A typical day in
Viterbo means rising at about 6:30, opening the shutters to the sounds of doves
cooing and starlings whirling about and calling to each other. At about 7:30 on some days, haven’t figured
the routine out yet, church bells ring.
I make my caffe in an Italian stovetop coffee maker and it is strong and
perfect. Then I will have a little breakfast
of bread, butter and jam or a vegetable salad drizzled with olive oil. The BEST in the ENTIRE world, of course.
I walk to the
Universita della Tuscia, which is housed in a converted convent complete with impressive
walkways and a cloister walk in case you need to meditate over your Italian
language homework before you go into class.
I am taking a full
load here, trying to learn as much as possible, and so some days are a
marathon. Italian at 9-11; drawing and
painting at 11:30-1:30; break for lunch (where sometimes I join the Food Journalism
class at a restaurant for the full, multi-course Italian lunch; then Dante at
4:30-7:30.
Here are some of my drawings. The steps of San Sisto and the tower at the Porta Romano:
As I walk home, I
see new things… shrines to the Madonna that I have overlooked, shops selling
gorgeous fruit-filled pastries, an interesting kabob place, a shop that sells a
strange combination of goods, cell phones, baby strollers, purses and
tuna. Hmmmm. Why ask why?
It’s all TOO beautiful and divine.
It’s a mystery. Like the miracles
of St Rose and/or the way that avoids being hit by a Fiat DAILY. It’s the Cloud of Unknowing….. J My favorite state of being.
I may stop by a
market on the way home and collect whatever looks completely new and exciting
or what looks familiar only better. The
tomatoes here are worth anything…. ANYTHING, and that includes a 9-10 hour
flight. Come here JUST for the
tomatoes. They are heaven. You will love them any time of the day. Make yourself a simple pasta dish with asparagus,
garlic, tomatoes and olive oil. Pour
yourself a glass of wine. Sit down and
let’s chat about the day.
Is anyone patently opposed to allowing you to eat just bread and drink just wine there in that cloistered court? The one with the fountain? Because I have a basket of strawberries and a bottle of Château Peyraguey — which isn't a wine you've ever tasted, (so don't pretend) and it is heaven with strawberries. Presumably, tomatoes as well.
ReplyDeleteOh, let's do chat about the day over tomatoes with pasta and wine. I am ready to join you tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteAh, sounds grand, grand, GRAND!
ReplyDelete