I wake up to my alarm at 6:30 AM. Ugh, time to get ready for the bus again. Jane and I shower and clear out of our hot little hovel. The crowd arrives on time and we are off to the bus area. We get the bus to Pergia at 8:00. Davide asks me if I plan to visit the murderer. It is interesting what the Italians think of the Amanda Knox case (of course they think she is guilty). I try to give my perspective but I don't think I made much of a case with this native. Funny, before I left home, many people that I met who knew I was going to Italy asked, "Are you going to visit that Amanda girl there?". (strange I
thought, she is not a tourist attraction). It takes about 1.5 hours by bus to get to Perguia. Too bad Pergia is known for this case now in the States versus for their chocolate. We get a quick breakfast(cappucinno and a crossaint). I use the restroom and I am charged 20 cents..first time I have been charged for the WC this visit but still I really feel I could go broke in this country with the size of my bladder! We catch the bus for Santa Maria degli Angeli (down the hill from Assisi). We walk down the short way to the hotel. We check in...boy it is up a lot of stairs.
Jane and I settle into the new room. This is a big room and it has a big bathroom..and working air conditioning! Still no WiFi...I guess you need to do all your commincating by prayer here near Assisi. We take a short half and hour to settle into the new place and then Davide leads us on the bus up to Assisi (all but Sonia who has decided to take a break). Assisi is as lovely as I remember it. St Francis did have some prime real estate here in the Umbrian hills. We climb up to the castle/fortress at the top of the hill, which is quite a hike. It is hot up here on the crest of this peak. Jane (she is not into churches or castles...hey, that's Italy) and Davide stay outside but the rest of us decide to pay the fee to go in, I figure even for the respite from the oppressive sun. It is fun to wander around the cramp spaces. We make our way through one long tunnel, it does not seem like there is no end, like looking down a hall of mirrors. We do finally reach the end and then go up a case of tight, spiral stairs and we are at the look out tower. There is an awesome view of the surrounding area. We enjoy being like gerbils in a large Habitrail for awhile and then we decide it is time for sustenance so we go back out to meet up with Davide and Jane.
Davide knows of great pizza joint just down the hill so we follow his advice. He says the pizza is great here and it is even though it is made by a female chef...once again those Italians have a hard time allowing the old time sterotypes fall. Davide asks if I want to share a beer and I say, "Sure"(In my best American accent the Aussies say). It is a huge mug of beer(see photo) something I would need all day to put down so good thing(for me and my bladder...and my kidneys) that I am splitting this one, it seems like it should be Oktoberfest. Of course we all get pizza. I get my with small artichokes on top. It is a great little meal. Davide thinks he could marry this woman...the stomach does rule in all countries. Davide then leaves us and Kurt, Ann, Steven, Jane and I contiue to look around Assisi. We got to the church of St Clare. There are portraits of the popes in here so I get a photo with the protrait of my birthday buddy, Pope John Paul the 2nd. Down in the basement of the church there are relics from St Claire and St Francis. I take a picture of one of St Francis' shoe...he needed better footware. I guess St Frances had problems with his legs and he was afflicted with Stigmata(some angel came down at one point and lazered in the holes in him or something like that)...and well there is one of St Francis' stockings here with blood spots on it...cool(maybe he just had venous stasis ulcers but the laser eyed angel is a better story).
We then wander on the St Frances' basicila which is massive and quite impressive. His bones are downstairs and you can down and take a look at his crypt but there is no actual bone viewing or evidence of blood in this area. We get a few pictures of some monks around the place. One with a guitar...is he like the flying nun? Everyone then has had a day of it and we go back down the hill to the hotel. Kurt is looking for the internet and I wouldn't might trying to use a computer here so we head into the little square(next to the big church) in this town. The internet place is closed and there is no sign statin their hours or telling us that they are on vacation or anything. Well, this calls for gelato we think. Jane and I get the gelati and Kurt get an orange soda. We take a little break from the heat is this tiny shop and then head back to the hotel frustrated with no communication but of course with satisfied stomachs.
We rest up and then head down for dinner. We eat dinner at the hotel tonight. I decided to go for a little meat tonight so I get the fixed menu. The spaghetti starter is good but the pork steak is terrible. It is dry and overcooked, everyone who ordered this is terribly dissapointed. Kurt was due to get this hamburger dish but only one was available so Kurt got the pork, darn I hate when they run out of things out a resteraunt and then tell you until you after you have already got your mind set on it(it was only 6:30 after all). At least the wine is good. We finish up and decide to go into the little town and check on the internet again. Still no sign of life at the place and Davide reads all the signs and declares it a mystery. Just closed up for a holiday but did not inform the general public ( seems strange to us from States/Australia/Canada to run a business that way). We hang around the town. People have beers. They have a foosball table at one bar( I forgot what Davide called the game but he wondered where the name Foosball came from...good question, it is a wierd name). Davide and I become the reigning champs at the foosball table(having all those siblings aids in some skills). With no more challengers, Davide's and I's title intact, we head back to our nice big hotel, up the stairs and off to bed in our new town of Santa Maria degli Angeli.
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