One of our favorite day trips is to Assisi.  We love the beauty of this little town and the more we learn about the life of St. Francis, the more we appreciate all tributes to him.  After touring, Connie found a spectacular restaurant recommended in her guide book. 

"La Stalla is about as rustic as it gets, sort of like a family picnic. It's a series of former livestock stalls made of stone walls and low-beamed ceilings thoroughly blackened by and still filled with smoke. The smoke rises tantalizingly from the open wood-fire grill and will have your mouth watering long before you secure a seat at one of the wobbly long communal tables... It just may be one of your most memorable and authentic Umbrian meals."

After refueling amongst the pine trees, we ventured to Deruta and its ceramics which are a milestone in the history of Italian pottery. They gained worldwide fame during the Renaissance thanks to their creative and qualitative excellence.  This pottery was much sought after by noblemen and rich merchants at the time. Now it is the highlight of world renowned Art Museums and our shopping trip to this little medieval town.  To wander its streets and look at all the buildings adorned with the beautiful clay art was like a scavenger hunt.  Even the church housed exceptional local tiles of art.

It was a full day of Umbrian exploring.  Dinner on the terrace, recounting our memories thus far, concluded our fun, albeit exhausting, day.

I know for most of you, a barbecue on Memorial Day isn't anything to blog about, but here in Italy, hot dogs, burgers, deviled eggs and all the accouterments are so rare that I found myself giddy with the prospect of a little bit of home.

Our group delighted in the warm Italian breezes and dramatic sunset as we celebrated this special day of remembrance with family and friends.

For our last stop on our cruise, we strolled the streets of Split- armed with the equivalent of $40 in Croatian kuna, a city map and enthusiasm to just get lost in this 1,700 year old seaport on the eastern shore of the Adriatic.

We meandered through the 'green' market- a sea of colors and sounds.  I wanted to buy all the lush fruits and vibrant fresh flowers.  We became reinvigorated while listening to an organ concert in the Church of St. Francis (13th century).  We studied the history of this unknown to us city while rambling about the shoreline.  We ended our visit by people watching at the harbor while having drinks and reminiscing about all the unforgettable memories we made on this ten day intermission.