Wednesday 11/23 4:45pm Cortona, Italia
I guess there is a lot to tell since this is my first real post about Cortona. I got here Saturday and since then, I've been working every morning. Michaela is in charge of the horses and she is just the nicest person. Her husband, Vasco, also lives here, but I didn't meet him until Monday night, because he was in Germany on a trip. Together, they run a business that consists of horseback riding, wine and olive making/selling, and even though there is only one hotel room, they have people who come in for the week or weekend to ride and see Tuscany. What I've noticed that is a lot different here is that they are smarter with their business and their investments. The second day, Michaela was telling me about everything they have planned, but she said they are only doing one year at a time. And unlike Antonello's wine and olive oil, Vasco has actually set up a business and makes 6 different kinds of wine and olive oil and sells it to resturants and people, and apparently is really well known for his wine. He seems to really know what he is doing, because all three dinners I've had with him, he always makes me try different wines, some which aren't even his. He doesn't speak much English, but it's easy enough to understand him. Also, a different thing I've noticed, both Michaela and Vasco work with me while I'm working. I'm more helping them than doing a job by myself.
Since I've been here, I've really only done two things: cementing and working with the horses.... or more, for the horses. There are 6: Chnas (spelled Chnas!), Nigra, Luna, FuFu, Aida, and Missy.
Yesterday was the most interesting because I started doing the cement work, which is easy enough and I caught on quick, and then we had to walk all 6 horses up the hill to their winter home. They have fields down off the hill, but during the winter, they go up to the forest so they have protection from the wind and cold weather. But marching them up the hill required each of us to have two horses and to walk about an hour up the roads because the walking path was too narrow and too steep. So, the three of us marched on up the hill with 6 horses. I had Aida and Missy, which behaved the entire way because they are the sweetest, but both of the other groups had problems lol. Their winter forset is pretty neat because they can pretty much run around all day and do whatever they want.
There is also Campino and Jovie, who are my favorites animals here. And oh, of course, they are dogs. Campino looks like a wolf, but he's pretty pathetic cause he rolls on his back if you walk anywhere near him. Jovie is a typical border collie. He has way too much energy and he puts it to use by trying to herd the horses, which is not something he should be doing. Today, we were working up at the horses' forest and I spent time throwing sticks out of the fenced area so we could clear some of the space up. Well, Jovie return each one to their place inside the fences. Michaela had to tie him up because he was helping us literally get nothing done. Both are funny because they have the "no one loves me" look down really well, but they have a grand life chasing horses and eating walnuts they find and now that have me, who spends hours petting them and throwing sticks for Jovie (Campino tore is ACL back in June, so I can only throw sticks when he isn't around). Of course I would find the dogs and make them my pets, but what can I say, it's a habit.
Today, after work, I decided to hike aorund the hill above their house. I walked up and around the horses, and then walked around for about an hour, looking for a place that I could see Cortona, which is on the next hill over (they are bigs hills, but not mountains). I finally, after an hour, found a great spot to see it and so now that I've SEEN Cortona, I need to GO to Cortona. Michaela said she would drive me on my day off and she also said that she be more than happy to take me to the train station if I wanted to spend the day in another town. I'm thinking maybe Siena or Perugia? I guess we will see what come up.
And did I forget to mention, Vasco is a former Tuscan chef? The only thing so far that I've had to eat that I didn't like was some weird greens he made on night. They tasted fine, but they really sat in my stomach the whole night. If we have that again, I'm going to opt out if I can, which is difficult in Tuscany. BUT the likelyhood of him re-cooking the same thing is not much, so I'm not so worried. He has also been making me try wine every night, including the honey wine they make, which is really good.
OH yeah, last thing, I have my OWN ROOM AND MY OWN BATHROOM. A dream. I also have TWO down blankets. The couch I'm sleeping on is really fluffy, and so the past two mornings, I've slept until 7:58... when I have to start working at 8am. But, lucky for me, I'm cementing on my own doorstep and breakfast is usually at 930, so there is really no reason to get up more than 2 minutes before. It so weird being fed 3 meals and sleeping inside. Michaela also keeps telling me to turn the heat on for a few hours before I go to sleep, but why? Two down blankets, plus another and my sleeping bag? And the couch? And my pillow pet and another down pillow?
