Bob on BAC Umbria - Rome to Assisi 2009

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Basilica of S. Francis of Assisi

Today was an official rest day from our bicycles. I was up at 7:00, awakened by my alarm. (I am sleeping well). We had a nice breakfast buffet with another coffee machine. There were some oranges and apples, but not an abundance of fresh fruit. There were lots of carbs and sweets, though.

After breakfast, I sat in the lobby lounge area with my laptop and read my email and published yesterday’s blog. While I was in the middle of uploading my photos to Flickr, the network went down. I wasn’t able to connect since then with my laptop. My iPhone worked.

Julie arranged a guided walking tour of the town which started at 9:30. We walked over to the Basilica of St Francis of Assisi which was just around the corner from our hotel. We were warned a couple of days ago that the Basilica was closed to tours on Sunday, so most of us visited it yesterday. The upper Basilica was open, but we didn’t go inside. Instead, our guide talked about the whole Basilica while we stood in the upper piazza.

Home of Porchetta, Pane and Vino

From there we wandered up via S. Francis and stopped at several points of interest in the lower town. Apparently there is a friendly rivalry between the lower town and the upper town. Flags in the lower town are red while flags in the upper town are yellow. One of the spots we stopped at served porchetta, pane and vino. We watched them unload the fresh pane. I couln’t wait to get back there for lunch.

We crossed through a gate and entered the upper town. Here we visited the Basillica di Santa Chiara, built in 1265 in honor of the founder of the Order of the Poor Clares. We saw S. Clare’s tomb and the Crucifix of San Damiano.

Continuing up the hill, we walked past the Cattedrale di S. Rufino where a wedding was just starting. The bride was being ushered into the church by her father. In typical Italian fashion, as we walked past, several people were showing up late for the service.

We wandered around the narrow streets in the upper town looking at really old houses and some Roman ruins. Our tour finished at the main square – Piazza Comune.

Home of Porchetta, Pane and Vino

Several of us took off for the pork sandwiches and wine. The sandwiches were a little dry, but the pork was tasty and the wine was robust.

We headed back to the hotel for a short rest. Afterwards, I went on a solo stroll stopping for gelato and to say hello to Fabrizio in La Bottega dei Sapori. His shop was recommended by Rick Steves. I took several photos while meandering back to the hotel.

The weather today was sunny to cloudy with temperatures in the 60’s.

Happy hour was at 6:00 again. The hotel prepares the antipasti and provides the wine. It serves brochette, olives, cheese, cold meat, etc. The wine is local reds and whites. Tom reviewed tomorrow’s route. The queue sheets needed some work.

Wood-Fired Oven in Trattoria Erminio

Seven us us (Tom & Julie, Dick & Phyllis, Ted & Kathy and me) slogged to the top of the town and ate at Trattoria Erminio. The food was the best so far. I had prosciutto and melon, coniglio and spinach with some vini rosso della casa.

I got back to the hotel at 9:30.