Umbria
April 2006 was officially the fastest month ever. We're already halfway through with this program, and that makes me sad. Last monday, we left Rome for Umbria, a region to the north and east. We spent Monday through Friday morning in a charming little villa near the small medieval hillside town of Corciano. I'm not entirely sure what the people there did, but it was very nice. The first day there, we had a fantastic lunch and then made the short (but uphill) walk into town. As it was mid-afternoon, everything was closed as per the midday siesta. This means that most shops close for a couple hours in the afternoons so the workers can relax or be with their families or whatever. This was not a significant thing in Rome since it was so big and there are so many foreigners, but in the smaller towns, almost everything shuts down. Even when stuff is open, Corciano does not offer much to do, although it is charming and beautiful. That night, we went back to the villa and saw an exhibition of art by some students of Montana State University, who were also staying in this villa. It was modern art, and I hated it. Modern art makes no sense to me. Sorry, sis. After that was dinner, and then we just sort of hung out.
Tuesday we went to Assisi, another charming medieval hillside town, but it's a lot bigger than Corciano. We went to see the church of the Franciscans, as St. Francis came from Assisi. Of course, I had long since come down with a bad case of church fatigue, so it didn't do much for me. Then we wandered around a bit, and then had a talk with some priest who saved over 200 Jews during WWII. He's 90 something years old, but still is pretty with it. We went back to the villa for lunch, during which I ate far too much, and then went into town for a bit. Later that night we had a medieval style dinner, complete with a jester providing entertainment, such as fire eating and laying on a bed of nails. I was feeling sick because I ate too much before, so I didn't eat much of that. It would have been good, though, I think.
Wednesday and Thursday were pretty much the same. We went to Perugia in the mornings, which is a faily large city. I really liked it, although it's a pain to walk around because there are hills and stairs everywhere. We saw a bunch more churches and museums, which are really starting to get old. In the evenings, we went into town and worked with some artisans who were having some sort of fair. We were supposed to help them work, but the weather was very Seattle-like and there were no customers, so we just talked with the Italians for a few hours. I was in a puppet shop. It was good to actually be speaking with real Italians.
On Friday, we left there for the city of Sansepolcro, which is just over the border into Tuscany. However, we made a long stop in a city called Citta del Castello or some such. There were more museums and churches, but also we went to an old-fashioned print shop, and a guy with a really cool mustache showed us all these old-timey methods of printing, which was fascinating. Then we came to Sansepolcro, where I am right now. We are staying in a monastery with some friendly old monks. Yesterday, we saw a museum, but it was a cool one. It was a museum of herbs and such, and had a lot of old fashioned herbs and apothecary type stuff. Then another church, but then we had some free time to wander around. I found a store selling the new Pearl Jam album, which isn't out until Tuesday in the states. I guess CDs come out sooner here. It completely made my day. I've listened to it several times now, and it's fantastic. Some songs are really different, but I like it. The only problem (besides it costing €21) is the creepy Tool-esque album art that doesn't match the cover or the music or anything. I'm just so happy that I got it early, and this has me excited for the new Red Hot Chili Peppers next week.
Tomorrow we leave for the tiny little town of Marzi and our host families, stopping to see some Greek ruins in Paestum. There will be a very long bus ride, giving me time to listen to a lot of Pearl Jam. On Tuesday, we will arrive in Calabria. This will be a very different experience, but I am looking forward to it.
Tuesday we went to Assisi, another charming medieval hillside town, but it's a lot bigger than Corciano. We went to see the church of the Franciscans, as St. Francis came from Assisi. Of course, I had long since come down with a bad case of church fatigue, so it didn't do much for me. Then we wandered around a bit, and then had a talk with some priest who saved over 200 Jews during WWII. He's 90 something years old, but still is pretty with it. We went back to the villa for lunch, during which I ate far too much, and then went into town for a bit. Later that night we had a medieval style dinner, complete with a jester providing entertainment, such as fire eating and laying on a bed of nails. I was feeling sick because I ate too much before, so I didn't eat much of that. It would have been good, though, I think.
Wednesday and Thursday were pretty much the same. We went to Perugia in the mornings, which is a faily large city. I really liked it, although it's a pain to walk around because there are hills and stairs everywhere. We saw a bunch more churches and museums, which are really starting to get old. In the evenings, we went into town and worked with some artisans who were having some sort of fair. We were supposed to help them work, but the weather was very Seattle-like and there were no customers, so we just talked with the Italians for a few hours. I was in a puppet shop. It was good to actually be speaking with real Italians.
On Friday, we left there for the city of Sansepolcro, which is just over the border into Tuscany. However, we made a long stop in a city called Citta del Castello or some such. There were more museums and churches, but also we went to an old-fashioned print shop, and a guy with a really cool mustache showed us all these old-timey methods of printing, which was fascinating. Then we came to Sansepolcro, where I am right now. We are staying in a monastery with some friendly old monks. Yesterday, we saw a museum, but it was a cool one. It was a museum of herbs and such, and had a lot of old fashioned herbs and apothecary type stuff. Then another church, but then we had some free time to wander around. I found a store selling the new Pearl Jam album, which isn't out until Tuesday in the states. I guess CDs come out sooner here. It completely made my day. I've listened to it several times now, and it's fantastic. Some songs are really different, but I like it. The only problem (besides it costing €21) is the creepy Tool-esque album art that doesn't match the cover or the music or anything. I'm just so happy that I got it early, and this has me excited for the new Red Hot Chili Peppers next week.
Tomorrow we leave for the tiny little town of Marzi and our host families, stopping to see some Greek ruins in Paestum. There will be a very long bus ride, giving me time to listen to a lot of Pearl Jam. On Tuesday, we will arrive in Calabria. This will be a very different experience, but I am looking forward to it.