The lost post

Greetings from Tavernelle, which is the small town nearest to where we live. They have one internet computer in town so it's hard to get onto it. But I have some time today so I'm able to make an entry. Thanks to everyone who's commented. It's great to hear from you.
We've had another change of guests this week. On Saturday, Todd & Marge Evans left and three women from Marin arrived...all friends of Marilyn. And on Tuesday, we picked up Jane Heckles & Kathleen Greider, who are good friends of ours but also friends of Marilyn. So it works out well.
The highlight of this week has been the trip to Assisi on Monday. Assisi is about 2.5 hours away but well worth the drive. Of all the ancient hill towns we've been in, Assisi is definitely the most beautiful. It sits on the side of a hill and you can see it as you approach on the superstrada (freeway). At the far end, the lowest end, is the basillica of San Francesco. Assisi is the town where Saint Francis lived and did his ministry. He's big there and his theme, and the town's motto, is Pax et bonum, or in Italian, Pace e bene--Peace and Goodwill. The town was less crowded than other places we have been which was nice. The streets run, like other hill towns, narrow and not in a straight line. Off to the sides are smaller streets or sometimes staircases with ancient homes right up the edge. Traffic is light--you need a special permit to drive in the city. Tourism is, of course, high, but in Assisi it seemed spread out and the shops seemd different from the other cities we had been. In the basillica are frescoes by Giotto, a famous Renaissance painter, who painted the life of St. Francis on the walls. My favorite painting was the one of St. Francis preaching to the birds. A charming painting.
We revisted San Gimignano again this week. This time we got down to the lovely church of San Agostino. It is out of the way and was very quiet and reverential. More frescoes (I can't remember the name of the artist) that were beautiful.
Along the way, of course, in all these places, we get gelato--the wonderful Italian version of ice cream. It's creamy and yummy. And it comes in such wonderful flavors. It's light and refreshing.
Last night, our cook came again. And again we had a spectacular meal. It's just amazing to watch her work. It's like watching an artist at work. And the results are quite edible.
I need to run, but hope I can get on again soon. We're having a great time and enjoying the warm Tuscan spring. The temperatures have been pleasant in the 70s and I'm wearing shorts most of the time. Yay!
Ciao, Gerry