TODI

Sunday 28^th August

Lovely temperature in Castel Rigone today – 33C  instead of the 38C comparatively cool!

Caught up with the washing and had quiet morning enjoying the sun on the terrace – first time for a week it has been comfortable to sit here even at 10am in the morning!  SO great just being able to hang towels and sheets out of the window!  I wonder why?  Maybe because it is almost an act of defiance - going against all the middle class social rules!  Will make the most of it now because I wont be able to do it when we move into the villa at Cimbano!   

The Hotel was very busy today.  It was so difficult to Skype.  The Italians have incredibly loud voices! Reception is so bad that I have to sit literately 6 ins away from the WiFi thingy in the, very tiny, reception.  Guests were checking in and out constantly.  Much better when it is just the Perugia football team staying - they just seem to sleep and eat!

view from Todi

Went off to Todi at lunch.  Do not be tempted to take the little roads!  (Hubby's idea!)  Took absolutely ages – (about 2 hours). The signposting was lousy!  Really didnt feel like bothering by the time we got there.    On the E45 it would only have been 50 mins! 

Yes!  You have to climb right up to that church!

But one has to love Todi even with a numb bum!  We parked just outside the gates and walked ............ UP!- You should have guessed this by now! Why do all these towns entail a climb the equivalent of five of Lincoln’s ‘Steep Hill’?  There is a little cable car which goes up and down between a car park and the summit but you do get more of the atmosphere when you walk  (actually, the truth is we didn't know this till we got to the top because we didn't read the guide book!)

It’s a very pretty town. Very tranquil and set amongst exquisite countryside.  Lots of lovely churches and pretty houses set within medieval walls.  

Their ‘Festa’ started last night so the Piazza del Popolo was covered in scaffolding ready for the lighting. 

It's a shame we only had time to browse around the upper town.  Next time we will start off down below and meander along the city walls so we can see the remains of the amphitheatre and a round church – Santa Maria della Consolazione. 

It's also a good idea to start off early in the day so you can in at a couple of the beautiful little villages on the way – Collazzone and Fratta Todina. 

The best bar for gelato AND comfort can be found in Piazza Garibaldi – the outside is set under magnificent arches and you can lounge on lovely sofas whilst enjoying your ice-cream.  Inside is equally attractive and the people are very attentive and friendly.

Toilets - about 4 out of 10 today!  They are outside through the arches and can be entered from the back street. This means that they are also used generally and not just by the bar customers.  Have seen worse though!

nibbles

 From about 6.30pm there is a free little buffet of ‘tastes’ to enjoy with a vino or aperitvi. These consist of tiny sandwiches, pieces of pizza, foccacio, nuts etc. 

 Very reasonable prices – one euro 50 for small gelato.

 Three euro 40 for a coffee and a San Bitter ( similar to a Campari n soda) 

Got home reasonably early so had dinner on our little terrace.  Turkey escalope with tomatoes and a green rocket salad plus lots of pane e olio n probably too much vino rosso!  Mike went inside at 9.30pm cause he said he was chilly – it was still 26C!  Hate to think what we are going to feel like when we get back to the UK!