Prairie Boy

Thursday Oct. 20

Our day begins with a drive to find a Hermitage perched way up on a mountain side.  Pietro Angelerio somehow convinced people to build this structure back in 1294.  Shortly after, he received word that he was to become the next Pope.  We could see the building from the road and it looked like a tiny barnacle clinging to the rock.  You have to look really closely in this picture to make out the Hermitage. 

Look way up the hill for the Hermitage.

In this picture you can see how the building grows out of the rock as if it belongs there. 

Here is a closer view.

We hiked up to a building below the Hermitage that was convincingly locked up as another service to "late in the season tourists".  The view over the valley was somewhat obscured by cloud and mist but gave us a commanding view none the less. 

It was interesting to note a rather large solar panel field genuflecting to the sun in their role as a modern day 'Sun God" worshiping our thirst for energy. 

Solar panel field.

We headed back to town to find the Pelino Confetti Art and Technology Museum.  This was a tribute to the discovery that you could make sugar candy in the most unusual forms and sell them to unsuspecting brides and grooms for wedding decorations.  I had no idea that Confetti was something other than colourful paper left over from three hole punches. 

Wedding favours.

Confetti flowers.

The factory was in operation and visible through a small viewing window.  Without any Italian-English translation available I cannot tell you what these gorgeous spinning copper kettles were for. 

Confetti factory.

We then went to collect some groceries and go for lunch.  As we began our search for the perfect lunch spot thunder announced the fulfillment of the 60% chance of rain forecast for today.  Somewhat 'moist on the outside' we rambled through Piazza Garibaldi watching the metal shutters descend on each restaurant we approached.  Of Course… 1:00 p.m. when any sensible Italian is readying themselves for a siesta.  After some sloshing around we found a perfect place to sit, eat pizza, panini and brochetta followed by some coffee and desserts.

Cathy and I decided to forgo a formal clothes washing event and headed out on foot to walk our 5 km. back home.  Each car that passed obliged us with a perfectly timed shower of recently fallen rain mixed with minor flavours of road grit and oil.  We must remember to contact Outter Limits in Saskatoon for supplying waterproof jackets that worked at least for the upper half of our bodies.  Wash, dry, eat and drink.  That pretty much finishes the day.