Catching up

So you've now read what I've been doing in my free time which explains why I haven't been posting anything. Normally I like to wait until a topic/theme comes together, but I'm so behind that I'm simply going to post what I like and tell you why.

Let's see, here's one photo project I've been working on -- creating an alphabet using images around Viterbo as the letters. Here are some of my favorites:

Random events in December:

Brad, Kevin, Richard and I (the U.S. hires) had to attend an all-day acculturation class as part of our immigration process. We were hoping for a "culture" class -- Ancient Rome, Renaissance art, Fellini, etc...but instead, we were treated to videos on the computer (available in MANY languages) about healthcare, legal status issues, workers' rights, etc. Snoooooooooooooze.

Our video hosts

Languages available

Brad pretending to focus while correcting papers

More signs of Christmas in Viterbo

Yes, that is a creche you see inside a roll at the bakery

Da Vinci Santa

Hedgehogs at La Antica Latteria: semifreddo, panna, nutella e pignoli

Chocolate Legos

Chocolate Pinocchio

One of my advisees went to the Viterbo hospital for a week due to an appendicitis. I was fascinated by the decor outside the surgical unit, where families waited in the hall.

File under: would never see this in the States

I accompanied another advisee to Rome for her Georgetown interview. Loved the graffiti on trains.

Max and Savannah were a shepherd and shepherdess in the school's Christmas play. The whole gym was turned into a scene of life 2000 years ago (kids were assigned stations -- Max and Savannah spun wool) while the Nativity play was going on on stage.

File under: things you never thought you'd see

We went to Orvieto for the day. There was a jazz festival going on, so it was packed. I actually took very few photos. But here are some obligatory ones of the duomo...

Love the lines...not just the black & white ones

Pasta shop ready for tourists like me who are fascinated by the various shapes and colors of pasta

I kept trying to think of something crafty to do with the ones that look like hats. LOVED them. But as Laura said, why can't you just buy them to eat them?

Another shop where EVERYTHING was made of or made to look like chocolate. Wacky.

Max forced into photos next to various items in the street...

Ride to Orvieto (I was feeling very car sick and welcomed the stop)

Max & Mimi

And finally, a photo I've been promising people for a long time (since no one believes me) -- it was going to go into an entire posting about the various types of vending machines in town (there are many), but again, I'm behind. Forgive the blurriness -- iphone camera inside a neon-lit room.

A vending machine down the street from our apartment. Yes, that is pasta and sauce you see there. You never know when a hungry group of people may drop in, causing a family member to run down the street in search of more pasta and sauce.