News from Patricia in Cortona:
Unfortunately, everything has had to be cancelled this year due to rain. No procession. No lanterns. Just grey sky and rain. But trees are in blossom and little green leaves are shooting, so Spring MUST be here really. Happy Easter – Buona Pasqua from Cortona.
Thanks, Patricia. And to my friends in Cortona, wishing you sunny days…
endless blue skies…
And a good glass of vino!
Ciao!
Judy
Some updates from yesterday’s post:
After Patricia sent me the originals details, including that the lanterns were made of tissue paper, I did some research on them. The ones I found were fire resistant, but apparently not so true for the ones launched in Cortona. Per Patricia, the following updates:
The lanterns weren’t fire resistant at all! In fact if you weren’t careful they caught fire before taking off, and some did just that.
Also, it is the second time Cortona has had these lanterns but the first time wasn’t last Christmas. It was meant to be for Valentine’s Day, 2012, and held on the nearest Saturday to 14th February, but Cortona was under snow so it was postponed and done in March to welcome Spring instead.
So, who knows which season the next lantern launch will celebrate? Only the weather can tell for sure!
Ciao,
Judy
We often think of traditions as steeped in history, handed down from generation to generation. Yet every day, every year, and in any place, a new tradition can be born. Such is the case in Cortona, where a new tradition has begun. This event was scheduled for December 26, but a rainy night forced a three-day postponement.
On December 29, a lovely Saturday evening, many gathered in Piazza della Repubblica for the second annual lighting of the lanterns.
People from neighboring Arezzo, dressed as Father Christmas, organized the event and provided music and entertainment for the delighted children and all who joined in the celebration.
The details and accompanying photos are from Patricia, my local friend, who continues to enlighten me with winter happenings in Cortona.
Each lantern is about 32” tall by 22” wide and made of fire resistant paper. A fuel cell (looks like a piece of coated cardboard) is included and attached to a wire frame at the bottom of the lantern.
At 6 PM, there was a countdown. Together, people lit the fuel cells, released the lanterns, and, of course, made a wish. I so prefer wishes to resolutions!
Quite a number of people, some local and many from regions throughout Italy, filled the normally quiet- in- winter piazza that special evening and watched wide-eyed as the sky above the piazza glowed with floating lights.
No matter from which region they hailed, those gathered enjoyed a spectacular evening and helped carry on a young tradition.
Weather permitting, the lanterns can fly about 1/3 mile – an amazing sight for sure. Once their flames die, the lanterns float slowly to the ground. And while the flames may die, the young tradition continues and Patricia’s lovely photos provide an incredible image that will linger for a long time.
Ciao,
Judy
One of the most beautiful things about Cortona is that it is situated on a hillside at an altitude of over 1600 feet. This elevation provides amazing views of the valley below, called the Valdichiana. Looking out from Piazza Garibaldi, you can see Camucia, the town at the base, as well as Lake Trasimeno, the historical scene of Hannibal’s’ ambush of the Roman army in 217 BC.
Even on a cloudy day, the views are endless and incredible, but the winter views sent to me by my friend Pat were totally unexpected, and in her word, spectacular! My photos from last summer and Pat’s from last week were taken from the same vantage point, Piazza Garibaldi.
As Pat explains, “It happens quite often in the winter. Camucia is in thick fog, and as you drive up the hill to Cortona, you suddenly come out of it into a different world. It’s like being in an airplane above the clouds. Spectacular!”
With gratitude to Pat for sharing, truly spectacular, indeed!
Ciao,
Judy
I just finished addressing our 2012 Christmas cards and am delighted that we now count among our friends several people we have met in Italy. Having the opportunity to befriend locals has enabled us to more fully embrace the Italian culture and is also the reason we consider Cortona our home away from home.
Although I have many photos of Cortona in the summer, I have wondered what Cortona looks like dressed up for Christmas. Fortunately, my friend Pat has obliged me, and offers the following:
These photographs … were taken on different days and always at about six/seven o’clock, so you can see for yourself how quiet Cortona is! It will liven up on Christmas Eve, or perhaps even on the Saturday before …when people who have moved away for work or family reasons come back to spend the holiday period with relations still living here.
