Friday, May 13, 2011
Cortona Photopost
Sunday, May 8, 2011
"Snowfall" & Removal of the Caterpillars
Today was spent relaxing mostly. The last 3 days have been incredible, and just when I think it can't get any better, it does. Perfect temps, a nice breeze, and no clouds in the sky at all! I hope it stays like this for tomorrow. I'm quite tired, but wanted to write about my adventures.
Midday I was notified by Patrick that he'd discovered a caterpillar nest down on the edge of the property. I can't remember what they call them here in Italy (some kind of processionary caterpillar), but apparently they are extremely dangerous and can cause major respiratory complications if you breathe in the toxic poison injecting hairs they release when threatened. So it was our job to dispatch of them. We headed down to the location to survey the scene. Luckily they were in a low bush (quite odd for the species actually) and we'd decided to try and set a fire to burn them. The plan was hatched to dump fuel on the nest and toss in a match. We took some petrol down with us as well as a bit of Wasp and Bee Spray. The whole Littlehales family was down there ready to stamp out the fire should it start showing signs of getting out of control. I was attempting to record a video of the entire thing but my camera crapped out due to low memory only 30 seconds after I set it up to :[ In any case, we moved in, Patrick hit them with a dose of petrol and I hit them with the Wasp Spray. They didn't seem to like it much but when they began jumping ship, Patrick tossed in the match. I didn't see the initial explosion of combusting petrol, but I heard it and looked to see a large plume of orange flames and brown smoke rising into the sky. It was quite exciting, and quite spectacular.
Needless to say, the caterpillars were toast (literally). The threat had been neutralized completely. Unfortunate that we had to kill them, but they are quite dangerous. I'm still bummed I wasn't able to capture the whole thing with my camera. Oh well. The rest of the afternoon was relaxing. And later we went down to Lago Trasimeno (my first time ever) for a stroll and a pizza. It was a great evening. Tomorrow I will be heading off to Perugia for the day, and I may have also found a local tour guide to show me around. She speaks mostly Italian, so it could be quite an interesting day. I will be forced to use my Italian so I'm kind of excited :] In any case, it should be a lot of fun. Until next time, ciao!
Zach
"Snowfall"
Midday I was notified by Patrick that he'd discovered a caterpillar nest down on the edge of the property. I can't remember what they call them here in Italy (some kind of processionary caterpillar), but apparently they are extremely dangerous and can cause major respiratory complications if you breathe in the toxic poison injecting hairs they release when threatened. So it was our job to dispatch of them. We headed down to the location to survey the scene. Luckily they were in a low bush (quite odd for the species actually) and we'd decided to try and set a fire to burn them. The plan was hatched to dump fuel on the nest and toss in a match. We took some petrol down with us as well as a bit of Wasp and Bee Spray. The whole Littlehales family was down there ready to stamp out the fire should it start showing signs of getting out of control. I was attempting to record a video of the entire thing but my camera crapped out due to low memory only 30 seconds after I set it up to :[ In any case, we moved in, Patrick hit them with a dose of petrol and I hit them with the Wasp Spray. They didn't seem to like it much but when they began jumping ship, Patrick tossed in the match. I didn't see the initial explosion of combusting petrol, but I heard it and looked to see a large plume of orange flames and brown smoke rising into the sky. It was quite exciting, and quite spectacular.
Needless to say, the caterpillars were toast (literally). The threat had been neutralized completely. Unfortunate that we had to kill them, but they are quite dangerous. I'm still bummed I wasn't able to capture the whole thing with my camera. Oh well. The rest of the afternoon was relaxing. And later we went down to Lago Trasimeno (my first time ever) for a stroll and a pizza. It was a great evening. Tomorrow I will be heading off to Perugia for the day, and I may have also found a local tour guide to show me around. She speaks mostly Italian, so it could be quite an interesting day. I will be forced to use my Italian so I'm kind of excited :] In any case, it should be a lot of fun. Until next time, ciao!
Zach
Friday, May 6, 2011
Glad It's Friday :]
I've got the rare extreme desire to write this evening. Actually I think it has been there all day, but now I have a bit of downtime as I am sitting in my room at 10 after 9. The evening is cool and the crickets are playing their nighttime tune. Today I spent the morning working on my new stone path. The stones have been laid completely and I now will need to go back through and make sure they are all set at an even height (I'm just about a third of the way through).
