredible Italian designer clothes. Granted all the kids from high school were running around in their umbrellas, but the clothing stores were beautiful. I found a Zara at the very end, and about that time I heard from Joyce and after a little misunderstanding, I was able to finally meet this incredible woman who opened her home to me for the weekend. She did take me by this old building, and on the outside were these three rows of multiple, multiple columns. And as she was talking about it, she told me that when the building was being built, that the building had asked all different artists to each design and sculpt one column on the side of the building. And remarkably enough, all one hundred plus of the columns were all different in size. Joyce then asked me to pick out my favorite one, and my initial thought is that it was going to take forever to stare at these columns looking up into the sun, but in a split second my eye was caught by these simple column with the ‘forever knot” on it. And immediately I told Joyce that was my favorite, and preceded to show her my James Avery ring that also has the “forever knot” on it. In essence the ring is one never-ending line, tied in a knot, representing the never-ending idea of love. She was amazed by my ring and told me that those who find the knot their favorite are tied in their roots and have a strong background and therefore a strong standing in life. I couldn’t have asked for a better description of my life.
It was crazy to think that for five hours today, I walked around a small town in Italy by myself, and trying to blend in, and I managed to do quite well for myself. And like Joyce said, it’s hard to find an unattractive Italian man, so I knew that I was never without an umbrella or directions if I had really needed them… but doing it alone, was awesome.
After the wedding, I decided I wanted to see what else I could discover. Maybe not the best idea, considering I had no map and no way of communicating. I truly wandered too far and ended up getting lost for about 25 minutes trying to find anything that I had recognized to get back to my little café. I learned my lesson to not travel alone without an umbrella because men will walk up to you and cover you with their umbrella and ask something….not sure what, my Italian hasn’t gotten to that language yet.
I ended up calling Joyce when I finally found my way back and discovered she was still over an hour away. So I found myself wandering over one more street in the other direction, and I hit the jackpot. It was basically shopping heaven. An Italian street lined with incredible Italian designer clothes. Granted all the kids from high school were running around in their umbrellas, but the clothing stores were beautiful. I found a Zara at the very end, and about that time I heard from Joyce and after a little misunderstanding, I was able to finally meet this incredible woman who opened her home to me for the weekend. She did take me by this old building, and on the outside were these three rows of multiple, multiple columns. And as she was talking about it, she told me that when the building was being built, that the building had asked all different artists to each design and sculpt one column on the side of the building. And remarkably enough, all one hundred plus of the columns were all different in size. Joyce then asked me to pick out my favorite one, and my initial thought is that it was going to take forever to stare at these columns looking up into the sun, but in a split second my eye was caught by these simple column with the ‘forever knot” on it. And immediately I told Joyce that was my favorite, and preceded to show her my James Avery ring that also has the “forever knot” on it. In essence the ring is one never-ending line, tied in a knot, representing the never-ending idea of love. She was amazed by my ring and told me that those who find the knot their favorite are tied in their roots and have a strong background and therefore a strong standing in life. I couldn’t have asked for a better description of my life.
It was crazy to think that for five hours today, I walked around a small town in Italy by myself, and trying to blend in, and I managed to do quite well for myself. And like Joyce said, it’s hard to find an unattractive Italian man, so I knew that I was never without an umbrella or directions if I had really needed them… but doing it alone, was awesome.
Saturday May 15 - Bus Ride to Arezzo...
I just got on a bus by myself to Arrezo. What was I thinking? Not going to lie, I have never been so intimidated in my life. I basically have my North Face backpack, Kavu slingback, my Columbia rain jacket layered over my black Patagonia and my chacos on…if I wanted to blend, I failed miserably. Plus I have my hair in a messy ponytail. Being a convinving Italian was a huge fail. I basically packed my backpack with my computer and a quick change of clothes and a Coke zero and cliff bar, and hopped on a blue bus that said Arezzo. Thank God for Caroline who waited with me at the bus stop. I might have died. I literally loaded the bus with like 25 Italian kids. They’re all sitting in a group behind me laughing. Kinda oonvinced I must be a part of their conversation. Probably thinking who actually wears that stuff…but right back at you girl with white skinny jeans and a baby pink hello kitty packpack and bright purple cropped jacket….
Our bus just stopped at this small loop through and luckily most of them got off. Now I say luckily because I was feeling really intimidated, but I sure hope that wasn’t where I was supposed to get off or switch buses. For the mean time, I’m thinking not.
It’s been such a damper that it has rained every day since we arrived in Cortona. And there really is not such thing as a rain jacket to these people, so they walk through their small alleys with these big umbrellas, and I feel like I have to dodge a poke to my eye every time I walk by someone.
But the ride to Arezzo has been doable. I saw what looked to be a water park down the hill. We’d seen lights of a Ferris Wheel at night when Caroline and I are sitting outside of Tonino’s (the restaurant that cooks dinner for UGA at night) drinking a bottle of wine and reliving our favorite memories of the day or questioning people with “have you ever been in love…?” to get in deep with some of the others on the trip with us (it’s such a great conversation starter….you’d be surprised where the conversation ends). But I would have to pass on the fair after my bad experience on the fast spinning, center gravity force thing that nearly destroyed my stomach last year at camp. The sight of a Ferris wheel might make me lose it.
But I’m starting to pick up on the people on the bus. I really think they’re like normal high schoolers who took the day to spend in Cortona. They must have not had school and they travel in little groups on a day trip. It’s actually really fun sounding. It would be like asking someone if they wanted to go to Lenox for the day….only you’re in Italy, and it’s much cooler. And we’ve maybe stopped like 5 times on the way, and all but one of the kids got off. She’s sitting at the front of the bus occasionally glancing back at me. And now there’s two older people on the front of the bus too….and that’s it. But the lady at the tourist office told me it would take about an hour to get to Arezzo, so I’m just chilling until I get there. The last girl just got off. They all kinda live within one or two bus stops from each other and must meet up and take the bus to wherever they want to go.
