Daniel, more on our time in Abruzzo. These are further south or on the coast. Personally, not wild about the coast or beaches, but I have been spoilt at home. On Sunday drove to Pescara for a swim. Most places require payment for access to the beach which gives you a couple of plastic chairs and an umbrella. Found a small area of free access. Same water, same sand and no surf but free. Pescara was apparently home to Dean Martin’s parents. Post WW2 buildings and no surf, so boring in my eyes. Drove south towards Vasto looking for a trabocchi for lunch. Should have booked, nice drive though. Maybe try again this year by booking somewhere.
Sulmona is west of the Majella Mountains. Spent a few hours here on market day to purchase local foods for our meals. Good sized market. Some interesting roman history. To me a nice small town. Home to confectionary confetti. Some great artistic displays in the shops, too good to eat. Had a haircut. The owner grew up and learnt his trade in Canadian Niagara but had then decided to return to his birthplace. He wasn’t busy so we had a good yarn. My wife had purchased nice tomatoes from an old lady in the market and told me to go and talk to her. I tried to tell her that I usually grow a few in summer, but only seemed to irritate her. The bloke in the stall next to her couldn’t stop laughing. He told me that I had the incorrect dialect because I had learned words with a northern pronunciation. I wasn’t the first to get the treatment. This led to my purchasing some of his superb sheep cheeses and prosciutto, they did not last long. The old ladies’ tomatoes were excellent. Hopefully she got plenty of laughs telling her family about the stupid tourist.
Roccascalegna is to the east of the Majella mountains. An old castle on a rugged rock outcrop. I think there are hikes around it and the surrounds. We found a local restaurant, sat outside and soaked up the dolce vita. Did not record the name of the restaurant but the food was local produce, splendid and a good price. My children think it was Civico 20.
On our first day at Carapelle Calvisio whilst walking up to the town’s piazza I greeted a local who stopped to chat. He showed me three large truffles and then gave me the largest and refused to accept payment. At the town tavern I got a beer and the locals wanted to know about me and me about them. On another evening the local priest wandered past for a few words.
I have found that the Italian people respond positively and exceedingly generously if one makes an effort. Most are forgiving if you seem to murder their language. I’ve had lots of practice murdering oxford English.
Few more notes on La Canestra. Was rather difficult to get to, via some tight lanes, signs in Italian and not all that obvious, it was like walking into someone’s back garden. But well worth the effort. My family tells me we had a set price food and Abruzzo wine for €25 per adult, the children free, the food was from the farm and just kept coming and coming.
In Umbria we took a villa, close to Todi, with a swimming pool from 16th to 22nd Sept and were joined by another daughter and son-in-law. This was primarily viewed as vacation time for the children by the pool. Temperatures around 30c, good pool weather. Did drive to Norcia, Lago Trasimeno, Todi and through Barstardo.
Will write some more on Umbria.
Regards
Ron
