Molto Caldo!

Saturday

6.15am

Gave the guy with the witches broom quite a shock just now – don’t think he expected someone hanging out of a third storey window just above him! It’s so hot that I thought I would close the shutters since I’m going to be out all day.  Hopefully then I will have a cooler night.  The gutter above the bedroom ones seems to have dropped so had to just close internal ones.

Sunrise from kitchen and bathroom and bedroom!

8.50am

30C - has been this temperature all night in the house too!  Not the best conditions for sleeping.

Waiting for mini-bus – actually two other ladies joining me for the ride today!  Have taken a few close-ups of our church while I’m waiting.  Should really do a painting of it.

  It’s an incredible church to have in such a small village and the best example of this kind of architecture in Italy it appears! It does have quite a history and has played a major part in making the village what it is today.

Legend has it that in 1490 a young girl, while filling her pitcher of water at the well, saw a beautiful lady in a nearby thicket.  The lady asked her to tell everyone that she wished them to build her a small chapel at that very spot.  This apparition occurred several times and when the gil eventually arrived back at the village with her pitcher of water upside down on her head she was eventually believed and the villagers proclaimed a miracle.  When they started to clear the thicket they found a small shrine with a picture of Our Lady feeding the infant Christ.  Then other miracles happened and soon the news of all these happenings reached Perugia and from there, Rome and a small chapel was erected.   But in 1494 a Papal Bill was issued ordering a fitter temple to be built.  Hence the present church.  Although maybe a legend, something major must have happened to come to the notice of Perugia and Rome.    Personally, although I love the external features, the inside does leave me a little cold!  

10.15pm

 Caught bus to Passignano and had breakfast in or favourite bar and a wander along the front.  The town was very alive today as it was preparing for ‘A night under the stars’ - music, art,  theatre and food in all areas of the town. 

Bus had to stop on the way down the hill for about twenty riders on horse-back –all wearing cowboy hats!

Met a couple of friends and had a wander around the market then spent the afternoon in their house in a little village near Montepulciano.  VERY hot  -even in the shade it was 36C.

Ate in the restaurant of ‘La Cima’ which is in Gosperini  - a tiny place on top of yet another hill! Lovely drive up and great view but be warned!  You have twenty minutes of hair-pins on the way down!  OK in the day but not too good when you’re tired! Very tasteful  restaurant and hotel but we were the only people dining there!  Had spaghetti with fresh seafood which was excellent – a very large portion.  We also had hot French bread which was very welcome and very unusual here!  Could do with some for breakfast!