Make me a means of your peace

Street scene in Assisi

 The homeward journey of an exhausting but exhilarating day in Assisi. The scenery was simply breathtaking and I must say the religious significance was much easier to appreciate without the huge crowds of people. The absence of the hawkers trying to flog off 'selfie sticks' and really tacky souvenirs was an extra bonus.

Plenty of walking around the hilly streets of Assisi as we traipsed from one spectacular church to another. Managed to find and photograph the outside of the churches of St Rufino and St Chiara (2 of the sports houses of St Francis Tannum Sands).

St Francis and his faithful followers would certainly have kept fit living in this area as most of the 16 000 steps completed today seemed to be uphill.

The loo with a view over Umbria

I must say that it was worth it to spend the 0.60 Euro to go to the bathroom in the Piazza of the Basilica of San Francesco as it certainly is a 'loo with a view'. Really struggling with the whole idea of having to pay for toilets in a country which takes pride in letting everyone know that they had sewerage systems in ancient times.

To hear the recitation of the 'Prayer of St Francis' in the crypt of St Francis really made the hairs on the back of your neck stand up even if it was in Italian and we could not really join in. Certainly a day of amazing experiences and a peaceful presence characterised the time.

An absolute minimum of fuss negotiating public transport with the least crowded train we have experienced in our time in Italy. Just a wonderful experience.

Basilica San Francesco at Assisi