Civita

We had dinner together and sang Happy Birthday to both Georgio and Char then topped off the meal with some pretty good Tiramisu for dessert. After dinner we went back to the terrace for a nightcap.

Village Italy 2007 - Friends, Experiences, and Memories
A Journey through the real Italy on a Rick Steves' tour

Civita di Bagnoregio

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The only way into Civita di Bagnoregio is the pedestrian ramp.

Mid-afternoon, we met the rest of the group for a side trip to Civita di Bagnoregio. Look up “quaint and charming Italian hilltown” in the dictionary and you’re likely to find a picture of Civita di Bagnoregio . The setting is really amazing. The bus could not drive all the way, so we had to take a “shuttle” to the ramp (or bridge) leading to the town. At the beginning of the trail, a newly “planted” landscape tree fell and nearly hit Wendy and Diane (the first ones on the path). After some workers righted the tree, the rest of us carefully passed.

Main square in Civita.

Looking back at the pedestrian ramp to Civita.

Looking through the entry portal into Civita.

Civita's setting high above the Lazio region in Italy is picturesque

Ruins of the guard house.

The town of Civita di Bagnoregio is full of great architecture, quaint streets, and interesting doors and windows. After exploring the town, we had time for a gelato before heading back.

This beautiful (and picturesque) old hill town has a “no cars allowed” policy. Paul, Barbara, Cathy and I walked through town and “down” to some caves that were used as hiding places by the locals and soldiers during WW2. Barbara stopped to see an old woman’s garden, knowing full well that she would be charged a Euro to see some tomato plants and a little more. But, she sure does a good sales pitch!

Back in Orvieto, we gathered for Happy Hour on the terrace on the second floor. The terrace was a little compact, but we had a great time. We used part of the time to sign a birthday card for Char and a birthday book for Giorgio. Giorgio loves to read and Karin found a book that she had enjoyed that she hoped he had not read. Char is a hardcore shopper (how did she get past tour security?), so Karin bought her a shopping bag.

As part of our continuing Italian lessons on the bus, Karin told us about a common Italian saying that you would never hear in the US. If you have a close friend or relative that you think is really lucky, you say (along with the appropriate hand gestures) that they have a “really big butt”. One tour member (who shall remain anonymous) said that she must be “really lucky”. Apparently, Italians do not take offense at his expression. And more apparently, it must be OK to have a big butt, but not a big nose. Hummm… makes you wonder if the polite way to say you’re lucky is that you have “an important butt” (See Padua).