I needed to spend some time at the church on the hill again. (aka Sant"Angelo)
Anyway, it was a relaxing day. I was able to just wander around, taking little roads to no where, looking up at the buildings as I walked. SLOW travel at its best!
Almost everywhere you look, I found something intriguing.
On one building there were 2 lions, one with its mouth open, the other with its mouth shut. (Has meaning in mythology...duality and all that) I look higher up at the building, there are faces at the top, (similar to the 2 masks of a playhouse) a bunch of them, half with mouth open, half with mouth closed. All this and it's a building with a card store, photo shop, and a few others.
One building had a sort of graphic design on it, very faded. I never saw anything like it before. (It was across from Istanbul Kebab)
So I slowly walked around today (after an excellent espresso) and it was so much fun.
Just me with nowhere to go.
I went down little roads that led to parking lots, dead ends, stairs (there are ALWAYS stairs) and then I walked near the outer wall, a little beaten path in the grass with great views.
After 2 hours I end up at MY PLACE, on the hill.
Honestly, as soon I walk on the gournds, I center and ground. It is easy to meditate there.
I sit on 'my' ancient stone bench under a tall tree.
I lay down on it, with my feet on the ground. Ahhhh....
Then I hear music...seriously!
I look up and there is a college student playing the guitar about 40 feet away. He was playing what sounded to me like latin mellow tunes, finger picking the whole time. It was fabulous.
Can you believe it? I can't make this stuff up, it's too good for fiction.
Here is the coolest part of the day:
This temple has 2 things that make it queer for a catholic church, one is that there is a painting of Mary with a templar cross over her throat. (5th chakra position, btw)
There is also a pentacle (a 5 pt star) on the floor to the right of the original entrance. I read about these before, so it was fun to find them.
NOW...
While I am walking around I go over to the stone alter in the side chapel and the next thing I know I am lifting up the white cloth over the alter. What do I fine?
A Templar cross carved into the corner of the stone/marble slab.
Holy shit. I'm in a "DaVinci Code" movie!
So I look some more, the alter has a cross carved into it at all four corners!!! I never read that online. (Symbolizing the 4 directions?)
I love mythology and the symbology here in Italy is the ultimate.
I was at the church for about 3 hrs. Then off to lunch at Istanbul Kabab.
I eat it on the steps facing the beautiful Maggiore Fountain. Great place to people watch.(and listen to a lot of German)
There are many goddess symbols on the fountain too. I think there is a novel in all this. ha!
I grabbed the 4:30 train, was in the door before 5:30. (almost fell asleep on the train)
It is 8:30 and I am in my pj's. To bed early.
Tomorrow is MARKET day. But first, morning run as I didn't run today.
I will buying that pear shaped ricotta and some fresh melons. Lunch and dinner tomorrow!! Oh and some huge dark purple globe grapes.
I also decided this morning that I will not attempt to go to Foligno. Thursday I go to Spello with Karen and I would like to spend my last 3 days soaking up as much of Umbertide as I can. That feels right to me, so be it.
This time in Italy continues to amaze me.
I am thoroughly content. I am so incredibly grateful.
To know peace AND beauty, how great is that?
Tired...must hike up the stairs to bed. Belli (my doll and new best friend) too.
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