We are back home in Rome.  I forgot to tell you about the Church Cat we met.  We are standing in the Cathedral and I see a cat zip across in front of the altar.  He went into a chapel to check it out, then came and rubbed against my leg.  He knew a cat friend when he saw one!  The guide there said GiGetto lives in the church and is well cared for.  I wondered why the alarm didn’t go off as most of the altar areas are set with alarms…but the guide said they are set higher up and GiGetto going along the floor doesn’t hit the sensor.  

Also, on one of the tours connected with the Cathedral where we saw the 1000 year old statue we got to go to the Bishops Palace.  Beautiful frescoes, and an ancient map of Todi showing the 365 churches and bell towers that used to be in the Bishop’s district.  The Bishop stays in Todi two days a week and the rest of the time in Orvieto.  We were also shown a chapel that is only used on special holidays and a secret door that lets you go high above the altar to look out onto the congregation.  Our guide was very knowledgable, but we didn’t think he was Italian.  Then we met his father…obviously Italian.  Then he said his Mother was from Fiji…thus his darker coloring.  He is a sculptor by trade, but loves the Cathedral and being a guide.  Later, we went to the Antique Market.  I’ve seen better stuff at a garage sale!  Pure junk with high prices.  Too bad.  

Today we did nothing but have breakfast and figure out where to catch the bus to Rome.  Nowhere near where we were let off on Thursday.  Several people had told us where to WALK to catch the bus…but it was miles from town.  We never would have found it…and would have passed it if we had…nothing was marked.  We had our hotel man call a cab for us.  When he let us off, there was a big parking lot with a big food truck in the middle.  There was a huge piece of porchetta and that seems to be all he was selling.  We got sandwiches and he cut off a small slice of crispy skin to put on top of the softer meat.  So good!  In town the day before I had seen a porchetta stand, but it was closed…sort of like a small hamburger stand.  If anyone needs a new career…learn to make porchetta and get a food truck!    Our bus to Rome was half full until another bus pulled,up and unloaded his entire group onto our bus.  The we were full!  On the local bus in Rome, I met a couple from Philly and they told me all kinds of places we should go…including Bologna and that area.  So we will plan on that.  I’m tired.  Finished the rest of my porchetta sandwich – I added some mayo – and will go to bed soon.