Yes. June is finally here, and I cannot begin to tell you how excited we are about this summer.
As most of you know, Ashley will be teaching Landscape Architecture in Cortona – Italy, as part of the University Of Georgia Studies Abroad Program. It has been almost two years in the making, and a lot of anticipation, but here we are. Ashley leaves in a couple of days, and the kids and I will join her in a couple of weeks, after Ashley and her students finish a nice “detour” through Naples and Rome.
For those of you who are coming to visit (or would like to visit), our address will be Via San Sebastiano, 31 – 52044 Cortona (AR) Italy. With the help from the program, we have been fortunate to rent one of the quite lovely Poccetti Apartments, only about 10 minutes from the school campus and the center of town. (I believe our apartment will be the first one on the right, as you enter the building court yard).
Cortona was founded by the Etruscans, and it is one of the oldest cities in Tuscany. It is located on the eastern region of Tuscany, and it is believed to be an area of Italy full of natural beauty. It is only a couple of hours from Rome, about an hour and half from Florence, close to Pisa and Lucca, and it is the perfect “base camp” for day trips to the numerous other ancient and equally beautiful cities in the surrounding area.
We will no doubt visit many places, delight in plentiful, delicious food, and hopefully meet and nourish many new friends. But most of all, I simply want to re-connect to the Italian way of life. Coming from a Brazilian/Italian family, I have most certainly experienced it in full swing before: that intuitive sense that life is for living, for savoring, for enjoying, and for sharing with your family and friends. We all know it is the way we should live our lives, but I certainly haven’t been able to slow things down a notch (or two). So , again, I cannot begin to tell you how thrilled I am to not have to drive, to be able to walk everywhere, to enjoy five course meals without having to rush on a daily basis, and to just bring the pace of life to a more natural tempo. And breathe.
Yep, I’m indeed very excited. And I couldn’t have asked for more energizing news to kick off this site.
Ciao!
3 responses so far ↓
1 Kelly // Jun 12, 2007 at 2:11 am
Keep me posted and buy me lots of presents! Ash if you see this message just know I am thinking about you and hoping you are safe. Be careful, have fun. Love, your sis.
2 Kelly // Jun 12, 2007 at 2:13 am
Gil,
Great job on the website and the informative information. I feel like I am there also! Relax and enjoy the scenery. Lovc you guys.
3 admin // Jun 29, 2007 at 7:53 am
Thank you, Kelly! We are having a wonderful time. So much so, my posts are already falling a week behind. We hope you are doing well too!!
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