RANDOM ECHOES - ITALY 19/10/05

A fire needs sense, a plan, pattern to ensure it takes - particularly in a small stove such as the one here in the small rural cottage. First, fine apple twigs and small branches that have fallen over the summer and dried in the intense afternoon heat (with the added beneficial addition of the subtle sweet aroma they give off too); followed by some larger hunks of wide, fibrous bark. Finally, when these two have taken without interruption, add the short, thick cut logs.

On the train to Orvieto her face was reflected in the trees and on the vines – a minor miracle.

Orvieto cathedral – nun sits on a small stool alone in a chapel, silent prayers, before a piece of cloth with supposedly some stains from the blood of Christ on it – there’s a theme developing here, see the church in Lago Maggiore. This relic is stretched and framed for all to see, placed high up on an altar. I start to wonder about all these blood stained relics and wonder if there wasn’t some medieval production line somewhere. I mean how come all these sanguine parts of Christ ended up in Italy? Someone somewhere was making a mint out of original religious marketing.