Buon giorno,
I've given up on getting hot water out of the tap. I'll just use the electric kettle some more. My hosts informed me that the power is going to be turned off tomorrow morning, so I need to make my arrangements early.
Not waiting around for hot water, meant I got to go to Assisi. It's an easy trip from Perugia, but it is a Project, and I'm worn out. I stopped at the fancy bakery and used my voucher to get a couple of sandwiches because I'm also hungry. As I came home I spotted a lot of folks sitting outside on this pleasant afternoon enjoying their aperos.
From Assisi station it is wise to buy bus tickets from the kiosk across the street. It's a long way to the historic center and the last part is very steep. In fact the whole place is steep. I got a work out, but it was well worth it.
Francesco Bernardone was the son of a prosperous merchant who horrified family and friends by abandoning his carefree life as a rich young man about town for the life of a religious beggar. He took "Poverty" as his lady, and lived the life of an itinerant preacher supported by alms. Later he founded the Friars Minor with his followers, who dressed in coarse brown robes and lived a life of self denial and service. Francis is one of the most beloved of Roman Catholic saints (Even the late Pope took his name for his own!) (Even hard core Protestants admire Francis) because he was the most radical Christian since Jesus himself.
My first target was the grand basilica dedicated to him and where he is buried. The place is magnificent, but I couldn't help thinking it would give Francis fits if he knew. Why wasn't those resources given to the poor? he'd ask.
I'm glad I got there early. It was already crowded and services were being held, but the place was navigable. I paid my respects at Francis's tomb and sought the way to the upper basilica as the place has two stories. I can't remember how long ago it was, but Assisi suffered a catastrophic earthquake, which damaged the cathedral and crumbled the priceless frescos by Giotto and other distinguished artists depicting scenes from Francis's life. The works have been carefully and effectively restored.
Giotto is one of my favorites. He revolutionized narrative painting with the use of accurate depictions of three dimensional space and placing figures in it and in relation to each other in a more natural, yet dramatic way.
When I walked by on my way back there was a giagantic line to get into the church. Come early, Amici.
Then I strolled through the town--uphill. Now Assisi is Very Touristy, but I also saw many signs of genuine piety and devotion. If you want religious tat, you can find it. There are also high end religious and secular items on offer and also a lot of food. You will have no chance to starve. And the thing about walking up hill is that when it comes time to leave one can go downhill. There are also public toilets scattered about. I used one for .50 Euro, and it was clean and well maintained. It just irritates me when I have to pay to pee.
It's a very pretty town and quite well preserved, and I think it would be fun to stay there except I prefer Perugia. I did (I hope) build up some good traveller karma by helping two women find the bus stop for the airport.
Bus after bus came. "Stazione?" "Non" The woman who was waiting at the stop with me and I sort of bonded, and I could understand her Italian. But obviously we all got home just fine.
Ciao for now
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