Uno Settimana piu...

I only have a week left here in Urbino and it makes me sad. I will be happy to get back and see everyone, but I sure am going to miss mornings at the cafe with Davide and Lucca, the fresh fruit from the Saturday markets, wine boxes in the cafeteria, sunsets on the balcony, Moscato, and hanging out with Jill and Angela every day.

Assisi was absolutely gorgeous. The weather was perfect and the setting was perfect. We found an amazing bakery with everything anyone would EVER want in the form of a pastry or pie. YUM!

Perugia was OK... we did not have enough time there, though... but I DID buy quite a bit of chocolate, a CD of Giuseppe Tornatores music, and a cornetto (an Italian Horn charm to wear on a neaklace. It wards off the malocchio .. the evil eye)

Now we are just hanging out and soaking in Urbino. I must return to this place. There is no way to describe it on here. You will just have to come and see it for yourself.

Buonanotte

Mari

Tosca

So... we went to Siena and Firenze (Florence) and it was awesome... but it POURED as we raced back to the buses. We did get to go to the Uffizi Museum and I actually saw... in person... The Birth of Venus by Boticelli. It was INCREDIBLE. I also got to see an amazing Lenoardo DaVinci exhibit.

Then.... there was TOSCA.

This last weekend we went to Verona (and I did QUITE a bit of shopping which I am regretting now...). Our whole purpose of going, however, was to see Tosca, and Italian opera... in...

THE BIGGEST OPERA HOUSE IN THE WORLD!

We saw it in the ancient Arena in Verona from Roman times. It was.... words do not even describe it. So many emotions were flowing through me... it was just AWE inspiring. The story was beautiful, the set was beautiful, the arena was beautiful, the costumes were beautiful... it was just BELLISSIMA! I will remember it for the rest of my life.

And... in case anyone is interested (Clarissa... I know you are), I just so happened to video about 30 minutes of the production and the sound and picture quality is amazing. Heh... just an FYI to those of you who love opera.

Tomorrow we are off to Assisi and Perugia (the CHOCOLATE capitol of Italy... yes... I know) and then Mom, Dad, and Aunty Ruthy come Saturday. Then... we are off to Nice, France! I will try to write more before then... but... you know... I AM in Italy. Hehe.

Ciao ragazzi!

Mari