I had to buy a bus ticket for 3 euros. But I still don’t exactly know how the bus system works, and I didn’t show it to anyone. I think that you’re supposed to “validate’ the ticket when you get on, and from what I heard, you can get fined 50 euros for traveling without a validated ticket. So let’s hope that doesn’t happen…but I’m totally going to play dumb American if it does. I think I could be pretty successful at that.
I’m pretty excited about finally meeting my parents’ friend Joyce. She’s the reason I’m making this solo journey to Arezzo on a rainy Saturday, when in any other circumstance, I would have stayed in bed all day. My parents met her years ago when they rented her house to stay in when they were visiting Italy. She and I have emailed since I arrived in Cortona, and we made a game plan for the day. She was going to pick me up from the train station, but because she was at her coastal home finishing up some renovations, she said she wouldn’t be back til maybe around 5. This was the last bus out of Cortona, so I’m flying solo in Arezzo when I get there. She recommended some rain shelter locations for me, and then I’ve got to meet her at a café at the Piazza san Francesco. I’ve really only been on one blind date, and this feels so much more intimidating.
I got 8 miles to Arezzo…definitely about to do a major Italian cram sessh....
Wish me luck and let’s hope my Italian doesn’t make me an even more dead give away.
Our bus just stopped at this small loop through and luckily most of them got off. Now I say luckily because I was feeling really intimidated, but I sure hope that wasn’t where I was supposed to get off or switch buses. For the mean time, I’m thinking not.
It’s been such a damper that it has rained every day since we arrived in Cortona. And there really is not such thing as a rain jacket to these people, so they walk through their small alleys with these big umbrellas, and I feel like I have to dodge a poke to my eye every time I walk by someone.
But the ride to Arezzo has been doable. I saw what looked to be a water park down the hill. We’d seen lights of a Ferris Wheel at night when Caroline and I are sitting outside of Tonino’s (the restaurant that cooks dinner for UGA at night) drinking a bottle of wine and reliving our favorite memories of the day or questioning people with “have you ever been in love…?” to get in deep with some of the others on the trip with us (it’s such a great conversation starter….you’d be surprised where the conversation ends). But I would have to pass on the fair after my bad experience on the fast spinning, center gravity force thing that nearly destroyed my stomach last year at camp. The sight of a Ferris wheel might make me lose it.
But I’m starting to pick up on the people on the bus. I really think they’re like normal high schoolers who took the day to spend in Cortona. They must have not had school and they travel in little groups on a day trip. It’s actually really fun sounding. It would be like asking someone if they wanted to go to Lenox for the day….only you’re in Italy, and it’s much cooler. And we’ve maybe stopped like 5 times on the way, and all but one of the kids got off. She’s sitting at the front of the bus occasionally glancing back at me. And now there’s two older people on the front of the bus too….and that’s it. But the lady at the tourist office told me it would take about an hour to get to Arezzo, so I’m just chilling until I get there. The last girl just got off. They all kinda live within one or two bus stops from each other and must meet up and take the bus to wherever they want to go.
I had to buy a bus ticket for 3 euros. But I still don’t exactly know how the bus system works, and I didn’t show it to anyone. I think that you’re supposed to “validate’ the ticket when you get on, and from what I heard, you can get fined 50 euros for traveling without a validated ticket. So let’s hope that doesn’t happen…but I’m totally going to play dumb American if it does. I think I could be pretty successful at that.
I’m pretty excited about finally meeting my parents’ friend Joyce. She’s the reason I’m making this solo journey to Arezzo on a rainy Saturday, when in any other circumstance, I would have stayed in bed all day. My parents met her years ago when they rented her house to stay in when they were visiting Italy. She and I have emailed since I arrived in Cortona, and we made a game plan for the day. She was going to pick me up from the train station, but because she was at her coastal home finishing up some renovations, she said she wouldn’t be back til maybe around 5. This was the last bus out of Cortona, so I’m flying solo in Arezzo when I get there. She recommended some rain shelter locations for me, and then I’ve got to meet her at a café at the Piazza san Francesco. I’ve really only been on one blind date, and this feels so much more intimidating.
I got 8 miles to Arezzo…definitely about to do a major Italian cram sessh....
Wish me luck and let’s hope my Italian doesn’t make me an even more dead give away.
Friday May 14 - Assisi
In finishing my blog from Friday, I don’t think it could have rained any more while I’ve been here. Assisi was a downpour, but absolutely beautiful. But as I describe everything as quaint, looking up at Assisi, it was not quaint. The bus took us through this town with this pretty good sized church with a gold statue outside. And we pull over for a “check point” and I’m thinking that this is Basiilica San Francesco (St. Francis). But we keep driving and as I look up the hill, there is this enormous town of hugely grand buildings. And at one end of the town is this enormous almost castile looking building…
I was so wrong. The little gold statute building didn’t even compare to the real Basilica. We got dropped at one end of Assisi in the pouring rain and as we made our way into the city, me and some of the girls stopped for lunch. It took probably 2 hours (30 minutes plus of that was waiting for the lady to take our order…again, no sense of urgency). And then we walked through the rain and took pictures of the little town of Assisi (which I put on Facebook with some pictures from our school and Rome).
But when we got to the other end where Basilica of St. Francis was, I was blown away. This building is incredible. And there is so much history and ancient artifacts that I didn’t even know where to start. The frescoes on the wall start at the top with the Old Testament series, under it the New Testament series, and then at the bottom, story of St. Francis. The Cathedral was huge and immaculate. Nothing like I’d seen before. Sadly a lot of the frescoes were damaged by an earthquake that hit not too terribly long ago, maybe 20 or 30 years, and the paintings weren’t able to be restored. But still, what an amazing building to be standing in.
The bus ride home was spent reviewing for my test, and so was the night before. I sometimes forget, when in Cortona….you still have to study.
