This was the best day yet at La Romita School of Art. Yes, it was very hot, but we had so much fun! I'm going to include more pictures than usual here, in part to give some names to faces but also to share the joy of community.
We began our day in the small town of Tarquinia. For the first time, Edmund was coming with us as he had volunteered to drive our mate who had come down with Covid. He told us he doesn't miss a day at the beach.
Cynthia and I wandered up the main street, lickety-split, and stopped by a wonderful sculpture. This allowed a lovely boutique across the street to catch our eyes. While she tried on multiple, beautiful bespoke items, I bought a lacy bathing suit coverup for my youngest in white linen. (It fits me perfectly, so I might just keep it...) C. kept trying on clothes, so I told her I was going to see if I could find the famous Etruscan Tombs on the other side of town.
My hike took me to the top of the town, and the little hill offered outstanding ocean views. I started thinking, maybe this is the place to retire, especially if there were any old houses on sale for a dollar. I found the church of San Francesco, and felt I had to go inside a church named for San Francisco's patron saint. The church and convent were built at the end of the 13th and beginning of the 14th century, after a St. Francis miracle. Rebuilt in the 1650's, it was a great example of Roman architecture. But I needed to move on, even though the church had natural air conditioning with its thick walls.
The map to the tombs suggested a ten minute walk, but 25 minutes later I nearly turned around. I had to be back at the bus in under an hour. With no restaurants or water fountains in this residential neighborhood, I decided the site of the tombs was the best bet for water and a bathroom. I was rewarded by the drop-dead gorgeous archeologist, who greeted me at the entrance and spoke perfect English. He gave me a map, a free bottle of water and asked why I had come. Curious, I said. He told me not to miss the Tomb of the Hunters and Fishers.
Each necropoli had a blue plaque with information in English and Italian on the outside, a small building erected on the top, and steep staircases down to the tomb.
This first one was a lovely tomb with a painted ceiling. I entered another one, and it was pretty cool as well. I walked down several stairs and pressed a red button in the dark. The tomb became illuminated with light and I could hear a fan. I wondered how much it cost to dehumidify a 7000-year old Etruscan tomb.
The third and most publicized tomb had two chambers, I discovered. After walking down the steeper stairs, I pressed the red button and nothing happened. When I pressed it again, the front chamber lit up but the back appeared to be in a blue light. I could see the painted swallows on the back wall. Then a hum much deeper than the air fan vibrated through my chest cavity. The hairs stood up on my spine and would have on my head but I was instantly covered in sweat. I thought I might be having a heart attack, so I practiced deep, slow breathing. The vibrations increased, and I took a quick picture, said "I mean no harm to your home" and sprinted up the 34 steps. Well, as quickly as someone on the wrong side of 55 could move. At the top, I looked back and a swallow swooped over my head from the inside, nearly missing me with poop. This has to become a poem!
I had 20 minutes to walk back to the bus. I'd sweat through my pink shirt and my white jeans were so heavy. According to the map, there was a shortcut. I found a wonderful, narrow street next to the town's medieval defensive walls, and stayed on the shady side. I ended up at the viewing park, but the gate to go down the stairs to the plaza meeting place was locked. Two workmen helped me find another path, one taking me by the elbow, saying, "careful" or something in Italian. I made it back in time for a quick visit to the gelato store where I ordered my favorite combo: pistachio and strachiatella, or vanilla with chocolate chips.
Next: the BEACH!!!
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