JULY 31 THURS JULY 13 Umbria (state), Assisi and Perugia

Dino has it right - That's Amore! Go Bubba, your song to sing today!










ON the other hand it is a big hot mess over here- front page new.   ITALY TAKES IN 4400 NORTH AFRICAN REFUGEES TODAY!  Truly a nightmare for this country.  Why don't they shut down the borders?  I guess it's easier to ask the UN to foot the bill.


Back to touring...
Early ride down the mountain, to the taxi, to the ferry to the bus....a bus never looked so good.  We drive across the countryside north to Umbria.  First stop Assisi to see the town, the Cathedral and tomb of St. Francais of Assisi- one of Pleeps favorite Saints.


DETERMINATION




What were Bubba and Boca thinking to sign up for a "land trip" for a couple of weeks in July in Italy?  We are determined to finish it, thats for sure, that is if we don't get heat stroke, can heal the jacked up knee Boca is now gimping around with, the tiny tiny tiny European style showers-hoping Bubba doesn't slip and put an end to it, bags out at 11 pm and out the door by 7 a.m.,  at least a million steps a day to climb, fighting over who will use the cane for the day, desperately in need of a pedicure and civilized spa day, Bubs hair looking like a throw back to the 50's  and of course not a peep out of Pleep- he's loving every minute of it.  Per Pleep- "KEEP ON TRUCKIN MOM AND POPS!"  The struggle continues.

Breakfast of champions.  Seriously, their avocados are ever so delicious with a nice constancy, way better than the mushy ones  Bubs buys at Costco.  Take the high road Bubs and please try Whole Foods for the ava's.  Big difference in taste and texture.  Love, Betty Crocker.




Our fearless leader, aka tour guide Lynn, is doing a hell of a job.  Her knowledge of history and culture of the Italian people adds so much to the trip.  You know Boca loves going to school.



We stop off at a "truck stop" Italian style, pretty good chow and some food shopping available.  Bubs couldn't make up his mind on which pasta to buy- more for the suitcases Bubs!




AND THERE WE ARE...

It was the birthplace of St. Francis, who founded the Franciscan religious order in the town in 1208, and St. Clare , the founder of the Poor Sisters.   The 19th-century Saint Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows was also born in Assisi.  This area of the world has a long long history dating back to thousands of years ago and my son made me promise not to torture you with the details.  Basta!  This place was quite the hot bed of holies.  Pope Gregory IX canonized Francis on July 16, 1228. Along with Saint Catherine of Siena, he was designated Patron saint of Italy. He later became associated with patronage of animals and the natural environment, and it became customary for Catholic and Anglican churches to hold ceremonies blessing animals on his feast day of 4 October.  On June 18, 1939, Pope Pius XII named Francis a joint Patron Saint of Italy along with Saint Catherine of Siena.  

On 13 March 2013, upon his election as Pope, Archbishop and Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina chose Francis as his papal name in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi, becoming Pope Francis.  At his first audience on  March 2013, Pope Francis told journalists that he had chosen the name in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi, and had done so because he was especially concerned for the well-being of the poor.  He explained that, as it was becoming clear during the conclave voting that he would be elected the new bishop of Rome, the Brazilian Cardinal Cláudio Hummes had embraced him and whispered, "Don't forget the poor", which had made Bergoglio think of the saint.  Bergoglio had previously expressed his admiration for St. Francis, explaining that “He brought to Christianity an idea of poverty against the luxury, pride, vanity of the civil and ecclesiastical powers of the time. He changed history."   Bergoglio's selection of his papal name is the first time that a pope has been named Francis.

Now the site of many a pilgrimage, Assisi is linked in legend with its native son.  He is remembered by many, even non-Christians, as a lover of nature (his preaching to an audience of birds is one of the legends of his life).  Besides  also being a lover of animals, Bubs liked the camo vehicle at the entrance.

Assisi was hit by two devastating earthquakes, that shook Umbria in September 1997. But the recovery and restoration have been remarkable (in Italian time), although much remains to be done. Massive damage was caused to many historical sites, but the major attraction, the Basilica di San Francesco, reopened less than 2 years later.  Per Bubs, you better check that elderly lady in front of me....she may be packing- as in some salami.

Funny, the Italians can be vigilant about entrances to their religious sites but not their borders?

The Franciscan monastery of St Francis was begun immediately after his canonization in 1228, and completed in 1253. The lower church has frescoes by the late-medieval artists Cimabue and Giotto; the upper church houses frescoes of scenes in the life of St. Francis.  What's the difference between a fresco and and icon/iconography on the wall? 






