Out and About

This past week has been a mix of sun, clouds, strong winds, and some rain.  This is the view from our terrace, and we never get tired of it, even when it's raining. 

Our friends often ask us what we do when we are here.  We are living in a beautiful apartment in a palazzo, and with this view we could sit on the patio and just rest, but we get out for coffee in the morning in a beautiful garden, that gets us moving.  We sometimes head down to the Enoteca for an apperitivo before lunch, or we might decide to head somewhere for lunch, this is always an adventure since we are never sure where we are going. 
On Tuesday, we went to a new place (for us) in a neighboring town, near the Perugia airport.  We'd heard that the chef was from Emilia Romagna and that the food was fantastic..and guess what?  It was.  Click here for details.

Osteria Emiliana

In better weather you can sit by the pool

Mortadella

Gnocco Fritto

Dr. C. making what he called a mortadella burrito

My main was pasta stuffed with pumpkin (butternut squash)  and Parmigiano in a butter and sage sauce 

Dr. C. opted for the Bolognese

Dessert was foraged berries with gelato---perfetto!

After that meal we came back to Spello, and around 7 walked down to the enoteca to pick up some paperwork that we'd had printed, and were invited for dinner.  Hospitality here is something I can't explain, it's generous, it's overwhelming and it's inclusive.  I wasn't hungry, and neither was Dr. C. but who can refuse an amazing glass of wine, and then pasta with white truffles? 

We had to be rolled up the hill after this feast, and went to bed full and happy.  Although we did see this in the window of one of the shops while we were walking up the hill, and I had to share it. 

Yes, that is a purse covered in strings of macaroni.  Frankly, I'd rather have the pasta with the white truffles.  Ciao for now.

And, she's off.........

For weeks I've been prepping to leave San Diego and spend 3 months in Spello, Italy.

Spello, Italy

The original plan was that Dr. C. would come with me, and we'd spend the time together, figuring out if we wanted to spend part of our time in Italy every year.  (what a problem to have!)
Enter Plan B---now he will come in May for 3 weeks, and the rest of the time, I'll be on my own in a beautiful hill town.
So, why go?  I've had a dream of spending time in Europe for a long time, and this trip will help me know if the dream is just that, or if I could really leave all the "stuff" behind, and live simply in a small apartment half way up the hill and travel through Europe from a home base in Italy.
I plan to take a two week Italian language immersion class the week after I arrive, and hopefully my conversation skills will improve dramatically. I can understand most of what is spoken and written, my conversational skills are not as rapid as I'd like.

I will be just south of Assisi in central Umbria

I love Italy; the pace is slower, my inner clock slows down, the food and wine taste like they should, and I love the people.  I have always felt at home here, not something that is easily explained but I have  felt comfortable here from the first time that I visited.
So I'm packing my suitcases and programming the GPS and changing my smart phone to a Global plan, and will be headed to Europe on Monday.

Everyone asks what I'm taking:  clothing-wise, a mix of layers, since I will get there when the temps in the evening will still be cool, and then when summer hits, it will be hotter.
Culinarily, I'm taking my knives, a set of collapsible US measuring cups, a pair of tongs, and a gravity operated pepper mill. I'm also taking yarn for knitting, and my Kindle Fire HD loaded with books and apps!
I plan to blog on my way (airplane food anyone?) and while I'm there, sharing my experiences, as well as the food,wine, and characters I meet, so I hope you'll check in with me once in a while and see what I'm doing. 
Until then Ciao from San Diego!