I was so wrong. The little gold statute building didn’t even compare to the real Basilica. We got dropped at one end of Assisi in the pouring rain and as we made our way into the city, me and some of the girls stopped for lunch. It took probably 2 hours (30 minutes plus of that was waiting for the lady to take our order…again, no sense of urgency). And then we walked through the rain and took pictures of the little town of Assisi (which I put on Facebook with some pictures from our school and Rome).
But when we got to the other end where Basilica of St. Francis was, I was blown away. This building is incredible. And there is so much history and ancient artifacts that I didn’t even know where to start. The frescoes on the wall start at the top with the Old Testament series, under it the New Testament series, and then at the bottom, story of St. Francis. The Cathedral was huge and immaculate. Nothing like I’d seen before. Sadly a lot of the frescoes were damaged by an earthquake that hit not too terribly long ago, maybe 20 or 30 years, and the paintings weren’t able to be restored. But still, what an amazing building to be standing in.
The bus ride home was spent reviewing for my test, and so was the night before. I sometimes forget, when in Cortona….you still have to study.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Friday May 14 - Tiorgiamo
I honestly cannot remember the last time I went on a school field trip. Maybe middle school, eighth grade to some museum that probably didn't fascinate me in the slightest bit. But today was great. Caroline and I made plans to wake up a few minutes early and head to the local fruit shop in town before embarking on our day, so we did that first thing Friday morning. I would love living here if it meant that I could do that every morning. They have some of the best fruit, including pink melon apples, kiwi, plums (pretty much any fruit), plus the best...slightly brown speckled bananas. None of this green, unripe stuff. I've gotta go back on Monday and stock up...yogurt and cereal wasn't doing anymore for breakfast.
But our bus first stopped in Tiorgiamo at a wine museum. But rewind, as we're riding our of Cortona to this little city, we passed a Harley Davidson store. Huge showroom building just chilling on the side of the rode in Italy. But when we got to Tiorgiamo, we had a few minutes to wander around and take in the small city. And all the toilets in Italy I've noticed are different. The ones in the airport don't have toilet seats, and the ones at our restaurant have two side by side buttons you push to flush (ones bigger than the other...you can figure out why), and then our bathroom has a almost the back portion of an American toilet almost upside down with a silver notch you push up to flush. So strange. But I had to laugh when we were in Tiorgiamo because it added a new addition to my list of toilets, with a silver chain pulled to flush from the ceiling. Ha, took me a while to find it...and then can't tell you about Assisi because they wanted .50E for a bathroom use...not happening.
But the wine museum was interesting...in addition to our German tour guide lady. Weird, you'd think they'd hire a native. But the best part of the museum was this section where they had all these different kinds of cups and glasses that were used. Most of them were quite normal, but there was this one almost glass looking pitcher, with a handle that where it attached towards the top of the pitcher, had a tube down into the bottom inside. And then around the rim there was this crown looking design with holes underneath any part of the drinking lip. And I'm sitting there going, there's no successful way anyone can drink out of this jar. Well come to find out, the jar was used back in the day at social parties where there might be parties. And the when the jar was filled with wine, you weren't able to see the tube inside. The trick, known only to the parents, was to suck through a small hole in the handle that would pull wine from the tube on the inside.... A child-proof wine pitcher. How creative.
Caroline and I signed the guest book. If you ever make it, look us up!
Rainiest day ever in Assisi...post to come.
But our bus first stopped in Tiorgiamo at a wine museum. But rewind, as we're riding our of Cortona to this little city, we passed a Harley Davidson store. Huge showroom building just chilling on the side of the rode in Italy. But when we got to Tiorgiamo, we had a few minutes to wander around and take in the small city. And all the toilets in Italy I've noticed are different. The ones in the airport don't have toilet seats, and the ones at our restaurant have two side by side buttons you push to flush (ones bigger than the other...you can figure out why), and then our bathroom has a almost the back portion of an American toilet almost upside down with a silver notch you push up to flush. So strange. But I had to laugh when we were in Tiorgiamo because it added a new addition to my list of toilets, with a silver chain pulled to flush from the ceiling. Ha, took me a while to find it...and then can't tell you about Assisi because they wanted .50E for a bathroom use...not happening.
But the wine museum was interesting...in addition to our German tour guide lady. Weird, you'd think they'd hire a native. But the best part of the museum was this section where they had all these different kinds of cups and glasses that were used. Most of them were quite normal, but there was this one almost glass looking pitcher, with a handle that where it attached towards the top of the pitcher, had a tube down into the bottom inside. And then around the rim there was this crown looking design with holes underneath any part of the drinking lip. And I'm sitting there going, there's no successful way anyone can drink out of this jar. Well come to find out, the jar was used back in the day at social parties where there might be parties. And the when the jar was filled with wine, you weren't able to see the tube inside. The trick, known only to the parents, was to suck through a small hole in the handle that would pull wine from the tube on the inside.... A child-proof wine pitcher. How creative.
Caroline and I signed the guest book. If you ever make it, look us up!
Rainiest day ever in Assisi...post to come.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Thursday May 13
Seriously crazy that it's already Thursday. Going to class this morning I was thinking how it was only our third day of class but that we've actually been here much longer. Time has really already gone by so fast and before you know it I'll miserably be back on a plane to come home.
But class was so long this morning for some reason. I really can't even remember what our first lecture was about...could do in part to me doing other work while he was talking about I think different fungi and diseases. First time I brought my computer. Complete life saver. At least typing up something keeps me awake. For the first hour, it's a struggle. And then it gets a little easier some mornings. But it's a little nerving that we have our first exam on Saturday morning...Caroline and I desperately need to study.
Spent the afternoon around the dorms. Did some catching up and took some pictures around the garden. We have lab in about an hour. Today we're tasting international red wines. And Caroline and I planned accordingly to not go to lunch because you really do have to eat when tasting in the afternoon around four, and then again at dinner.
