The results of the mayoral election were announced yesterday evening. Roberto Landini won with 545 votes (55.95%) against Sabrina Ceccarelli’s 469 votes (44.04%). The turnout was 77.9%.
The new council has 12 members. This consists of 8 members of the winning group – Mr Landini and the 7 candidates in his team who got the most preferences. Sabrina Ceccarelli and three members of her team will provide the other 4 members of the council.
The meteorologists got it right. They predicted some thunderstorms in the early evening and at 7.00p.m. there was an incredible downpour. Heavy rain, hailstones, strong winds. It lasted about 30 minutes. Water from the street was channelled down the path to our house, then swirled down the side of the house cascading over the steps onto the terrace where the force of the water excavated holes in our flower beds – particularly our bed of agapanthus and washed off the gravel on our steps.
On Monday the Giro d’Italia passed through San Giorgio. This was the second longest stages in the competition (237 kilometres) and according to some pundits it was one of the toughest as they had to cycle up four mountains with a incline of 18 degrees in some parts.
It was also a very hot day – in the low 30s (100 degrees). The stage was won in the closing stages by Carlos Sastre after more than 7 hours cycling.
However, as San Giorgio is only 40 kilometres from the starting post and is relatively flat the riders passed through the town very quickly – within 5 minutes it was over. But it was 5 exciting minutes which ended with me being hit by an empty water bottle thrown by one of the Saxobank team.
On Tuesday evening there was a public meeting with the two prospective mayors. The meeting, as is normal here, began at 9.15p.m. and did not finish until midnight. The first part of the meeting was taken up with a confrontation between the current mayor, Federico, and the previous mayor, Landini, who is running for election again. Over the last few weeks there has been a series of acrimonious letters between the two along the lines of: Federico – we inherited debts and have managed to control spending and continue to develop services; Landini – current administration has done nothing creative but only continued projects already started when he was in power. All this arguing was repeated at the meeting and would have been better left in the past.
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The Group “Insieme per San Giorgio” have now issued their manifesto for the local elections. Their slogan is not “yes, we can” but “commitment, common sense and seriousness”. They only want to propose things which they think are feasible e.g. free bus to take people with no transport to the local market, a telephone SOS service run by a group of volunteers, specific road improvements, development of a “sorted” rubbish collection service, extension of adult education e.g. gardening, painting and italian classes for “foreigners in the area”.
On the 25th May the Giro d’Italia cycle race will be passing through San Giorgio. The stage will start at Pergola, head towards the coast passing through San Giorgio and then move back inland to finish at Cagli.
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.
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.