When In Orvieto: January 2009

We have finally arrived upon the shores of Italy and have begun our four-month excursion across its beautiful countryside. Prior to our departure, however, we have already encountered quite a few interesting experiences…mainly including my uncanny ability to lose important documents and/or electronic devices such as passports and digital cameras (Don’t worry, I always manage to find them.) So, our last night in the United States was hectic, to say the least. Upon having just purchased a new digital camera after James and I sent my old one swimming in the family hot tub, I was bound and determined not to let anything happen to the new and improved version of the poor little Nikon. So determined I was, that once Lindsay arrived to Kansas City, I was in a mad panic to find where I located the new camera. Let’s just say panic is an understatement. Below, is proof of what happens when a perfectly good packed suitcase falls victim to my paranoia.

Let’s just say the camera was found…just not in this particular suitcase.

Moving right along, our next city to conquer was Washington D.C…the Land of Obamarama. Perhaps conquer is not the right word as much as lounging around the Dulles International Airport for six hours for an eight hour flight to Rome. While there, I ran into two of my good ‘ole buddies from Capitol Hill…Senators Biden and Obama (The next day, I’m told they were sworn in as Vice President and President, respectively. Weird they didn’t mention anything to me.

After our trip across the pond, our arrival to Orvieto was welcomed with open arms from many of the citizens, as well as the faculty of the Centro Studi. (Chin-tro Stoo-dee for those of you planning to learn Italian via my blog.) The first item on our to-do list was to get moved into our respective apartments. Josh, Ryan and myself were escorted less than a block from the Centro Studi and within sight of the Duomo di Orvieto (A rather famous cathedral in Italy) Therefore, when I peak out our tiny kitchen window I can catch a glimpse of this magnificent piece of architecture.

In order to document just how amazing this city is, I decided to take a series of photographs walking you through the trip from the Duomo to our little apartment nestled in this historic Etruscan town.