Four or five people from our group and Daniel came and hung out in our room after they went and had lunch. It was so beautiful out (though still a little cold to my liking...I've gone through all my pairs of jeans already that I brought, and not a pair of shorts or a skirt yet) and with our doors open, and the sun finally shinning, it was amazing. Complete perfection.
After our class tasting, there's a free wine tasting in the city that we're going to go check out. I can't wait to see if the people of Cortona really do enjoy doing wine tastings. I'm going to look to professional with my black wine journal. Or just really stand out.
And then after dinner we have a modern dance performance that a lot of us are going to check out. Not sure what to expect there - from the look of the posters we've seen around town, should be pretty interesting.
We have our first field trip tomorrow. So pumped. We're off to a wine and oil museum in Assisi I believe. It will be nice to get to do some things outside of Cortona.
Please tell me I'll get to stomp grapes with my bare feet....
But class was so long this morning for some reason. I really can't even remember what our first lecture was about...could do in part to me doing other work while he was talking about I think different fungi and diseases. First time I brought my computer. Complete life saver. At least typing up something keeps me awake. For the first hour, it's a struggle. And then it gets a little easier some mornings. But it's a little nerving that we have our first exam on Saturday morning...Caroline and I desperately need to study.
Spent the afternoon around the dorms. Did some catching up and took some pictures around the garden. We have lab in about an hour. Today we're tasting international red wines. And Caroline and I planned accordingly to not go to lunch because you really do have to eat when tasting in the afternoon around four, and then again at dinner.
Four or five people from our group and Daniel came and hung out in our room after they went and had lunch. It was so beautiful out (though still a little cold to my liking...I've gone through all my pairs of jeans already that I brought, and not a pair of shorts or a skirt yet) and with our doors open, and the sun finally shinning, it was amazing. Complete perfection.
After our class tasting, there's a free wine tasting in the city that we're going to go check out. I can't wait to see if the people of Cortona really do enjoy doing wine tastings. I'm going to look to professional with my black wine journal. Or just really stand out.
And then after dinner we have a modern dance performance that a lot of us are going to check out. Not sure what to expect there - from the look of the posters we've seen around town, should be pretty interesting.
We have our first field trip tomorrow. So pumped. We're off to a wine and oil museum in Assisi I believe. It will be nice to get to do some things outside of Cortona.
Please tell me I'll get to stomp grapes with my bare feet....
Wednesday May 11
Class at 8:30am is not easy. I guess it's nice to train my body to get ready for 7:45 morning exercises, which will be my daily schedule when I return home to camp, but still...my goodness. Thank goodness this week we only have classes tuesday, wednesday, and thursday. Field trip Friday. I feel like I'm back in elementary school, just with wine.
What makes waking up even harder is that the weather outside is real foggy and cold out in the morning because we're so high up on the hill. But you can't beat being able to walk out of your door and walk 90 seconds down the hill to your "classroom" overlooking the small towns below. It makes your morning a little better.
We had a five hour break yesterday between our morning lecture and our afternoon lab, so 6 of us went into town for lunch. We ended up at this little restaurant. It's kinda funny how you have to order and pay for water here, and when I saw an Italian lady next to me drinking a Diet Coke, I had to laugh. But on a massive amount of food note, Caroline and I don't get a pizza without splitting. These so called "personal pizzas" are the size of at least a medium american pizza. We don't even finish half a pizza a piece.
What fascinates me so much about Cortona really is the lifestyle and culture of the people here. So different from my 8 years trying to learn any French and just always feeling like I was butchering the language, they really love when we try to speak Italian. Every time Caroline and I go out we always talk about how to order in Italian and then come show time, huge fail. We resort back English. But I'm definitely getting better, and every time I do try, Italians are so helpful in pronunciation and how to say different words here and there. Around noon, everyone comes out and almost just socializes in the square. They are so free on time and what they are doing. Almost without a care about what's about to happen or where they need to be. When you go to a restaurant for a meal, we didn't realize this, but you almost have to ask for your check. You can have your wallet or money sitting out, and they really are in no rush to get you out. For some reason it sounds almost lazy, but it's not. But you also don't ever see anyone in real workout clothes or anything. Have yet to really see anyone "run" anywhere in Cortona. Except this one man we passed who was running down the alley. But the people of Cortona love their pets. There really are cats everywhere, and its so funny. The word for cat is "gatto" (need to check the spelling on that one), but it's fun to call every cat "gatto". And they love their little dogs. They really are everywhere. So my Italian lesson at dinner consisted of me wondering how I could say "I like your dog" so I don't seem like a dog snatcher when an unleashed dog walks up to you and I start playing with it. It's so true that everything almost shuts down after noon until four. And most places will stay open at night until they feel like it's time to go home or there's no one else around. After 12, they all go take naps and then reopen their stores around 4 or 5. You have to seriously plan accordingly.
Wednesday after lunch we came back to our room to get caught up on Facebook and blogging. It's hard to stay up to date. But Daniel came to visit us in our room. He somehow discovered that the door frame above our open french doors makes a great swinging and pull-up location. We decided we'd test that out later.
We had our first official wine tasting lab at four at the school. The theme of the day was white wine grapes. So we all did the look, smell, taste test for a Riesling, a Sauvignon Blanc, a Pinot Grigio, and a Chardonnay. I'll make a separate blog for the wines I test, but in all honesty, it's not easy. Trying to describe different aromas all of white wines was so crazy. Definitely also a work in progress.
We had our second Italian lesson before dinner. Caroline and I went before hand and had our wine date. We've started going before dinner and enjoying a glass or bottle of wine. We ordered our first rose wine. Not our favorite, especially after I thoroughly enjoyed the Chardonnay we had at our tasting.
Daniel was late for Italian with us. He apologized in Italian and I understood. We worked on directions and how to order certain things and random other Italian phrases. Dinner was vegetable soup instead of pasta for a starter - thank goodness. And then dinner was cheese pizza (good Italian cheese pizza) and chick peas, and salad. Then dessert...this amazing cake with strawberries sprinkled with chocolate. But we've picked up on things being really salty. The beans we had to dinner with chicken seriously tasted just like boiled peanuts. So good.
