Week 3: Famous Last Words--JFK

"No, you certainly can't."

 So this weekend was a little more laid back than the past couple of crazy, 15 mile-a-day, multiple train, traveling 3-day weekends.  Welllll. . . Kinda.

Friday morning we went as a class to Castiglion Fibocchi, a small town a short bus-ride from Arezzo.  There we visited a shop that creates all sorts of masks and fancy costumes for their town's annual Carnevale.  We got to see the starting materials, works in progress, as well as finished products.  Rows of costumes and shelf upon shelf of mask dazzled the eye, all stuffed in a small and seemingly inconspicuous little shop.  The fact that OUA students and staff got to try on the elaborate masks and dresses only made the experience that much more memorable.

Some students were supposed to dress up and participate in the Carnevale itself on Sunday, but unfortunately inclement weather resulted in the Carnevale being postponed.  So many embarrassing photo opportunities, lost!  Haha.

After an afternoon of freezing rain and then some beautiful snow, we ended up playing a heated game of Pairs--a highly simplistic but extremely competitive card game, at least in our version.  And where, oh where, has our cutting card gone?  Oh where, oh where, could it be?  Lol.

Even later on that same Friday, we attended the karaoke party at MyWay, singing along to Britney Spears and Ke$ha and Avril Lavigne while dancing terribly along the wall.  So, yeah, that happened.

Then, Saturday, we woke up early for a day trip to Orvieto.  Beautiful Orvieto!!  First we rushed up to the Duomo to buy tickets for the Underground Cave Tours.  We wandered the picturesque streets, not caring about the persistent, drizzling rain.  We explored various Etruscan wells--one was even opened just for us, thanks to an adorably sweet, old Italian man.  Lots of friendly cats were found and petted and photographed, the local dishes of pigeon and wild boar were tasted, and we dined in a restaurant suitably above our class, haha.

There were definitely two distinct highlights to our trip, however.  One was having the Duomo doors literally shut and barred in our faces when we wished to go in.  Granted, mass was about to begin, but still, you could hear the heavy wood beams being shifted to lock us out.  It would have been insanely offensive if it weren't so hysterical, haha.

Then, when we headed down to the train station (using the funicular), our train ended up being delayed about 2 hours.  2 hours.  We sat, wet and cold, in a train station for hours, just watching the delay on our train creep up 5 minutes at a time.  Another funny and yet depressing situation.

In any case, we made it back to Arezzo safe and sound, though much later than planned.  Yesterday Arezzo had its monthly antique fair, which was very intriguing and a ton of fun to walk around.  Didn't buy anything this time, but maybe next time.  Now I just have to survive a week of classes and a permit of stay appointment, then it is off to Venice for Carnevale!!!

Buona giornata!



Image Information.
Personal photo of Darah Lueck and cat with Umbrian countryside.  Jan. 31, 2015.
Personal photo of Bill Pritchard and Dr. Kenney at Castiglion Fibocchi.  Jan. 30, 2015.
Personal photo of Carnevale mask at Castiglion Fibocchi.  Jan. 30, 2015.
Personal photo of L'Duomo di Orvieto.  Jan. 31, 2015.
Personal photo of a street in Orvieto.  Jan. 31, 2015.
Personal photo of Umbrian countryside from caves of Orvieto.  Jan. 31, 2015.