Hotel Vega Perugia

... the pool but the second day we went back into Perugia and had a look around before catching a train to Assisi. The train station isn't in the centre of Perugia, so we had to catch a mini-metro to the top of the hill which gave us a great view before exploring the town on the way back down. We spent the afternoon in Assisi, a short train ride from Perugia.
Assisi is a major destination for millions of pilgrims due to its religious ...

... 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 ...

... that, everywhere, is the Jewish citizens like everyone else.

Just reached the emancipation of the Jews drew the reaction of peasants belonging to the movement Sanfedists of “Viva Maria”, which starts from Arezzo and is spreading throughout Tuscany. In the summer of 1799 Savinesi Jews are attacked by the population and driven out of town, where they will not return. Some of them will be victims of a real pogrom, which occurred in Siena, where they had ...

So we are really excited that we are getting to go swimming and sunbathing. In goes Castiglione Del Lago into Harriet... we arrive and both said... oh... it was gross. All muddy and nasty. So we then drive to Passignano thinking ...

... unlucky for us they werent working! I was huffing and puffing by the time we get to the top. We wander around the main street and then Im determined to find the place where the games are held. We start walking up, and up and up on the steepest streets you have ever seen! We get almost there and thought the road didnt go any further, then I lost Kathleen... so I walk all the way down ...

Wednesday, We are alone in an Italian villa. It was magical. We slept in and then had breakfast on the veranda.

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 & J's house. Reaching Pettino, we blinked and were out of town. Turning around and heading back down the hill to find a place ...

... makes the pecorino, three different versions, we buy the medium aged.

Mike makes lunch from fresh eggplant and tomatoes, fresh from the garden and turkey breast. We sat on the veranda and chatted until it is time for them to leave for NY.

Marty and I swim and doze by the pool, naked. Around 7:00 we dressed and walked to the ...

... helped us remember and really get in touch with all the best of what that means. I think looking at the faces of the people in the crowd - and just the sheer number - got me going more than anything else today. The fact that our new President comes - as he says - at this moment, on this day, when we need him so much, makes me cry. It also makes me homesick and sorry that I wasn't in the U.S. on this day. I haven't felt that way in a long, long time.

... that ordeal back over to the school we go where now we think we need to the secretary's office at this point. As we are walking back down I spot a girl with what appears to be the same paperwork. She explains that we now need to go BACK to the bank to pay for shipping and handling. Okay so back upstairs to find that now they are closed! See what I mean! It is NOT EASY to do one thing! Okay if I am reading ...

... me. Terrible, I know, but it's true. After leaving the basilica, I headed back up through town to my starting point, where the bus was leaving from. On the way I stopped in at the church of Santa Chiara (Saint Clare), which had a cross that apparently actually spoke to Saint Francis. Well not the cross, but the Jesus on the cross. And they also had the crypt and tomb of Saint Clare there, too, which is always cooler than any fresco. At that point I had about half an hour to get back to ...