We spent some time at the restaurant after dinner to finish our wine, and then headed out to Lion's Well, the pub we were at the night before. I love the fact that the name is in true blue English. The owner/main bartender John Lucca is teaching me Italian too. I asked if he would hire me to be a bartender and he told me I started Thursday night at 9, and then went into a full on training lesson on everything behind the bar. Unfortunately I think I'm gonna have to miss my first night's work due to performance we're going to. I hope he doesn't fire me...
What makes waking up even harder is that the weather outside is real foggy and cold out in the morning because we're so high up on the hill. But you can't beat being able to walk out of your door and walk 90 seconds down the hill to your "classroom" overlooking the small towns below. It makes your morning a little better.
We had a five hour break yesterday between our morning lecture and our afternoon lab, so 6 of us went into town for lunch. We ended up at this little restaurant. It's kinda funny how you have to order and pay for water here, and when I saw an Italian lady next to me drinking a Diet Coke, I had to laugh. But on a massive amount of food note, Caroline and I don't get a pizza without splitting. These so called "personal pizzas" are the size of at least a medium american pizza. We don't even finish half a pizza a piece.
What fascinates me so much about Cortona really is the lifestyle and culture of the people here. So different from my 8 years trying to learn any French and just always feeling like I was butchering the language, they really love when we try to speak Italian. Every time Caroline and I go out we always talk about how to order in Italian and then come show time, huge fail. We resort back English. But I'm definitely getting better, and every time I do try, Italians are so helpful in pronunciation and how to say different words here and there. Around noon, everyone comes out and almost just socializes in the square. They are so free on time and what they are doing. Almost without a care about what's about to happen or where they need to be. When you go to a restaurant for a meal, we didn't realize this, but you almost have to ask for your check. You can have your wallet or money sitting out, and they really are in no rush to get you out. For some reason it sounds almost lazy, but it's not. But you also don't ever see anyone in real workout clothes or anything. Have yet to really see anyone "run" anywhere in Cortona. Except this one man we passed who was running down the alley. But the people of Cortona love their pets. There really are cats everywhere, and its so funny. The word for cat is "gatto" (need to check the spelling on that one), but it's fun to call every cat "gatto". And they love their little dogs. They really are everywhere. So my Italian lesson at dinner consisted of me wondering how I could say "I like your dog" so I don't seem like a dog snatcher when an unleashed dog walks up to you and I start playing with it. It's so true that everything almost shuts down after noon until four. And most places will stay open at night until they feel like it's time to go home or there's no one else around. After 12, they all go take naps and then reopen their stores around 4 or 5. You have to seriously plan accordingly.
Wednesday after lunch we came back to our room to get caught up on Facebook and blogging. It's hard to stay up to date. But Daniel came to visit us in our room. He somehow discovered that the door frame above our open french doors makes a great swinging and pull-up location. We decided we'd test that out later.
We had our first official wine tasting lab at four at the school. The theme of the day was white wine grapes. So we all did the look, smell, taste test for a Riesling, a Sauvignon Blanc, a Pinot Grigio, and a Chardonnay. I'll make a separate blog for the wines I test, but in all honesty, it's not easy. Trying to describe different aromas all of white wines was so crazy. Definitely also a work in progress.
We had our second Italian lesson before dinner. Caroline and I went before hand and had our wine date. We've started going before dinner and enjoying a glass or bottle of wine. We ordered our first rose wine. Not our favorite, especially after I thoroughly enjoyed the Chardonnay we had at our tasting.
Daniel was late for Italian with us. He apologized in Italian and I understood. We worked on directions and how to order certain things and random other Italian phrases. Dinner was vegetable soup instead of pasta for a starter - thank goodness. And then dinner was cheese pizza (good Italian cheese pizza) and chick peas, and salad. Then dessert...this amazing cake with strawberries sprinkled with chocolate. But we've picked up on things being really salty. The beans we had to dinner with chicken seriously tasted just like boiled peanuts. So good.
We spent some time at the restaurant after dinner to finish our wine, and then headed out to Lion's Well, the pub we were at the night before. I love the fact that the name is in true blue English. The owner/main bartender John Lucca is teaching me Italian too. I asked if he would hire me to be a bartender and he told me I started Thursday night at 9, and then went into a full on training lesson on everything behind the bar. Unfortunately I think I'm gonna have to miss my first night's work due to performance we're going to. I hope he doesn't fire me...
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Monday May 10 - Rome to Cortona
Rome was not built in a day...so I'm glad we got to spend another day in the city. After our "continental" breakfast (which is mainly just bread and dry cuts and yogurt, although I did have a cappuccino) our entire viticulture group got on our bus and were dropped off right across the river. In walking back across the river on the Ponte Saint Angelo, there were these gorgeous angel statues. Each one of the them represented one of the ten passions of Christ. Five line each side of the bridge leading up to the Castel Saint Angelo. They are so incredibly gorgeous and the details are just beautiful. The castle itself is mainly a brick round building, surrounding by a square wall. The history behind the building had a lot to do with creating a safe grounds to transfer the Pope to and from. It now looks like an walled castle and that there should be a moat around it.
I think the most beautiful thing about Rome is that everyone just walks around the cobblestone streets. And all the little alleys you walk down, there are little windows and vespas, and you turn the corner and there is a little caffe or restaurant with tables and umbrellas and lights. It really is such a quaint place to live. And on our way we passed this couple who was saying goodbye to each other in the morning, and how they said "ciao" and they kissed and the husband walked off to work in his suit and the woman starting walking her dog...it was so Italian and perfect.
But we made our way to the Pantheon- one of my favorite buildings. It's the burial site for Rapheal and the first king of Italy. And it has this amazing Oculus that's basically a huge circle in the center of the dome and when it rains, it rains inside the building and then it drains through these little small drains.
