Cortona

If you've ever seen the movie, "Under the Tuscan Sun", Cortona is where it was filmed and Cortona is where I went next. The town is up on a hillside like most of Tuscany and the streets and alleys are all straight uphill, very steep. When we arrived we weren't expecting the hike to the hotel that was literally a 45 degree angle and quite the work-out. We stayed in a 4 star hotel that was previously a convent (weird!). All the rooms were different and mine just happened to be the short ceiling (of course) but they were really nice and cute.

Luca, our LDM professor/tour guide, then took us on a hiking tour of cortona. First we stopped to get some delicious gelato to build up our energy for the hike of course. We then started heading uphill and saw a few churches and beautiful buildings along the way. As we got higher, the more trees and open area we saw. Since it was fall time, all the leaves were different colors and with the bright tuscan sunlight we were getting, it was a gorgeous day. Every bend brought a new sight to see and every corner a fantastic view of the valley below.

Once we finally reached the top, we were out of breath but the view from the top was stunning. I just closed my eyes for a second, thanked God I was there and then opened again.The trees were slightly blowing in the wind, the sun was huge and shining over everything. I could see little towns here and there. All sorts of vineyards and farmland covered the valleys below. To my left I could see what was either the sea or a large lake, to my right more mountaintops to explore. Right below us was the church and to see it from the top was incredible. I couldn't stop looking around and just soaking it all in. It's one of those places you try to take a snapshot in your head to hold onto for those cold stormy winter days. Just beautiful.
We then began the descent down and took a lot of fun jumping pictures with the tuscan valley in the background. I even met a Dad who was visiting her daughter who is a University of Illinois student, small world that got even smaller. One of her cousins goes to St. Charles North. Funny how even though I'm miles away from home, I run into a family who lives no more than 45 minutes away from home.

Once we got back we rested before our wonderful dinner we were about to have. We all got dressed up and had appetizers on the terrace in the center of town. We were served champaign, mini pizzas, cheese and other goodies. Then we went into the restaurant where I had my first real italian style meal. We had the first course which was some kind of spinach pudding (disgusting). We also got our glasses of wine which were delicious and I learned how to make music with my wine glass!

Then we got the rice, then the ravoli, then the salad, bread, and steak, and then the dessert of some kind of chocolate cake with vanilla gelato. I was so full by the end of that meal. Then some of us went out for the night and had fun in the town of Cortona.

The next morning we woke up and ate a delicious breakfast in the hotel and left for Pienza. Overall I loved Cortona the most because of it's beauty and simplicity.