Natale 2012 Piazza della Repubblica
Natale 2012 Piazza della Repubblica
Natale 2012 Piazza della Repubblica
Natale 2012 Piazza della Repubblica
Natale 2012 Via Nazionale
Grazie, Pat, for the description and these most enjoyable photos! With all the locals warm inside their homes, I’m sure the delicious aromas from their cooking are filling the open spaces.
Ciao,
Judy
This summer, we rented Il Roseto, the name referring to the lovely garden at the front of the house. The immaculate home is on one floor, no steps, and was comfortably spacious to accommodate all of us. Besides large rooms and modern baths, one of the best features is the outside patio with a large umbrella table and a covered swing, all surrounded by roses and geraniums.
We found the rental through VRBO: Il Roseto. It is owned by Fernando and Anna, brother and sister, who grew up in the house. They have lovingly restored it, yet kept the charm of wood beams, stone and tile. They are very attentive to the needs of their guests and made us feel very at home in their home.
There are two large bedrooms, each with a queen bed, and one smaller room with bunk beds.
The family room has a sofa that doubles as an incredibly comfortable king size bed. There is also a large dining table, which we used for our computers, and a large TV. WIFI works throughout the house as well as outside.
Across the hall is the breakfast room with another dining table and through it the kitchen, small but functional. And after all, who wants to cook too much when there are so many great and reasonable restaurants in Cortona!
The house has two modern baths, each with shower, and all the hair appliances we needed. Sorry about the towels!
Across the front patio, there is a small structure that houses the washer AND dryer, unusual in Italy. There is also a BBQ grill, which Len mastered.
Finally, the location is great. It is inside the city walls, located not far from the Porta Colonia entrance, making parking easy when we had a car. It is also just a few minutes walk to the main piazzas and everything in town, including the buses to nearby cities. Living right in the heart of a neighborhood is exactly what we like.
A great find, a great stay. Grazie, Fernando and Anna!
Ciao,
Judy
Getting the girls moving earlier in the day is easy when I announce, “Let’s go to the market!” First stop, however, cappuccini per cinque…cappuccini for five.
Sarah and Benita
Judy and Len
Mike
On Thursdays, the large market spreads its wares in Camucia, the city at the bottom of the hill. There’s something for everyone: food, kitchen, shoes, clothes, lingerie, toys, linens, flowers, every kind of stuff, and unlike the antique market that was in Cortona on Sunday, everything is new.
And shop we did, well, we girls did anyway. Shortly after arriving, Len and Mike found a caffe where they gradually moved from cappuccini to birra and panini while waiting for us, but they didn’t mind a bit.
Camucia Market
Camucia Market
Prosciutto
Funghi crudi – raw mushrooms – you eat in a salad – the most expensive!
Bellissimi fiori
Arance and ciliegie
Sarah buying her purse
Some of our purchases!
We returned to Cortona for a light lunch outside at Cacio Brillo and were witness to another beautiful wedding.
On the balcony
This one added a new dimension where the bride and groom delighted their guests with a kiss, (this time after the ceremony!) on the balcony of the Commune.
And off they went!
Tonight we are going to relax at home with a large fresh tomato salad and a few pizzas from the local pizzeria. Perhaps later we will get some gelato. Len has figured out the washer and dryer, (unusual in Italy!)…the engineer in him always does! Just one machine at a time, however!
And finally, a nice thing happened to me on the way to the bus this morning. As we walked passed the home we rented last year, a woman leaned out of the second floor window. “Do you write a blog?” she asked. Could it be that she recognized me from my blog photos? Quite surprised, I answered yes! She said she had read the blog and as a result, rented the home for a week with her daughter. Wow…so happy to have helped!
All in a day’s fun – and it’s only 5:09 PM.
Ciao!
Judy
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