Day 5-Perugia & Deruta +parade, 9-13-14

We left early after breakfast (I'm feeling a lot better) for Perugia.  This ancient hill town has the most excellent views you will ever see, and we visited the National Museum, strolled the ancient streets, visited their church, and rode up to this town in an automated mini tram (like a ski lift almost).  I don't know how anyone would get up there in olden days. Afterwards we visited Deruta, famous the world over for their ceramics. We'll have dinner shortly, then go to an annual festival parade where they will be wearing medieval garb.
The parade was great, crowds and crowds of people milling around walking up and down the parade route until it started. It was an annual celebration festival of the towns history.  All the participants wear thoroughly researched clothing of spectacular design and construction probably worn by their families (and royalty) dating to the Middle Ages--drummers, horn players, outfits were more beautiful than I could have imagined and everyone played their part with hair, beards, horses, dogs, bulls, hawks and owls.
Spoiler Alert:  Everyone will tell you that I took a ton of photos at the parade, so many that I'll put up a separate post about the parade pictures.  I did try to keep them to a minimum, but there are probably a little over 40.  Check out that separate page. I'll call it, Day 5 - Foligno Parade.  (The numbers of the days are counted for my trip, you may have arrived later.)

Deruta park with ceramic benches

Deruta Plaza

This is a big (4 ft.) table top.

Day 4-first painting day, 9-12-14

We got up very early, did our hour walk, had a great breakfast and went to paint. Our first painting day, I brought the lightest kit ever, and so far it's working just fine.  I started out with a little 6x6 study and less than an hour later it started to spit rain with a high chance of heavy rain, so I packed up and went up to town, got $ at ITM,  meds at pharmacy, had soup and then started to feel really bad with a cold and sore throat so we skipped the museum.
The meds did nothing for my throat, and after probably taking too much, they finally kicked in but I spent the rest of the day in bed and Carol brought me my supper. I hope I'm good enough for the bus tour tomorrow.

Morning view

Scene right outside my front doorway and scene I painted the first day.

Day 3-rest of group arrives, 9-11-14

We walked back to airport (15 minutes) arrival area and met the rest of the group.  Eight new people this year and 21 friends from past trips. Our bus trip to the agritourisimo was over 2 hours. Hotel is Cambiano de Piccolo in Montefalco.  Margaret Egli and Arwed  are the trip organizers and say that this could be the best place yet in all our travels. So far the food was great. Carol and I walked to the hill town after lunch--it is gorgeous-just like those pictures you see in the magazines of ancient towns and not overrun with tourists. The family running this agritourisimo is on their 25th generation.

Need I tell you what this is! 

Our usual entry to the central pilazza

The gate closest to our camiano

Day 2-Arrival in Rome, 9-10-14

We landed on time.  There were really 1000 people in the line to check passports, it took us over an hour to get through that line, then we got our luggage and walked up and down trying to find the Hilton for three hours! Everyone told us the wrong directions including the help desk and most only spoke Italian. So when we finally arrived at the desk at the Hilton (by practically climbing over a wall) (we spied it from the bus and yelled to get out right there) our other friend who landed 3 hours after us was there AND the hotel was actually right across the street from where we landed. We understood much later on that the mix-up was because there were two Hiltons at that airport and some people were sending us to the other one.  Not the best of beginnings.

Al Fresco dining area at Camiano Piccolo

Living, Kitchen of our unit #9 named Little Fireplace in Italian

Carol coming out of our unit (next to the laundry).

We stayed over-night at the airport and met the group next morning and traveled by our bus to our agritourisimo (pictured above).

Day 1-fly to Italy, 9-9-14

Carol Pike Webb and I flew out of Boston on time heading to Rome on Tuesday, Sept. 9th.

Last meal in Boston before heading to Rome.

Over 1000 people waiting for passport check at Rome Airport