Our next stop was this track at Piazza Navona. It has this gorgeous fountain - sadly it was under restoration - but our tour guide told us this great story of a drunk American that thought it would be a great picture to sit on this arm-like branch part of the fountain, and broke part of the arm. Thank you Americans for ruining ancient Rome for the rest of us.
The Piazza Venezia is just immaculate the second time around. But still over decorated. But behind it is the Old Rome Forum, which is basically the ruins of old Rome. And to me, I was so absolutely taken aback with all the old ruins completely left and fallen in their original places on the ground. This place is just so crazy almost, that the ruins from the ancient Rome times, are fallen and left just there. The preservation is incredible and it makes me wonder how amazing it would have been back in the day.
The Coliseum is absolutely indescribably beautiful and huge. Sadly earthquakes and restoration over the years have ruined the original surface, but it is still incredible. One day when I come back to Rome, I want to go inside and really experience the Gladiator feeling. Too much to do and so little time.
Our lunch was another margherita pizza at this little pizza shop. If you ever plan on visiting Rome, make sure you're fully prepared to eat pizza and sandwiches until your heart's content because they are so delicious, and in all honesty, they are all so different and intriguing. You have to dry one from everywhere you go, even if you don't personally order it. Someone is bound to order a pizza....
But be careful of the bathrooms. Ha, this is what got me the first day...the toilet's don't have toilet's don't have seats, and the way the toilet is shaped is just strange. And then some have a big button and a small button....way to confusing for a toilet. But it made me laugh and then really start to wonder...
The bus ride to Cortona was less than explanatory because I basically attempted to sleep the entire way. I wanted to be able to immerse myself in the trip from Rome to Cortona, but my eyes were killing me, and I had to attempt to at least get some sleep. I have literally been awake and traveling and exploring Rome running on less than 6 hours of sleep. But I woke up in time to see Cortona from the bottom of the massive mountain it is on, and it is just crazy. The streets are so windy and fun to drive on. But traveling up to Cortona definitely brings back images from Under the Tuscan Sun, but without the entire house piled on top of house feeling. It just leads you up this hill to the city, and it's perfect.
And what better way to be welcomed to Cortona with your luggage being taken up the hill for you and then a introductory wine tasting for enjoyment and a full meal from Tonino's...Cortona was off to a great start. Population now 1,202 (Caroline and I have already looked at real estate properties....)
- Samsunite...I was way off...
Well, what did you think it was? Never mind....
I think the most beautiful thing about Rome is that everyone just walks around the cobblestone streets. And all the little alleys you walk down, there are little windows and vespas, and you turn the corner and there is a little caffe or restaurant with tables and umbrellas and lights. It really is such a quaint place to live. And on our way we passed this couple who was saying goodbye to each other in the morning, and how they said "ciao" and they kissed and the husband walked off to work in his suit and the woman starting walking her dog...it was so Italian and perfect.
But we made our way to the Pantheon- one of my favorite buildings. It's the burial site for Rapheal and the first king of Italy. And it has this amazing Oculus that's basically a huge circle in the center of the dome and when it rains, it rains inside the building and then it drains through these little small drains.
Our next stop was this track at Piazza Navona. It has this gorgeous fountain - sadly it was under restoration - but our tour guide told us this great story of a drunk American that thought it would be a great picture to sit on this arm-like branch part of the fountain, and broke part of the arm. Thank you Americans for ruining ancient Rome for the rest of us.
The Piazza Venezia is just immaculate the second time around. But still over decorated. But behind it is the Old Rome Forum, which is basically the ruins of old Rome. And to me, I was so absolutely taken aback with all the old ruins completely left and fallen in their original places on the ground. This place is just so crazy almost, that the ruins from the ancient Rome times, are fallen and left just there. The preservation is incredible and it makes me wonder how amazing it would have been back in the day.
The Coliseum is absolutely indescribably beautiful and huge. Sadly earthquakes and restoration over the years have ruined the original surface, but it is still incredible. One day when I come back to Rome, I want to go inside and really experience the Gladiator feeling. Too much to do and so little time.
Our lunch was another margherita pizza at this little pizza shop. If you ever plan on visiting Rome, make sure you're fully prepared to eat pizza and sandwiches until your heart's content because they are so delicious, and in all honesty, they are all so different and intriguing. You have to dry one from everywhere you go, even if you don't personally order it. Someone is bound to order a pizza....
But be careful of the bathrooms. Ha, this is what got me the first day...the toilet's don't have toilet's don't have seats, and the way the toilet is shaped is just strange. And then some have a big button and a small button....way to confusing for a toilet. But it made me laugh and then really start to wonder...
The bus ride to Cortona was less than explanatory because I basically attempted to sleep the entire way. I wanted to be able to immerse myself in the trip from Rome to Cortona, but my eyes were killing me, and I had to attempt to at least get some sleep. I have literally been awake and traveling and exploring Rome running on less than 6 hours of sleep. But I woke up in time to see Cortona from the bottom of the massive mountain it is on, and it is just crazy. The streets are so windy and fun to drive on. But traveling up to Cortona definitely brings back images from Under the Tuscan Sun, but without the entire house piled on top of house feeling. It just leads you up this hill to the city, and it's perfect.
And what better way to be welcomed to Cortona with your luggage being taken up the hill for you and then a introductory wine tasting for enjoyment and a full meal from Tonino's...Cortona was off to a great start. Population now 1,202 (Caroline and I have already looked at real estate properties....)
- Samsunite...I was way off...
Well, what did you think it was? Never mind....