It was quite hot today, I reckon one of the warmest days since I've arrived in Europe. It was nice. The sun beat down and I had to wear a bit of sunscreen; my arms and nose are a rosy hued pink. I stopped momentarily, as I was nearing the end of the stone laying, to watch as a lone ant attempted to carry the remains of a deceased spider across my stone path. He toiled under the hot sun as I toiled under the hot sun. I watched him for at least 15 minutes. The weight was so much that he was kicking up bits of dirt as he struggled to pull it along the way. Eventually a friend came to help him out and they eventually got to the other side of the path, where the loose dirt proved quite difficult for the duo. A third ant came to help out and they finally reached the top of the slope and carried it off to an undisclosed location; sure to be hailed as heroes in the colony. It's amazing what you will notice if you take the time to notice the small things around you. Later, I watched a solitary ant carting off the body of a full-grown Wasp.
Spike (the 9 year old song of my hosts) had his birthday party today and 7 kids in all from the nearby village of Preggio descended upon Sagraia and had a lovely (albeit hot) afternoon playing games and eating delicious food. Afterwards, spent from the effort of managing 7 overexcited children, Rosemary, Patrick and I took wine and chatted on the back terrace. This has come to be one of my favorite times of the day: when work is over and you can finally take the time to really enjoy the surroundings. As summer nears the evenings become prolonged and sometimes I wish I could live here in this time of the day for longer than reality allows. I like to stand on the end of the promonotory and gaze out onto the valley. The colors are all tinged gold and the little houses (quite a variation in size) look so lovely contrasting with the rising and falling of the sprawling vibrant green hills. I spotted a modest home down the way with a small vineyard and three or so small trees near the home. I try and imagine what it would be like to sit down there and have a drink. I noticed also the Pheasants making their calls, and all throughout the valley (If you listen close) you can hear them shouting to one another continuously.
It was defintely a slow paced day; one I enjoyed very much. We should all take the time to look at and enjoy the small things happening around us. The world is most certainly alive and most people never realize the amazing things happening right beneath their feet. Tomorrow is a non-work day. Most likely I'll be off somewhere sightseeing as a tourist, enjoying Italy...until next time...I hope you're all well...
Zach
"The View From the Promonotory"
It was quite hot today, I reckon one of the warmest days since I've arrived in Europe. It was nice. The sun beat down and I had to wear a bit of sunscreen; my arms and nose are a rosy hued pink. I stopped momentarily, as I was nearing the end of the stone laying, to watch as a lone ant attempted to carry the remains of a deceased spider across my stone path. He toiled under the hot sun as I toiled under the hot sun. I watched him for at least 15 minutes. The weight was so much that he was kicking up bits of dirt as he struggled to pull it along the way. Eventually a friend came to help him out and they eventually got to the other side of the path, where the loose dirt proved quite difficult for the duo. A third ant came to help out and they finally reached the top of the slope and carried it off to an undisclosed location; sure to be hailed as heroes in the colony. It's amazing what you will notice if you take the time to notice the small things around you. Later, I watched a solitary ant carting off the body of a full-grown Wasp.
Spike (the 9 year old song of my hosts) had his birthday party today and 7 kids in all from the nearby village of Preggio descended upon Sagraia and had a lovely (albeit hot) afternoon playing games and eating delicious food. Afterwards, spent from the effort of managing 7 overexcited children, Rosemary, Patrick and I took wine and chatted on the back terrace. This has come to be one of my favorite times of the day: when work is over and you can finally take the time to really enjoy the surroundings. As summer nears the evenings become prolonged and sometimes I wish I could live here in this time of the day for longer than reality allows. I like to stand on the end of the promonotory and gaze out onto the valley. The colors are all tinged gold and the little houses (quite a variation in size) look so lovely contrasting with the rising and falling of the sprawling vibrant green hills. I spotted a modest home down the way with a small vineyard and three or so small trees near the home. I try and imagine what it would be like to sit down there and have a drink. I noticed also the Pheasants making their calls, and all throughout the valley (If you listen close) you can hear them shouting to one another continuously.
It was defintely a slow paced day; one I enjoyed very much. We should all take the time to look at and enjoy the small things happening around us. The world is most certainly alive and most people never realize the amazing things happening right beneath their feet. Tomorrow is a non-work day. Most likely I'll be off somewhere sightseeing as a tourist, enjoying Italy...until next time...I hope you're all well...
Zach
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Today
I'm feeling a bit dusty as I sit in bed writing this entry. Outside, the final vestiges of light are fading; the trees and mountains becoming silhouettes, a light wind is blowing. I worked hard most of today and it was truly stunning (unfortunately no photos at all) and it never reached the 20 degree mark like the weatherman promised.
