More photos for not yet posted posts

Bietola a Costa Fine. The local "green" that is ubiquitous in the area. Somewhere between spinach and chard. We blanched it whole in boiling salted water for a minute, then sauteed it in lots of olive oil and garlic. Yum.

Home made Italian dinner: that funny vegetable with Umbrian pork sausage over Polenta, served with local wine and salad. It's nice not not have to eat out every meal, airBnB kitchen challenges non-withstanding

In 1995 Spello was adding a new parking lot when they discovered the remains of a 1st-ish century Roman villa. Only the lower foot or two remains, but the mosaics on the floors are amazing. They constructed a building on top of the old floor, called it a museum, and (as with everything in Italy) charge admission to look at the floor.

Our airBnB in Spello has lots of space, mostly in the horizontal direction. If we'd bothered to bring our own bike helmets, I'd be wearing one inside.

On the trail to Collepino, along the old aqueduct with poppies lining the path

Poppies guarding an access portal to the ancient Roman aqueduct.

Lots of nice wild-flowers

We tried to stop and smell the roses, but wound up listening to the silence instead. (The San Silvestro convent)

Approaching Collepino, a small fortified medieval Hamlet on the flanks of Mt. Subasio

Taking a "forest bathing" break along the way.

Foligno, in the valley below.

Climbing down to Assisi from the Castle above

Castle on the hill, overlooking Assisi, from the outskirts

This has everything the 11 year old me could want from a castle: spiral stone staircases, underground passages, great views through the crenels on the battlements, and a gruesome history. They even sell plastic swords in the gift shop in case it needs defending. Too bad I'm no longer 11.