27 May Poppi post
It seems to be the case that with each new city we visit I seem to fall further in love. I have found things in Italy I know I never would have if I hadn’t taken a leap and left home. I’m sure that my infatuation with this beautiful country will only continue to grow as we approach the final two cities on our journey, but Poppi has given me a sense of peace that I havent felt in a very long time.
I stayed up a little later than I probably should have last night soaking in all that Florence had to offer before we had to leave in the morning. Because of this I was exhausted and passed out on the bus to Poppi. But when I did wake up and saw all the trees, fields, and open space I was overwhelmed with joy. I love nature and spending time outside appreciating all the bounty of mother nature, but aside from our time at Il Palagia, I hadn’t seen much of this. When I pictured coming to Italy, a large portion of what I wanted to see was the idyllic Tuscan countryside and Poppi is where I felt most at home.
Just now as I was standing in the shower I felt an incomparable sense of peace. With the windows open, the soft warm running water, and birds chirping outside I felt stress free. I also took time to appreciate the classic architecture of the brick archways over the windows and the shutters which let in just enough light.
Perhaps part of the reason why I feel so comfortable here is because of my life at home. My friend Marina is Greek Orthodox and she and her family live on the convent because her dad tends to the land as part of a service to the church. Growing up I spent a lot of time there walking the trails behind the convent and exploring the beauty that the church had to offer in it’s multiple paintings of biblical icons as well as ornate illustrations on the chapel walls.
In short, I think that Poppi has become my new favorite because, out of all the cities we’ve seen, this feels like a place that I could make my home.
