Road works

This morning, we walked out of our front door to discover a digger. We had been aware of the fact that there would be some repaving done, but were pleasantly surprised that they had actually started on schedule!

The road into town is paved with stone rather than asphalt. This has a lot of advantages (including being relatively noisy...making the driver think he/she is going more quickly than is actually the case), but also some disadvantages (longevity). As a result, there are a number of pavers that have been removed (and the hole filled with asphalt) and others that are cracked and unstable. Oh, and by the way: having buses run over the curbstones does not do the curbs or the sidewalks any favors.

I thought the process was interesting enough to document: to begin with, the normally two-way road (the only one in town) is now a one-way (into town...the only road leading directly into the center, mind you!), meaning that buses can no longer come into town. There were letters sent home with students telling the parents that the kids were going to have to suck it up and walk into town from the base (Consolazione, and no, it's not a bad walk at all) and strongly recommending that said parents not add to the traffic by deciding to drive their kids. There have been notices warning residents about the changes in traffic patterns, and so on.

Fast forward to today: the work consists of loosening the individual pavers and curbstones with a jackhammer, smoothing out the gravel/sand base, and shoving a new paver into place. A little cement for fun, and there you have it!

Earlier today, just outside our door

The two-way section converted to one-way

Covers the whole entry to town!

Itty bitty shovels! Cute, aren't they?

The workers thought I was out of my gourd to be taking photos

Just outside the door!

The work is projected to take a month, of which I'll be gone for about two weeks. Probably perfect, since by the end, we will all be heartily sick of it. The girls (who have a window overlooking the street) are already heartily sick of the noise.

Love,

Alexandra

The Big, White Whale

Since James is new at his school and decided for a more family-type celebration for his birthday, we suggested a special outing of his choice. We left it pretty open, with a wide variety of possibilities and (much to my delight!) he decided that a day at the hot springs would be lovely.

Now, Tuscany is littered with hot springs, but there aren't so many in Umbria. There are a variety to choose from, though, within a two-hour radius ... so I had my work cut out for me researching them! Essentially, though, it boils down to two main types: spa atmosphere (which has changing rooms, etc., but amounts to an outdoor, hot swimming pool) or more "rustic" (a hot pool in the middle of the wilderness, no facilities at all).

The hot pool in the woods sounded great to James and the rest of us, so I found a highly-rated location called the Bagni di San Filippo and "Il Fosso Bianco" ("the white ditch"), complete with La Balena Bianca ("The White Whale"). The white whale is a limestone formation created by the hard water's depositing its minerals onto the underlying rock substrate. And it is huge!

We cased it out, and there are all kinds of notices like "DO NOT BATHE IN THE POOLS AT IL FOSSO BIANCO" ... meanwhile, you guessed it!, there are bathers all over the place. I inquired delicately, and an apparent resident (?) gave me some charming story about not diving or something. Whatever. He assured me we wouldn't be hauled into the police station.

So, up we went! The water coming downstream at the base of the formation had cooled off and was a bit chilly; meanwhile, the water in these delightfully white/blue pools was a delicious warmth. The ambiance was stupendous. Only problem was the pools were a wee thing shallow. Time for a change of locale!

Courtesy of Ashley, the upper portion of Il Fosso Bianco

Another formation, not Il Fosso Bianco

This is not streaming water, but rather residue!

Jeremy found leaves that already had a hard, mineral coating

On Il Fosso Bianco

Our first resting place in the middle of Moby Dick

Hanging out and playing with white clay/silt

We found the ideal spot: named "Goldilock's Pools", we offer you the upper pool (a wee bit too hot), the lowest pool (a wee bit too cold) and the middle pool (juuuust right!). Actually, we ended up moving among the three as we felt the need. It was perfect, because there were other people around, but it was quiet and relaxing and we were right there in the middle of the woods!! Delightful.

The Goldilock's Pool(s)

Heavy construction

View from Goldilock's pool

"This is the life..."

Another view of Il Fosso Bianco (thank you, Ashley!)

Having whiled away an entire afternoon, it was sadly time to head back. The smell of sulphur in the car definitely would have made the devil feel at home, but we were too mellow and relaxed to care.

Love,

Alexandra