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!

I'm linking to Mary's Dear Little Red House.  Perhaps you'll feel like stopping by to visit.  All the pictures can be enlarged with a click.  Thanks again for your comments and I hope to be visiting your blogs very soon.  Sunshine Always - Sheila