Giuliana

Hello everyone and thank you for following us in our journey in Italy.
Not too long ago I gave you the " Benvenuto" to our program and now, I am about to say goodbye. Tempus Fugit as the Romans would put it.

 

I have visited numerous  regions in Italy that have warmed my heart over the last thirty plus years, but I must admit that two places in particular do touch me deeply and resonate with my soul. I speak of Umbria and Tuscany.  Of Umbria most of you have heard me speak before, with Spoleto being my dearest town, but now Tuscany  rivals the stoic gem.  In Tuscany I discovered little jewels, "borghi" that sit atop gentle hills,  intanct medieval villages, pristine churches, kind and passionate people... I could go on and on about this lovely area so well organized and put together by its predeccessor and great leader Leopoldo II.  Beautiful towns such as Anghiari, Lucignano, Sansepolcro, have left imprints in my mind, heart and soul.  I am about to say "arrivederci" to these splendid areas and all I can think is about the time when I will once again walk along the majestic medieval walls of Tuscany.


A presto,
Giuliana

Trudy

The New in the Old

Taking pictures of a castle tower, I saw a strange object which I could not identify completely even using the zoom on my camera. I returned the next day with my binoculars (in part simply to justify hauling the binoculars around Italy with me) and took a closer look at the item. Just as I suspected: it was a satellite dish on the tower.



There was a time when seeing a satellite dish on an ancient structure would have bothered me, but during my time in Italy I have come to appreciate the blending of old and new; and, using old and ancient structures for a purpose other than treating them as a shrine, roped off with velvet cords.

My first clue to this practice was in an apartment in Rome where I stayed with my husband before I started the Italy Internship. In the floor of the apartment was a sheet of glass that allowed us to look below to ancient steps and artifacts—old pottery, ancient coins. We marveled at how we had the privilege to dwell for a few days in what was once an ancient establishment.



Time after time during the Italy Internship, we visited towns where people lived in the old castles, and historic stone buildings. In all fairness, I guess I should consider that if Italians did not live in old buildings, they would probably have to live in a houseboat tethered to the coast, because in truth almost every building in the country is ancient. Still, it amazes me. In America it seems to me like we treat our old buildings in a couple ways…either roping them off and trekking visitors past with instructions to look but not touch, or tearing them down to build something new.



I think of structures I have seen turn into rapid decay when left vacant, and ponder on how the use of old structures surely must breathe life into them. So now as I view the satellite dish on top of a castle tower, or see television antennas on top of old tiled roofs, I think to myself, “Live on Italy, live on!”

Shannon

Have you ever gone to a place and looked around and thought, “This place is just too beautiful and too perfect to be real?” You pinch yourself or perhaps blink repeatedly to check to make sure that what you are seeing is actually real. I know that it has happened to me many times while being here in Italy. But I must say that this moment hit me the strongest when we changed base and arrived in Santa Luce.



Santa Luce has stolen my heart. It is a small town with gorgeous country side everywhere you look. Our view from the apartment consists of miles and miles of rolling hills covered with golden wheat and green grass and sprinkled with various trees. Where out in nature exploring the country-side of Italy. I feel like I’m camping. And if you know me, you know that I love camping. What can beat camping in Italy? Nothing!



So on Saturday, Steve, Mary, Trudy, Michelle and I came back from venturing to find that Giuliana had made us all dinner. I was so excited. My mouth began to water just at the thought of eating her food. We entered through the gate to find a long table set up outside on the patio. As soon as Giuliana brought out some yummy pasta and salad, we dug in. It was amazing! Not only were we able to enjoy great food and great company, but also a perfect view of the sunset. Can I just hire Giuliana to be my personal chef?



After dinner and after we had cake from a mini birthday celebration for Steve, (p.s. Steve Happy Birthday) we walked out into the trees to find fireflies glowing in the bushes. I had never before seen fireflies and have never been more thrilled to see them. I was literally jumping with excitement at the sight of the flickering lights flying around the property. It was just like the twinkling lights you see at Disneyland, but these were real fireflies!! It was magical. I stood there looking at the amazing sight of twinkling fireflies, gorgeous scenery, and people that I have grown to love and thought…

“There is no place I would rather be.”