Castello di Poreta Spoleto

... today. That has to be my favorite saint. Very busy here even though end of season. No wireless interent. We have one more day and we start home. I think we are ready to get home. It has been beautiful here and I have learned so much, but all good things must come to an end. See you all next week I hope.

... pizzeria where I had delicious lasagna. After lunch we browsed through the many stands. Sample after sample led to some major purchases. It was hard to pass up the various chocolate products when the smell just filled the air. There was everything from chocolate beer to chocolate &#8220;pills&#8221; to chocolate pasta!! <br><br>Heaven.<br><br>I&#8217;ll update you soon,<br><br>Siara

... the market emerging in the center. Che bella!!! The festival was in full force with booths of chocolate and related prodects as far as the eye could see. Unfortunately, also were crowds as far as the eye could see.<br><br>My camera batteries had taken a surprize turn and I needed to go find a tobacco shop to buy more and Licia opted to wait in the center. Unfortunately, i got a little lost on the way back ...

... br>We had a traditional dinner consisting of foods from that region. I had a pasta followed by the most sumptuous lamb. And Licia had the same. We took a stroll through the charming village and then drove back to our village for the night.<br><br>It was quite cold but with the fresh air and quiet, I got a great night's sleep.<br>

(Steve)<br> After saying goodbye to the splendour of the seas, we made our way to the Venice train station and boarded the next train to Perugia. Known as the 'green heart' of Italy, Perugia reminded us a lot of Tuscany but greener. We were staying in a farmhouse so we had to catch a bus out of the city and after finding a few helpful locals we were pointed down a long dirt road. <br>Our first day at the hostel was spent lazing around ...

After seeing most of what Florence has to offer we decided to head back to Perugia our original stop six days ago and see if we could actually get further than the train station. <br><br>With our 11 o'clock departing on time for a change we were soon headed out of Toscana and into the rolling hills, jagged mountains, swathes of olive orchards and ancient stone buildings that make up Umbria. <br><br>The scenery on the train ride down (although we had ...

Wednesday, We are alone in an Italian villa. It was magical. We slept in and then had breakfast on the veranda.<br><br>I made a picnic lunch out of the things we bought yesterday and feeling very brave we drove to Pettino. It is a small mountain village about a half an hour away from M &amp; J's house. Reaching Pettino, we blinked and were out of town. Turning around and heading back down the hill to find a place ...

Today Mike takes us for provisions for our picnic we are planning for Tuesday. They leave for NY today and we will be on our own. Mike has us drive so we get the feeling of Italian roads and drivers. He takes to the local butcher, Hugo, an artist with meat. He makes beautifully aged prosciutto, 15 months, compared with the 2 months in the US ...

... first of many we are going to see. After visiting their friends&#8217; charming little artists&#8217; apartment we are off to lunch, more wine and great food. <br><br>Back home to jump in the pool and take a much needed nap.<br><br>That night Mike makes us wonderful pesto pasta, drank more wine and talked into the warm Umbrian night. After our hosts went to bed we made love while moonlight showed in the window and the crickets chirped.

... his girlfriend Lauri could cook in it. "Work" seemed to entail watching the laborers, thinking, and changing his shirts. In between "work" he seemed quite content to zip around in his Peugot convertible with the fore-mentioned Lauri. I don't wish to be misunderstood here. The place was lovely, clean and aesthetic, and at 37 Euro a head, including breakfast, you really couldn't complain. I think we all felt that the place was somewhat underachieving ...