Citroens

They’re not exactly Lamborghini but, unbelievably, two days after the Lamborghini parade here came some old Citroens. There were about 50 of them. The drivers spent the night in Orvieto, unlike the Lamborghini crowd who just passed through, and the cars filled Piazza Popolo. They didn’t roar through the streets, but they certainly are interesting to look at. Lamborghini is Italian. Citroen is French. I’ll say no more!!

Some of the Citroens in Piazza Popolo

I found this one strangely handsome!

From the rear

Cool!

 

 

 

Advertisement

Read Full Post »

Lamborghinis

One of the things about travel is the unexpected, the surprise events, the fun of the unknown. It happens every time we venture abroad, and it one of the great joys of travel – particularly to a place you’ve been to often, and that you know well.

So it was with great surprise that on our trip to Orvieto this spring, we arrived to find ropes high across the streets from which were suspended little black and white pendants that we couldn’t quite make out. Turns out they were flags with the Lamborghini logo, which is celebrating its 50th year in 2013.

Over 200 Lamborghinis were traveling throughout Italy on a grand tour and Orvieto happened to be one of the towns they were going through. People lined the streets to watch the 200 parade by. The folks in the Lamborghinis were taking as many pictures as those on the streets. These were cars from all over the world, assembled for this historic event, and many of them were tourist to Italy.

It was great fun, lasted for several hours, providing entertainment to us all.

The context – a very modern car in a very old city!

New cars . . .

and older ones

Driving with doors open

Slick interiors

School kids had flags to wave

Engines roared, sounds ricocheted – great fun for us all

 

 

 

 

 

 

Read Full Post »

What Orvieto Gives

We are just back from our spring weeks in Orvieto. In the past, when we lived in Columbia, we were morose upon our return. Here, in Morganton, a place we love, we are content to be home. Still, there are things we will miss from Orvieto. It is an incredibly wonderful place, one that gives us much. It always seems like a good idea to recount those things that are special about this Umbrian town we love and to count our blessings to be able to experience it.

Evening light

So, I will miss:

• The intimate streets of this sweet town, the absence of cars, and the pedestrian nature of it
• The quiet, calm, peaceful, serenity of our convent Bed and Breakfast
• The beautiful marble staircase of our B&B – all 43 steps of it
• The people we know and talk to regularly
• The easy, frequent, unplanned contact with others provided by a pedestrian environment
• The pagentry

Palombela Parade

• The people-centered character of everything we do – meals with Gianpierro, Cristian’s playful nature, Alberto’s philosophy, Federico’s bright countenance, Lorenzo’s grappling with a life change, Donatella’s bright, smiling, happy face, Graziella’s integrity, Giovanni’s passion
• Running into people on the streets
• Walks down Corso Cavour and up the linear park

Viceno Garden

• The lush, well tended countryside
• The exquisite evening light
• The velvet countryside at days end
• Seeing small neighboring towns like Viceno, Monte Rubiaglio, and Allerona perched on their own hills off in the distance and the always-present sight of Orvieto from them when we visit
• How beautifully Italians speak the English language and how beautiful it is to hear Italian spoken

Building Detail

• The simple elegance of so much of what Italians do
• The cozy intimacy of Italian restaurants with their tables close together

Cooking

• All the incredible, fabulous food
• The cheese – the oh so amazing pecorinos, parmigianos, and buffalo mozarellas

Luckily, we return in four months to be able to experience it and enjoy it all again. I am a very lucky person.

Palazzone Vineyard

Read Full Post »