Straight on to paradise... June 11

Steve, Mino, Stephania, Mario and Ada at the celebration near Perugia

John, Katrin, Vania, Jo and Steve near Egnazia

John, Steve and Roger Fasano gig

Just three days after the wedding, Roger, John, Katrin, Jo and I with Brian and Richard headed off the Italy for an acoustic trio gig. Although I've travelled to Italy many times, I'm less familiar with the Apulia region. Travelling from Bari to Fasano passing the primitive beehive shaped Truli buildings, desert plants and ancient olive groves, I realised it has a magic all its own. The area had an exotic feel and reminded me of some parts of Malta or Cyprus. I believe some of the "Spaghetti Westerns" were made there.

The trio show went well and the reception from the crowd was as warm as the weather... Thanks to an arrangement made by local promoter Domenico, Marcello from a local museum kindly showed us around Egnazia, an ancient archaeological site featuring Trajan's road and an impressive necropolis, in which people were buried in tombs that resembled their own homes.

Only two days later Jo and I returned to Italy! This time with our friends Nick and Peter to a hotel restaurant in the forest near Perugia for an extended italyWed celebration with a few Italian friends... or so we thought.

Ninety people were there for dinner. It was like getting married all over again! We were met with tremendous warmth and generosity and the meal was extraordinary. It was a night that we will remember for the rest of our lives. Our deepest thanks to Silvio and everyone who put so much into arranging it all. A big thank you too to the irrepressible Vania of Blue Sky Promotions, who gave us so much support in both Apulia and Perugia. It was great also to celebrate her birthday at the special meal...

The following morning we had a wonderful visit with several of our friends to Assisi in all its charm. We enjoyed walking through the beautiful narrow streets and seeing the Giotto frescoes depicting scenes of St Francis...

Back to earth as soon as we reached Blighty. Rain was teaming down and due to traffic jams it took us three hours to drive home (far longer than the flight)... "Beam me up Scotty, I'll give you my coordinates..."

Steve Hackett festeggia il suo matrimonio a Perugia

A happy tribe in Assisi!