Giorno Sei

This morning we went to an olive press co-op.  You have to have 600kg of olives to be allowed to press.  They press them within 24 hours of picking.  It’s all quite high tech.  We learned how to taste olive oil too - warm the cup in your hand, cover with your other hand.  When warm, sniff, sip, then take in air through your teeth (without aspirating).  It was lovely.
We then went to Spello, a small hill town with tiny little alleys loaded with flowers in baskets and spilling over balconies.  The artists were in heaven. They had really really nice shops with some high end clothing, more like pieces of art.  It was fun poking around.  Had my first gelato of the trip - cherry.  Yummmmmmy!!
Tonight before dinner they had “special Italian music” for us.  It was a guitarist and a woman singer.  They dragged out every old Dean Martin hit you ever heard - That’s Amore, O Solo Mio, Mamba Italiana, and of course Volare.  Cheesy but fun.
Dinner tonight was melon with prosciutto, ravioli with ricotta and spinach and their special “black celery”.  It is a specialty of the area.  The celery is not really black but has dark green leaves.  They took a bunch of it and sliced it into 2” rounds, deep fried it and served with a red sauce.  Unique and quite good.  Dessert was sweet wine and biscotti.
Weirdest thing I saw today - a finger rosary - just 10 little beads on an elastic band with a tiny cross.  When you just don’t have enough time for all those Our Fathers and Hail Marys

The Olive Oil Co-op

Olive Trees

First Olives of the Season

High tech processing

Olive Oil Vats

My Friend Lieu

Gorgeous pottery

Looked like a Chilluly Sculpture

Street Scene in Spello

Boar's Head

Wall Art Spello

More Beautiful Flowers Spello

View from the Wall - Spello

Clever Idea for Planter Boxes

Cute Idea for Plants