Yes … still more snow in Umbria
Took a short but nice walk this afternoon, mesmerized by the whiteness of it all. One does understand snow blindness! Looking at where one puts ones feet, the white and more white has a faint hypnotic effect.
Last night and this morning we had another bit of snow, very little compared to what I heard others say, not even that far from where I am living. The weather in Italy is different in every valley, so it seems.
I made a few pictures, maybe showing the claustrophobic effect the snow starts having on me?
(I had a few much anticipated dinner appointments in the past evenings and all had to be cancelled, hence this unpleasant feeling of being in prison.)
Uomini e motori
Uomini e motori means … men and motors. A classical combination!
I am still snowed in (sort off … but I do not have the courage to drive down over an icy road) and a few days ago I was walking down the road to my car in the village below. I heard a deep roaring sounds quickly coming closer. A snow plough? Nope! It was the neighbor on his quad. Big proud smile.
Where are you going, he asked me almost accusingly. I could have asked him the same thing! He insisted to drive me down, but I managed to decline the offer. Afraid I had upset him, I made a friendly remark about his quad (I actually detest these machines). My neighbor patted the 4 wheel drive motor bike with huge wheels (i.e. quad) and said proudly: ah si! E’ una vera bestia! (Oh yes, it is a real animal).
That said he loudly took off and did a tour of the valley which I could follow with my ears (the reason I do not like quads). Most men would not enjoy driving a quad if it would be silent … maybe that is why we hardly see men on real animals dominating snowy hills.
Below some more snowy Umbria pictures.
More pictures of more snow in Umbria
Yesterday I went for a walk exactly when it re-started to snow. Now luckily, walking in the snow is lovely (where walking in the rain can be less so). However, one of the dogs did not like it. I looked everywhere for her and then gave up, hoping I would find her at home. And there she was, outrageously happy to see me (and me to see her!).
Snow in Umbria
Today a lot of snow!
The world turned black and white (and grey … lots of grey).
The forecasts are not great. Still more than a week to go with daily snow fall and temperatures, even during the day, far below zero.
Well, it is February and it was extremely dry, so the snow will be good for nature. Therefore, I will try to be happy. However, the grey grey world around me already has started to be boring … and being snowed in does not help!
Raw milk kiosk
A few days ago, I found myself staring at this. I found it just outside the shopping mall ‘Collestrada’ near Perugia:
One can buy a liter of raw milk for 1 euro. That is not expensive!
The first time user is invited to buy a bottle for 1 euro and they explain on the poster that you should re-use the bottle every time and how to clean it.
I had read somewhere that selling raw milk through the official sales channels is not allowed. Therefore they invented a maze in the net by providing the raw milk in these little ‘do-it-yourself’ kiosks. Don’t ask me who ‘they’ are … I should do some searching to find out.
Raw milk is rather different from the milk we are used to buying from the supermarkets. Apparently we have gotten so used to the supermarket milk, drinking the real stuff takes some getting used to. Personally I do not drink milk, but this raw milk kiosk has made me curious, so I might pass there again and fill my bottle.
Restaurant La Molenda near Citta di Castello
Wow … the real Italian life … you might think after reading the past blog posts. One dinner or nice event after the other!
Indeed I agree I do thoroughly enjoy life here in Umbria!
A few nights ago I went to eat a pizza at La Molenda, just outside Citta di Castello, along the old road between Citta di Castello and Trestina. A nicely furnished and cozy restaurant/pizzeria. Excellent service and real nice pizza. They even have a artisanal beer list with many beers from Northern Europe made by small breweries. I did not know any of the beers, but then again, I am not an avid beer drinker.
In summer you can sit outside, but do avoid Sunday evenings. I was there one Sunday evening and it was extremely busy.
La Molenda – tel +39075 8555508
Voc. Monini, 10 S.Paterniano – Città di Castello – 06012 (take the old road from Citta di castello to Trestina and you will find it on the left with a big sign, so it will be easy to find).
Restaurant La Stalla near Assisi
Simple, efficient and since many years unchanged … restaurant La Stalla very close to Assisi.
You sit at long tables, the benches are not exactly comfortable, but this place is certainly not meant to linger. The food is good, service very fast and the prices are low.
The heart of La Stalla is a big fire place where the meat is roasted and the typically Umbrian torta al testo is prepared. No need to say the lively fire gives a wonderful atmosphere, a bit like going back in the ages (at least what one would imagine this to be like).
Walking to Assisi takes about 15 minutes, so it is an ideal place to combine with a visit to Assisi (and who visits Umbria without seeing Assisi?).
You get here by driving to Assisi and keep following for Gualdo. At a certain point there is a sharp curve to the left and on the right you see signs for many things, amongst which a campsite. Take this road to the right and follow up hill. Just before a small arch you will find the signs for La Stalla to the right.
I was told that in summer La Stalla does not have service at the tables. It works more like a permanent ‘sagra’ (village feast) where you take a number, order what you would like to eat and when it is your turn you collect it. Have never been, but maybe this summer I will try and report back!
Post office clock
This foto was made in the Ponte Pattoli post office.
The note says that the clock is about 10 minutes early … extremely funny that clearly nobody knows how to adjust the time.
I did find out that it is strictly forbidden to make pictures in the post office … !
Spoleto Guided Tour
The ‘Guide in Umbria’ form a group of Umbria tour guides of excellent quality. The summer of 2011 they had (in Dutch) a wonderful tour of Perugia every Wednesday morning for just 5 euro per adult. The tour was a big hit, many of our guests went and loved it.
The Guide in Umbria have now started a new promising initiative in Italian. Every third Saturday of the month they will be organising a tour of a lesser known part of Umbria. Yesterday we visited 3 churches in Spoleto (San Salvatore, San Ponziano en San Gregorio). San Salvatore has recently been added to the Unesco sites.
The tour was very well done, 2 hours full of interesting information and beautiful sights in the churches and crypts. The tour guide (Alessia) was very well prepared and knew how to capture our attention with many interesting anecdotes.
I do look forward to the next tour!
Dawn in Umbria
Sometimes waking up and getting out of bed early is rewarding!
