“Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced.” Psalms 105:4-5 NIV
I always hope to have a “Moment to Remember” on every trip and I did. On the farmer’s road toward Montefalco, I was looking out on the Umbria Valley at the vineyards covered with lime green leaves. The silver grey olive trees were scattered as far as you could see. Mountains in the distance were covered with low clouds and I will never forget the scene. My Italian “moment to remember.”
After a great meal and wine tasting in Montefalco, we went to the Church of San Francesco, which is a city museum. The deification of St. Francis with frescos showing him in cycles of life like Jesus were painted by Benozzo Gozzoli (1450-1452) as well as other including Perugino, Melanzio, Mezzastris, Romano and Tiberio d’Assisi.
We learned about making frescos. The artist uses fresh paint on small portions of wet plaster painted before the plaster could dry. This church had Renaissance, Middle Ages and Gothic paintings. We had time for hot tea and cappuccino before we boarded the bus in our dirty clothes and muddy boots.
Our boots were caked with clay, the colors of the painting revealed the beauty of the story, and finding the bathroom sign was the only humor for the day in Montefalco.
What do you do when the weather is rainy on vacation? Do you substitute indoor plans? Nap or Read? Would you walk 4-5 miles in rain and mud?