The piaza, the breeze is cool and the sun on the steps of the Communale warms me up. The others are walking up to the basilica Santa Margarita. I’m feeling a little short of breath, others might say lazy, however I decide to loiter downtown and drink coffee. There are very few people out and about, mostly American accents, and locals.

Michele (pronounced Michael)  from Hill Town Tours is booked for the ride to the train tomorrow morning. Enzo made an error, but I’m guessing he may not do it again, he has been great in the past. I think he either forgot or ditched us for a bigger job, anyway it’s water under the bridge now.

The Visitors Centre is closed, I can’t complete my one job for The Navigator, to get a local map to replace the one she lost.

The others come back down the hill, and The Mechanic takes the keys and he pilots us to Castiglione del Lago. The only mistakes are mine as defacto navigator, the real Navigator sits in the back seat, mostly quietly. CDL is like a ghost town, one cafe/ restaurant open, no shops nothing.

So we drive, sorry The Mechanic drives, to Passignini on the other side of the lake, it’s quiet but we find a little place open for a late lunch. The low sun over the lake makes for some dramatic photos.

The drive back gives The Mechanic some bum clenching moments but he does well and gets us safely back to the free carpark without a scratch on the car. There may be some marks on his underdaks though, it’s tight driving up the mountain to Cortona.

Dinner tonight is a Trattoria Dardano, simpler food than last night. We met a family from Sacramento in the USA sitting at the next table, Kevin and Sue and their daughter Megan. Their first time in Italy and they are blown away, if the travel they mostly go to South Korea where Sue is originally from. However they have a fish and chip shop and it’s hard to get away. One the pleasures of travel is meeting new and interesting people.

Ciao Bella from Cortona

Pauolo

The view from our patio this morning