Ciao!

Winding things down here – a day spent at Assisi 45 minutes up the valley, and a long walk along the streets in temps near 100. Even thought the stone staircase between the two was daunting (photo 1), the upper and lower basilicas were quite moving, with their incredibly historic and beautiful Giotto and Cimabue frescoes adorning the walls. We also visited the tomb of Saint Francis beneath the lower basilica, and stayed in that quiet place for a good while. Wish we could have taken pictures, but it’s one of the most sacred places in the Catholic faith, and this photo (2) of the entrances of the upper and lower basilicas will have to do.

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We were supposed to have a BBQ this evening out on the patio, but around 5:30 the sky opened up, and we had the first rain in over a week. So we brought it indoors, where Trish and Melanie and I cooked up burgers and hot dogs and laid out salad and cookies and chips and cheese and cherries. This as a transition meal to ease the students back into life at home. They loved it.

Later on, the rain stopped, and students parked around the villa to admire the end of our last day here (photo 2, Valerie and Lauren). We’ve been blessed with fine weather, fine students, and a fine place: Spoleto.

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Now to bed — we leave here at 5:45 tomorrow morning!

 

Ciao —

Bret