The moment is fleeting...

So since time here is short (in Italy and in the internet caffe) I wont be typeing too much today.. but I do have some interesting pictures.

First up is the duomo in Orvieto, this beatiful cathedral is only a few steps outside of our monastary that we are staying in, so I get to see it every day.


The entire builging is made out of beautiful white and black stone, on the sides there is a horizontal striping with these blocks that emphasizes curves and any niches and the such. The front is all about being vertical and the lines, the towers, everything about it screams a message about reachign towards the heavens (or so our tour guide explaind on the first day (in Italian mind you!)).

Inside the duomo is equally impressive, every facet of this building is ornately detailed, and they did not miss any areas at all when decorating this duomo. Words cant describe how tiny the details are that they paid attention to, but it is phenomenal.

Inside they also have the most impressive pipe organ pipe array that I have ever seen, it is rediculous...



This pipe box is cray! It is mounted 40' over the floor and measures (probably) about 20' deep 40' wide, and over 75' tall...
I consider myself lucky that I went to church this morning and got to hear that beautiful piece of art the way it was meant.

Next up,
We took a day trip to Assisi on Friday and I was excited because I remember going to Assisi last time I was in Italy, and I remebered the "huge field with the big cross" that I was telling all the Clemson folk about. When we got there, this field was the last thing we saw, so I had actualy started to doubt myself..



And lastly, we went down into the Orvieto caves this week and breifly, Orvieto was basically the Pope's bat cave in the days past. This mountain town was the prefect area to lay low because it is on a mountain, so its is easy to turn into a fortress, the caves attract pidgeons (and it is a local delicacy) as a food source, they well their own water... and pretty much is is the perfect caslte, un seigeable and it looks good also.
We were told that the Eutruscans had built this town and it was the perfect castle... to which I wondered.. if it is the perfect castle, why did they get the boot from here?



Thats me and Mardita sporting some hard hats to we didnt bruise our noggins!