July 8, 2017, Abby Road or What Another Long, Strange, Trip it’s Been

July 8, 2017, Abby Road or What Another Long, Strange, Trip it’s Been

It was a most interesting and amazing day, but it did prove once again that it is better just to find and not seek. Nothing turned out like we thought it would, but it was better or at least equally great. We set off for L’Aquila with our friend and the mighty dog Fred. We spent a long time looking for an art supply store that was no where near where I thought it was. Then instead of going to the museum in L’Aquila we drove way back out this way and went to an amazing Abby in Bominaco somewhere in Abruzzo. It was a long and winding road that led to some dead ends and impassible roads along the way. We were happy in the same way that Fred seems to be happy although he has not idea where he is or what is going on. 

At last a sign.

As is often the case there was a wedding in the Romanesque Church of Santo Maria Assunta (12th Century), but we were able to get in the small church of San Pelligrino. It was founded by Charlemagne but rebuilt in 1263. 

Roman columns

As is also often the case we had to call up a woman to come and open the church for us. Then we had to put 2E in to turn on the lights, but it was well worth it. The entire place is painted floor to ceiling with frescos and carvings. 

I sort of like my photos before the lights were turned on, but it was much easier to appreciate the interior with the lights. I did not read the sign that said no pictures until we were on the way out and I am very grateful that I did not. 

Above the horse and rider are the calendar months including the zodiac signs and the saints’ days and other holy days celebrated in that church. 

Here is a better shot of the calendar with the prophets above it.

This is the view looking back toward the front door. The 30 foot high guy on the left is San Cristofer. 

I really liked the moorish designs on the vaulted ceiling and all the strange, to my eye, midivil characters doing midivilish things like carrying a box with half a guy in it. 

Here are some Danes that we know who also were in the church. Just to the left of San Christofer’s knees is a saint that looked like “Thing” in the Adams Family. He had hair down below his knees. More to the left are frescos depicting the life of Jesus. 

Jim, Marzia, and the church lady looking toward the front of the church. 

This is the big church of Santo Maria Assunta. It is really big and, compared to the little one, quite austere. The outside and the inside are not as ornamented, but there were some interesting things I found by looking closely. 

Picture of Fred carved into the wall.

The right hand of God. 

This is a shot of the long side of the church and the cute little house along side it. 

Here, I am on the porch of the little house and am trying to give you an idea of how long the church is. 

It was hot enough to cook a pizza on the pavement, but still there were some bell flowers growing in a shady spot on the church. 

We were lucky that the woman let us into the big church after the wedding. She had missed her lunch, but still took the time to give us a minute. 

This church is very white with only a few frescos partially uncovered on the side walls. 

As well as two amazing churches we also had an amazing lunch of homemade pasta. I had pasta made with saffron….which is harvested in our region and Jim had carbonara. There was a another family dining and the man was from California about 30 miles from where Jim grew up. He is retired and he and his family have moved full time to Italy. ( to do that as Americans two people have to have an income of $6000 a month and I do not know how more it is if there are four) They had a small, white, version of the dogs that live in the Montpelier pet store. 

 It was around 40c today so since returning home we have been hiding in the house waiting for dark to go interneting in the piazza. We learned an Italian saying today:  Eat like a prince at breakfast, like a king at noon and like a peasant in the evening. This is our problem. We have been eating like kings every meal all day.