On Friday, Stan and I decide that a long hike before our big dinner at Il Falconiere is in order. So we drive east to Gubbio where one of our guide books (“Walking and Eating in Tuscany and Umbria”) promises a nice 2-4 hour hour hike above the town. We find everything with no trouble and soon find the funivia (finicula) which leads to top of the hill above the town and is the start of the hike. The Funivia turns out to be a modified ski lift with little cages instead of chairs in which two people stand. After a visit to the ever-present church and a false start in the wrong direction, we set off. The trail a gravel road is delightful with magnificent vistas of country houses nestled in the hills. The guide book is four years old so some landmarks are different but after about 2 hours we find the junction for the second portion and elect the option to walk down back into town. It’s a great hike and my calves are tight from the long downhill.
Back “home” in time to rest and our dinner adventure at Il Falconiere. Stan and I pull out our best clothes including sport coats, put the top down on the car and enjoy a nice 45 minute drive to the restaurant. It’s dining “al fuori” and most pleasant. We decide to try fish and one of the egg dishes as a preface to the main course. The eggs have no salt whatsoever and seem too reminiscent of steam-table but perk up with some salt. My spada (a local swordfish) is perfect with a touch of pesto on a grilled radicchio. I have an interesting duck breast with a rich sauce – a hint of bacon – roast peppers and sauce-cooked potatoes. Stan has pigeon again and declares it just as good as the night before. The petit-fours were so good the day before that we simply skip dessert and enjoy them again. Having been judicious with the wine, I find the drive home fun. Stan fails to make good on his promise to stay awake.
