May 27 - June 3, 2014 Vicchio & Florence Part 4 - Fiesole

May 27 - June 3, 2014

 Soooo time for another blog update.  How can a person be so busy doing nothing?  Well not really nothing, however, have been able to just let down a little and relax at Aurora & Augusto's place.  They are wonderful, lovely people and I am enjoying my time here immensely and the gorgeous countryside.  Taking long lovely walks.. just what I've been dreaming of!  This is the countryside where they live and the very busy road that everyone drives Fast on, even though the walls of the houses are literally the edge of the road.

 and no lines or shoulders

 Road shared by everyone, including walking people

  Beautiful gardens

 I never get tired of these views

I've been taking a walk through these wonderful fields everyday!

Most days I have the house to myself, as the folks are working and Mariano has been going into Florence (Firenze) everyday to play tour guide for a group of American artists who have been here for two weeks.  Saturday, I took the train in with him and spent the day with the group touring Fiesole.  Had a great day and what a view.  We all hiked up this very long steep hill but the view was worth it.  Then we toured these Roman Ruins.  I'm always amazed at how the earth reclaims things if they are not taken care of.

 Lemon trees

 The hike... this is just one section... makes two 90 degree turns

 The view is well worth the climb

 Mariano ever the helpful guide, carried my purse and the art teacher's heavy bag of supplies up the hill.

 The Monestery at the top... a nun's room in the cloistered convent.  Bed is on the left table and chair on the right and one small barred window.  The entry door was quite low.. about 5 feet

 Mariano taking a rest

 Another section of the hike up

 Artist at work

  Love all the flowers

 Restaurant

 Dish shop.  Love all the colorful dishes.  This set for six (18 pieces is 61 Euros)

 The Roman Ruins Museum

 The view from the Ruin site

Then this being Sunday, a special little group of us gathered for church here at the Piccolo's home.  " Matthew 18:20  For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them" is what the bible says, and I can say the presence of the spirit was definitely here.  Corinne a Korean girl is visiting in Florence from Ann Arbor, Michigan and caught the train out from Florence.  There were 8 of us: David, Enrico, Francisco, Augusto and Aurora, Mariano, Corinne and myself.  Aurora made a wonderful lunch afterwards and then we just sat around the table and visited for hours.  A lot of translating going on, and lots of good laughs.  

 Aurora then had to go to work this evening, so after everyone left, Mariano, Augusto and I took a nice walk.  There is just so much to see here.  Every few yards down any road is another 'picture'.

 Very interesting cemetary just a few yards up the road from their home

They leave the key hanging outside on the wall and everyone opens and closes the gate to enter the cemetery

 The church next to the cemetery

 After we got back from our walk, I watered Aurora's garden, had some fruit, cheese and bread and tea for dinner and now on the computer trying to get these pics to upload for this blog... internet not being real cooperative :)

Mariano and I bought our tickets today to go to the South of Italy (in the shoe) on Wednesday to check out an apartment there and spend a few days to see if it will fit my needs for a while.  It will be about a 9 hour train ride, and that is on the Fast Train.  All I can say about Mariano, is not going to be enough, but he is an awesome young man and a GREAT help in getting me information and making sure things go smoothly for me!  I'm sure I could figure it all out by myself eventually, but wonderful to have this help, especially with the language.  Most people have Smart Phones... I have a Smart Mariano! 

I did however purchase a phone here just for local use.  After I'm here for a while, I may do a contract, but just prepaid for now and no international calls, so I'll be using Skype a lot!  Another frustration I've had is my HotSpot.  I called Sprint twice before I left the US to make sure it was unlocked, and after I arrived in Italy, I find out they did NOT do it, and I have not been able to use it.  Of course, this was after I had purchased $30 euro of data usage for it and Vodafone won't refund.  I purchased my HotSpot with the express purpose of using it in Italy.  Phone companies do not impress me. 

June 2 - 3 Mariano and I went hiking and I took more pictures around Vicchio.  I love, the beauty in this area!

These last few days, my thoughts have gone often to all those in special places in Washington.  I would have loved to be with them, but not saying I would be willing to leave Italy right now :) just that my thoughts were sure there!

Since I'll be in the south, I probably won't post again until after we get back next week.  

Arrivederci