An American Proposal in Italy

Last week David and I got to help with a marriage proposal. Our friend Bonnie's friends from Arizona were in town, and Cameron planned a romantic proposal to his girlfriend Natalie. While Cameron was proposing to  Natalie in the park next to San Giovenale Church, Emily (Cameron's sister), Bonnie, Vitopaolo and I were preparing to light 4 lanterns (Cameron's carry-on luggage), and David was serenading with his guitar. Lighting and releasing 4 lanterns precisely at 9pm sounded like an easy and simple task, but it turned out to be the opposite. The wind at the edge of the Orvieto rock was quite strong, and the lanterns took a few minutes to fill with hot air before you could release them. Needless to say there was a few times when we almost lit ourselves on fire, and we lost a few lanterns. We also came dangerously close to setting San Giovenale on fire, I am guess that would get us deported since it is the oldest church in Orvieto.

It all worked out in the end! Natalie said yes, 4 lanterns we released into the sunset, and we had a pizza and wine dinner in the park to celebrate.

Testing out the lanters

Walking to San Giovenale

David serenading

Emily and Bonnie trying not to light themselves on fire

What was left of one lantern

The released lanterns

Greeting the newly engaged couple

Natalie & Cameron

Natalie calling her parents to tell them the news

Torre de' Monaldeschi

Last Sunday we went to another pool to keep cool during the 100+ degree heat wave we were having. The pool is part of a new resort/housing complex built on a beautiful hill, near the town of Ficulle (about 20 minutes from here). It is next to a very old convent (Conventaccio), that is now just a few partial walls. The place is beautiful!!! Up on a hill with amazing views of Orvieto, and rolling Umbrian hills. The resort has a restaurant, cafe, spa, golf course and more. David has friends who own one of the houses there. It seems like a great place to live!

Residences

Residences

Residences

Residences

Residences

Residences

Residences

Conventaccio

Riccardo, Federica and David walking to the pool

The resort pool

The cafe

View of Orvieto

An old US army jeep parked in the garage

Bartender gig, July 1 2011

Bartender had a gig at the restaurant La Carrozza d'Oro, on Bolsena lake July 1. The night included a wonderful fish dinner, along with a great concert. It was a beautiful night with the sun setting behind the lake. Some of their friends came with their babies, who were enjoying the music and dancing up a storm. I included a video I took of a new original song that Svedonio wrote. Its only partial, b/c I am a little slow to get the camera ready :)

Bartender setting up

Dancing baby

Another dancing baby

Fish antipasto

Miranda's mixed steamed shellfish

My fish lasagna

A very rich chocolate dessert

Bartender joking around

Corpus Domini

Two weeks after Ascension day, is the Corpus Domini festival, a World-wire Catholic celebration, that was first created in Orvieto. During Corpus Domini, there is a parade through Orvieto, which includes almost 1,000 people dressed in medieval costumes. The parade celebrates the Miracle of Bolsena, which happened in the 1200's, in Bolsena not far from Orvieto. A priest whose faith was wavering, was looking for a sign from God of his existence. While performing mass, as he broke the host, Christ's blood spilled from it, onto a cloth below. This reinforced the priests faith, and is now known as the Miracle of Bolsena. This cloth - named "Corporale" and is on display in the Orvieto Duomo. The priest and the whole Bolsena community took a journey to bring the Corporale to Orvieto, where the Pope was in those days.

It was extremely hot that day, close to 100, and most of the costumes are made of velvet. Some people are dressed in armor and carrying heavy axes, or cross bows. The parade starts with each of the quarters of Orvieto: we live in Corsica, so of course it's the best! The parade ends with the Corporale carried by priests. The whole town celebrates, and there were a lot of tourists around. It's a great day to experience a unique Italian festival. Ours included a large lunch at David's parents house, following the parade.

A Corsica flag on our street

Piazza XXIX Marzo

Corso Cavour the main street in Orvieto

David's parents Corsica flags

Torre del Moro (Clock Tower)

Fabio il tamburino

Nobleman 

Capitano del Popolo 

Corsica section of the parade

Medieval guild flags

Emilio, Fabio's brother

Our friend Alberto

Peasants

Il Corporale