Arezzo…

The morning after one of the biggest and richest meals yet, is not exactly frenetic. Breakfasted, washed and pressed, our south-easterly journey begins as we head north. There are no main roads into Greve or Borgo di Sugame, so every trip starts on the narrow twisty road running south-west to north-east. When we get to Filigne we decide (with the help of a lack of signage to the A1 Autostrada) to take the surface road to Arezzo instead of the autostrada… for the scenery don’t you know. Oops. Many traffic lights, many cross streets, much traffic… cosi va. (so it goes.) We arrive in Arezzo about 45 minutes later than planned. Arezzo was bombed by both sides in WW2. There isn’t much of the old city left. We have lunch in the first piazza we come to. (Remember, restaurant, duomo or gelato.) The waiter is weenie and makes a big production out of doing our table as three separate checks for the three separate couples. We do not feel sorry for him.

After lunch and more whining and heavy sighs as we pay our 3 separate checks, Ken and the ladies head up hill towards the duomo. Darryl and I head down hill to buy more parking time. We found a perfect parking spot directly across from the duomo… directly across the entire city. Parking in Arezzo is a tale of trial and tribulation too long and disturbing for this family friendly publication.

 The duomo is still beautiful and the chiesa di francesco with the Pierro della Francesca frescos of the true legend of the cross were, as always moving in their stark and austere restoration. 

And… that’s about all there really is in Arezzo for us. It is a real example of post war reconstruction and as such it is not a pretty town and just a little sad. 

Somehow we find our way straight out of town and right to the A1 Autostrada.

 We dash in to the Coop (grocery) in Figlene (for those of you in Michigan, imagine a big Meijer store with parking spaces the same size as the cars, no bigger, that’s mostly groceries but also everything from bicycles to underpants to TVs… put it all in a language you don’t understand… require that you have to wear plastic gloves to pick up any produce, weigh and price everything yourself and bag everything yourself and you have to bring your own bags or they charge you for those too) for a few things to make dinner.

A simple chicken cacciatore and salad is the plan because Nelsons and Vardas are leaving at 6am for Spain and we have to be out of the apartment by 10am for Cortona. It’s a delicious simple dinner and an early night.