I started with a bit of weeding, and then more soil prep and after having a bit of lunch I proceeded back outside to start on the latest project: constructing a path down the center of the garden using small chunks of sandstone. It's quite fun actually. Initially, it was a bit daunting (kind of like starting a jigsaw puzzle) but once I got started and began lining up the stones properly, I rather enjoyed it. Spent 3 hours or so working it and got 2/3 the way done. Tomorrow I'll finish placing the stones and then get to work on making the entire thing level (I'm determined to achieve perfection). I feel like I'm constructing some sort of Roman road or something (there will definitely be photos when I finish, so stay tuned).
I've got some ideas for some new photo techniques I'd like to try, so I'm just waiting for a clear night to test those out. I have also discovered a brewery located somewhere in Umbria that makes two kinds of beer I have never heard of before: one that utilizes Basil and another that utilizes Truffles (the black or white variety traditionally found using pigs, not the chocolate version, sorry) but they sound quite interesting so I'll have to find a place selling them and get my hands on a couple of bottles. I'm pretty tired, and know I'll sleep well tonight. In any case, we'll see how this weekend goes. It's up in the air right now. Until next time, hope you're all well, ciao...
Zach
I started with a bit of weeding, and then more soil prep and after having a bit of lunch I proceeded back outside to start on the latest project: constructing a path down the center of the garden using small chunks of sandstone. It's quite fun actually. Initially, it was a bit daunting (kind of like starting a jigsaw puzzle) but once I got started and began lining up the stones properly, I rather enjoyed it. Spent 3 hours or so working it and got 2/3 the way done. Tomorrow I'll finish placing the stones and then get to work on making the entire thing level (I'm determined to achieve perfection). I feel like I'm constructing some sort of Roman road or something (there will definitely be photos when I finish, so stay tuned).
I've got some ideas for some new photo techniques I'd like to try, so I'm just waiting for a clear night to test those out. I have also discovered a brewery located somewhere in Umbria that makes two kinds of beer I have never heard of before: one that utilizes Basil and another that utilizes Truffles (the black or white variety traditionally found using pigs, not the chocolate version, sorry) but they sound quite interesting so I'll have to find a place selling them and get my hands on a couple of bottles. I'm pretty tired, and know I'll sleep well tonight. In any case, we'll see how this weekend goes. It's up in the air right now. Until next time, hope you're all well, ciao...
Zach
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Old Church
Today saw me visiting the old city of Umbertide (it is market day on Wednesday). So down the road I went with Rosemary and Patrick; 18km of winding curves and breathtaking vistas down into the city (I am making plans to try and ride a bike up from the city one day). Once in the city I was given the chance to roam on my own for an entire hour (and I certainly made good use of it). I covered a lot of ground. Snapped a lot of photos and saw a major portion of the old city. Photographs will follow. We spent the morning shopping for food and walking around 
the city before returning home in the early afternoon. By the time we were halfway up the hill it was raining quite hard; I would actually classify officially as a downpour, and we scampered inside with the bags of groceries to escape the rain. In 40 minutes the rain would stop completely and the sun would come out. After a quick glance at the weather I realized there would be no more rain coming our way. 
I was given the day off (so to speak) and invited to go outside and do some exploring. At the suggestion of Rosemary I decided I would head up to the old church I had said I'd like to explore and have a look around. After Patrick loaned me both of his lenses (one a telephoto (good for zooming) and the other an extremely wide-angle (good for shooting buildings)) he told me he was up there just a few days ago and that I'd need to give the door a good shove to get inside. So up the road I went under a slight breeze and sunny skies. There are no shoulders on the sides of Italian roads (at least not the country roads) so it's a bit precarious sometimes, but I made it down the way without a hitch. Once there I shoved my way inside and was presented with a rather empty, broken and shattered main entrance. Apparently the church was built in 1956 and was abandoned due to damage sustained during an earthquake. 
