[INSIGHT TRAVEL - EUROPEAN GRANDEUR] - Rome to Assisi

DAY 20 - SEPTEMBER 19, 2000
ASSISI, ITALY - GRAND HOTEL
ROOM 508

I like this hotel! It's so new you can practically smell the paint on the wall. And the triple share is a real bed, the elevator buttons are also in Braille. A perfect way to end another hectic day. Or what started as one, anyway, for most of us.

The folks who were off to Tivoli had to get up early in order to get there on time. Since Mom and Dad and I weren't scheduled for that one, we just got our hand luggage loaded to the tune of Dmitri's usual banter and his comment that he hadn't seen any sign of the baggage yet. Not a good omen, one which left Ma clucking in concern.

For all the non-Tivoli people, a quiet day for relaxing or tramping about the hotel, as fancy took them. The bus was supposed to pick us up from the hotel at 1130H. Then LisaH announced that the Tivoli park personnel had shut down the park for at least an hour or so - some union thing or the other. Revised departure time thus became 1230H.

Oh, brother. Another hour of waiting. But just as well, because LisaH came up to me to deliver our change from the optional tours. Half was in lira and the other half in US dollars. Sop we were spared the dilemma of changing something into more lira for our upcoming stay in Venice.

LisaH told us something odd. It seems that Dmitri has been acting rather cool to her ever since Pompeii, and she can't understand why. Doesn't know if it's her imagination or something real, and it bugs her. I told her that she was the one who said that at some point we'd get off-key with each other and said she should use her sense of humor to deal with it. Ah, well, the perils of extended travel, I suppose. Promised I'd pray for her, and I did - let's see how God answers the request.

When the coach finally arrived, it was to pick us up at the public stop. From there, it was off on the road to Assisi. Basically a quiet run, accompanied by beautiful weather. We were glad to see the last of Rome and its crowds and get out into the Umbrian countryside.

Assisi has changed somewhat since Ma and Dad saw it last. The earthquake of 1997 made necessary some reconstruction work.. We were able to attend some sort of service in the Basilica of St. Francis, visit the saint's tomb, offer a Mass of thanks and got blessed into the bargain. That old priest was such a nice man - they don't make them much that way any more.

We hiked up as far as the plaza leading up to the Poor Clares convent, but we didn't proceed -- a sudden shower was enough to send us scurrying for cover. Instead we entered the church of the Immaculate Conception for a few minutes, then worked our way slowly along the street's souvenir shops towards the bus. Bought ourselves a pair of fans, a rosary and a couple of odds and ends.

Met Lisa on the way down and petted her as we are known to do. The dear girl deserves all the hugs she can get. Of course, she keeps floating around so much she hardly has time to get any, more's the pity.

It was just a short hop to the hotel, and it was such a relief to know that we would only be there one night -- the room was rather tight. Still, it was a lovely place to be, and so peaceful!

Our dinner partners tonight were Alex and Fionna, Greg and Lisa. Alex and Dad bonded together right away, while I discovered that Greg is actually a law graduate. Interesting. I wish I could like his wife, but the essential ingredient is lacking. Fionna and Franca are easier to talk to.

After dinner, showed Mom and Dad to the room and went back out onto the terrace, tempted by the cool air and the night. Never could keep my feet in the room until the last minute, anyway. It was simply marvelous outside; brisk air, an illuminated view of Assisi by night -- perfect.

My feet led me to the bar after I'd had my fill of the night air. I found Joe, Franca, Alex, Fionna, Robert, Rhonda, Carolyn, Greg and Lisa there, enjoying the happy hour. We were introduced to Rhonda's imaginary friend Mookas (?) and were vastly entertained by the bartender, who kept a countdown on the number of minutes left before the happy hour turned into the "sad" hour. Said bartender also knew how to play the piano, and led us in a fairly resounding rendition of "When The Saints Go Marching In".

Could have stayed longer after Neil and Sharon joined us, but I couldn't stand the second-hand smoke any more. So it was off to bed.