Bob on BAC Umbria - Rome to Assisi 2009

View of Todi from the Road

We woke to sunshine this morning. Because rain was predicted, our leaders decided to arrange for a city tour at 9:30. Then they told us at breakfast that they were going to change the time until the afternoon so that we could get in a ride before the rains were going to hit us. So I got ready to ride. As I was getting my bicycle out, two other riders joined me – Ted and Mark. They told me that the tour time couldn’t be changed. I decided to ride with them anyway. I could do my own tour later.

The loop was advertised as being 65 km with 1200 m climbing. After the first long climb, I was bonking so we decided to stop at a bar in Izzalini for a cappuccino and croissant – excellent energy food. We rode on to Morre where Mark and I decided to turn around and head back to the hotel. It was only 20 km, but we had already climbed about 1500 feet.

We got back to the hotel around noon. I cleaned up and went down the street for pizza. One slice had sliced potatoes and rosemary. The other was a combo with ham, hard-boiled egg slices, olives, etc. Not bad but not nearly as good as in Sicily and Naples.

Piazza Popolo

For the next couple of hours, I walked into the town through an ancient arch called Porta Romana. I strolled up a narrow street that soon became very steep. The street was lined with old stone buildings that contained apartments, shops, churches, etc. The street ended at the main town square – Piazza Popolo. It had a cathedral at one end, palazzi at the other end and on the sides. There were a few shops, museums, cafes and an ATM machine which I used.

I walked back on different streets passing more piazzi and old stone buildings until I came to the city park. I thought that I had taken more photos along the way of the park, the Tempio di S. Maria della Consolazione, the city wall and our hotel. I found out later that my camera had the wrong setting, so none of them came out. Before reaching the hotel, I stopped at a grocery for some fuel supplies and salty snacks. Julie does not like to serve junk food at our happy hours so we have to fend for ourselves. I also keep getting hungry on our cycling routes, so I needed something to keep me going between meals.

All of us had dinner at the hotel tonight, mostly because the food is excellent but also because a thunder storm moved through the area and we didn’t want to get wet walking to another restaurant. I had misto salumni Umbri, which was an overkill of local salami (but very good) and spaghetti with a pepper sauce (a little spicy, and delicioso).