Not on my Itinerary but...

Last night, Karen reminded me how close I am to Assisi.  This morning I threw the bike in the car and within an hour I was standing at Rocco Maggiore (The header photograph)  I decided I would ride the bike through town and go into buildings I hadn't been in before.  Assisi, was packed. I didn't see Sister Sue.  I stayed for a couple of hours and then drove up the road that Karen and I hiked two years ago to get to Eremo dell Carceri.  Karen!  What was I thinking when I agreed to walk up there with you??  It is 4 km in the blazing sun!  People were doing it today and were dripping wet at the side of the road!   Everyone who wasn't at the Basilica below had rented cars and were idling in front of the Eremo gates! There was a huge traffic jam of tourists in rental cars, with looks of terror on their faces, all trying to come down the hill, in little stick shift cars they have never driven before today.  They don't seem to know the rule that you let the cars going up the hill go up first.  Instead, they were all trying to make the hairpin turn at once, double file, without crashing in to each other and without their car going completely out of control. My little SmartCar and two cars behind were perched on the straight up hill waiting for them to pass.  I started to make Italian "Get out of my way" gestures at them.  I shook my head "No" and pointed at people where to go.  I was directing traffic from my little SmartCar and they all responded! It was inexperienced tourist bad driver nightmare.  I left a blaze  of dust behind me and ended up driving completely around the top and coming out at the other side at San Damiano.  

I haven't posted many landscape shots today as there are just too many incredible views to take pictures of them all.  I have posted a series of photos of a new permanent display in one of the churches in Assisi.  It was cool.  Also, I have been asked how the bike folds up.  There are three folds; pedals fold in, handle bars fold down and the cross bar folds in the middle so the front wheel is beside the back wheel.  The seat slides down.  I am getting better with the folding.  Also, I don't dislike the SmartCar anymore.  We have come to terms with each other.

I am back in Gubbio now. (3:30)  It is boiling outside; too hot to be out.  I have had an afternoon shower to cool off and am heading out to roam the town and have dinner.