A person is fortunate who has the best of one world. We have the best of two: city and countryside. Having a world-famous, beautiful city accessible for day visits is a pleasure. Actually in a day we visit more than one in Tuscany and, with a little more time and effort, many more throughout Italy. And of course we have the beautiful Tuscan countryside right outside our door.
In our case, one similarity city and countryside share is the hectic and peace that mark the seasons. Statistics say that tourism is down in Italy except for the three major attractions of Rome, Venice and Florence. These cities are full of visitors for most months of the year, but then become “normal” places to live from December through February. So, hectic for nine months and peaceful for three. Of course the Christmas-New Year holiday period is busy too, but otherwise the winter months are ones when the pace slows, you can walk right into even the most famous museums, and the smartly lit, historical streets are particularly attractive as evening comes early.
The hectic and peace of the countryside has another rhythm. The hectic comes in spring, as can attest our upper floor guests who enjoy (!?) the wild concert of the birds nesting in the roof’s terracotta tiles. Of course it is also that time of year when all of nature bursts forth in its glory. One can daily see, really, feel the movement and growth around us. But then as the summer arrives at its fullness and the rains stop, everything seems to come to a halt. The silence is almost deafening. The fauna slows down and becomes still, as does also the flora. “Fall” is evident already in July as plants that burst forth just weeks before start dropping leaves they cannot sustain. Then the autumn rains bring a second flash of renewed life before the winter imposes its annual rest.
We have had an increase again of groups asking for self catering, a situation which was important years ago before we experienced a decline in the travel of youth groups. Maybe the increase now is due to the financial situation, or maybe a renewed desire to travel together. Working with the local township on a proper permission, we think we can offer this arrangement within certain parameters assuring no complications with other guests or with the booking calendar.
In September we hosted the first eco-theology meeting organized nationally by the Italian Federation of Protestant Churches. It served as a forum for exchange and as encouragement for future meetings on the crossing of theology or faith and environmental care. The resultant document being sent to all member churches suggests things that church communities can do to become more environmentally friendly and justice sensitive. It is in Italian, but if someone wants this document, just let us know.
In our case, one similarity city and countryside share is the hectic and peace that mark the seasons. Statistics say that tourism is down in Italy except for the three major attractions of Rome, Venice and Florence. These cities are full of visitors for most months of the year, but then become “normal” places to live from December through February. So, hectic for nine months and peaceful for three. Of course the Christmas-New Year holiday period is busy too, but otherwise the winter months are ones when the pace slows, you can walk right into even the most famous museums, and the smartly lit, historical streets are particularly attractive as evening comes early.
The hectic and peace of the countryside has another rhythm. The hectic comes in spring, as can attest our upper floor guests who enjoy (!?) the wild concert of the birds nesting in the roof’s terracotta tiles. Of course it is also that time of year when all of nature bursts forth in its glory. One can daily see, really, feel the movement and growth around us. But then as the summer arrives at its fullness and the rains stop, everything seems to come to a halt. The silence is almost deafening. The fauna slows down and becomes still, as does also the flora. “Fall” is evident already in July as plants that burst forth just weeks before start dropping leaves they cannot sustain. Then the autumn rains bring a second flash of renewed life before the winter imposes its annual rest.
We have had an increase again of groups asking for self catering, a situation which was important years ago before we experienced a decline in the travel of youth groups. Maybe the increase now is due to the financial situation, or maybe a renewed desire to travel together. Working with the local township on a proper permission, we think we can offer this arrangement within certain parameters assuring no complications with other guests or with the booking calendar.
In September we hosted the first eco-theology meeting organized nationally by the Italian Federation of Protestant Churches. It served as a forum for exchange and as encouragement for future meetings on the crossing of theology or faith and environmental care. The resultant document being sent to all member churches suggests things that church communities can do to become more environmentally friendly and justice sensitive. It is in Italian, but if someone wants this document, just let us know.
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