Damn these GPS!  Ours nearly killed us Saturday night.  We could have plummeted to our deaths!  And it would have been a terrible death at that.  We would have been starving! 

GP and I went to Le Marche for a long weekend.  Le Marche is the region next to Tuscany on the Adriatic coast.  It's what Tuscany would be without all of the massive tourism.  It is a lovely region, famous for it's food and churches.  The people there are serious Catholics and there are monasteries and sanctuaries on every hilltop.  We visited Loreto, famous for it's Shrine of the Holy House.  It's an important pilgrimage sight because the cathedral is said to contain the walls of the Virgin Mary's house that was transported to Loreto by the Crusaders.  Uh huh.  Anywho, the place is massive with the church, a school for Jesuits and a monastery. 

We also went to the Conero National Park and hiked from top to bottom of Mont Conero.  We couldn't find the trail heads at the base of the mountain, (more of a large hill actually), so started from the top, blowing all of our energy on a swift descent and having to huff and puff our way up again.  The park and trails are on a promontory that sticks out into the Adriatic and is edged with beautiful white sand beaches, reachable only by boat or foot.

Out terrible GPS experience was Saturday evening when we were trying, unsuccessfully, to find a restaurant that had been recommended by a friend.   It was in one of the dozens of tiny enclaves in the hills and valleys of the area.  We put the address in the GPS and it led us up a perilous, twisting road to a castle and tiny square surrounded by high walls.  Obviously our restaurant was not there.  There was a road that wound around behind the castle, and as we could barely turn in the square we thought that maybe this was the way out.  It wasn't.  The road became narrower and narrower and then dead ended at a gate, with no warning.  GP had to back out all the way with the castle walls touching the mirror on one side and a bottomless precipice on the other.  Did I mention the rain?  It was pouring!  We drove with both of our heads out of the windows saying "Stop!"," Right!", "Left!".  I think I may have lost a few years of my life in those moments. 

We survived the trip and are now back in the thick of things.  Crazy busy time.  I'm off to bed.     xxoo me

view down to secluded beach

from top of Monte Conero

moi

what one does on holiday on a rainy day.  couple cases of wine.

the church that houses the house of the VM

incredible waiting room for confession with a video screen for available confessional booths

a view of the sanctuary of Loreto