Day 2: An Astonishing Assisi – one last time
July 2nd – Today’s predicted promise was to be full of rain, thunder and lightning, so Ron and I decided to follow the Weather Channel’s guidance – wait until 4:00 to walk into town.
That was the plan until we met up with Kari and Izzy for breakfast at 9:00am. ‘No’ they said, ‘Forge ahead!’ So we did, stopping only for more coffee and to buy umbrellas.
But first, breakfast at Hotel Ideale in Assisi. Our eyes and palates were treated to a full plate of homemade pastries, bread, croissants, jam-topped shortbread and individual eggs in skillets. Cappuccino, orange juice and water. Ahhhhh…..
It’s all downhill, literally, to the Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi, shopping all the way. We only encountered a few sprinkles all day – by the grace of God – since during breakfast we encountered the brightest lightning strike followed by a breathtaking thunder clap that shook the building!
This preceded a torrential downpour. After seeing the Basilica, the way back to the hotel was a slow-go up the steep incline back to our hotel, where it was R&R before dinner.
Reading a novel about a young soldier waiting at the end of WWII to liberate Italy, a phrase stood out to me. “Italy astonished him”. That’s just how I feel about Assisi and Italy. What astonishes me? The people, the food, the views from Hotel Ideale over the patch-worked valley below, the olive trees close to my balcony, the turtledoves cooing outside my window, the bells ringing from the Basilica, the fact that this Basilica was constructed in the 1200’s with the most vibrant blue on its ceiling, the friers walking throughout town in their brown robes with rope belts, the group of school children walking the street, the smiles, the ‘Buongiornos’, uncrowded, unhurried, a town dedicated to a Godly man and his followers – a fine introduction to our time in Astonishing Italy!
