Cortona, my new home

Hello all!

We've finally arrived in Cortona, and let me say... it was worth the wait, worth the exhausting journey through Rome and Florence to finally arrive. The drive through Tuscany was fabulous. Each small town had a life and a feel of its own, and many of them we'll travel to on Saturdays during the semester.

Our school and dormitory set up is at the top of a hill, but that doesn't quite describe it. Let's go more with small mountain. The vertical incline is intense, and as we were passed by the elderly women chattering, walking up the hill faster than us, we all thought this has to get easier! Luckily, I'm eating all the pasta and gelato and coffee that I want because I know that I climb our small mountain daily. We are situated on the outskirts of the city, literally beside the city's stone walls. Above our two buildings is Santa Margharita, the patron saint of the city. In WWII, the Germans placed a bomb, hidden inside the city. When it exploded, it was basically a dud because the explosion was tiny. All that was altered was a small rock, thrown all the way across the city, and landed at the statue of Sta. Margharita's feet. If the people of Cortona didn't believe that their lady saint protected them before, you better believe that they do now. They rock has been bound to the church wall, near where it landed.

Our tour of Cortona today was led by a former UGA student, who, you guessed it, fell in love with an Italian and has lived here, happily married for more than 20 years. Anyone up to flying to Italy for a wedding? You may need to prepare. - Only kidding - We'd probably get married in the states.

You can see the view from our bedroom, which opens up to the valley below. Every few minutes, someone just sighs and says, "we're so lucky." We toured the buildings today too and saw our studios and classrooms. They are wonderful, and every room opens up to our view of Tuscany below us. There is no better place, I'm convinced, to study art and its history.

I'm also uploaded a lot of picture from Florence that I didn't post earlier. The David by Michelangelo is unimaginable. First of all, its sheer size can't be matched, but then the perfection of the hands and face. These pictures are of a copy that is placed in the Piazza della Republica, because the real one is protected from the weather inside the Academia Museum.

Enjoy the pictures. I'm really disappointed with the ones that I have of Ghiberti's door on the baptistry in the middle of Florence. These were my favorite things so far, but you'll just have to use your imagination to their grandeur. Some places, the figures extend 3 inches outward. They are amazing. I'm off to dinner and one more meeting. Please send any questions too. I have skipped so much, but there is just so much to say and do. I'm excited to keep you posted, and to dig into the town. I love you all!