Italy 2012 – Cortona On Our Own

Today started off with a marching band and a man with a podium and a microphone preaching politics in the main square outside our apartment. We couldn’t figure out the message, but there were several flags that read “CIGL Toscana,” and several other flags and t-shirts for the European Communist Party. I’m not sure if CIGL was related to the communists, or if the communists were there in counter-protest. Either way, I love that these towns have a public square where those kinds of gatherings can happen and attract attention. It’s a much better way to get attention than the US’s Occupy Random Places And Get In The Way Of Everybody Else Because Otherwise Our Society Is Too Separate To Get Attention And Come Together movement.

Today, I’m sick. My throat and sinuses are swollen and raw and stuffy. I don’t think it’s a virus. There was a peculiar old person like smell our apartment when we first arrived, and we discovered a blanket in the closet that the damp moldy scent seemed to be radiating from. Because we’re apparently not that smart, we just left it there. I’ve been waking up more and more irritated and stuffy each morning, until this morning was very bad. The blanket has now been exiled to the laundry drying line outside (because it’s too big to fit in the washer – otherwise, I would have bleached it), so I’m hoping my impaired condition will improve. That, and I’m sure the ubiquitous second-hand smoke isn’t helping one bit.
I’m writing this post as we get ready to head out on our adventures for the day. We made reservations at Ristorante Ambrosia, which was highly recommended by the waiter at Cafe Tuscher. The staff at Ambrosia does not speak English as well as the staff at the restaurants on the main piazzas, and so tonight we’ll be dining as the Hendersons. Should be fun.
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After lunch we took a hike up the mountain to another church. On our way up the hillside, we stopped and watched a thunderstorm roll in from Umbria. The thunder resonated for miles throughout the valley as it approached. Just as we reached the top of the hill, it was right on top of us and the downpour began.
When we finally reached the top after some serious hiking, Rich pointed out the parking lot: “Hey look, you can drive here!” Then we saw the church; it was the first one Giovanni took us to (by car) on the first day. So, our long hike uphill in the rain to reach this new church was anti-climactic, and we headed back down through the town in the rain, meandering among the maze of streets to arrive back at the main square.
Now we’re in our Internet cafe (because we’ve only found one cafe where the Internet sort of works) taking refuge from the rain. Not that refuge is required; it’s quite warm out, even in the constant drizzle. But, every time I suggest possibly moving on, Rich points out it’s still raining and we have Thursday free as well, so I suppose we’ll remain here for a bit.
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After the cafe, we headed back to our apartment and I took a short nap while Rich relaxed. Then we got ready for dinner at Ristorante Ambrosia, which was so fabulous it got its own blog post, so I’ll end mine here.
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Location:Cortona, Italy