Hot days in Assisi

We left Loro Cuiffenna on a very hot and sunny Saturday and headed towards Assisi.

I bought a new mobile phone a few days before we left NZ,  and I must say I havent actually made any calls on it yet....but the best thing it has been doing, is acting as our GPS. We have a program on it called 'Nokia Drive' and it works on GPS satelite. We have chosen our 'person to speak' from a list and our person is called Kate. So Kate is in charge of getting us around the country.

Its a totally brilliant program and Kate is using up-to-date maps and seems to know exactly where we are and how to navigate us through small villages - even if we are walking!

Well anyway, Kate decided to take us on the scenic route when we left Loro Ciuffenna, heading towards Assisi. We have no idea why, but maybe she just thought we would like to see some more of the scenery before we moved on. Anyway, we ended up driving along the top of Lago Maggiore. And it was there we stumbled across this lovely lakeside village of Passignano. So we decided it was lunchtime and we needed a stretch anyway. What a lovely little spot. It was made more so, because it was a stunning day and already 32 degrees according to the car thermometer.

I seem to have also got a 'step fettish' because these ones also took my fancy. The big curved lumps either side are solid rock - the foundations of the main part of the house that just happen to be sticking out enough to make some steps to fit. Quirky and interesting - well to me anyway - and very, very old!

The rest of the trip to Assisi was on a main motorway - not the Autostrada - but still fast. There were a lot of tunnels and this one was over 1km long, and that's not the longest one we have been in. They are always one way and have 2 or more lanes inside. Fast and smooth.

We arrive at Assisi mid afternoon - us and about 20 busloads of tourists. We hadn't booked a hotel in advance and I think that was a good idea, as I doubt we would have found our way around in the first little while until we got our bearings.

We parked and walked down into the village - by now its 34.5 degrees and we are seriously hot. The big stone walls of the medieval villages really hold the heat and throw it back at you every possible chance. After a short wander we find a lovely wee hotel called Hotel Belvedere. Book in then have to find the car to bring the luggage. Our fears of losing the car were unfounded and we got back to the hotel without a problem. We parked with one wheel on the road and one on the footpath! Checked in and up to our room for lightning fast showers, and then back out to park the car again, in a proper carpark, before we got a ticket.

Then its time to find a cold beer and explore. There is a lot to see here. We love these little places - much more than the big cities. They are intersting and quirky and have little stairways in unusual places - just begging you to go up - or down - just to see whats there!

Like this one :)

This was a nice spot on a hot day too. The bronze was very cool and the shade underneath was just inviting a snooze - however the shape of his leg was very uncomfortable and didnt beg you to linger long.

Most of the day crowds started to disappear by about 7pm and there were only the resident,s and the tourists who were staying, left in the streets. The evening was really lovely and we walked and explored the town by night. Interesting lighting effects using candles inside glass jars to light the steps up to a wee restaurant or bar. Romantic :)

This is the night view from our hotel balcony down to the street below. Lovely isnt it? We sat on the balcony at twilight before we went out for dinner, and had a glass of wine, and just watched and listened to all the people walking below. No-one was aware we were even there.

I just had to include this picture Craig took from the street looking into a shop display. We had never seen so many cakes before. I dont usually have a sweet tooth but I would have fancied being left inside there for the night with a spoon to taste all the fillings. Lots of creamy fillings of various flavours as well as pan forte and other cakes with fruits, and of course chocolate! In every possible way - grated on top, melted, creamy and smooth.

Tomorrow its Monday here and we head off again towards the East Coast and will be staying at Ascoli Piceno for the next week. That means I can unpack properly!

Happy Mother's Day !