3 days to lift off...

This is the travel blog I promised to set up to document the Italy trip. For anyone reading this who doesn't already know, my name is Becky and I've been dreaming of going to Italy for 8 years. I am finally leaving for Umbria this Friday. I'm going for 2 weeks, during which time I will be living and taking art classes at this place:
http://www.giotto.us/

Here's an excerpt from the school's website describing where I'll be staying:

Overlooking the lush Tiber River valley, Montecastello di Vibio is a hill town in central Italy, in the province of Perugia. Halfway between Rome and Florence, our location provides students the chance to see first hand some of the world's greatest art. A beautifully preserved medieval borgo, Montecastello looks much like it did 500 years ago. A fortress wall surrounds the tiny heart-shaped town; vast panoramas can be seen in every direction, and a tranquil little park sits at one edge. This delightful village is our campus, and a complex of historic buildings houses the School’s facilities.

So that's my life for 2 weeks - Figure drawing in the morning, a traditional Italian meal prepared by local cooks midday, landscape painting in the afternoon, and trips to neighboring regions on the weekends. I'm also planning on plenty of wine drinking, going for long walks in Medieval villages, getting lost on said walks but not particularly minding, and on making some (hopefully) beautiful art.

Wish me luck! I have to finish packing and sign my fancy new passport.