“We may live in a technical age, but our souls aren’t technical. They’re still connected to nature.” So writes Melody Beattie in Journey to the Heart. I concur.
I think one of the challenges we face today is that there is so much technical in our lives that we forget and lose touch with our souls. When people travel with us on our Adventures in Italy trips, they get in touch again with the soul. Why is that?
There are two reasons. One is intimate contact with nature. The other is intimate contact with things human, which is, after all, nature as well.
Orvieto sits on a plug of rock sticking 700 feet up above the valley floor around it. You are never far from the edge and a view out over the vineyards, farmland, and surrounding mountains. It’s hard not to be struck by the beauty of it all. It does put us back in touch with nature and its nurture. We are touched, deep down, in our souls.
Orvieto is a medieval city. During medieval times, building skills limited what could be built. The result is a very human scaled environment, one in which you simply feel comfortable. There is nothing technical about it. The street is made of pavers laid in an incredibly beautiful fan pattern. The building material is primarily tuffa – volcanic rock – that has a warm, buttery color. Doors and windows are all different sizes and shapes, so there is no engineered sameness. It makes for a very entertaining visual experience. The eye moves 100 times a minute and sees best in terms of edges. There are countless edges and numberless things to engage the eye.
And so, you are lost in the interest, character, and ultimately, human nature of the place. It is so not technical. A week in Orvieto brings us back in touch with nature, human nature, and the soul.
I have recently concluded that a week with us is an investment in yourself. Each of us not only deserves it. In this technical world, we need it.
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