A Day with Frank

Frank (aka Francesco) is my aunt's eccentric Italian friend who lives nearby.  He took us out for an adventure in his little silver convertible.

I wasn't feeling too well at the start of the day (my aunt and I had gone to church in Assisi, which was hot and packed with tourists), and I had decided not to come on the planned trip to Gubbio. Frank met us at the giardinetti in Assisi and the following conversation ensued, word for word.

Me: I"m sorry, I'm really tired, I don't think I can go.
Frank: What?! Why!?
Me: ... I'm tired.
Frank: Maria, you can't do this to me!
Me: ...
Frank:  You can't!
Me: ... Besides, I've already been to Gubbio.
Frank: We're not going to Gubbio!!!!
Me: ... Where are we going?
Frank: The CAVES OF FRASASSI!!!!! This will be like nothing you have ever seen! It will be the BEST DAY OF YOUR LIFE!

How could I argue with this?  I caved (ha. ha.) and went along for the ride. It might not have been the BEST DAY OF MY LIFE, but I have to admit, it was pretty good.

We drove leisurely through the mountains, the convertible top down and the sunny wind blowing through my hair.  The caves were amazing - unlike anything I had ever seen before - mysterious and awe-inspiring.  The silence, the cold, the immense space in the caverns, the frozen mirror-reflections of stalactites and stalagmites, the dramatic lighting, and strange, distant echoes of sounds made a strong impression on me.

On our way home, we stopped for dinner at a tiny mountain-top village called Genge.  We ate at this wonderful restaurant: http://www.locandadelpapa.it/gallery.html.  It was lovely!