I don't know when this earthquake occured, but by the looks of the things I'd say it has been abandoned for quite some time. Ceiling tiles have fallen away, there are holes in the floors and the spot where the altar should be is completely collapsed and you can see through to the basement. I spent about 20 minutes or so walking around the collapsed shamble of a church. Outside the plants and trees are making attempts to reclaim what was once theirs. No idea if there are plans to demolish and rebuild something else or possibly to renovate (I imagine renovation would be quite costly). In any case I did a bit of exploration around the grounds, snapped some photos using both the wide-angle and telephoto lenses and had an enjoyable time as the rain had gone and the temperature had risen. So there you have it. That's that. That's my day and the old church.Tomorrow is Thursday and I'll be expected to do plenty of work. It is predicted to be sunny and near 21 degrees (70 in fahrenheit) so it should be good. This weekend I'll either be sightseeing with Caro or exploring elsewhere solo (maybe I'll try and find a nice city in the region with a decent beer scene ;] ). Oh and also! Next week! Wednesday the 11th, I will be heading down to Orvieto to watch the finish of the 5th Stage of the Giro d'Italia (Piombino to Orvieto). If you are unfamiliar with the race, then google it! It is the last major race before Le Tour de France. I am so excited and happy I brought my cycling jerseys! I'll be wearing mine hanging out near the finish line cheering on all the riders (I hope one of the riders from Garmin wins since my jersey is a Garmin Slipstream (now Garmin Transitions)). Ok so yeah, that's it. That's all, I swear. Ttfn.
Zach
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Quick Update
So where to start? I've neglected my blog somewhat, and have put off writing a new entry for far too long. It was due in part to not being able to find time and not really feeling up to it. Last week was spent in an old and large Umbrian home nestled between Citta di Castello and Monte Santa Maria Tiberina. I attended several dinner parties, drank lots of amazing locally produced wines, and ate lots of amazing foods. I've been here just over a week yet I feel I've been exposed to so many good, interesting, and new things.
I am now at another home about 20 km south of Citta di Castello, in the hills above the city of Umbertide. I am staying with an English couple (friends of my first host). They have a 9 year old son, and 2 curious felines. I've been here for 2 days and I've mostly been doing work down in the garden; weeding, preparing soil, and gathering firewood (I used a chainsaw for the first time yesterday). Today saw me visiting the small nearby village of Preggio (my first ever visit to a village of that kind). It was quite amazing. I imagine only a hundred or so (maybe less) year round residents. The small school has only 6 children in attendance. I'd love to visit there in the evening as I'm quite certain it will make for lovely nighttime photography. The photo I posted yesterday is of the view from my window. I've got an amazingly large bedroom, bathroom, and an amazing view every morning. I'll post another photo of the actual house and I will tell you right now, it is incredible. It's seemingly perched right on the edge of infinity. Not sure what I'll be up to this evening, but I'd like to drink a beer and maybe do some reading or more writing. Tomorrow I'll be doing a bit more weeding and preparing of soil and strimming perhaps. I'm not sure. There is an old church just up the way from here, I'd like to go have a look around. It's abandoned, and apparently quite dangerous because of sustained earthquake damage. Might make for some good photos.
In any case I'm looking forward to getting out of here this weekend for a little excursion somewhere in the region (hopefully with Caro). We'll see how it goes. That's all for now unfortunately, I'll post the photo of the house and the view. For now I'll go relax. Ci vediamo! Ciao!
Zach
"The View"
I am now at another home about 20 km south of Citta di Castello, in the hills above the city of Umbertide. I am staying with an English couple (friends of my first host). They have a 9 year old son, and 2 curious felines. I've been here for 2 days and I've mostly been doing work down in the garden; weeding, preparing soil, and gathering firewood (I used a chainsaw for the first time yesterday). Today saw me visiting the small nearby village of Preggio (my first ever visit to a village of that kind). It was quite amazing. I imagine only a hundred or so (maybe less) year round residents. The small school has only 6 children in attendance. I'd love to visit there in the evening as I'm quite certain it will make for lovely nighttime photography. The photo I posted yesterday is of the view from my window. I've got an amazingly large bedroom, bathroom, and an amazing view every morning. I'll post another photo of the actual house and I will tell you right now, it is incredible. It's seemingly perched right on the edge of infinity. Not sure what I'll be up to this evening, but I'd like to drink a beer and maybe do some reading or more writing. Tomorrow I'll be doing a bit more weeding and preparing of soil and strimming perhaps. I'm not sure. There is an old church just up the way from here, I'd like to go have a look around. It's abandoned, and apparently quite dangerous because of sustained earthquake damage. Might make for some good photos.
In any case I'm looking forward to getting out of here this weekend for a little excursion somewhere in the region (hopefully with Caro). We'll see how it goes. That's all for now unfortunately, I'll post the photo of the house and the view. For now I'll go relax. Ci vediamo! Ciao!
Zach
Monday, May 2, 2011
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