Dear Diary,
We started in Rome, meeting for the first time, and getting to know not only each other, but also the busy and hectic city. Out here in the country, the pace has been more relaxed, and we’ve had time to talk over leisurely meals, during strolls along medieval streets and during time spent traveling together in our van. As the tour winds down, we spend our final days in Umbria in the towns of Perugia and Spoleto before making our way back to Rome.
We started in Rome, meeting for the first time, and getting to know not only each other, but also the busy and hectic city. Out here in the country, the pace has been more relaxed, and we’ve had time to talk over leisurely meals, during strolls along medieval streets and during time spent traveling together in our van. As the tour winds down, we spend our final days in Umbria in the towns of Perugia and Spoleto before making our way back to Rome.
October 10th has us in Perugia, where the group fans out on their own to sightsee for the morning. We meet up for lunch at a cute little osteria where we have a delicious light meal and a glass of wine together.
First came a little appetizer plate followed by a delicious bowtie pasta with zucchini and sausage. Yum!
First came a little appetizer plate followed by a delicious bowtie pasta with zucchini and sausage. Yum!
After lunch we head to Frantoio Trampolini, the oldest olive oil mill in the Perugia area run by multi-generations of the Trampolini family. We have a fantastic time here as Alessandro explains to us how the olives are made into olive oil, and shows us a short DVD so we can see the process. Afterwards, we’re in for a real treat as in preparation for our arrival, they have built a fire in the fireplace and inserted the grill grate. Sure enough, they start toasting bread over the open fire, and serve it to us doused in beautiful olive oil and sprinkled with salt. It’s oh-so delicious and we munch away while we talk about the different varieties of oil and make lots of purchases.
Bellies full, we return to Spoleto with plenty of time for everyone to relax, or stroll and sightsee before our group dinner. Dinner tonight is very special. Chef Michele at Ristorante Appolinare has prepared a delightful menu for us. He uses local and traditional ingredients, but prepares them with a special gourmet flair. His friendliness has us all charmed and in addition, he presents us with the wine corks from the very bottles we have consumed for dinner, made into key chains!
The following day (Oct. 11th), after a morning to further explore Spoleto, we board our van to return to Rome. Some how, the van is much fuller than it was on the way to Umbria! Everyone has made purchases of olive oil, ceramics, cashmere, leather, cookies, grains, and of course….wine. Federico, our driver manages to make it all fit and helps us to unload as well when we reach Rome again.
All that’s left now is our farewell dinner. Dinner tonight has been organized at our hotel in order to give everyone time to repack and reorganize for their flights home the following morning. Pipero al Rex, is a tiny, but very elegant restaurant serving intriguing gourmet food. It’s a good thing our waiter explains every course to us, or we might not know what we are eating! It’s all unique and delicious and we have a fun evening reliving the highlights of our time together the past ten days.
It’s been an absolute joy getting to know this group. We’ve enjoyed each other’s company and seen and experienced so many fabulous things together. Farewell hugs all around, and they’re off to return home; bags filled with wonderful treats and hearts filled with a new found love of Italy. Arrivederci! Until we meet again.
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