Walking Man...
I had a walk this morning up to the catholic church at the top of the woods, the unassuming 'Sepoltaglia' with a nice view over to the historic Trasimeno lake.
I then decided to walk the 3 miles up to Cortona later too...as, you guessed it, they were having yet another festival and I wanted to take a look at this one.
So I wish you all a merry Ferrogosto...
Ferrogosto has been celebrated in Italy since 18BC and it's historically a catholic feast following months of hard agricultural labour and to celebrate Mary's Assumption...
So I'm assuming I need to celebrate it too...."Well, if it's good enough for Mary"...
So what in Gods name has this has to do with tackling a massive lump of rare beef steak?
Well, this weekend in the Parterre(public gardens) in Cortona, fourteen metres...yes, quite a long way, of red-hot flaming barbecue has been erected for the 58th 'Sagra Delle Bistecca', T-bone steak festival, set up for celebrating Ferrogosto. It's another mammoth event that I reckon attracts every slavering, Catholic carnivore for miles around to sit and gorge themselves on huge, bloody-rare lumps of prime Chianina bred beef steak. These authentic flame grilled whoppers have been cooked like this here for the last 58 years!
To get my head around it I first visit Molesini, the wine Enoteca that has been squishing the grape since 1937, now in the Piazza Della Republica, and order a bottle of 'Poggetto', a local red from grapes that have been growing up the road for years and then settle in to drink it slowly, contemplating life while sat in the main Piazza listening to 3 guys playing jazz....
...not being a Jazz aficionado I don't know if they are good or bad but one guy seems to be 'blowing the sax' at the same time as the other bloke 'plucks the guitar' strings so I suppose that's sounds about right to my lugs.....hardly Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince!
At the end of the performance I cleverly chuck all my shrapnel in his battered straw hat and say 'Grat-ci- a' as he collects his beer money and he seems happy enough with the nights takings.
There's something about sitting quietly in medieval squares, drinking nice wine that appeals to me!
God, I was born to do this!
But now I'm beginning to hate tourists.....
If your a tourist, let me give you some free advice if I may....
If your European, look in the mirror before you go out.....you probably look like a complete cock, with your stupid socks and sandals or daft flowery shirt....and lose that boater hat too as it makes you look even more of a dick!
...and if your American....shut the fuck up, no-one wants to hear your loud Yankee drawl...and the medieval square is NOT the 'City Hall'....
Saturday night is definitely people watchin' night, it's early yet but there are still some interesting souls about, from the Divine Comedy's 'Lady of a Certain Age' to tottering wannabe supermodels but no-one has yet paid for the alterations....I'm on the street so it's perfect for a good nosey while I pretend to write a blog.....
Then, as the light fades....
Am I capturing the evening....??
It's time to head back through the smoke filled park which is now feeding hundreds of guzzling carnivores with enormous sizzling steaks....
Now, under the clear starry sky I watch the annual meteor storm send shooting stars flying across the dark night sky as I walk the return leg, which is thankfully, all down hill...
The 'Walking Man' comes from old hobo Seasick Steve, off an album titled 'I started out with nothing and Iv still got most of it left'. A great live act, playing Dog house boogie blues on only homemade 3 string guitars and a drum box.....great stuff!
Here he is on Jools Holland's show.
Sent wi' th'ipad
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