Catch Up

 Live from the Green Heart of Italy, it's Saturday Night!!!!!

The weather has been absolutely to live for.  After feeling chilly a lot of the time, we're now enjoying the most beautiful Spring weather and there's not much better than Springtime in Italy. The Wisteria and the Azelia are blooming, the tulips have already gone past their due date and the wildflowers are running mad. The air has a special quality to it, a mixture of wood fire and wildflower scenting. If I could put Umbria in a bottle.....

We're spending lazy, lovely days consisting of walks and sit-downs here and there.  The center of Assisi, known as the Piazza del Comune, is a perfect spot for people-watching and enjoying the sunshine in the afternoon.  The tourist population thickens and thins according to the day of the week.  There still are many, many school groups and tour groups from within the country and outside of the country. Sorry to say, it's not exactly brain science figuring out which are from the U.S. Last week, I was in the shop of a friend and a group walked by.  She immediately said "Americans". I asked her how she knew and she politely answered, "by the round faces".  

When we're not on our walks, we often spend time here, at the Palazzo, in the wonderful garden that overlooks the valley. This is a condo and the shared space of the owners is just a bit of Paradise. We take an elevator to the third floor in the "older" part of our building and a few steps away is a door that opens up to a serene and heart-stopping area. It's in three levels. On the second level is the church. Yes, we have our own church and, we even have a "Church Key"!  Sunsets from that part of the building? Mesmerizing to say the least. 

Joe has been in need of a haircut and has been procrastinating. He was unsuccessful in his attempt to get one in Perugia at a place called "Machete". I'm kind of glad that didn't pan out......But this morning, exiting our favorite little supermarket, he ventured into Il Parrucchiere Belloni Paolo which is right next door. A great hair wash from Carla and then, into the hands of Il Maestro! Joe was in Heaven. Paolo, it was instantly clear, is experienced. Everything went exceedingly well and the deed has been done. Check that one off the list. Next week, it will be my turn.  An appointment has been made but I don't know with whom or exactly where.  I was told, "it's on the Via Fontabella, just above my shop". May I add that Italians can be vague at times.....Stay tuned for what I am sure will be yet another adventure.  Oh, I do know one thing....my hair's future, I am informed,  will be in the hands of one who speaks not one word of English. 

On our way home, we had one more list-checker. Each Saturday morning, there is a market set up right near the entry to the walled city. The vendors sell clothing, jewelry, pottery, produce, flowers, and, last but not least, the ever-present big Porchetta food truck. Now, do I really have to say more? 

 According to Wikipedia:  Porchetta is a savory, fatty, and moist boneless pork roast of Italian culinary tradition. The carcass is deboned and spitted or roasted traditionally over wood for at least eight hours...... 

VEGETARIANS, JUST CLOSE YOUR EYES

The rest of our afternoon was spent in the garden, way up high, here at our residence. We spent a very tranquil hour or two contemplating the beauty of the valley and exploring the area that makes up the upper reach of the property. There's a path beside the chapel, lined with lavender bushes and other specimens that are starting to bloom.  We rounded the afternoon off with a nice little stroll down to the cemetery (again) and it didn't for one moment, occur that we should be anywhere else on the planet but.......guests were due in a few hours.

Yes, "guests", for dinner, no less.  One, American, the other pure Italian. Am I nuts or what?This was the second hosting of the week. Josie came for lunch on Thursday (Umbrian lentil and farro soup) and Paul and Pietro,  Saturday night (and I do mean "night") for Lasagna Bolognese and baked fennel. A nice bottle of Montefalco Rosso and a gorgeous apple strudel from Bar Sensi, both gifts of our guests, and two very tired hosts....all very, very worth the effort, indeed.

To the home of a friend, it is never far.  We've come how many thousands of miles?

Are we gaining weight?  Heck no. No odometer needed. We're walking and neither of us has been behind a wheel in a car since March 20th.