Tuesday May 11 - First Day of Class
Ok, so yes I'm living in Cortona. First night in Cortona was beautiful. Caroline and I have the absolute cutest room. The building we're staying in is an old monastery. Part of the building has been renovated, but the coolest thing about Cortona is that you can't change any physical aspects of the outside of the buildings. So you can do small renovations inside and such, but all the buildings mainly have all their original architecture. Our building is mainly brick and stone. It has this amazingly simplistic and old feel to it. Most of the rooms are mainly white, including our bedroom. To get to our room, you actually have to cross through our suite mate's room. There room has two twin beds, a dresser, and this almost fireplace/stove mantel in the wall. And then our room has three twin beds with two small dressers. But the most beautiful part is our double french doors that open and lead out into our garden in the back. We totally lucked out with this. There's these old stone benches and iron rod gate that leads up to our "secret garden" - it just has clotheslines, but still cool. But it really is "secret garden"-esque with small sets of stone steps leading to different parts of the back of our building - there's fig trees, and olive trees, and my favorite, a boccie ball court.
But even more amazing that our building, is the massive hill that our school is on. Basically all of Cortona is on this hill overlooking the little towns below - it's amazing. And the whole city is surrounded by a wall, with only like 1200 people living inside the wall. But when we got to Cortona they took our luggage from us and had us climb up the hill and I don't know, but I always get so excited to climb up the hill. It's probably like 200 yards of steep stone...and it's awesome. Caroline thinks I'm crazy when I get excited to climb back up, but I love it.
So our first set of "classes" start at 8:30...the earliest class I've had since I started college, woof. But it's just amazing to wake up and walk a little ways down our king hill to our actual school, since our dorms are a little higher up the hill. It was crazy to immediately get thrown into all the history and old facts about wine and grapes. So class is from 8:30 to 12 with breaks in between.
We got back to the room and opened our doors, and this little white cat wandered into our room. We have a new pet. Her name is Francis. She just likes to come sit on Caroline's bed and look out into the garden and listen to some John Mayer with us. Totally chill.
For lunch, six of us wandered down into the square to the local grocer. And when you walk in, they have this list of almost 20 different sandwich options, all for basically 3 or 3.5 euros, and so I ordered a pesto, turkey, mozzarella, and tomato on foccacia bread sandwich. Absolutely delicious. Caroline and I decided were gonna open a fresh sandwich and pasta salad and wrap shop in Athens where you can order a sandwich with a glass of wine...it's gonna be amazing.
So the boys room also opens up to the garden, so they wandered over and challenged Caroline and I to a game of boccie. Absolute total domination on our part. And it basically rains almost every day in Cortona at some point, and our game was ended a little short due to some unfortunate weather, but at least it gave the guys a chance to re-strategize. When we saw them later, their new game plan: to not suck so much. Ha, we'll have to see how that goes. We've also been challenged by some of our professors to take them on because they're obviously the reigning champs. I'm gonna have to practice.
So around 3 we did a walking tour of Cortona with our resident assistant/graduate researcher/tour guide/most awesome mustache sporter, Daniel. He literally has the most Johnny Depp from "Secret Window" persona. It's awesome. He took us through most of Cortona, including the square and some of the churches and all his favorite restaurants and secret bakeries in the pouring rain. So fun.
So on most afternoons we have our wine tasting. Yesterday we just did a sensory exercise with smell. It's so hard to describe what you smell. Our TA Stephanie put out ten different cups and asked us to smell them without looking in and then guess what it was....I got one right. Ha, my nose is totally broken. It was so hard to try and figure out certain aromas. Caroline and I agreed we need serious practice.
So right after our sensory exercise Caroline and I went into Cortona for our first night out (sadly we made the mistake of wearing a t-shirt - at least I was supporting the Braves - but we learned our lesson that once you leave the dorm, you better have everything you need and dressed to go out, you will not make it back up the hill...lesson learned). But we went to this little wine bar, and ordered a glass of Chardonnay. It was a 2003 Burgundo. Absolutely delicious. And Italians only drink with food, so anywhere you go to order a glass of wine, or even in the bars where they serve alcohol, they give you food. So our glass of Chardonnay came with bite sized cold cut sandwiches.
Dinner is at the same restaurant every night, and they have a bar upstairs where everyone mingles before we go get seated. So Caroline and I ordered our first bottle of wine. We asked for a white wine, and paid 6 euros for a bottle of Pinot Grigio. And it was so perfect for dinner. I've never had such a good bottle of fairly inexpensive wine. And get this, dinner was pasta (which is the first thing they bring out at every meal, with bread, and serve you a whole plate...so much food) with this light cream based sauce and ground beef. Then our next course was fries, with breaded chicken, and salad. And then to finish with dessert, they brought out fresh strawberries and pineapple. They literally serve three meals for dinner, it's crazy. And last night's dinner was so perfect, and we got to know some of the girls from the science maymester group that's staying with us. There's about 40 of them, and they study all the time, but it was fun to get to know some of them over a good meal and bottle of wine.
But dinner was just the start of our adventurous evening. So after dinner we went right around the corner to Route 66 and order a martini. Caroline went first and ordered a "martini fruiti". The bartender literally poured straight martini liquor into the glass and added a few slices of fruit. Ha. So I asked for a "martini sour" and at least mine was mixed with maybe an ounce of club soda or something, but it was very good.
So we happened to wander outside and ran into Daniel and somehow ended up with just him at this little bar/restaurant/grocer across the street. He ordered a bottle of red wine...and we did some serious bonding with Daniel. He's such an incredible intriguing person. But we had a deep chat about love and how love is such a tricky thing today, how complex it is. We both quoted the Moulin Rouge quote, "love is a many splendid thing..." But we also talked about our scars (random) and the significance of all our jewelry...and even more exciting. We got our first official Italian lesson. I am a pro now on how to say my name is, saying I like and I don't like, I'm sorry, how much, how do you say, and most important, how to order a glass of wine in Italian. Caroline and I have a new best friend. And we're such good friends that Caroline asked to twirl his mustache - yea, we're on that level.
