Assisi, Spoleto, and back to Rome

Sorry for the lapse yesterday, but our hotel on the slopes of Assisi was without a functional Internet connection - but since it had a pool and a view worth a million Euros, we were happy. Not much time, so the photos are just here, not organized.

Photo: Our group walks down the main street in Assisi

We left Ponte di Piave in the morning and made a longish (6 hour) drive down to Assisi, saw a pottery demonstration (just glazing, really) and then up to the hillside village of Assisi - home of St. Francis. The basilica was beautiful, but we had only 1/2 an hour in the town. Still, a lot of "Pace e Bene" plates were purchased! I found a pair of egg cups that will see lots of use in our house.

The hotel overlooked the valley and the pool was cool - unlike we, who were forced to wear these goofy bathing caps that are now de rigueur throughout Europe. But when everyone's a geek, everyone's equal....

Next day we visited the medieval town of Spoleto, which bears a certain resemblance in spirit, if not architecture, to Ashland, Oregon. It's the home of a summer arts festival that draws people from all over Italy. Then it was back on the bus for an afternoon free in Rome. Some went to the catacombs, which seemed smart when we were in the roasting pan of the Piazza Espagna, but we had a nice walk through the whole Via Veneto neighborhood.

Photo: The Cathedral of St. Francis in Assisi

I spent my evening with the Miata Club of Rome, and will blog more about that later. For now, it's time for the bus. Everyone's well and looking forward to Sorrento and Capri!

Photos: The glazer at the ceramics factory,
an old doorway in Assisi, and the flying buttresses at the other church in Assisi - the one where St. Francis worshipped - not the cathedral dedicated to him after his death.