My heart is being recharged with the magic of Spello reading your words and seeing it again through your eyes! Thank you for being a momentary member of our community and for sharing your slowing down experience in our little village. Spello is a magical place and it was such a joy to meet you and Daniel here! You’ll always have a home in Spello.
Thanks, Ororo! And tiger mosquitos should be called zebra mosquitoes, because their bodies have black and white stripes. They’re not very large, but they are very determined and can carry diseases and leave me with big welts.
“I came to… just be. So for our last three days in Spello we plan nothing. We move at our own pace, freed from expectations.” - Love this, Claire! It’s amazing to me how easy it can be to lose sight of this, especially upon arriving in a new place. Also one of the reasons why I love traveling slowly - it takes off much of the (self-imposed) pressure. 🙂 But yeah, looks like an amazing trip!
Thanks, Michael! It surprised me indeed that I was initially doing the opposite of what I know I enjoy—I'd love to explore that (self-imposed) pressure in another essay one day.
I loved this Claire. My husband and I spent many happy weeks in this region, visiting every second year during that period of our lives. We always stayed in a small group of apartments just outside Assisi, and just meandered every day, often doing not much at all, but never neglecting to drive the back road up and over Mt Subasio on each visit. I read parts of your writing to him, now 80 years old, and the memories came rushing back. Thank you.
I really enjoyed this, Claire … finding the moments next year when we are exploring Europe by rail (or replacement buses!), I am keen for us to pause along the way, to create space for words, being, allowing the world to move around us. It was good to read your words about just that. Looking forward to reading your thoughts about off-season Florence. It is on our list because of ‘Still Life’ by Sarah Winman … but on a previous visit one September, we found it all too pacy for us.
Claire, this is so interesting! when my daughter was too young to even speak, She did say the word Umbria. I never knew what she was talking about. Perhaps it was from a past life.
Umbria and its rolling hills stole my heart during the three months I spent there. Perugia was my favourite, because it had some city comforts but compared to larger Tuscan towns it felt calm and uncrowded. But honestly, having a car to get around was key.
I'm so glad you got to spend several months here! I was in Perugia a long time ago, so I didn't prioritize it this time. We hope to return one day with at least one driver's license among us and drive up and down these hills.
My heart is being recharged with the magic of Spello reading your words and seeing it again through your eyes! Thank you for being a momentary member of our community and for sharing your slowing down experience in our little village. Spello is a magical place and it was such a joy to meet you and Daniel here! You’ll always have a home in Spello.
Thank you so much for your warm welcome and your kind words. I hope we will have the chance to return.
I love your sassy poses. LOL And "Asian tiger mosquitos"? Do I even want to know how big these things are?
Thanks, Ororo! And tiger mosquitos should be called zebra mosquitoes, because their bodies have black and white stripes. They’re not very large, but they are very determined and can carry diseases and leave me with big welts.
😮 Yikes! Ok, noted.
Looks fantastic!
Thanks!
“I came to… just be. So for our last three days in Spello we plan nothing. We move at our own pace, freed from expectations.” - Love this, Claire! It’s amazing to me how easy it can be to lose sight of this, especially upon arriving in a new place. Also one of the reasons why I love traveling slowly - it takes off much of the (self-imposed) pressure. 🙂 But yeah, looks like an amazing trip!
Thanks, Michael! It surprised me indeed that I was initially doing the opposite of what I know I enjoy—I'd love to explore that (self-imposed) pressure in another essay one day.
I look forward to reading about it, Claire! 🙂
I loved this Claire. My husband and I spent many happy weeks in this region, visiting every second year during that period of our lives. We always stayed in a small group of apartments just outside Assisi, and just meandered every day, often doing not much at all, but never neglecting to drive the back road up and over Mt Subasio on each visit. I read parts of your writing to him, now 80 years old, and the memories came rushing back. Thank you.
Thank you for telling me! This is why we write, in the hope that it moves others and gives them something. You made my day.
I really enjoyed this, Claire … finding the moments next year when we are exploring Europe by rail (or replacement buses!), I am keen for us to pause along the way, to create space for words, being, allowing the world to move around us. It was good to read your words about just that. Looking forward to reading your thoughts about off-season Florence. It is on our list because of ‘Still Life’ by Sarah Winman … but on a previous visit one September, we found it all too pacy for us.
Thank you for telling me! I'm working on the Florence post right now :-)
🙌
Stunning photographs!
Thank you, Maria! The credits often go to my husband, but this time they were mine, except for the ones featuring me, of course.
Claire, this is so interesting! when my daughter was too young to even speak, She did say the word Umbria. I never knew what she was talking about. Perhaps it was from a past life.
That's fascinating indeed! It's easy to imagine living in the past here. The stone speaks of previous lives.
Umbria and its rolling hills stole my heart during the three months I spent there. Perugia was my favourite, because it had some city comforts but compared to larger Tuscan towns it felt calm and uncrowded. But honestly, having a car to get around was key.
I'm so glad you got to spend several months here! I was in Perugia a long time ago, so I didn't prioritize it this time. We hope to return one day with at least one driver's license among us and drive up and down these hills.