With rainy weather here in the mountains, a flash in my mind brought me back to my time in Assisi, Italy, though it was over a handful of years ago, when there too some of my days were filled with grey skies and a soggy ground.

Meditation has been playing big in my life as of late, and back in Assisi too, was the place to do it.  With church after church, my traveling partner and I walked the streets, took in the beauty and sights, and ducked into the sacred spaces for quick moments of quiet and reflection.

While in Assisi I met a barefoot man, a traveler from eastern Europe.  He wanted me to join his street act (he played an instrument) but I couldn’t play anything at all.  That didn’t deter him.

“All you have to do is smile,” he said.  “The tourists will love it.  They’ll give us lots of money.”

His comment made me laugh, but I let that opportunity pass (though in all honesty not without a few seconds consideration!), and kept on in my travels.

Here are some photos I snapped while wandering through Assisi.

 

the “peace hostel” I stayed in

I took this one because it reminded me of my grandmother – she loved Betty Boop

a beautiful, twisted olive tree

a road I walked – which afforded a lovely view of the town on the hillside

Leave a comment and tell me: have you ever been to Assisi? If so, what was your favorite part?

p.s. I’ve written a whole big loooong story about my travels in Italy (and beyond!), that I hope you’ll read once it’s published!