Perugina Chocolate and an Assisi Sunset

OMG Perugia and Assisi in one day! A late start got us to Perugia in time to join a tour group of Americans through the huge Perugina chocolate factory. There were people from Whidbey and Camano Islands in the tour. After consuming WAY too many free samples, we drove to the top of the historic center and joined the throngs of mostly students walking around streets that wizards could confuse with Diagon Alley.

We arrived at the Papal Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi at dusk, as the pigeons and hooded crows gathered to roost. This church is the Mother Church of the Franciscan Order, and Assisi is the birthplace of St. Francis. The Basilica, which was begun in 1228, is built into the side of a hill and contains the crypt where the remains of the saint are interred. The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recognized the Basilica as a World Heritage Site. We ate at a great trattoria in Assisi…if anyone is headed there anytime soon be sure to ask us for directions.

Tipico Bagno Toscano

We are delighted with our accommodations and especially the bathroom technology. This is actually David and Shan's (thanks to Silvia and Giancarlo) which we include here for the gorgeous watercolor...similar to ours, but without the art. Note the two levels of flush on the commode, the bidet, and the towel warmer!

Sunday was hot and gorgeous so we did laundry, drying it in the Tuscan sun. It came home smelling a bit smoked from the haze of olive tree clippings that every farmer seems to be burning right now. Then Janna, Shan, Liz and Spring headed to Fonteverde, a famous spa in the nearby town of San Casciano dei Bagni. We lounged around for hours then toured the town a bit, including one of the churches. Dinner was a simple affair at home: prociutto, salad, cheese bread, peccorino, pici pasta, artichokes and aqua frizzante.

Montepulciano and Pienza

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Hitting the Sights

Yesterday we enjoyed the Cetona Saturday market and actually purchased a few things using our rudimentary Italian. We are getting pretty self-sufficient in getting our basic needs met with wild hand gestures and a few words. Note Janna sitting pretty with a cappucccino in the square at Montepulchiano. For those of you wanting to know, this is the town featured in the Twilight movie New Moon...you'll see both David and Spring in photos under the famous clock tower if you scroll through the photos (see above). The drive there and further to Pienza was through rapidly greening hills, spotted with tulips and daffodils. Spring (the season) is in full force here and everyday has been warm and delicious. Last night we joined David and Shan's friends at a Napolitano pizzaria for a wonderful evening of loud Italian and English conversation...oh, and delicious pizza. Spring (the graddaughter) wowed everyone with the Italian she's been rapidly learning from David, Shan and practically everyone we meet.

St. Francis slept here...

Today we explored Cetona and had a delicious lunch at the the best osteria! After a refreshing siesta and gelato Liz, Spring and Shan hiked the path below to the Santa Maria in Belverde. (Pictured at left - Shan, Spring and Janna outside the church) This site is actually three churches (the first established during the 13th century) that were built on the site where St Francis slept in the nearby travertine caves. We were guided through the churches by a young man who is a participant in a drug treatment program (Mondo X) which now occupies the grounds. Then we drove to San Casciano dei Bagni and strolled around the ancient castle and charming village.

Click here or cut and paste the address below for more pictures (even though the web address says "Yellowstone," it's Italy). http://grandyellowstonetrip2010.shutterfly.com/pictures/44

On our way to Cetona

Liz's friend David Schuldberg, whom she's known since preschool, picked us up at the Florence Airport. On our way to Cetona, we stopped at a rest stop known as an autogrill. There, Liz and Spring each had a glass of freshly made blood orange juice, featured here.

Beginning our adventure...

Spring joined us in Cincinnati. We then flew to Paris. Here's a photo of us in Paris in front of a poster honoring women scientists around the world. We checked out several terminals at the Charles de Gaulle Airport because of a long layover, and our favorite was G2. We also learned a good host gift for Americans in Tuscany is a baguette from France. And Tylenol.