The sun came out this week, despite the cold temperatures.

When the sun is out my hair is curlier and nicer, so I’m in a good mood.

I’m sitting here with an afternoon glass of wine, looking at the castle that sits just across the way, which I can see from my window.  I have this song playing.  It’s all good.

Here’s the castle…

Here are some hills as seen from another window…

That said, I’m craving some city life.  And I miss Florence.  So I think I’ll be heading up there before the month ends.  Maybe next Friday.  Should be fun!

So, I’ve moved out of the shared place in the center of town and into a new apartment of my very own.  *Sigh*.   Three and a half years ago I sold all my things and narrowed my life down to two suitcases and some rubbermaid bins (about five, I think).  I have brought those two suitcases around the globe, living in various shared apartments.  Mostly good experiences.

Now I’m tired.  I’m tired of moving around and I’m ready to stay put.  I got the citizenship I was waiting for, my work is going better, and I’m 32.  I want to live alone and have dinner parties and not have to say goodbye to people as I board a plane to the next adventure.  This is it.

A man I’ll call R found me this place, a one-bedroom apartment just outside of town.  I’ll have to catch a bus into the center (or walk just under half an hour), but for a great rental price I get so much more space than I had before.  I’ve moved from the likes of a Franciscan cell to a real apartment.  The ceilings are high, and my view is spectacular from every window.  I see hills, I see a courtyard with olive trees, I see a castle built in medieval times, and as I take my coffee in the kitchen in the morning, I watch noble, wise cypresses bowing their heads ever so slightly in the wind.

I can dance tango in my kitchen.  My bed is big.  The bathroom has good lighting.

This is the most beautiful place I have ever lived.  It’s a dream!  I deserve this, I really do.  And the best part is, I simply allowed it to happen.

*Pictures to follow