Tuscania!

May 27, 2010

We did so much in Roma...so here's an overview...and then on to Tuscania!

- I tried limoncella when they gave it to us for free at a super friendly place called Miscellena where we went for lunch right behind the Pantheon
- wonderful delicious gelato at Mariotti
- the Colosseum
- Pantheon
- Trevi Fountain both by day and night
- Arch of Constantine
- Trastevere...this absolutely beautiful town on the other side of Rome
- Spanish Steps
- Castelle San Angelo
- the Angel Bridge
- Piazza d'Fiori
- Piazza Navona and the Four Rivers Statue

But yes, Tuscania is amazing really - Rome was absolutely fantastic but Tuscania is special in it's own way. Maria Carla is wonderful - she is so sweet and very motherly. I didn't know what to expect but she is so cute! Her house is beautiful and my room and bathroom are both great. I couldn't have asked for anything better! This is even greater than the hotel! I would have been happy with anything but I feel truly blessed!
Let me tell ya- if there's ever a way to learn a language, it's to be thrust right into a situation where you have to use it for basic survival! Maria Carla knows maybe 3 words of English. Trying to speak to her at first must have been a hilarious sight - me flipping like crazy through my little Italian phrase book and dictionary...and her just being soo patient! The hardest part are the silences and wanting to say something but not being able to because we both don't know how but we're both pretty outgoing and after a while, our little way of communicating through keywords and charades really goes a long way.  I'm learning quickly though!

The food in Tuscania is wonderful! Yesterday, we had a delicious dinner at a local restaurant with olives and tomatoes and mozzarella - everything is just soo fresh! Afterwards, we saw the Etruscan tombs that were right below the restaurant!

Let me try to describe Tuscania....

This is the place I never thought I'd find but actually exists. I mean right now, it's 4pm and I'm sitting in this most amazing park that overlooks an incredible view. I was the only one here until a little Italian grandma joined me on another shady bench and now we're both looking at this expanse of tumbling green that stretches as far as they eye can see. The verdant landscape is covered with lush trees sprinkled across sloping valleys and quiet meadows. Only the luminous copper brown church of St. Peter sits magnificently in the distance picture perfect as the sun casts its golden glow on its tall walls. Rising slowly from crumbles along the church's base is the ruined Etruscan wall dating back a few thousand years. You can trace the wall clearly across the green fields until it reaches a peaceful cluster or brickred roofs and burnt oragne walls. Then , the Etruscan Wall becomes Tuscania's wall...protecting its inhabitants and proclaiming the propensity of this tiny village. This village that immediately gives me a sense of home. It is almost the stark opposite of Rome in busyness but equal in its vibrant energy. As I walk down deep navy silver cobblestone streets, I notice the click clack of my shoes is adding to the soundtrack of the constant birdsong around me. I close my eyes and I feel the caress of a pleasant breeze that brushes across my cheek like a kiss. The generous sun warms my back and I duck into the shade of an olive tree. I discover that I've joined the company of 3 fully stretched out cats. I smile at them and they blink at me until one the pretty gray and brown speckled one gets up, purrs, and brushes along my legs in invitation. I follow the little thing until it leads me to a very picturesque street lined with colorful flowers. I bid my furry friend adieu and as I turn to walk down the path, I am hit with a wave of baking bread so sweet, i can almost feel the steam that wisps out when the baker breaks the bread apart. I breathe deeply and jot down the name of the bakery so I remember to stop in later. I'm struck by the beauty of the houses here in the historic district. "Bonjourno" I say to the little lady that steps out of her house right then. "Ciao!" she replies and dumps a cup of water on the rose bush dripping with magenta flowers right outside her window. It is then that I smell the most wonderful collection of lemon, olive, and fresh flowers that just seem to saturate the air after the light afternoon drizzle. I breathe deeply and smile. I can already feel myself slow down and I'm happy.