As mentioned. the Basilica was badly damaged by an earthquake in 1997, during which part of the vault collapsed, killing four people inside the church and carrying with it a fresco.  Steps, lots of steps.  Coupled with the heat made it a memorable time.  Not many tourists here today?













Time to go inside the basilica Boca.  Boca loves St. Francais of Assis- he has a special holy day for our pets.  And yes all dogs go to heaven!  Hey what is the difference  between a Cathedral and a  Basilica and a Church?
















The Basilica is a pious place and a serene place to say your prayers.  Do you pray?  How often?  How long?  What do you pray about?
















They have installed two video cameras in the crypt of the basilica so Catholics worldwide can make a "virtual pilgrimage" to the saint's tomb.  The camera can be accessed at  www.saintfranesco.org

Devotees of St. Fracais can also send their prayer requests to  latuapreghiera@saintfrancesco.org








And if you are inclined, you can have your picture taken with a pretend friar?  There must be a reason for the Michael Jackson hat.




















It's a beautiful place to honor St. Francis- in his hometown.
















Maybe the heat kept the tourists away??
















The town, right down the hill from the basilica, had some interesting characters...I guess this man wanted to pattern his life after St. Francais?
















In addition, to the gelato and tourist shops-, there are tons of St. Francais stuff you can buy....most of it made in China.  Note to Catholic friends:   I bought mine at the church so doesn't that correct the lineage?




















Pleep found a bag he had to have as he has the matching shoes.
















Worth the trip to visit, whether you are catholic or not.  It was enlightening to learn about this very holy and special man.













And it's always a good idea to...


Know that Bubba and Boca pray for you daily.  Do you feel the love?










On to Perugia via a gorgeous country side drive.  Lynne tells us, Perugia is lifted by a hill above a valley patterned with fields, where the River Tiber runs swift and clear, Perugia is Umbria's petite and immediately likeable capital. Its centro storico (historic centre) rises in a helter-skelter of cobbled alleys, arched stairways and piazzas framed by magnificent palazzi (mansions). History seeps through every shadowy corner of these streets and an aimless wander through them can feel like time travel.

Back in the 21st century, Perugia is a party-loving, pleasure-seeking university city, with students pepping up the nightlife and filling cafe terraces. The hopping summer event line-up tonight includes one of Europe's best jazz festivals.  Driving through the Italian county side is a real treat- but it is so dry?  It is official as of today, they are in a drought.

Bubs makes sure there are 5 pillows, 10 jumbo towels, and a BIG shower, don't forget the ice and whatever my wife calls about, for the love of  God just do it.  It will be better for all of us.






A gorgeous view from the hotel.












And there it was, right out our front door.  The Umbria Jazz Festival is one of the most important jazz festivals in the world and has been held annually since 1973, usually in the month of July, in Perugia, and surrounding cities of the region of Umbria Italy.  Brian Wilson is scheduled to perform "pet sounds".  Didn't our Beach Boy retire?




Ooo, they have some food and booze tents set up Bubs.  You know Boca and Pleep love street food.















Young people, lots and lots of young people.  This is a university town so the young folks come in all kinds of packages...tats, pink hair, out there clothing and Boca and Bubs enjoyed some unique looking and listening opportunities.
















Had to try the Pig Pizza.  Absolutely delish, geeeeze, I keep looking for something I don't like.











The Ricola tent...is that the Italian version of Melania?























Bubs is staying up past his bed time...this should get cray-cray or should I say crab crab?
















Another picturesque old town, filled with concert goers.















 Lots of pizza eating going on- for this family, everyone gets their own pizza.  Excellent idea!  Takes the back and forth of what do YOU want on the pizza and who had how many slices.  Salute!

















Oh no said Bubba- time to head back to the hotel.












Right after a taste of sweet offerings.










Have you heard about the Umbria Jazz Festival?  Me neither, but boy do they know how to put on an event.    Loads of fun listening and people watching and of course the pig pizza!  Pleep enjoyed showing off his Patron medals.




And Pleep wanted to make sure you are reminded about the Amanda Knox trial.

