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Published: June 13th 2017
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Geo: 43.0702, 12.6175
DAY EIGHT (8/9) — Assisi
I C, U C, We all C Assisi
We had breakfast on the patio of our hotel, surrounded by oleander and olive trees.
We then visited Assisi, a well preserved medieval hill town designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its art and architecture. Assisi, of course, was the home of St. Francis, the patron saint of animals and founder of the Franciscan order. It's also home to St. Clare of Assisi, Frank's good friend.
We toured the Basilica di San Francesco with a guide, who took us to the lower level first, best known for having the crypt of St. Francis. Then the upper level, with its famous frescoes by Giotto, illustrating the life of the beloved saint. I got reprimanded by a security guard whose job it is to keep tourists from taking pictures; I suspect so they can sell more postcards. Yeah, well that really fazed me.
We then walked through the residential area of this Roman town, which is filled with gorgeous architecture, wonderful flower boxes and scene after scene begging to be captured by my camera.
The streets are quite narrow and on the way down Diane Williams of Ambler, PA had an encounter with a car. The driver brushed her ankle with his tire. Luckily she just suffered some scrapes and bruises and a major scare. The driver, a tourist himself, was most apologetic and very spooked by the encounter. These winding alleys are difficult enough to drive, let alone have something like this happen.
When we reached the piazza, we did a little shopping. I bought Swarovski studs, which are perfect for traveling in Europe when good jewelry is left at home.
At our guide's recommendation, we had pizza (I had anchovies on mine) at Pizza Otello with the Halvorsens. It was adequate. Then we ducked inside the Temple of Minerva, a Roman building erected in the 1st Century BC. It's now known as the Church of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva. Quite pretty, quite blue.
Luggage update: Doug Halvorsen still doesn't have his luggage. He's happy Patty does (If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy). Air France told him yesterday they had closed out his file and really don't know where his luggage is now. Yikes. He suggested perhaps they should reopen it. Duh.
Bad news: Jo-Ann Schacht had her camera pick pocketed. It was a very small camera that she simply slid in and out of
an outside pocket of the bag she threw over her shoulder.
We had three hours to relax upon our return; I considered heading to the pool, but when I hit the A/C in the room, I decided to work on my blog.
At 6 pm there was a cooking lesson. The hotel's chef prepared all the specials featured on the menu tonight. Best of the three dishes was a parmesan basket filled with fresh salad veggies and topped with balsamic dressing made from local ingredients. A taste treat.
We had dinner with Pete and Phyllis D'Angelo of Wayne, NJ; Matt Dawson & Violet Bedelis of Eltham, Australia; and Diane Williams and her daughter Leslie of Ambler, PA. All meals at this hotel have been quite spectacular, although others have had some problems. Tonight, my rare lamb chops came quite well done but they quickly rectified it.
I have fallen in love with Umbria. Ahh.
Note about the Hotel Le Tre Vaselle:
http://www.3vaselle.it
- Very quaint and pretty. Perhaps 50 rooms.
· Good food.
· Nice pool area.
· Very hard beds. Patrick says pillows are yucky.
· TV and internet available but service for both is intermittent.
· Many, many stairs.
· Wide selection at buffet breakfast.
· Quick service
when helped is asked.
· No refrigerator in room but ice bucket is refilled each afternoon. Ice is hard to come by in these here parts.
· Safe in room
· Very nice presentations on wine tasting and cooking.
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; mem: 1.1mb
Carla
non-member comment
What a treat to get 2 blogs in one day!! Loving every moment of your trip. If we weren't booked through 2012, I'd be checking this out for us.BTW, I am following with interest the luggage challenge for the Halversons. Am glad they have rece
ived at least one piece. Reminds me of our cruise to Alaska and the couple who were celebrating their 50th anniversay. They never got their luggage until the last day of the cruise!