A Chilly Day in Assisi

I realize I’ve been giving Seattle weather a bit of a bad name here on the blog since we’ve been back—but dang, I think there’s only been like one sunny day, and all of April in Italy was sunny and around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. However, going back through some older Italian pics reminded me of the colder days there, including one daunting day walking around Assisi when the wind was like a whip. Look at Nat all bundled up like a freezing gypsy (and also peek at the view behind her into the Umbrian countryside):

*Note: We were on pre-tirement, and now we’re back. Want the full story? Start the pre-tirement journey here. Want to go backwards? Read the last pre-tired post here and scroll back. Or, just keep coming back for pretty Italy pictures.

Ruins on the Hills Above Lisciano Niccone

Nat and I used to go on this crazy (though actually marked) walk through a forest and up, up, up to a hilltop above Lisciano Niccone. The forest path was well traveled by hunters (we even saw one possible future  Italian house there, which was actually a hunter’s shed), loggers, and illusive deer, and the views once out of the forest were amazing, as you could look out over Lake Trasimeno. But one of our favorite parts was seeing the ruins of one particular crumbling Italian house (and not only because it meant we were almost back to the car):

If it hadn’t been overgrown by brambles and blackberries, maybe we’d be there still, hiding out in the Italian hills.

*Note: We were on pre-tirement, and now we’re back. Want the full story? Start the pre-tirement journey here. Want to go backwards? Read the last pre-tired post here and scroll back. Or, just keep coming back for pretty Italy pictures.

Americano on a Sunny Day

When it was hot out (which it never is in Seattle, it seems), and we’d be sitting under the Italian sun with pals, I loved sipping on an Americano:

This particular one was had when pals Keith and Tasha were visiting us in Italy, way back in October. Dang, it was tasty (as drinks are always tastier when had with pals, this one was extra tasty). If you don’t know, the Americano is a simple drink to make (it traces back to 1860, by the way, when Mr. Gaspare Campari himself served it up at his bar): just two ounces of Campari and sweet vermouth each over ice in a highball glass, topped with club soda, stirred, and garnished with an orange slice or half. And yes, they are also tasty when had outside of Italy (though maybe not as tasty).

*Note: We were on pre-tirement, and now we’re back. Want the full story? Start the pre-tirement journey here. Want to go backwards? Read the last pre-tired post here and scroll back. Or, just keep coming back for pretty Italy pictures.

Meat Shop in Umbertide

As a vegetarian, I missed out when pre-tiring in Italy on visiting too many of the local meat-eries, or the local meat shops. The Italians love their meats, and most towns and cities have at least one shop devoted to meats, and usually two. And when walking by them, even though I didn’t partake, I always thought of how my meat-loving friends would have been salivating--which meant I was fond of the meat shops even though I don’t eat meat, if that makes any sense. The below shop in Umbertide was one of my favorites to walk by, just because of how bold it was about covering all the bases: ovine, bovine, suine. Pals like Jeremy and Shane would live at this place I have to imagine:

And, I love the little side sign next to it, just a little reminder in case you’re parking in front of it:

Next time I’m in Umbertide hopefully those fellas will be with me, so we can stop on in and view the carnage.

*Note: We were on pre-tirement, and now we’re back. Want the full story? Start the pre-tirement journey here. Want to go backwards? Read the last pre-tired post here and scroll back. Or, just keep coming back for pretty Italy pictures.

San Michele Archangelo Church on Isola Maggiore

Isola Maggiore is the one inhabited (by humans, that is--animals are on all the islands I'm guessing) island on Lake Trasimeno, and well worth the time it takes to ferry you there. San Michele Archangelo Church sits on top of the hill in the middle of the island (a hill that isn’t hard at all to walk up) and is surrounded by ancient olive trees, roaming rabbits and pheasants, and lovely vistas:

*Note: We were on pre-tirement, and now we’re back. Want the full story? Start the pre-tirement journey here. Want to go backwards? Read the last pre-tired post here and scroll back. Or, just keep coming back for pretty Italy pictures.

Oscar Searches for Treats

Oscar is (if you didn’t already know) Italian/British auntie and uncle-y Marianne and Andrew’s puppy, who we saw tons. He quickly figured out that I kept dog treats (and crumbs of dog treats) in my right hand coat pocket:

*Wanna meet Oscar? Start your own dreamy Italian vacation by stopping by Amici Villas

*Note: We were on pre-tirement, and now we’re back. Want the full story? Start the pre-tirement journey here. Want to go backwards? Read the last pre-tired post here and scroll back. Or, just keep coming back for pretty Italy pictures.

Spoleto’s Ponte della Torri

My favorite view and spot in one of the favorite towns (really, a small city) we visited (really, I think Spoleto was Nat’s top residential area to visit, after those nearest to us):

*Note: We were on pre-tirement, and now we’re back. Want the full story? Start the pre-tirement journey here. Want to go backwards? Read the last pre-tired post here and scroll back. Or, just keep coming back for pretty Italy pictures.

Maccarones de Punzu at Calaluna

This was a delicious Sardinian gnocchetti (or small round pasta) topped with tomato sauce and spices. Yummy (though sadly, we never stopped by this welcoming Umbertide restaurant, Calaluna, again—maybe seven months wasn’t long enough?):

*See all Italian restaurants

*Note: We were on pre-tirement, and now we’re back. Want the full story? Start the pre-tirement journey here. Want to go backwards? Read the last pre-tired post here and scroll back. Or, just keep coming back for pretty Italy pictures.

Morning Over Lake Trasimeno

Lovely, isn’t it? Especially on a rainy day in Seattle:

*Note: We were on pre-tirement, and now we’re back. Want the full story? Start the pre-tirement journey here. Want to go backwards? Read the last pre-tired post here and scroll back. Or, just keep coming back for pretty Italy pictures.

D.S.D.I.: Dr. Strange Returns from Italy to His Home Library

* All D.S.D.I. (Dr. Strange Does Italy) posts

* The first post and the explanation behind D.S.D.I. posts

* Learn more about Dr. Strange

And, We’re Back

After two long days of driving (a hint for travelers: never plan a drive in Italy on the Tuesday after Easter Monday. Easter Monday is a holiday, making it an automatic three-day weekend, or longer as kids get the week before off from school. Which means that Tuesday is insane with traffic. Our 4-1/2 hour drive that day ended up being 8-1/2 hours. So, unless you like being in gridlock on the A1 highway, skip driving that day. Rant ended), and one long day of flying, we made it back from San Martino to Seattle, from our seven-month house in the country to our house in the city. I have to admit, even with seeing my awesome nephews and family, as well as awesome pals Jeremy, Meg, and Beatrix in the first two days back, I’m a little homesick for Italy. But I’m also glad to be in sunny (today, at least) Seattle, and can’t believe what an amazing pre-tirement Nat, I, and the dogs had over in Italy. It was so amazing that if any readers of the Six Months in Italy blog come back even after we’ve returned, you’ll find more pics and such up here, as I plan on posting at least for a little while longer, at least so I can show off more shots of places and pastas and other tasty items. Heck, I can’t wait myself to go through all the photos, and to go back through this very blog, to remember how amazing it was (and maybe to dream about our next trip). For now, though, I’d better go mow the lawn: