Tuscany

Yesterday, I went up to Tuscany to see a couple of abbeys (one that is abandoned and another that is still in use). We were up near Siena and it was absolutely beautiful. A real change from the busy pace of Rome. I could live there in quiet solitude for a long time I think. No wonder the monks chose places like that to live. The first abbey we visited was San Galgano. It's been untouched for a few hundred years so all that remains is the stone walls of the basilica. Very beautiful but it must've been quite a sight when it still had its stained glass windows and was occupied by monks. Also, this place had the sword in the stone. Like the real thing. Awesome.
Next, we went to Montalcino, home of Brunello wine which is perhaps the best wine in the world and very expensive. There we had lunch and visited Sant'Antimo. This abbey is occupied by 10 monks. It had been closed for a couple hundred years but was reopened in the 1980's I think. A gorgeous simple church. The best part is that it is made from onyx which glows shades of red/orange/yellow when light shines on it. In the mornings when light comes in from the main windows, the entire church is illuminated and the stones glow. Also, the monks sing Gregorian chants every day. Imagine a church glowing with light and filled with the voices of monks. We didn't get to see that because we were there in the afternoon but it is certainly something to revisit. This abbey was built by Charlemagne so it is definitely old and it was an impotrant stop on many pilgrimages ebcause it holds the relics of St. Sebastian.
Anyway, it was a lovely trip, a welcome respite. Tuscan countryside is absurd. It's like stepping into a postcard. And we had bright, fresh weather which makes everything seem better. So I'm very happy I went. Hopefully I'll be able to go back to Tuscany. There are tons of little towns that are so picturesque and adorable. So that's what I did this weekend. Also I went to a restaurant with Molly and Meryl where the owner was extraordinarily nice and kept giving us things. Could've been usual creepy Italian man thing but I'm getting used to that. They just can't help it. Or if it was a ploy to get us to come back, it worked. I would've come back anyway because home-made pasta is the most delicious thing ever. On Friday Esther and I went to San Giovanni Laterano and the Capitlone Museums. Both places I will revisit. Especailly San Giovanni because that might be the most important church in the world. It's the Pope's home church (not St. Peter's) and lots of important papal sutff happens there. Plus it's pretty to look at. Other than that, I slept and wasted time.