The Past Two Weeks: A quick update
We went to Rome, and saw the Pantheon, some pretty incredible paintings, and a museum full of very old puppets, farm equipment, pottery, etc.
We went to Tarquinia, checked out a local museum of Etruscan artifacts, swung by the beach, then went to a very cool modern sculpture garden based on the tarot deck (check it out some pictures at http://www.nikidesaintphalle.com/).
Last weekend, we took a day trip to a tiny town near Orvieto called Bagnareggio, which has a population of 14, all at least 70 years old, I believe. To get to the town, we took a bus ride, then had to hike about 30 minutes across a steep, winding bridge in the pouring rain. Luckily, it was beautiful, and while we waited for the bus on the way home, we were handed free wine and sandwiches by men on the street who were celebrating a victory in soccer.
This past Wednesday, the group went to Assisi and Perugia (while I started this blog). I did my required interview with an Orvietana named Renata who works at a cute shop near the Duomo, and learned that she was born in Orvieto some years ago—she has two children, one is forty—and has basically never left. She doesn’t travel, she says, because she likes a simple life and gets sick in cars. When asked about her free time, she said she works and goes home, cooks, reads sometimes… She says she loves Orvieto because it is tranquil, like her life. I’d have to say I agree.
