Natale–Christmas in Umbria
My driveway in Umbertide after a rare snowstorm.
Note: These “postcards” are extracted from the emails that I sent to friends and family while I lived in Umbria. (Umbria is Tuscany’s neighbor to the east.)
Ciao a Tutti,
My year here in Umbria is almost over—I will be home at the end of January. I leave here with mixed emotions. I am anxious to see family and friends at home but at the same time, I cannot bear to leave my good friends and “adopted” Umbrian family—and the little cat Nano (midget) who has become my constant companion.
My favorite Umbrian cat, Nano (midget).
Here in Umbria the weather is a common topic. For months, it has been much warmer than usual—it is colder inside my old stone house than it is outside. It has hardly rained since the incredible thunderstorms we had in July and August, but we’ve had a lot of fog. Even with unseasonably warm weather, a pair of socks still takes at least three days to dry (clothes dryers are not common here). I don’t think the bath towels I washed days ago will be dry until spring. A few days ago, the temperature dropped. Maybe winter has finally arrived.
It is festive here, of course, with Christmas festivities. Strands of lacy lights line the sky above the streets, a huge tree covered with small white lights fills the main piazza, and shop windows are filled with toys and Babbo Natale (Santa Claus).
A couple nights ago, I went to a friend’s in Gubbio, one of the most beautiful medieval hill towns in Italy, to learn a couple of the city’s specialties. Driving into town, I saw the most dazzling sight—the entire hillside of the town was covered in blue and green Christmas lights that turned the hill into the world’s largest Christmas tree, so they say.
How spectacular!
What an exquisite area — and the food must be delectable.
Your Umbrian cat, Nano, looks like he wants to visit Napa.
Cheers,
Carol Troy