Living in San Giorgio di Pesaro and Kingston

Yesterday at Montecucco, near San Giorgio, a man was out taking care of his donkeys. One of the donkeys bit the man on the arm and then kicked him in the stomach. Some reports say the man was kicked first and when he tried to protect himself the donkey bit his arm. The reason for the attack is unclear. Again some say it was because the donkey was on heat while others say the donkey had been badly treated and decided to attack the man. Whatever the cause the man was badly injured and was air-lifted to the main hospital near Ancona where he later died.

Our local beach Torrette has been awarded the “blue flag” which implies, among other things, that the beach and water are clean and there are adequate life guards etc.

This year the Marche, along with Tuscany and Liguria, came top in terms of regions with the most approved beaches. We are now spoilt for choice as Fano, Marotta and Senigallia also got the blue flag.

Urbino is hosting an exhibition on Raphael, who was born there in 1483. The exhibition brings together 12 of his paintings, and some of his drawings. The background to his work is illustrated by works of his father and other contempories. It ends with an exhibiton of majolica ware illustrating the use of Raphal’s paintings in this media. It was a really interesting show, much better than the Giotto exhibition in Rome. 

Didn’t manage to get to Urbino until 1.00pm. As it happens it was perfect as there was plenty of space in the car park and the exhibition was not heaving with groups of school kids who were leaving as we arrived and arriving as we left.

Among the works displayed was a small George and the Dragon.

Raphael Exhibition

Sunday the 3rd was the the Barchi -Fano marathon. A tough race with lots of hills, cobbled streets and this year lovely sunny weather.

The marathon now comes into San Giorgio as the runners have to run around the castle. This means we can sit having a cup of tea while watching the runners. There are over 1000 people prepared to do the marathon – all ages, shapes but no English.

The “Torre”, the group led by Mr Landini (a former mayor) has just published its manifesto in the run-up to the election in June. The manifesto of the opposing group should be published shortly. Among the proposals in the “Torre’s” manifesto are: road and light improvement, increasing the size of the cemetry, restructuring the cinema into a theatre(?), a new primary school complex for pupils from San Giorgio and Piagge, encouragement of tourism and strengthening of local cultural identity.

Last week we went to Rome for the day with Elizabeth and Peter. We meet Elizabeth at Carbarnardi and Peter in Rome as he comes down from Florence. Expecting bad weather I took overcoat and umbrella. As it turned out we had a beautiful warm, sunny day.  We had gone to see the Giotto exhibition – the first exhibtion about Giotto since the 1930s. It was a bit disappointing as there were a few works by him and lots by less talented contemporaries. But we found a good restaurant for lunch. In fact, we found the wrong restaurant for lunch. Someone had recommended a place near the pantheon. I had searched on the internet and found, mistakingly, what was the restaurant. However, the one we found  was good. We were able to eat outside and I had, for the first time, “carciofi alla romana” (artichokes roman style). They are cooked globe artichokes in an oil, parsley, mint sauce – delicious. After lunch we had a quick visit to a book shop and a leisurely stroll back to the station.

When we arrived back in the Marche it was obvious that it had been an horrendous day. There was heavy rain and mist. Driving back from Fabriano in Elizabeth’s car was slighly scary. Driving over the “back route” to Carbarnardi in the rain, the mist, and the steamed up windscreen, was not for the faint hearted. At Elizabeth’s house we finished the day with a cup of earl grey tea to help settle the nerves.