A Great Start

  Happy, happy, happy…! 

  And pooped, too. The older we get, the harder the whole 24 hour travel day gets. But I won't complain, honest. It's so worth it, of course.

  We just happened to arrive on the weekend of the 'Festa del Uva', the festival of the grape. What? How nice of them to throw a party for us! Everyone is in festa-mode.

  The town has it's parks decked out as wine gardens, and the three 'contrada' or neighborhoods are flying their colors with beautiful flags. 

  Honestly, I didn't realize their were three 'hoods. Good to know. 

  

Town park as wine garden..there was a rock band playing until way late last night.
We'll catch next weekend's continuing festivities.
Last night we were too whooped.

For those of us normally here in early spring,
we never see 'the little building' open
It's open!

The other park, near the bocci courts is also a happening scene!
Water in the pond, even.

   After unpacking, it was time to stroll around the walls and head to Bar Gallo to say ciao to all.
   We could here drums and lots of people, so we knew it was festa time.

Flags all around town...

The flag throwers of the Centro Storico contrada,
Red & Blue.

The three condrada waiting for prizes.
Blue & white is Colgiordano, still need t figure out green & yellow.

  Centro Storico won…certo!

  Walking to Linda's for groceries, we enjoyed the light and the flags...

  

  Speaking of light, it's so different this time of year. Amazing such change in just four months time. The landscape is really different, too…and the walls around town. It's lush, but starting to turn for fall...

  We are so used to the electric green and yellows of early spring…now the fields are either tilled into a gorgeous ochre, and there are the last stages of sunflowers and corn still left in some areas.

  It's super clear looking across the lake. I didn't expect this. I thought it would be hazy, but no...

Our cherished view….

Though at the end, I find this so lovely...

Late summer/early fall light…evening.

  After grabbing just a few essentials, we were ready to check out sunset from the top of town, very near where we are staying this visit.

Score.
The whole apartment smells so nice from this melon.

Ahhhhhh…..

That's one relaxed artist.

Softest evening light.

Another perfect view.
Castiglione del Lago at sunset last night.

Guess we're back, Baby.