Meredith Susanna Cara Kercher (28 December 1985 – 1 November 2007) was a British student on exchange from the University of Leeds who was murdered at the age of 21 in Perugia, Italy, on 1 November 2007. Kercher was found dead on the floor of her bedroom. By the time the bloodstained fingerprints at the scene were identified as belonging to Rudy Guede, police had charged Kercher's American flatmate, Amanda Knox, and Knox's Italian boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito. The subsequent prosecutions of Knox and Sollecito received international publicity, with forensic experts and jurists taking a critical view of the evidence supporting the initial guilty verdicts. Knox and Sollecito were released after almost four years following their acquittal at a second-level trial, and in 2015 they were exonerated by the Supreme Court of Italy. Guede was tried separately in a fast-track procedure and in October 2008 was found guilty of the sexual assault and murder of Kercher. He subsequently exhausted the appeals process and is currently serving a 16-year sentence.  Per Wiki.

DAY 30 WED JULY 12 THE ISLE OF DREAMS-CAPRI

ITALY CONTINUES TO AMAZE US

Perry Como & Anne Bancroft -WHO DIDN'T LOVE PERRY COMO!  Pleep can't stop singing the tune.





CAPRI....well actually we stayed at AnnaCapri but toured the island and more. We were here 10 or 12 years ago and boy has it changed.  Still stunningly gorgeous but oh so many day trippers and t-shirt shops.  Yikes.

Capri, an island in Italy’s Bay of Naples, is famed for its rugged landscape, upscale hotels and shopping, from designer fashions to limoncello and handmade leather sandals. One of its best-known natural sites is the Blue Grotto, a dark cavern where the sea glows electric blue, the result of sunlight passing through an underwater cave. In summer, Capri's dramatic, cove-studded coastline draws many yachts.

Per the Mayor of Capri "Capri's fabled beauty and refined hedonism (used to be refined anyway) has charmed them all, from Roman rulers and Russian revolutionaries to Hollywood legends. It’s the perfect microcosm of Mediterranean appeal, a fusion of glittering grottoes and coves, Roman ruins and chichi piazzas.

Already inhabited in the Palaeolithic period, the island was briefly occupied by the Greeks before Emperor Augustus made it his private playground and Tiberius retired here in AD 27. Its modern incarnation as a tourist centre dates from the early 20th century.

It’s also a favourite day-trip destination and a summer favourite of holidaying VIPs. Inevitably, the two main centres, Capri Town and its uphill rival Anacapri, are almost entirely given over to tourism, with the high prices that follow. But explore beyond the designer boutiques and cafes and you’ll find that Capri retains an unspoilt charm, with grand villas, overgrown vegetable plots, sun-bleached, peeling stucco and banks of brilliantly coloured bougainvillea".

Bubs better learn how to make this drink as Boca and Pleep really like it!  Forget Lemoncello-when one can have a Granita.



Our boats await us for a spin around the cliffs and stunning grottos.





Eve the boat drivers are Mario Andriette trained.




Check out that ride Bubs...who owns it?




Someone from LA?



And there is Ivanka Trumps beautiful sail boat.  Vavavoom.




Homes perched on the cliffs.





Hot dogging around the cliffs- let's play the Let's Scare The Tourist Game!




Breathtaking as ever.




So James Bond and yes many movies have been filmed here.  Last visit, we saw Tom Cruise's over the top jumbo yacht float around this rock.  About that carbon footprint?





Oh good, we are heading into a cave.  Cool!

















Into the "whales belly" and it sure did look like it!





















How's that for  some effervescent water?  That is the second boat, carrying our fellow travelers.





The water is glowing.  The most visited attraction in Capri is the Grotta Azzurra (Blue Grotto). It is a special cave, discovered in the 19th century by foreign tourists and has been a phenomenon ever since. 





More houses perched up on the hills..how do they build them up there?




See that tiny white dot on top?  That's a home.




There's that cool black boat sailing around.  Fernando, is that you?



And now we know where Pleep went...nothing like having a slide off the side of your yacht.



As always, the girls love the PLEEPMEISTER.





ABSOLUTELY STUNNING WATER FUN!

Time to take the finicula up to Capri town from the port ....
Had a great time singing funiculi fincula on the bus today. Keith thinks he sounded just like Pavorrati
This is the best way to get into the town centre from the port. There can be long queues but they clear quickly as there is always two cars running - one up and one down. Don't expect to sit down as there are very few seats and it was very crowded when we got on. But it only takes a few minutes and the views are great.  Pleep rode the darn thing a few times he liked it so much.

We cool off with a refreshing lemon granita- I couldn't resist asking for a second.  A walk to the see the gardens of Cesar Augustus...not as nice as last visit.  What happened?


Very hot and tons of tourists up here....




And a fabulous and delicious lunch at Mamma's (Michelen rated)..



