Il
6 maggio
Assisi
It
is about 9:00 am; my voice is hoarse, my throat is sore...and I just
received a text message from Janet letting me know that Sopra won
this year's Calendimaggio. Although my allegiance was with Sotto, not
being an Assisani, I am not as “serious” about the competition as
the locals...and I have friends living in Sopra who are very happy
this morning...so it's all good. Yesterday afternoon was “La sfida”
(The Challenge) and each side presented “extravagant”
performances, trying to outdo one another. The spectacular nature of
these plays can only be truly appreciated if one sees them live as
their pageantry, scenery and props, originality of story, music,
song, and dance plus the sheer number of performers is simply
something to behold.
As
there was yet a final competition last night, a group of us went to
Janet's house for dinner and wine and lots of conviviality before the
9:30 pm conclusion. The longer I am in Assisi, the more fascinating
people I am introduced to and the more “coincidences” I
experience. Meeting Ingrid last night, a writer and long-time
resident of Assisi, whose best friend is a woman I met in an Italian
class in San Diego two years ago, was just one of those “Aha
moments.” (And the list goes on...)
We
arrived back in the Piazza shortly before 9:30, but, as this is
Italy, nothing started until 10:30...which was fine because it gave
me a chance to visit with Mauro, a taxi driver here who took me to
the station last December, and has become a delightful friend. The
evening performances have fire eaters, people in medieval costumes
walking on stilts, and lots of torches and flames....quite
extraordinary....and only in Assisi.
love your pictures!!
ReplyDelete