Perugia

Perugia, October 24th

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I was a bit beat last night and failed to mention a few of the “sights” I saw yesterday.  I’ll start with the tour groups.  There were many of them, some walking and some biking.  The guy leading the bike groups had his own special layout with all sorts of bells and whistles.  One group leader still had trouble with followers as they were overly cautious on the roads and fell behind.  Silly people.

The walking groups were really dressed for  the occasion.  Each group seemed to have their own apparel to distinguish them from the other groups.  One group had bright red hats, another bright blue scarves and another bright orange scarves.  This is called a uniform.

Every walking group had a leader with some sort of “flag” or flying object held high to identify them.  This is actually what flags were used for originally, as rallying points for a group of soldiers.

You can see where this is going.

Then there were the actual solders…lots of them.  At almost every corner there was a vehicle with at least two very well armed soldiers…all wearing uniforms of course.  Each had a machine pistol and a side arm.  They also wore very long billy clubs in case the other two items failed.

And they weren’t alone.  There were city cops and country cops all over the place.  I really liked the two carbinieri guys, all dressed in black, who whizzed by on two black Ducatis.  When I grow up I want that job.

But just to lighten the atmosphere there were ordinary people wandering in awe all over the place, although I think some may have been local.  The picture I put up last time that showed the young lady and the priest was interesting.  As they walked past me, totally oblivious of my photographic talents, she looked quite despondent and began to cry and he was trying to console her.  I think she was a troubled young lady looking for some help.

At the other end of the scale as I was eating lunch I watched this women with blond hair dressed very “haute couture” completely in black and wearing a bright purple scarf cross the street and come toward me.  From the other side, crossing in front of her was a man with blond hair, dressed completely in white and wearing a bright purple scarf. Wish I’d caught that crossing on camera insteading eating my ligune marinara.

……..

I’m not as tired today but I am going to be a movie star…what you say!

I slept in and didn’t get going unti 09:00 so I headed straight for the American War Cemetery in Anzio.  This is a striking place.  The size is quite amazing and it differs significantly from the austere look of the Commenwealth War Graves.  This one has the same sort of perspective that exists in Washington D.C., looking up from the Lincoln Memorial.  The crosses are on either side of a very long, wide grassed area with the statue of brothers in arms at the end in the centre of a memorial building. The building has a chapel on the left and on the right a room with a visual description of the American involvement in the Sicily/Italy Campaign.

And there was something else I’ve never seen at one of the CWG Cemeteries.  Lots of police.  There was a security guard at the gate and I saw 5 local cops ambling about.  Has it come to the point when not even the departed are safe?

I wandered around for at least 90 minutes then headed toward the visitors centre to sign the book. At this point I saw a video crew setting up their equipment and a young lady came over to me and asked if I spoke English.  I said yes and she asked me why I was here.

I essentially said that the break-out from Anzio by the Americans had resulted in the 1st Division being withdrawn from action and put in reserve.  The least I could do was pay my respects to those American boys who had, even temporarily, removed my Dad from harms way.  She loved it.  She wanted to interview me.  How could I resist, handsome devil that I would like to be.  So it was lights, camera and action.  All to be televised on the Catholic TV Channel…whatever that is.  She informed me that the Pope was going to visit Anzio Cemetery and she wanted some colour commentary.  Good thing I wore my bright yellow T shirt and blue jacket.

Then on to Perugia following our boys, although it’s not clear that they came on this side of Lake Trasimeno on the way north.  I do know they came this way on the way east to Jesi.  I’m here anyway so I’ll just enjoy the town.

I managed to find some digs after driving merrily around this very old and hilly town.  It’s a University centre and all the young kids ambling around tell the tale.  After settling in I went for a walkabout and I just love this place.  Winding, narrow streets, cafes and tiny shops all over the place…a photographers dream.  It would take quite a long time to discover all the hidden gems here.  The receptionist gave me a great map and pointed out the outdoor escalator across the street that made climbing to the centro storico very much easier.  He marked out a great little hour long route.  Along the way I saw two other outdoor escalators. going from top to bottom.  Ancient beyond belief with all the mod cons.

Time to hit the hay.  Big day tomorrow, off to Firenze for a four day visit with Cat.  I’ll pick her up at the airport tomorrow evening and we’ll paint the town red….assuming I can stay awake. If you don’t hear from me in a couple of days assume the best…we’re having too much fun and I’ll catch it all up later.

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