Spello on Liberation Day

Not as well known as its neighbour Assisi, Spello is a lovely little Roman town that sports one of the best restaurants in Umbria. It is quite a haul up from the Roman gate to the restaurant at the very top but on a clear, sunny day like today the view across the plain makes it well worthwhile (as does the food and the wine). Today is the Liberation Day national holiday in Italy, so everywhere is packed with local families enjoying themselves. We are fortunate in having a marvellous ironmonger here. After the burglary, while we were in the hospital, he and his family worked until one in the morning to weld together new security gates to replace those that were torn off the wall. Where else in the world does the well of human kindness flow as deep as in Italy?

25 degrees - Spello was looking charming

We've moved straight into summer. It's 25 degrees outside at the moment. Faced with this sudden onslaught of heat the boyz have been dosed with Frontline. We don't really like to use chemicals on them unless it's really needed but in this heat it is a necessity to keep the ticks off. Where the ticks come from we can't imagine but the vet tells us the porcupines are covered in them at this time of the year.Wilf has been playing in the dandelions and his legs have turned a rather alarming bright yellow from their leaves!

Took our house guests to Spello just along from Asissi this morning . The town was looking absolutely charming. What was notable was the overwhelming lack of tourists just ahead of the peak Easter holiday - we were able to park in the main square and there were plenty of empty spaces. It looks as if this season is going to be very,very bad for the hotels and restaurants.