Sep 13, 2012 - Back to Orvieto

After Lucca's less-than-stellar performance as a "city you can't wait to get back to," we were very happy to be able to make our way back to the king of the hill towns in our region,I Orvieto.  We had spent part of two days there already, but had heard that it was a wonderful city to experience at night.  Staying at a highly recommended hotel there would give us that chance. We lugged our daypacks up the hill on the funicular, and made our way to the Duomo Hotel, just off the main square, Piazza Cahen.  Again, we were struck by the massive...

Sep 10, 2012 - Lucca

So, having plied the many quaint villages and hilltowns of central Italy, and realizing they  were close to so many other places they had heard about or wanted to visit, our intrepid travelers, at great expense, took off for areas west of Florence.  They had heard much about a famously walled town called "Lucca," and Ms. Vikki, on two other occasions, hadn't made it to see if that infamous tower had quite fallen down yet in Pisa, so they gave up their quiet rural abode in Moruzze and headed out. Lucca ??? -  what can we tell you about...

Sep 8, 2012 - Todi... A revisit

So, needing a day to recover, we decided to stay close to the homestead, putz around locally and try out the vaunted Internet at the Todi public library.  We also were looking to try again the sensational pasta that the waiter brought to us on one of first days here. After a hike up the hills to the San Fortunato cathedral, we found the library, tucked behind the church.  We were greeted by a very accommodating staff member, who gave us the login and password for internet access, and we settled in to get some work done, on a real computer!...

Sep 8, 2012 - Change in plans...Lucca here we come

Sudden change of plans and this becomes our last day at the villa in Umbria.  We spend the day doing the simple things that have made our stay so special:  first thing in the morning off to our cute little local cafe, where the lady already knows us and if we sit very long without ordering, will come and ask Vikki if she can get her a cappuccino; our drive past the old farmhouse that Ms. V. has so fallen in love with ("If that place were so sale, I DEFINiTELY would not be leaving...");  sitting at the windows on the upper floor of the...

Sep 5, 2012 - Florence

So, sports fans, when last we left you, it was storming in Assisi and the weather was supposed to stay that way for two more days.  Not the kind of conditions to go anywhere; the sort of conditions which would warrant staying close to the home base, relaxing, spending a quiet day, catching one's breath, right?  Folks, we're in Italy!  We're not going to just sit around, we want to SEE stuff! Thus, even though rain was in the forecast, we decided to see about going to Florence for the day.  When we woke, it was a beautiful morning - blue...

Sep 5, 2012 - Assisi

We were told that Assisi was an easy hour drive from our place.  We HADN'T been told it would involve 45 minutes on the Italian version of the Autobahn.  Here, you stay in the right lane for driving, left lane only for passing.  And these crazy Italian drivers come up behind you at 90 miles an hour, hang out five feet off your rear bumper and wait to pass.  Ms. Vikki had numerous heart attacks throughout the day as we experienced our drive across Italy.  Really an experience! Once in Assisi, we were amazed at all the churches in the town...

Sep 5, 2012 - Civitellla del Lago and Montecchio

Background:  Orvieto is the major municipality in our area, but it probably has only ten to twenty thousand inhabitants.  From there, we drive twenty to twenty-five minutes along a lake before going way up into the hills to our little village of Moruzze, which has maybe fifty year-round residents.  As we have been traveling the roadway of the area, we keep coming across signs for two towns - Civitella Del Lago and Montecchio.  We've seen so many signs for Montecchio, seemingly from wherever we are, that I started saying, "I guess all roads...

Sep 3, 2012 - Vatican City

So, I'm on the top bunk. My alarm goes off on my iPhone at 445am. I turn it off, however I keep hearing a sound of lightly playing music. I'm, must be another phone in the room. Three guys came in around 4am. Anyway, it turns out that I had set my Tablet alarm too. While getting out of the top bunk, my foot got caught in the sheet. Uh oh, I came crashing down, however I was able to catch my fall with one foot and an elbow. Yep, kinda hurt, but I survived. Jumped back into beds and checked the weather for Pompeii. It's pouring rain. I'm...

Sep 3, 2012 - Civita

So, at the glowing recommendation of one of our premier guide book authors, we decided to visit the renowned hill town of Civita, southwest of Orvieto. After a number of wrong turns and missteps (how has anybody ever found this place?), we arrived.  Following the horde of tourists on a Sunday who had indeed found this little spot, we got out of our car and proceeded over to a lookout point, with Civita off in the distance. I have to say, it takes your breath away.  Looking at this place, you can't believe it's possible.  Off in the...

Sep 2, 2012 - Roma, I'm here!

This report maybe a lil out of sort. I'm writing it 3 days later, I think. The time is passing quickly here in Europa. As usual, didn't sleep much on Saturday night / Sunday Morning. Up at 6am to catch the first train to ROMA! Wanted to do Pompeii first, but I missed out on the cheap tickets and the times I wanted were sold out. Well, Im leaving Pisa. Difficult to do because Simona has Been so gracious, sweet, kind, generous, patient, funny, fun and extremely hospitality to this absent-minded American! I know she will be reading this so I...

Sep 2, 2012 - Todi and Orvieto

Todi is an amazing hill town.  Unfortunately, the funicular wasn't working, so we had to hike up to the top.  And those of you who know Ms. Vikki at all know that hiking is not exactly her most desired activity.  But, you can all be proud of the girl, as she made it up some of the steepest streets I'd ever seen, and a loooong way up as well.  Once there we marveled at all the shops and restaurants (how do they get all this stuff up here?) After seeing all the sites, and as the girl let me know she was going to fall down if we didn't eat, we...

Sep 1, 2012 - Our first full day

Checked in to the villa.  Exactly as pictured, quaint little village with a church steeple right behind the villa, which was pealing this morning, calling everyone to services.  The little hamlet where we are staying, however, is WAY out in the countryside, a long drive to anywhere. The scenery is absolutely classic.  Rolling hills, stone farmhouses and golden fields galore.  Pictures of all this to follow.  It's hard to drive any distance at all without wanting to stop and take a shot of the incredible countryside.  Soooo picturesque! We...