Italy - Rome to Umbria
Trip Start
Jun 24, 2007
1
24
46
Trip End
Jan 15, 2008
Umbria, Italy
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
The next two weeks were like a glorified country picture book come to life, although the downside was that we did end up doing quite a bit of driving. Umbria is definitely less touristy, more traditional in the true sense and quieter than Tuscany. Spent time in Spoleto, (where we stayed in an historic monastery of sorts!),Dunarobba (visited petrified forests) Terni, and Ferentillo where they have a very interesting underground cemetery or crypt underneath one of the old churches.. Unbeknown to the locals, the soil in which they buried their dead up to 7 centuries ago contained a unique preserving qualitiy due to the high mushroom content, and the majority of the bodies were naturally and perfectly preserved. They have exumed many bodies and placed them in this crypt for people to see. Quite eery reading about who died how, and actually seeing the complete preserved body, many with bits of clothing, hair and eyes still in tact. Tom and Rob found this very interesting and gladly posed next to a pile of skulls whose bodies did not preserve.
Our final stop in Umbria was Perugia where we stayed in a B & B with a lovely couple Lamberto and Franscesca. All the Foster males were very taken with sexy Francesca who oozed personality in her broken English - but what a stunner! The first B & B we tried in Perugia lasted for about 20 minutes when we found someone else's pyjamas under our pillow!
Ended our Umbrian stay with a pictureque drive around Lake Tramasino and then headed for Tuscany.