After our Daniel date we went back to Route 66 and did some major dancing in the basement with the rest of a majority of our group. They had a DJ who start spinning American songs. Some serious group bonding. And then on our way to our next stop, which we thought was our dorm, we met Daniel's Italian guy friends, who decided they were going to open their "Lion's Well Pub" up just for our little group of like 10 of us....I'm now a professional Italian bartender. And then eventually made it back to our dorm, only to have class at 8:30 in the morning...to learn about everything we consumed the night before. So funny.
Best day.
But even more amazing that our building, is the massive hill that our school is on. Basically all of Cortona is on this hill overlooking the little towns below - it's amazing. And the whole city is surrounded by a wall, with only like 1200 people living inside the wall. But when we got to Cortona they took our luggage from us and had us climb up the hill and I don't know, but I always get so excited to climb up the hill. It's probably like 200 yards of steep stone...and it's awesome. Caroline thinks I'm crazy when I get excited to climb back up, but I love it.
So our first set of "classes" start at 8:30...the earliest class I've had since I started college, woof. But it's just amazing to wake up and walk a little ways down our king hill to our actual school, since our dorms are a little higher up the hill. It was crazy to immediately get thrown into all the history and old facts about wine and grapes. So class is from 8:30 to 12 with breaks in between.
We got back to the room and opened our doors, and this little white cat wandered into our room. We have a new pet. Her name is Francis. She just likes to come sit on Caroline's bed and look out into the garden and listen to some John Mayer with us. Totally chill.
For lunch, six of us wandered down into the square to the local grocer. And when you walk in, they have this list of almost 20 different sandwich options, all for basically 3 or 3.5 euros, and so I ordered a pesto, turkey, mozzarella, and tomato on foccacia bread sandwich. Absolutely delicious. Caroline and I decided were gonna open a fresh sandwich and pasta salad and wrap shop in Athens where you can order a sandwich with a glass of wine...it's gonna be amazing.
So the boys room also opens up to the garden, so they wandered over and challenged Caroline and I to a game of boccie. Absolute total domination on our part. And it basically rains almost every day in Cortona at some point, and our game was ended a little short due to some unfortunate weather, but at least it gave the guys a chance to re-strategize. When we saw them later, their new game plan: to not suck so much. Ha, we'll have to see how that goes. We've also been challenged by some of our professors to take them on because they're obviously the reigning champs. I'm gonna have to practice.
So around 3 we did a walking tour of Cortona with our resident assistant/graduate researcher/tour guide/most awesome mustache sporter, Daniel. He literally has the most Johnny Depp from "Secret Window" persona. It's awesome. He took us through most of Cortona, including the square and some of the churches and all his favorite restaurants and secret bakeries in the pouring rain. So fun.
So on most afternoons we have our wine tasting. Yesterday we just did a sensory exercise with smell. It's so hard to describe what you smell. Our TA Stephanie put out ten different cups and asked us to smell them without looking in and then guess what it was....I got one right. Ha, my nose is totally broken. It was so hard to try and figure out certain aromas. Caroline and I agreed we need serious practice.
So right after our sensory exercise Caroline and I went into Cortona for our first night out (sadly we made the mistake of wearing a t-shirt - at least I was supporting the Braves - but we learned our lesson that once you leave the dorm, you better have everything you need and dressed to go out, you will not make it back up the hill...lesson learned). But we went to this little wine bar, and ordered a glass of Chardonnay. It was a 2003 Burgundo. Absolutely delicious. And Italians only drink with food, so anywhere you go to order a glass of wine, or even in the bars where they serve alcohol, they give you food. So our glass of Chardonnay came with bite sized cold cut sandwiches.
Dinner is at the same restaurant every night, and they have a bar upstairs where everyone mingles before we go get seated. So Caroline and I ordered our first bottle of wine. We asked for a white wine, and paid 6 euros for a bottle of Pinot Grigio. And it was so perfect for dinner. I've never had such a good bottle of fairly inexpensive wine. And get this, dinner was pasta (which is the first thing they bring out at every meal, with bread, and serve you a whole plate...so much food) with this light cream based sauce and ground beef. Then our next course was fries, with breaded chicken, and salad. And then to finish with dessert, they brought out fresh strawberries and pineapple. They literally serve three meals for dinner, it's crazy. And last night's dinner was so perfect, and we got to know some of the girls from the science maymester group that's staying with us. There's about 40 of them, and they study all the time, but it was fun to get to know some of them over a good meal and bottle of wine.
But dinner was just the start of our adventurous evening. So after dinner we went right around the corner to Route 66 and order a martini. Caroline went first and ordered a "martini fruiti". The bartender literally poured straight martini liquor into the glass and added a few slices of fruit. Ha. So I asked for a "martini sour" and at least mine was mixed with maybe an ounce of club soda or something, but it was very good.
So we happened to wander outside and ran into Daniel and somehow ended up with just him at this little bar/restaurant/grocer across the street. He ordered a bottle of red wine...and we did some serious bonding with Daniel. He's such an incredible intriguing person. But we had a deep chat about love and how love is such a tricky thing today, how complex it is. We both quoted the Moulin Rouge quote, "love is a many splendid thing..." But we also talked about our scars (random) and the significance of all our jewelry...and even more exciting. We got our first official Italian lesson. I am a pro now on how to say my name is, saying I like and I don't like, I'm sorry, how much, how do you say, and most important, how to order a glass of wine in Italian. Caroline and I have a new best friend. And we're such good friends that Caroline asked to twirl his mustache - yea, we're on that level.
After our Daniel date we went back to Route 66 and did some major dancing in the basement with the rest of a majority of our group. They had a DJ who start spinning American songs. Some serious group bonding. And then on our way to our next stop, which we thought was our dorm, we met Daniel's Italian guy friends, who decided they were going to open their "Lion's Well Pub" up just for our little group of like 10 of us....I'm now a professional Italian bartender. And then eventually made it back to our dorm, only to have class at 8:30 in the morning...to learn about everything we consumed the night before. So funny.
Best day.
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