Amongst the Umbrian hills

Greetings from Monte Gabbioni in Umbria. We are being made to feel very at home on the olive farm of Dagi and Nini Giauuo surrounded by gently rolling hills, olive groves, vineyards, farms and ochre wheat fields.

Their house is a 200 year old converted animal stable with the original vaulted ceiling and bundles of charm and character. Since we arrived yesterday we have eaten huge amounts of delicious pasta washed down with equally delicious Italian wine. And of course we have sampled their amazing olive oil. All the vegetables come from Dagi's garden (including zuchinni flowers, which we had as a starter last night) as did the sour cherries which she has preserved in liquer and went brilliantly with chocolate ice-cream for dessert.

This morning we went on a long walk down the gravel road taking in the surrounding countryside, with its bales of hay and little villages on hilltops. The wheat fields hardly stirred in the still air. Occasionally a car would pass us by throwing up a cloud of dirt, but apart from that, we had the place to ourselves. Anyway, enough of me pretending to be William Wordsworth, here are a couple of pics from Monte Gabbione, Verona and Venice...