Blogs from Assisi, Umbria, Italy, Europe

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What a day! Ursula and John were up early and hiked up Mount Subasio to St Francis’ summer campsite, the Hermitage, arriving around 10:00 as it opened. To get to the area where St Francis and his followers camped it was necessary to go through the monastery itself, down a set of stone stairs and through a series of rooms, each smaller than the last with a smaller doorway than the last, until you finally squeeze out onto the walkway overlooking the ravine and a small stone bridge across to niche where they set up a covering to protect themselves from bad weather. The area is extremely peaceful and as you walk further along the path you find small sitting areas and serene pathways for silent contemplation of nature. At the end of the main path ... read more

July 18 Tuesday Slept in for the first time since we left England. But of course that's 7:30 for me. I took my time getting ready for breakfast and even played some Candy Crush and Fairway Solitaire for a bit. Breakfast was not ideal. No buffet. Choice of over easy, hard, or omelet for egg choices. I went with the omelette. Imagine my surprise to find french fries mixed inside the omelette. They must've used the leftover french fries from yesterday's dinner. LOL. Then they offered really under cooked bacon and long hotdog looking sausages. Once again think God for bread rolls. They had juice on the table but I didn't care for it. When I asked for water they told me I couldn't get a glass of water but I could buy a bottle. After ... read more

Italy, Day 8, Tuesday, October 11 Assisi in Umbria. Our destination today is Assisi in Umbria. Umbria is the only region in Italy with neither a coastline nor a border with other countries, but it has beautiful lakes, rivers, mountains and iconic green valleys. It also has numerous earthquakes. An earthquake was in Umbria in August of this year that caused more damage but the last big one was 10 years ago. Note: in editing this blog I will note that a 6.5 earthquake devastated Norica in southeastern Umbria on October 30, soon after we left for home. Many agriturismos have popped up throughout Tuscany and Umbria in the past 20 years, likely influencing the farm to table movement that started in Umbria. Black celery, (a specialty of Trevi), red onions and seasonal truffles are top ... read more

If it is Thursday it must be Assisi. We arrived last night at the Hotel Castillo about 8:30 pm, the restaurant stayed open for us. They served us a 2-course meal: 1 pasta and 2 a meat loaf with gravy and French fries. The gravy had wheat so I was given local fresh pressed olive oil. YUM. 2 of us cannot eat gluten, the other woman can’t eat lots of other things too so it makes it easy for me. The hotel is high on the hill of Assisi. http://www.hotelcastelloassisi.it/ I never found out if it was old or just made to look old but Assisi is old. Most of the city built in the 1200/1300’s; some older, some newer. We were dropped off next to the old city, or I should say the new-old city, ... read more