Is it worth it ??

Question of the day ... How many airplanes, attempted takeoffs, and hours does it take to get to Rome airport from Atlanta?

2 Airplanes

4 attempted takeoffs (last one successful)

14 hours

Long day/night/day ... to get to Umbria - but well worth it.

Arrived just in time to see the end of the day highlighting a red sky, orange grape leaves and ever green cypress trees ... BEAUTY!!!!

Olive Juice

This time of year, and one of the key reasons for this trip was for the opportunity to see, experience and learn about the olive oil harvest here in Umbria.  Unfortunately a series of events accelerated the time-frame for harvest and most of of it has already been completed.

But ... the celebration and enjoyment of the new olive oil continues.   In this region, each weekend a town or local area will have it's own celebration associated with the Olive harvest and olive oil production.  We were able to visit the area of Colle delle Marchese; enjoy lunch at a fantastic resturant in the area where the chef served the new oil; and we also went to a olive oil mill in the afternoon, and then in the early evening enjoyed some of the local festivities, which included an 8 meter piece of bruschetta.  They sliced the bread, toasted it over a fire, gave it a good hefty swirl of the new oil and a sprinkle of salt ... and oh man was it good ... 

Here are a few pictures from the day ... 

Trevi

The Umbrian HIlls are dotted with these  beautiful hill towns.  We visited Trevi last year for the Sausage and Black Celery Festival (maybe you remember).   We drove to Trevi for lunch yesterday - just could not pass up this view of this town!

Castelluccio

Beautifully perched atop a hill on the far side of the valley is Castelluccio ... can you see it?

Look closely ... or better yet - let me help you see it better.   In the summer this area is well known for the overflowing large fields of wildflowers that grow at the base of the hill on which the town sits.  The flowers were not yet at peak today ... but still beautifull, beautiful.

The Gift that Keeps on Giving (daily)

Fortunately for us ... unfortunate for our waistlines ... a new and EXCELLENT Gelato Cafe has opened in this area.   Made by hand from only the freshest ingredients .... We have started a ritual G.o.t.D. (Gelato of the Day).   Irresitable and only 10 minutes away!!!

Flavors we have had thus far ... 

  * Lemon

  * Pistaccio

  * Coconut

  * Pineapple

  * Peach

  * Crema

  * Dark Chocoate

  * Banana

  * Strawberry

  * Marcapone & Nutella

  * Caffe

  * Melon

  * Ricotta with Fig

So much gelato ... so little time!!!

Mercato delle Gaite - Part 4 - The Mercatos

An additional part of the contest for the Mercato delle Gaite is the actual markets each Gaite creates.  The markets are created to represent what a local market would be in Medieval times.  The food, animals, goods for homes, etc ...

Keep in mind each Gaite is (seriously) judged ... here is the procession of judges as they walked through Bevagna on Sunday morning, going from mercato to mercato for the official judging.

Some examples of the mercatos (markets) ... 

More photos to come ... too many to choose from!!!

Mercato delle Gaite - Part 3 - The Trades

Another part of contest of the Mercato are the trade demonstrations.  Each Gaite will have a couple of trades (crafts) from medieval times.  They work extensively to recreate the detailed steps for key trades that were established in each Gaite in Medieval times.  The demonstrations are primarily open in the evening, each presented with candles and torches that help establish such a wonderful atmosphere and ambiance as you walk around the town.

Here are some pictures from some of the demonstrations:

Cloth making ... starting with the silk worms ... all the way to weaving the cloth.

Candle making

Paper making

Creation of the pigments used in fresco painting

Creation of Instruments