Snowing in Assisi

Last Friday Kelly Ann Brauch-Denyer (my best friend since fourth grade who is also here in Florence studying) and I went to Assisi. We left on a train from Florence and got to Assisi around 5.00. Neither of us had ever been or had any clue where to go. When we left the train station we could see the historic part of Assisi inside its walls on the hill. 

History note: After the fall of the Roman Empire city-states began to spring up around Italy. The safest place for a city at the time was on a hilltop surrounded by walls. So as you travel through Italy look at the hills and you will find stone walls with packed houses and shops inside them. 

So, without any definite plans, Kelly and I started walking toward the hill. Forty-five minutes later we were within the walls searching for a hotel. Now I know it's not tourist season but it was RIDICULOUS how many places were closed. We were starting to get worried that we wouldn't find a hotel before it got dark. And it was Valentine's Day Weekend! Finally we found a beautiful hotel in the square that was reasonably priced. Both Kelly and I were exhausted from the long hike and the dramamine we took on the train so we decided to take a nap while we waited for the restaurants to open. (Restaurants are only open here when they want to be. So if you decide that you want to eat dinner at 5.00 you had better be willing to make it yourself.) An hour later we woke up and went to dinner at a small restaurant around the corner. The food wasn't the best but the atmosphere was fun with about 20 people there celebrating carnival with masks and costumes. After dinner we ran over to a sweets shop and bought three things to split. One was a short bread cookie dipped in chocolate (amazing!!!), the second was a chocolate tube coated in bits of wafer or cookie with melted chocolate inside (even better!!) and the third was like an eclair but with solid icing in the middle instead of cream (not so great.) 

Saturday morning started early. We knew to visit the Basilica of Santa Claira and St. Francesco but weren't sure what else there was. So, with the help of the travel map from the hotel, we made a loop around Assisi and visited both churches and one fortress. My favorite parts of the churches were the frescos and the stained glass. I love stained glass!! And the fortress had a really high tower we climbed with an amazing view of the city. 

We had to make it back to the train station by 3 so after a warm lunch we started the walk back to the country. It was already cold but on our walk it started to SNOW! I couldn't believe it. I had NEVER thought of SNOW in Italy. It just hadn't occur to me. It was like thinking of it snowing in Hawaii. Who would think of that?

To finish our day, Kelly, myself, and our friend Kelli made dinner at my apartment and then went out for drinks. All in all, the best Valentine's Day Ever!