Perugia

I have arrived safe and sound in Perugia, a hilltop town that has only taxis and delivery vans etc drive through, the rest is pedestrian traffic amongst old old old old and lots of old. 

(One of the gates in the city walls)

There are lifts from the bottom of the hill through the hill,  under roads and comes out at the top (not getting that lift!) or there are escalators that take you from the bottom of the hill to the top of the town, or you can walk the sixteen billion thousand steps to the top.  I saw the lift in action this arv, no plans to get that lift but am going to find the escalator tomorrow and have a go on that, as far as the sixteen billion steps go, I think I walked twelve billion of them today, including the steps up to my accommodation on the 3rd floor of some building that doesnt have a lift. 

I have walked around a bit this arv, found a hair dresser but she didn't understand my Italian or my charades and didn't speak English so I will keep looking. I managed to walk through the set of some medieval something that was being filmed and I didn't know they were filming so they had to stop filming, escort me away from the set 'cos I had NO clue, then found some more tv cameras etc because there was something big going on in the town with reporters and cops everywhere but I guess you had to be fluent in Italian to know what was going on. 

(Don't know what they were filming!)

My italian isn't getting much of a workout, everyone wants to speak English and when they do speak to me in Italian I have no idea what they are saying so I say "English" and they either shake their head and walk away or start speaking in English.

I was talking to a woman on the train today - in English - makes a change that someone actually spoke to me - she is a documentary maker and so was happy to chat and wanted to know all about the differences in Australia and Italy so that kept me busy telling her everything I have noticed, and there are heaps, like their dogs go everywhere with them, into shops, restaurants, on trains, watertaxis, in taxis, everywhere the people go their dogs go no dramas.  I have also noticed that all their dogs are very well behaved and socialised, mine wouldn't be much chop here, maybe Daizzee because she is older but the other three no way!  But, I have also noticed they only ever have one dog, so maybe that's the secret, have one and concentrate on that one instead of being the eccentric woman that follows behind the 4 dogs pulling on their leads and barking at everyone and everything they pass in the street!

There is an on-off bus here too so I will get on that tomorrow and get out and about a bit.  Breakfast doesnt start until 8.30 (civilised) because there are no staff here from 8pm to 8am so that will be lovely to have a sleep in tomorrow unless the freaking church bells start clanging at 7 like they do everywhere else!

It is cooler here, much cooler, and I am assuming it is because we are up so high and getting the breeze.  Another thing I noticed, as soon as there is a slight breeze, Italians bring out the jumpers and coats and scarves and wear them whether they are sweating or not!  Meanwhile, I am walking around in singlet or short sleeves LOVING the cool breeze and not sweating for a change.

(3D Jesus behind glass above the church doors - freaked me out a bit when I saw it!)

(Someone lives up there!)