Biscina to Assissi May 30

                                                          Current Day                                           Trip to Date

Miles Walked                                          23.3                                                     265.2

Feet Climbed                                         2920                                                    31,640

Song of the Day:  She Lit a Fire by Lord Huron

I've been through the desert
And I've been across the sea
I've been walking through the mountains
I've wandered through the trees for her

Lord Huron is one of my new favorite groups the past few years.  Check this song out at https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VUxh-jw-C-w.

I also want to use this song as an opportunity to pay respects to the always outstanding Linda.  Trips like this can be punishing to the body and the soul, and it is just so great to be able to share the opportunity and  fun, (and suffering) with Linda!  

I think today was the longest we have ever walked in one day.  I told Linda we should have walked another 3 miles and made it an official marathon. The walk to Assissi itself was a very challenging 18 miles, but then we piled on another 5+ miles walking the city this afternoon and evening.  These past three days alone  have been incredibly challenging from a hiking perspective.  We walked over 62  miles and climbed  7,400 feet during this time and our bodies feel it.  We were fortunate to have excellent weather these past three days.  We left our hotel at 7 am to try and beat some of the heat and also make sure that we arrived to Assissi in time to tour the city.   Turned out to be a good strategy.  

Assissi is a spectacular city, incredibly well preserved.  We last visited Assissi in 1999 or so.  Assissi had been hit by a major earthquake measuring 5.9 in 1997.  When we visited in 1999, many of the major sites, including the Basillica of St Francis were closed for repair.  So, today was very special to see these sites restored and repaired.  And I will tell you, Assissi is packed!  Unlike most of Umbria this past week, the tourists are pouring into Assissi.  

First, a couple of shots from the trail today.  I suspect they look like many other days- lots of woods, fantastic views, etc., but I will tell you, we never get tired of this stuff!:

Here are a couple of St Francis related photos from the trail.  The first a painting on a wall of the pact that St Francis made with the wolf of Gubbio.  The second, me in front of a statute of St  Francis along the trail.  By the way, all this stuff with St Francis and animals is a little weird to me.  We saw several items today about St Francis preaching to the birds and some other animals.  I guess there is some deeper meaning that is just lost on me.... 

Here are several photos of St Francis Basilica.  First from a distance.  One interesting thing about the Basilica is that it is actually two churches- there is a lower and upper Basilica.  The 2nd photo is the lower Basilica, the 3rd is the upper Basilica and finally the 4th is the tomb of St Francis, which is below the lower Basilica. 

And finally, a shot of St Francis at sunset (with the always stunning Linda):

I really wanted to make a song of the day selection by the Rascals today.  Could have been "A Beautiful Morning", "Come on Up", "People got to be free" or "Peaceful World" or  any number of songs. Side note: watch the you tube of Steven Van Zandt (of the e-street band and Lillehammer fame) introducing the Rascals into the Rock and Roll hall of fame.  Just outstanding.  You might recall that the leader of the Rascals was the great Felix Cavaliere.  I saw this sign today and was immediately reminded of the Rasacals:

Linda tells me this translates as Knights for Peace.  So, Felix Cavaliere is a knight of sorts!

A couple of other funny photos from today.  Saw these ladies walking on the street in Assissi, not a clue what they are up to:

And, I loved this photo of a monk playing with his smartphone during services in one of the churches:

Seems like when we are in Italy and Spain this time of the year, we always come across a lot weddings.  A couple of wedding related shots today.  The first is actually inside one of the churches we visited and the wedding was under way!  The second is a bride and groom we saw getting in their car.

Tomorrow is our last day of this portion of the trip.  We hike to Foligno, about 15 miles or so.  Then, oon Monday, we take a 4 hour train ride to our cooking school south of Rome.  This has been another very good hiking trip for us.  But, we are also looking forward to the cooking school experience.