Just as the Northeast of the US was reeling from a series of massive winter storms and plunging, arctic temperatures, we departed for a short trip to the eternal city and Italia, finding to our great surprise that the entire peninsula was enjoying an early greenup, spring temperatures in the 50 and low 60's F. Our idea to come during the President's Day holiday was emulated by more fellow citizens than we thought, as well as innumerable Italian school children also on holiday and romantic British citizens surprising their wives with 4-5 day trips on spontaneous last minute journeys.

Stendhal gave his name to the malady of being overwhelmed by the endless art, culture, history and beauty that Italy provides - stendhalismo - and we were no less susceptible, gladly though. In the course of 8 days we visited Perugia, Assisi, Florence, and Rome, a gastronomes Italian delight, let alone an art historian's nightmare of how to squeeze in so much in so little time.