You Concentrate on Your Bicycle

Today was our trip to Assisi.  We were all a little disappointed after our very fun outing in Siena.  Our tour guide was just as entertaining if not more than our Siena guide, but the town was not filled with its usual charm but with thousands of religious pilgrims.  Tomorrow is Saint Francis' day and there will be thousands and thousands more pilgrims there to see St. Francis' tomb, church, house, and town. I was constantly being pushed and chided by 5 foot Italian grandmothers.  At one point I think a little old lady was hitting me in the back of the knees with her purse so she could get past me quicker!  Then Victoria and I had a conversation about how we wanted to be these crazy pushy little old ladies when we were grandmothers. 

This city was completely built around the Catholic faith. Not being Catholic, I am quickly being educated here in Italy on Catholic traditions, art, and saints through our art history classes, day trips, and my literature class.  This is good! But today was clouded over by 6 hour bus rides, crowds of people, and a very tiny town dedicated to tourism.  The jewel in the day besides the girls with whom I get to spend my time, was our tour guide, Joseph. (pronounced Yoseph) He is a native of Assisi and has 7 dogs.  He also was very friendly and entertaining as well as knowledgeable about his town. Two of my favorite quotes of his were in explaining why the Italians never add to frescos because evidently, "It would be like seeing my grandmother in a miniskirt".  And in response to some Italian cyclists whistling at our group of 10 females, "You concentrate on your bicycle!"  It was great. Once home, the evening ended with some Chinese food and laundry.  Tomorrow is the beach! It's an early night for me.  A Domani!