We Saw Assisi or We Need Bar Diana

Saturday we took the train to Spello (we now refer to it as Bello Spello) a small town about 8 minutes from Assisi. It is a beautiful, charming town with narrow winding streets. They also participate in a potted plant contest and the winner each year is awarded a plaque commemorating the victory. We had a delicious lunch on a patio over looking the Umbrian country-side. On our way back from Spello we visited the Porziuncola (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/). It is the tiny (and I mean tiny; it is actually now situated inside the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angli) where St. Francis did his thing. We had seen a 1/2 scale replica in San Francisco a while back so it was amazing to see the real thing. We enjoyed another wonderful Assisi dinner and of course, a gelato after.

Sunday we just wander the streets of Assisi, had a small panini made from Torta di Testo which is the local bread and enjoyed a relaxing day. I saw some Italian playing cards in a bookshop and decided (after we climbed the hill back to the hotel) that I wanted a set. So we went back down the hill, got the cards and climbed back up the hill, but wait are these the right ones? I don't think so and the shop might be closing....back down the hill.....oh, so those are the right ones...back up the hill! I guess I had better really enjoy these cards!

Monday morning it's a bus ride to the train station, a train to Florence and then a bus to Colle Val d'Elsa....well that is if we can find the SITA Bus station. Should be no problem, it's a bus station....the book says its on the west side of the train station...which way is west? First we wander a bit, maybe we should ask someone. A nice gentleman tells us, in his version of English, some directions, does a lot of pointing and some leaning and keeps repeating Bar Diana...hmmm, we don't need a bar we are looking for the bus station. We head off in the direction he pointed and trying to lean in the direction he indicated...no bus station. So it's back into the train station and try to find the information booth....that bar is sounding better all the time....failing that, we ask the pharmacist who tells us in Italian to cross the street, go to Bar Diana ( there it is again...how could she tell we need a bar?) turn right and...tahdah! The bus station...who knew the Bar Diana is a bus station landmark! We disembark in Colle Val d'Elsa, spend 10 minutes looking for the newsstand where you have to buy the bus ticket for the final leg of our journey. We finally arrived in Volterra...possible not looking our best, but we are here!