Tuesday 19th Oct Time around the villa and a trip to Mount Subasio

After our long day out yesterday we had a morning around the villa. We felt we needed to have some CV exercise and stretch our muscles so we "power" walked to the end of the white gravel drive and back about 1 km.
A little info about where we are staying.  We found Casa Rosa on a web site recommended by Trevor and Marion called VRBO. It's a good basic villa one of 3 in the old farmhouse with 2 more in the old stables. The owner who is English lives in the "studio" which is actually quite small. We have great views of Mount Subasio and the surrounding area, it is very quiet and peaceful here and also due to no light pollution the stars and night sky are fabulous. It's approx 6 km from Assisi along a winding road, the last 3 km being a very winding/switch back road. Then there is the 1km of white gravel road with the extra excitement of a few deep ruts before arriving at the villa. The only downside of this location is that to go anywhere we do have to negotiate our way back and around Assisi but it is a small price to pay for the location and we are now very familiar with the road system. 

After lunch we take ourselves off to our local mountain and Eremo delle Carceri which is "an oasis of peace and tranquility in the midst of the woods on the slopes of Mt Subasio" and I do have to say that is a very apt description.

Geramiums and view from the sanctury of Eremo delle Carceri



We walked up and down the hillside on good trails. It has all been set out really well for tourists and people on a spiritual retreat as along the walk there are "quiet" areas with rustic (wooden or stone) seats and altars for pray or reflection

Not absolutley sure what these guys are doing our Italian is not that good !

Walking back to the car, right in the parking lot on the wall is a fox !!! He was happily having his photo taken by the tourists so can only imagine he is tame. Didn't St Francis have an encounter with a fox ?

Driving back down the mountain we do our good deed for the day and give a monk a lift back to Assisi. Turns out he is English, one of his fellow brothers on the pilgrimage is from Guildford Cathedral.
This photo is another view of the Basilica from the road leading up to Assisi

Time for a stop at the recommended cheese shop (I know too much cholesterol) and a top up of supplies at the supermarket before returning,  fairly tired as lots more walking, back to the villa and a splendid sunset.