Assisi with Laura

On a lucky day when Daddy decided to watch the girls for us, Laura, Dieter and I made a day trip to Assisi. When we got off of the train I figured we could just wander around and find our way to the heart of the town. After just a few minutes I realized that the train stop was pretty far from the downtown. But by the grace of God, a seminarian friend showed up only a minute later and we followed him to get bus tickets and find the bus stop. 

After a twisty turvy ride up the hill we came to the gate of the city.

Just inside the gates, the streets had far smoother cobblestone than what we were used to in Rome. And the one-level buildings, all connected were new too.

Dieter was a great travel buddy as usual. he was only a month, so not too heavy yet.

Vista overlooking the wall

More Tuscan views

We took many selfies: Here in front of the Basilica of St. Fransis.

This shop caught my eye because everything seemed so lacy and flowy. I really wanted to get something for my stepmom, but turns out the it was only the necklaces that were 10 euros. The shirts were about 95 euros. Too bad.

Old time peasant meets pastels

I was eyeing those scarves too...

But butterfly pajamas? I think not.

We explored the house of St. Francis's Father. The wooden door is an original. Watch out, first steps a doosey!

Around the wealthy father's home

The basement chapel had an old stone altar, but modernistic altar piece. Strange.

No more selfies, just Lauraies. :)

Church of St. Fransis

I think this has an attractive line of dumpsters. Oh no, I mean alleyway.

Even in little ol' Assisi they still have their collection of small churches. Here is Santa Maria Sopra Minerva. Which means this little Baroque church was built on top of a temple to Minerva. The outer facade has the columns which date back to the age of Christ.

Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, Assisi

Bells. Wall. I don't know why I took this. It must have been the bells. Nice bells, huh? Moving on....

Ok, this has a little better view :)

And this one's the same, but for Laura. This hilltop towns really give your calves a workout. At every turn there are more steps like these that go very steeply into another part of town. And there's no way around them!

Steps down into the town.

More steps up to a a more residential alley. The town only has about 3,000 inhabitants, while it gets about 4 to 5 million visitors every year.

So, yes, it has become a little 'touristy' but the shops are fun too!

We went on such a perfectly clear day, that yes, you really could see for miles.

I wanted to immortalize Dietrich's first big travel day in Assisi and capture him infront of the magnificent Basilica. But he didn't think it was a great idea.

Then he realized I was holding his little floppy body on the edge of wall that had a hundred foot drop on the other side. This made him feel a little better.

"I can't look!" 

Ah, reclined was a little better.

I really wish that this could be my back yard.(As it is, we only see direct sun beam into our apartment for only an hour a day. And no nature)

Such a beautiful retreat

*Sigh*

This makes the hills worthwhile

You want to see the Basicilica one more time?? Sure thing!

Voila!

While we didn't see all the major churches of Assisi, we did search out and find the tiny, not really on the radar churches.

So not on the radar
that I can't even remember the name of it.

Small and quaint.

If you want to see more of Assisi and its churches, I recommend going to here to some very nice photos and much better explanations than I ever give.

Suddenly it wasn't quite a clear day. It started to down pour so quickly, we found ourselves running through the streets searching for a restaurant. We got to one before we got too drenched.

Success! Pizza!

With a sleeping baby and bubbly wine (not called champagne unless it is from that region) I enjoyed a freshly made pasta with "game". Don't know what it was but I enjoyed it immensely. It made me think I just need to eat more Italian food outside of Rome.

Cheers!

It was perfect timing, because at the end of our meal, the skies cleared up. Their little main piazza had a small fountain and a medieval bell tower.

We almost went into a Davinci Museum, but it cost a few euros. Instead, we went to this free museum. It didn't talk long to see why it was free. The man minding the door was every so generous, to the point of being pushy as he offered to take pictures of us.

We didn't even have a chance to look around to see what we were being photographed in front of. Then as we turned to look, he would hurriedly point to something else on another wall and wave us over for another picture.

Note: table from the 1400's, medieval arch, and lanterns

Then he showed to his (very professionally labeled) chastity belts for men (uomo) and women (donna).  May I note that the womens had a small hole in the bottom with sharp jagged edges that were pointing out. I guess they didn't even attempt crossing your legs with that one.

Real?
I have no idea.

This is a medieval well.  In the floor. Boy this place was random.

I think he said the big knife on the right was for behedding.

A tunnel in the wall, was an ancient Roman aqueduct. Next to a television with a blank blue screen glowing.

Let's not forget our ancient stuffed fox and badger.

Who needs Toys'R'Us?  This was what they used to hold babies up. An old time baby standing chair.

Complete with wheels

Needless to say, as we left the man put on his sad/concerned face and asked for money. Ah! Now we see why he wanted to "give" us some pictures! Thanks but no thanks. Dieter was starting to get fussy and I was ready to get out of there. Babies can make a great exit excuse. But Laura stayed behind and gave him a few euros. I felt like I had left a man behind in the trenches. When people are begging you for money, they can be very, very, persistent. I have learned how hold my resolve and I feel like I should have drug Laura out of there before the man claimed her money. Sorry Laura!

So I bought her this 150 euro hat.

Just kidding.
No hat for you!

We both enjoyed marveling over how expensive stuff can be ;)

Just as I thought we could easily find our way up and into Assisi, I had assumed we could make it back with no problem. How hard could it be? Assisi was up a gigantic hill. The train station was at the bottom. To get to it, go down. So we give ourselves about half an hour to walk and start heading out. But then the road forks 10 minutes in and I have no idea which way to go. Fortunately it was just a few hundred feet beyond a parking lot. So I went back up to the lot to ask some directions of the next person to come by. Just a minute later, there was an old man walking to his car. I ask him how to get to the train station and he says a few things I don't understand, but then without really stopping or turning to look at me kind of gestures for us to follow him. He was offering us a ride? Really? Our feet were certainly tired and we welcomed this gesture of kindness. I was more worried that others might think us stupid to jump in a car of a random man, than I was actually worried about this man. He was even very patient and spoke very slowly with just a few words to tell us that when he was much younger, he didn't have a car, and so he understood what it was like traveling on foot. He was a nurse at the hospital an the station was on his way home. And plus he said it would take an hour or more to walk all the way to the station. He dropped us off right at the door to the station.

Thank you little traveling angels along our way!