Globus tour, June 15 - On to Assisi.

So:  Our shirts did dry out, our luggage was put out at 7 am, breakfast was gobbled quickly.  We were on the Globus bus by 7:45.  Of course the "Raouls" were late because the elevator was stuck.  Why them?  A long drive along the Adriatic coast side of Italy to just outside Ravenna where we had a very brief break.  The locale was another basilica, Sant' Apollinare in Classe.  Inside were beautiful arabic-patterned mosaics on the lower walls and religious scenes and figures above.   Behind the altar in the apse, the mosaic depicts a green meadow with rows of sheep, birds, flowers, ducks, trees, and Christ in the center beneath a large golden cross in a deep blue circle. 

Childlike lovely composition

The simple linear composition reminds me of a Grandma Moses painting.  I hoped that my photos would turn out well.  I liked this place very much, so I bought a tee-shirt showing a little bird.  It was intended for someone else, but it is small so I may have to keep it.

Over the mountains we went, into Umbria to find Assissi, a tiny hilltop jewel of a town.  

Assissi on its hilltop

creating a venue for a papal Mass

This was the home of St. Francis and has a basilica in his honor - - actually a Lower and an Upper Basilica, with very lively frescoes in both places.  Those in the Upper tell the story of the saint's life, including an endearing painting of the smiling saint preaching to birds - all different kinds of birds.  A papal visit is expected in a few days, so the town is cleaned up, the streets newly paved, red and blue flags wave from many buildings, and some fly the white and yellow flag of the Vatican. The piazza at the basilica was full of TV trucks, an altar being completed, and rows and rows of chairs for the chosen few who will attend the papal Mass.

Baroque interior

Classic Greek exterior

I walked round and round (and up and down - this being a hilly place) and found the Piazza Communale, on which is the Chiesa di Santa Maria sopra Minerva.  What was originally (and still looks like) a Greek temple was totally Baroque inside - exuberantly so.  A huge surprise when I opened the doors and entered the church.

Public transportation here

Few cars, only little buses and taxis and motorscooters on the narrow, sometimes steep lanes.  Lots of flowers in window boxes, and stores and shops interspersed with private residences.  I found a cafe with internet and read KS email that our software had been reinstalled, that part of our settlement system worked but another part did not.  Also read family emails regarding the end of TV's "Sopranos" and the small part that Henry O'Neill had at the finale.  Hmm.

modern pastries

Hotel Giotto [the St. Francis frescoes are attributed to Giotto] is our home for tonight.  A beautiful view to the South or Southwest over a valley, but at night it was just lights. 

from the hotel at night

This is a lovely medieval town that copes well with the modern world.  The buildings are mainly limestone, which is lovely.  But the stone walls greatly amplify the sound of the little buses and motorscooters labor up the lane beyond our window.  So the night was a little noisy.  Dinner was good:  penne pasta, some flavorful chicken, salad, a kind of apple pie.  We are getting to know the other travellers by name now - not all, but most.  Joe seems reluctant (again, an understatement) to get to know them.