Last Couple of Weeks: Part 1

I was having such a good run of keeping up my posts, but oh well.... life happens! Its been a while I know, and there is soooo much to talk about!

First off, my birthday!! I turned 21!! and that night I tasted, for the first time, the sweet nectar of alcohol! Wow! I know get what all the fuss is about, I wish I had started drinking ages ago! :)

I was supposed to have a small get together at my apartment that night. But before that was going to go off, I went to a salon and was beautified.... it seems to be a tradition that in the weeks before my birthday I let myself go, and then try to fix it the day before... wonder what that's about?? Anyway, on my way out of my apartment I forgot one vital thing.... My keys. So suffice to say the party didn't happen because I couldn't get back into my home, but it was alright because my friends took me out, and the night was amazing. I ended up getting back into my apartment that night, so alls well that ends well. I have decided not to post pictures of that night, because... well.... it was my 21st birthday and I know some people read this who I don't think I want to see those pictures :)

The weekend after my birthday, I returned to my third home away from home, Assisi and set out to explore a new city, Orvieto. Assisi is the most beautiful city, and I just love the serene and tranquil feeling I have whenever I set foot within its city walls. And what walls! I went this time with my friend Sarah M. and two of the girls from Wisconsin studying in Rome (Lauren F. and Sally G.) who have been mentioned below. I must admit that after 6 months of living here, I should be a lot better at the transportation but I still managed to miss our first train to Orvieto. We got there finally on Friday, the 20th and were able to see the Duomo there (with its frescoes from the Renaissance that proudly feature NINJAS, see pictures attached to understand), and walked around the area. We also went 208 feet into the ground! A well called the Pozzo di San Patrizio (because of the similar well in Ireland, no relation to the saint) was built in the mid-1500's to provide the Papal See with an outpost should Rome be sacked again. It is so fantastical to walk all the way into the ground, and very creepy! After climbing back out, we headed back down the hill to head to Assisi.... and what a journey that turned out to be!!

We got on a train to Assisi, and then missed our change station. We had to take a train to ANOTHER station to get back on the right path. However, the next train didn't come for 2 hours, so we were stuck in Terontola for a while, and I still don't really know where we were! After a long trip that should have taken 2 hours but took 5, we arrived in Assisi. We headed straight to our adorable hotel, the Hotel Palloti, and then to dinner which was absolutely fabulous and exactly what we needed. After a restful night, we headed out to explore the city. For me it was a return trip, but none of the other girls had been there so it was such a treat to share it with them!! We went to Santa Chiara, and saw heavily veiled nuns sitting in adoration of the crucifix that converted St. Francis and St. Clare to their respective monastic lives, and then headed up the hill to the Rocca Maggiore. The Rocca Maggiore is one of the oldest surviving fortresses from the middle ages. It was very cool to say the least, we climbed towers, and gazed at one of the most impressive vistas I have seen in Italy. Afterwards we backtracked down the hill and entered the Basilica di San Francesco, a place that now has a super special meaning to me.

I know I have mentioned my internship in the below posts, but to fully explain it I will take a minute. My work is to identify, catalogue and publish the research and images of Bruno Zanardi, an Italian restorer whose work on the Upper Church fresco cycle in Assisi took place in the 1980's. In doing this work, I have been intensely studying Giotto and the controversy about the authorship of the St. Francis fresco cycle. Because I have become an expert at these stories, it was really fun for me to give a mini-tour of the Upper Church with the girls, one of which is another Art History Major. I have to say that knowing so much about them helped me to appreciatate them, but it did not change the overwhelming emotion that is expressed in the works, and I was still completely taken aback by there power. Assisi was so beautiful, and I am so glad I went back, I hope I get to go at least once more before I leave.

This gets us up to about a week ago and I will continue in another post so you can take a break from my babbling! However, I will give you a bit of a teaser! Last weekend was supposed to be a little less about religion, but it strangely became all about it.... Stay tuned for my second installment of the Last Couple of Weeks where we discuss amoung other things.... hiden churches, hidden jews, catholics, weed, and the Red Light District?? Here comes Amsterdam....

Best,
Lydia

Orvieto Pictures @:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2521467&id=8642257&l=7fd51

Assisi, Take Two Pictures @:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2521477&id=8642257&l=136b8