Gab's Gubbio

 Monday 12th May 2025

Today we went to Gubbio, a famous historic town an hour away. The four of us went in the one car. 

Simple until we came to this. Our very first railway crossing. There was no sign of a train so we sat and wondered what to do for a while. Maybe there was no train and there might be a button to press or something. Is it different in Italy?

But  then, there it was, a train, after which the gate went up and we were on our way. We had waited at least 10 minutes so reminded us of home, the railway crossing at Adamstown.

The approach to Gubbio.

car park (free)

love truffles

So many hills, arches, ruins and churches and also lovely scenery as we made our way up the hill.  All these historic towns are built on bloody hills.  But no stairs this time, just steep inclines.

A very old church, beautiful.

Paul practising for his pope acceptance speech. Haven't the heart to tell him its all over.

Sir Paul

Me and my horse

Famous fountain where running around it 3 times means you are mad. John....

nice church

More great views from the almost top

A nice church

Christina, John and Paul 

And then up to the Funivia Colle Eletto, a cable car of sorts that takes you to the top of the mountain and back if you are lucky. Unlike most cable cars, it is more of a cage for one or two persons and does not stop to pick up passengers. You are meant to clamber on as it moves but not the disabled. It was stopped for 'them'.

It was quite a scary ride as it is just a cage and you hold on to the bars. All I could think of was the cable car accident in Rome not that long ago. I only just managed to take a few photos.

the cage

John and Christina ahead of us

nice scenery

Lunch was in a little bar. I had this nice salad while the others had really nice pasta. But they did have gluten free Peroni beer. Yes. Didn't really feel like one but had it anyway!!! 

On our way home, we stopped into Pioraco so John and Christina could have a look around while we had a drink and waited for them to join us.

 

Aperol Spritzs

At last back to our hotel for a little rest before the big family pizza night with Gianfranco and Patrizia and all their kids and grandkids. 20 people for pizza. I was promised a gluten free one. Sara, daughter, had previously said she knew how to make the base and would provide one for her mother to cook. Later Patrizia said she had bought bases for me. Interesting.

Dinner was to be at maybe 8. It was great to catch up with Sara again, her new beau Miguel and her daughter Nicola, sister Elisa, husband Andrea and two kids, also brothers Samuelo with fiancé Manuela, and Mateo with wife Roberta and kids Simone and Chiara who speaks english but not on cue. She is 5.

It was amazing to see Gianfranco's pizza oven and the huge number of large rectangular pizzas he was cooking in it.  Looking great. 

My gf pizza appeared out of a box, maybe a frozen one, marguerita  into the normal oven and then Patrizia who was unbelievably busy forgot it and it got slightly overcooked. I ate it anyway as I was hungry and watched the others eating 5 different types of pizzas, maybe more. They just kept coming out, more and more of them.  Patrizia offered to cook me gf pasta with her lovely sauce but no way was I giving her more work to do.

forgot to take a photo before getting stuck in...

Their food

i got some left over veg from the previous night. Great.

Some of the adult table

more of the adult table

Patrizia finally siting down and eating.

What a great night for all of us, John catching up with family he had not seen in 36 years and Christina meeting family for the first time. Quite amazing.

I also had a good time despite the food.  

But best of all, my favourite second cousin, Sara, was able to remove the earring after Manuela could not. Not @#$% easy.

Free at last.