Cortona and Lake Trasimeno

Ciao tutti!
It is Thanksgiving Day but Italy doesn't even notice! We're having some Italian friends over Sunday for an American-style day of gluttony. Turkey (tacchino) is easily found here, we just had to order one whole from our local butcher. A friend from Rome brought us up some of the other staples, like cranberries and pumkin pie filling, from the UN commissary.

Last weekend we made a day trip to Cortona, about 45 minutes away in Tuscany. This town was made famous by the Francis Mayes book Under The Tuscan Sun. It was such a huge success tourism flourished. But there was a worm in that apple. Rumor has it that they are now selling their house there because bus loads (literally) of tourists would pull up in front of their house to get a glimpse, ruining that loved Tuscan tranquility.

But we were lucky to see it on a beautiful November day, essentially tourist-free.

The Piazza Reppublica and the 'town hall':





There is a wonderful Eutruscan museum here. The Eutruscans were a fascinating people that lived in this area well before Rome came to dominate the Italian peninsula. The only archeological remains that can be found are in their tombs that dot the countryside. Their language is still largely indeciferable. The Greeks influenced them greatly, the copied their artistic style and borrowed their gods.

Here is a statue of Hericles (Hercules):



Sarcophigi found in the tombs:



There is a row of medeival houses on the old fortified wall:



A view from the wall of the cemetary:



The symbol of Cortona:



Make an offering and light a candle:



The art museum here houses the very famous "Annunciation" by Fra Angelico. Its in all of the art history books (I studied it). And it is a masterpiece.



Here is the Chiesa di St Francesco (13th century):





Cortona is on a serious incline..makes Perugia look flat.



Another day, another 13th century church...



But his one does have the corpse of Santa Margherita on display:



Playing on eutruscan stones:



The Medici fortress in the background is being restored:



Can't beat a sunset....





Wait! Can't beat a sunset with an amazing gelato:



A mysterious whole in the city walls:




We took a ride out to Lake Trasimeno Tuesday with friends who know of this truck stop that makes amazing food. Erik got to drive the Vespa. Lulu and Felix also got a ride:



Happy Dad:







With our friend Mila:



Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Vita Giornale

We hope all are well. Friends and family are being missed. Here is some daily life pictures from the last few weeks.

Our dear friend Giulia took us out to her parent's house in the country just outside of Assisi. We had an amazing lunch with copious amounts of food and wine.



They have four donkeys, one of which loves to take Guilia out for a walk.









Its hard to stop taking pictures of Perugia....so why stop!?

The 14th century Fontana Maggiore- still going strong



It's hard capture how amazing the arches are that you walk through on a daily basis:









This is the 14th century aquaduct that now is a walkway from our section of town to the center.





The communist party still exists here. So does the fascist, unfortunately.



The stairs by our house provide endless entertainment.



Apple streudel in the center during European specialities week:



The big news: Bernini has a new sculpture in town. Remarkable resemblance don't you think?



Recipe for a play/homework date with una amica italiana:

Begin with one part homework



Turn in one part ferris wheel:



Lastly, add two parts of some of the best hot chocolate in the world. All topped with hand made whipped cream that one has to try to believe!



A doppo, amici!

Autumn in Italy

Update: We are still here in Perugia! New plan: return late February. There are still adventures to be had here in (often) sunny, (formerly) warm Italy!


We happened upon the welcome ceremony for the new archbishop of Perugia.








That's him in the purple.



The Perugia city center at dusk



Farming every possible square inch, even in the center of town.



St Peter's church in Perugia





It has a beautiful garden beside it.



The Griffin- the symbol of Perugia. Here's a particularly cool one.



Playdate with friend Gabriel.



On the train to Rome. While Erik was in New York, again, F, L, and N went down to Rome.



The Roman Forum from above.



The new wax Obama at the museum in Rome



PIZZA!....Breakfast, lunch and dinner....



Felix attracts a crowd doing yoga for euros on the sidewalk in Rome. He had had it with shopping with Nina and Lulu and decided to see if he could get people passing to put money on his bag by doing yoga...well, it worked.



On the Spanish steps





Lulu before: (she takes 6 sugars in her espresso, thank you.)



Lulu after:



Felix before eating his cena (dinner):



Felix after:



Halloween...not real big here in Perugia, but we did go to a party and had a fun time.
Some friends came over to carve pumpkins.





School pickup is mayhem in Italy too.



Skypeing Grandpa Bob in Michigan (or Skyping, which one is it since it's now a verb?)



C'e vidiamo!