Piazza della Repubblica

There's always something going on in the piazzas of Cortona. Piazza della Repubblica is the central piazza and occasionally there might be a wedding celebration.  We were told by a reliable source that an average of 280 weddings are held at the town hall each year.  We were lucky enough to see half a dozen or more as we wandered through the piazza on various occasions.

Another regular occurrence is Passeggiata (the correct spelling-too late to change my mosaic now-sorry) which occurs almost every night in the summertime, but through the year on Sunday nights, the citizens of Cortona come to the piazza to walk around and to visit with the other people of the town.  Between the hours of about 5 and 7pm the people are drawn to the square.  Across from the town hall there are some benches and the older people of Cortona rest there observing the others who arrive with their families, baby buggies and dogs on leashes.  It's wonderful to see the interaction between people of all ages.  I saw one woman arrive with her elderly mother who was wearing a lovely floral dress.  They sat on the bench and took out their tatting which they worked on while they enjoyed the goings on in the piazza.  Others sit at small tables and enjoy a glass of wine as they visit with friends and relatives.  There are handshakes, kisses and smiles.  People are happy as they sit in the evening light of Cortona.  It's a wonderful tradition and lovely to see.
I'll be linking to Mary's Little Red House - a great place to learn what other
bloggers are thinking about this summer.
All collages and pictures can be enlarged with a click.
Thanks for visiting and I'll be back with part two of the Piazzas of Cortona next weekend.

Thank You Vee!

Early one morning I checked my blog and saw a note from Vee at A Haven For Vee, asking me to visit her that morning.  I was delighted when I saw her pictures which told the story of her giveaway winner...lucky me!!!  I really was thrilled to know that soon I'd be the owner of a gently used Mennonite Girls Can Cook book.  There's a reason why she was passing it along.  Before the cookbook was published Vee commented that the Mennonite Girls could really cook or similar words to that effect.  Her comment was the inspiration for the book title. Once it was published Vee ordered a cookbook and they honored her by sending her an autographed copy so she decided to pass her first copy along.  When I picked up the parcel at our country post office earlier this week, I was so excited to see the cookbook that I opened it right then and there.  The young woman who was working there wasn't busy and was delighted to listen to my story.  Imagine my surprise when I pulled the book out to find the cookbook wrapped in cloth and tied in a bow.   Vee was so thoughtful that she included a beautifully made reversible apron with a row of pockets all along the bottom front.  I tried it on in the Post Office.  Here's the first recipe I intend to make. The recipe for Butterhorns caught my eye and took me back to the booths in the Dominion Hotel Cafe. We high school girls didn't need a menu.  We always ordered Butterhorns and hot chocolate. I just can't wait to taste them!   The cookbook is amazing and I have enjoyed the stories written by the members of the group.  Thanks once again Vee! You have a generous spirit and a wonderful blog.

The Streets of Cortona

Thanks to all of you who welcomed me back from Italy.  I still am catching up at home on the farm and so haven't been able to spend much time on the computer.  It rained for most of the time I was away and it's still raining almost every day so my perennial beds are in need of care.  I have been outside every time the sun shines trying to catch up with weeding the garden and picking the rhubarb.  But I do want to share some of my pictures with you today...

 

When you stay in a little place like the hill town of Cortona, you eventually know where to walk and how to walk but at first it was very challenging for me.  My daughter had booked a little apartment for us to stay in for two weeks but was surprised it was not located just part way down the hill where she had stayed with friends 5 years ago.

We enjoyed our little apartment at the base of Via Guelfa.  Piazza  della Repubblica, which leads onto Via Nazionale, the only level street in Cortona,  was located 390 walking steps up the hill. 


Needless to say, my first walks uphill were interrupted with several separate "moments" to catch my breath and surprisingly the walk down hill seemed even harder.

We met the travel agent, a friend of my daughter's, who said, "Watch the old people. They zig-zag like they're skiing as they walk downhill."   I can honestly say that on our second last day I actually made it up to the piazza without stopping once and I really felt proud of that accomplishment.

Because I've always loved photography and because I finally had a digital camera to take to Europe, I have zillions of photos.  I've decided to do a theme each weekend so today I'll show you some of the picturesque streets of Cortona.  Next week I'll show you the Piazzas.  Hope you enjoy this walk!

Home from Italy

Five and a half weeks ago I set out to meet my daughter in Rome.  For years we'd been planning a trip to Italy together but life and circumstances collided and finally this June we were able to make our mother/daughter trip happen.
We had a wonderful time together and because we stayed for 2 weeks in Cortona and then another 2 weeks house sitting for a good friend, we experienced the best of both worlds...a small hill town in Tuscany and the bustling big city of Rome.

Click to enlarge collage...

I have so many tales to tell and pictures to share but I haven't even had time to look through my photos so will just share a few with you this week.  Hope you're havng a wonderful summer!
Think about stopping by Mary's Little Red House to see how others are enjoying the lazy days of summer...