Civita de Bagnoregio

Observations:
Because everyone smokes, and because the roads and the driving are so dangerous, and because there is so much wonderful, carb and sugar-rich foods, I suspected the average lifespan in Italy to be low.  Chris looked it up.  It’s 81.  Wow. Well, then, the average lifespan is surely much higher than that in the US.  Try 78.
 

Since the trip from Rome to Amalfi, our next stop, was going to be 3+ hours long, we decided to stop at another hill town called Civita de Bagnoregio along the way.

Getting to the parking area was no issue (in fact, once we got off the autostrada, it was a beautiful drive along back roads); getting to the town was another story.  Here’s why:

That road is for pedestrians only

We had learned in our research prior to the trip that this particular hill town had suffered badly from erosion over the years.  No kidding.

We began our walk.  It was incredibly hot, probably close to 100 degrees in the sun.  During one of our breaks up the incline, we watched a man effortlessly walk past us.  Chris and I looked at each other.  What does he know that we don’t?  By observing him, we figured out that the trick to walking up steep inclines is to take small steps and move your body as little as possible.

Getting there

We stopped to look back at our accomplishment so far

Finally on the other side

Once inside, we found the town to be very pretty.  Of course there was a church, and, as one tourist described it, lots of flowers and cats.

 Inside the church

 Nothing on the other side of this door

Looking beyond the outer wall

Funny picture of the day:

And, of course, clotheslines. Isn’t this so funny?  One pair of underwear – again.  I have so many questions about this...