Backtracking (Before We Left Town)

Thanks to Wikipedia, I had the plot to La Boheme down cold.  None of us, however, were prepared for the heat in the Teatro Nuovo.  (Except for the self-proclaimed “crazy Italian” who pulls off his shirt–before, or as, the performance begins–to reveal a fairly heavy undershirt, which he restrained from shedding as well.  All good fun, shared in a mix of English and Italian that grows familiar.)

But with the Wi-Fi high jinks, I could never prepare for the arias themselves. So there was the music, the scenery, and the crowd.  Plus the voices, so amazing to be so young.  (The performances are part of a 69-year old tradition of training new talent.  Quite a feat for a town this small.  And one that sustains itself, I would think, by the many days where the program is performed for the schools.)

Home Suite Home

Pozzo della Cava, a nine cave complex, holds archaeological findings from the Etruscan, medieval, and renaissance periods.   

In a foreshortened version of that history, we each find a place to call home:

Keep Those Doggies Walking

Mostly what we did for two days: sight seeing and being in the scene.

Painting By Numbers

Works nicely in the guide to the wonders of the Orvieto Duomo.

Over forty items of interest named on the facade alone; I, a few:

Hill Town Always Sounds Gentle on My Mind

But take a look at this portion of Orvieto’s stone wall.

Or, if you’re bent (a bit) sinister, as I am, look closer.

Those expecting landscapes (instead of faces) may prefer this:

Unless there is another Rorschach test lurking within this close up:

Trying Not to Trip

A pointless exercise (not to trip): tourists, tourists everywhere!

Being ones, we just enjoy the privileges of our accommodations.

Lovely hotel staff make a dinner reservation for us in the “Caves

of Rope-making(?),” where (needless to say) many would trip.

Tale of Our Trip

Like the poor cat, details of our visit to Orvieto have been short changed.

Day 1, Meal 1: after heading for the wrong table, basking in the right spot.

First Turn at the Duomo

As with many a Duomo, the one in Orvieto is a symbol of the city.  Its celebrated facade, with all the splendor of the mosaics on a gold background, illustrates the word “photo-op” in the dictionary of Umbrian travel.  (See for yourself.)

As this outcropping of scaffold illustrates, the idea of “plans” has never appeared in any travel dictionary that we are aware of.  There will be time to return to the Duomo and its facade from many angles.  (For now, a glimpse from afar.)

Returning to Those Pictures

Passing before our eyes (before the iPhone

could be drawn from its holster on my hip):

a man with a pig slung over his shoulders.

But if you look closely, that’s the two of them passing through the beads.

Meanwhile, I’m there hoping he’ll shoulder another to replay the photo-op.

But the best iPhone could manage was a kind glimpse into his truck.