Hotel La Rosetta Perugia

... and everything. We had a great view to the surrounding hills.
Perugia is a quaint town with cobblestone streets. We got a bit turned around and ended up back in the same spot we started walking but eventually found our way around the town. Then we headed to Assisi. We walked through markets and saw numerous churches. The stones and narrow streets reminded me of Siena. We grabbed a milkshake and gelato and headed back to Perugia.

... this route before it was through the dark and didn't see any of the beauty) from Florences was some of the most beautiful we have seen so far in Italy. The train takes you past Lago Trasimeno a drop dead gorgeous lake with picturesque islands floating on its crystal surface, surrounded by lush green hills. Now this is the real heart of Italy, were you slow your pace to suit the life around you.

One of Italy's best preserved hill towns ...

... The first Jewish culture in Tuscany.

Then we went to the Synagogue. which is a very peculiar building. It has been restored various times and is located in a street now named after Salomon Fiorentino. It tells of the lasting influence of the Jewish community in Tuscany. The most ancient parts of the Synagogue date back to restorations carried out in 1729-32.

At Monte San Savino Jews were present in two distinct periods:

1421 to 1571, with banks lending ...

... might be better...umm no. Was muddier and smelt funny. The ducks seemed to like it though! Decided to lie in the sun
anyway for a few hours and exit stage left..... I cant believe anyone would want to have a holiday there!

... i see a long steep road going up another way. I ask this guy if its worth the walk. Now I need to remember for future if someone says yes, ask how far, how steep and can i see your pictures? This road was a killer and Im almost at what i thought the end was and it turns the corner and i realise Im only half way! ****... what to do... well i kept going. By the time i got to the top I was ...

... s room. Once because I am a stupid touriste, the second time because drastic times call for drastic measures. And on the subject of bathrooms, many of them here have an I’ve-fallen-and-I-can’t-get -up alarm built into them in the form of a red ball hanging at the end of a long string attached to the wall. When I noticed it in our hotel in Siena I was curious but didn’t pull it because I didn’t know where the alarm would go off. The ...

Spent the day exploring Perugia after deciding not to venture to Assisi or Orvieto. We wore our selves out touring up & down the hilly alleyways & after a lunch needed a siesta!!!! I might have to change my life patterns once I get back to Australia or try to institute the siesta into NorthCorp.

Mandy book a restaurant that American express sight had ...

... asked for a moment to remember Meredith Kercher. She's the student from England who was murdered in November. I'm sure you have heard about this sensational case because an American student from Seattle and her Italian boyfriend are being held as suspects in the crime. Perugia has been quite shaken by this vicious crime. The Perugians - the Italians in general - are not accustomed to this kind of crime. Many of you have asked me about the ...

... the door was open and Signora Ribaldi and her helper were taking the inventory. Fine. We accompanied her through all the rooms of the apartment. She had a hand written list (about 19 pages) of absolutely everything in the apt. I think it took at least 1 and a half hours. Mio Dio again. Anyway, she finally left and we had our first meal. M cooked the gnocchi with the salsa and we grated fresh parmesan on top. Yum. Tried some "table ...

... me how she can keep such a high tempo for such a long duration. I consider myself in pretty decent shape but there's NO way I could keep up with her. One day I aspire to be in that good of shape but for now, I'm still a work in progress! As usual, I wanted to the COOP and haul my 30 lbs or so of groceries back up the hill. Kat of course wanted in so she could go through the entire store (since our last visit had been unexpectedly cut short.) We needed some household items ...