The Italian wine is growing on Bubs.




The food was fab, the service divine and the music was lively...Boca had to teach them to do the happy dance.






No Bubs this is not She Wore an Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini town, this is Capri where many of these visitors make it a point to wear the pants named after the destination.   Do you have a pair?  I never did like them.  I think they look a bit goofy unless you are a six foot tall model or bone thin.  I think for us voluptuous babes it just cuts our calfs in half in a non flattering way but hey I am no fashionista.  What the heck do I know!  Keep calm and wear your capris!  Or do you call them clam diggers?  or as we did in the midwest- peddle pushers?




Of course we had to buy another suitcase.  You know Boca likes her tschokes.




Ferragomo Vintage?  Huh?  Yes, Mrs. Boca, we have brought back some of our classics.  For instance this is the Marlyn Monroe.  We designed and made for her specifically.



And this one is the  Audrey Hepburn, which do you prefer?




And maybe Boca found the perfect retirement job.  Can you see her pushing this cart around Quail West?




Boca loved this one...



It is a sculpture made  by Carole Feueranm- a pioneering artist in the world of hyper-realist sculpture.    She helped start the hyper-realist movement in the 70's by making sculptures portraying their models  a life like manner.  Boca really loved this sculpture as it was so engaging.  She mentioned to Bubs this would look good on their patio. He replied, "not if you want to go on another holiday next year."  Have you seen Carole's work elsewhere?



Enough in Capri town..let's head back up to AnneCapri for some fun and a shower!

Another wild ride in a taxi on their hairy road filled with switchbacks, crazy Italian drivers and lunatic tourists walking  or biking down the road.  No big buses on these streets taxi's or the little style bus.  I would like to say you get used to it but actually the more you ride the worse it gets- cheating death each time!  Oy Oy Oy!





There are a few spots where you don't have to cross yourself and hold your breath.




Located next door to our hotel- The station for the CHAIR LIFT is in Via Caposcuro in Anacapri, near Piazza Vittoria.
During the rapid ascent in the chair lift to the summit of the mountain, we had an opportunity to enjoy the splendid views of the Gulf of Naples with Vesuvius in the background, the Gulf of Salerno, Anacapri, the Isle of Ischia and the incomparable beauty of the colour of the sea. Monte Solaro is the highest point on Capri. It is characterized by a deeply eroded slope to the east and south east right down to the sea and a incline which falls towards Anacapri. 
Monte Solaro offers the visitor all the scenic beauty of Capri, from the proud Faraglioni emerging from the sea to the majestic rugged coastline covered with over 850 species of previously striking, luxuriant vegetation.  Previously?  It was sad to see the private gardens you float over mostly dead- due to drought conditions.  The last ride they were vibrant, green and very manicured.  Bummer.  







I also wanted to kill Bubba.  After we bought the luggage and I stepped into one of the many fabulous jewelry stores, he ran into the gals from our tour.  They wanted to go swimming and asked if Bubs would take their camera and passports back with him.  No problem.  He put them in the new case.  The next thing you know we are at the chair lift and Boca wants to leave the case with the chair lift operator then Bubs tells her that won't work.  So Boca had to ride with the damn case up and down the mountain...people asked "where are ya staying up there?  I only saw a ice cream store?"  And I barked back " Got sick of the Capri Palace and thought there might be a Motel  6 up here!"  If he was behind me I would have thrown it at him.

Why is that lady hiding behind her umbrella?




As we left the chair lift...last ride down we found another of Boca's favorite things...




Quite the flowing wedding dress.  Alex take note!




Boca thought she did a nice photo of the groom and bride...Alex, we don't need no stinking photographer!





Time to find a pizza capri style...when Pleep saw what this boy was having a GINORMOUS CALZONE (award winner in Las Vegas) he had to have one.




While Bubs and  Boca settled for a very tasty pizza and salad- couldn't take another 5 course dinner at 10:00!




Time to hit the road and back to the hotel.  Been a long hot day.  How much more can we squeeze in- we are exhausted and Boca jammed her knee some how- all those dang steps.  Or maybe that's the universe telling her not to make fun of Bubs and his bastuni anymore.  Pass that stick over Bubs- it hurts like hell!  We will need a vacation from this vacation.  Seriously.


And why does my next door neighbor have her own pool?  I think the going topless did the trick.




Bubs couldn't wash his shorts fast enough for the view.  Only Bubs would stay at the Capri Palace and hang his clothes out the balcony hillbilly style.