Mamma mia! (as our guide Thommaso says frequently) Today started much earlier than our previous ones as we had breakfast, gathered as a group and hiked to the waiting coach. Don’t think we checked beforehand to see if our luggage is cobblestone proof….but we gave our suitcases a good test drive on the way to load our luggage and meet Guiseppe, our driver for the tour. We are heading east and a bit south across the central part of Italy to the Gargano Peninsula and the cliffside town of Viesta. Overlooking the Adriatic. Not far out of Rome we stopped in Tivoli to tour the ruins of Hadrian’s Villa, some 2,000 years old. Then back on the bus to wind our way through the Apennine mountains with Italian villages perched in the mountains, cascading downhill with a church or castle at the highest point. In the less rugged portion of the mountains we have observed groves of olive trees some over 200 hundred years old. It would be remiss to not include in this blog, the areas of grapevines sometimes growing beside the olive trees…especially since we are in the land of vino! We stopped for lunch at the Autogrill (Italian version of Buckey’s) which actually has some yummy food….and wine. It seems pretty certain that we looked like a bus load of “”bobble-heads as we swing our heads from left to right and back again with lots of “wow, look at that” or just “WOW. Italy certainly has magnifico scenery! After an exciting ride into Vieste on hairpin curves up the mountain (it actually beat the hell out of ANY ride at Six Flags or DIsneyWorld) we arrived in the lovely small town known only mostly to Italians. All the buildings are white so you see a blanco town perched in the side of the mountains with an amazing view of the Adriatic Sea. After a delizioso dinner with our group we fell into bed!
Tuesday September 4, 2018
Vieste! Our group headed out this morning to the bay and boarded a boat which cruised down the gorgeous coastline and into several grottos. At times we felt like ducking our heads and holding our breath, but our captain has great grotto navigating experience! We cruised down to a beach and disembarked to submerge ourselves into the Adriatic… which to Texans seemed chilly. It was a very rocky beach which didn’t bother the Italians in the least. Guess they are used to it! After we had been there about half an hour an very dark raincloud moved overhead and let loose. We were defenseless and soaked! Part of the adventure! Back in Vieste after our morning adventure we went to a pasta making demonstration and proceeded to have a five course meal with the majority being different pastas… and since it was an Italian lunch we had vino! In pursuit of dolce far niente (the sweetness of doing nothing) we spent some time at the hotel pool beachside. However, to get there one was traverse a spiral staircase to get down the side of the mountain. There was real sand on the beach and the water was calm and shallow so we waded back into the sea. We wandered down to the town market and were pretty overwhelmed with the array of pastas, olive oils, olives, cheeses, fruit, vegetables and spices. In the small towns the local folks don’t speak much English…and we don’t speak much Italian so communication often became comical. We completed our last evening in Vieste with our group sharing apertivio. We prepare for our departure tomorrow morning to head to Matera….and a wine tasting!Day 7,Sept 4. This morning we took a boat along the Adriatic coast, going south of Vieste. Many vacationing Italians were also with us. The water was very still and blue. The coastline was mostly white rock with heavy vegetation. The white rock is mostly composed of narrow horizontal layers. Our boat ride took us inside several grottos, each unique in formation, color, etc. We also made a brief stop at a spaggio, a beach, and waded in the Adriatic. There was no sand, just rocks and pebbles . Footwear required! Although we did see some local children going without--ouch!! A sudden downpour sent everyone running for cover before getting back, soggy, onto the boat. Stunning views all morning! At lunch, the hotel chef demonstrated how to make pasta. He uses 4 ingredients: flour, olive oil, salt, and water, and no measuring. He kneaded them to the proper consistency, then pinched off small bits to make oriechetto, little ears pasta, with thumbprints. He also showed us how to make another small pasta, as well as long skinny pasta, which he forced through something similar to harp strings with a rolling pin. Another excellent and large meal followed, necessitating an afternoon rest. Refreshed, we spent some time at the hotel beach. The water was not deep at all, and Diana and Anne went wading. We then walked through town to an outdoor market. Beautiful local produce was on display. A feast for the eyes! We met the group at the hotel for evening appetizers and prosecco. We had intended to eat at a local ristorante, but our stomachs were begging for mercy after the recent big rich meals, so we opted instead to return to our room, lounge, work on the trip blog, and get ready for bed.
Susan's accounting:
Day 7, Sept 4. This morning we took a boat along the Adriatic coast, going south of Vieste. Many vacationing Italians were also with us. The water was very still and blue. The coastline was mostly white rock with heavy vegetation. The white rock is mostly composed of narrow horizontal layers. Our boat ride took us inside several grottos, each unique in formation, color, etc. We also made a brief stop at a spaggio, a beach, and waded in the Adriatic. There was no sand, just rocks and pebbles . Footwear required! Although we did see some local children going without--ouch!! A sudden downpour sent everyone running for cover before getting back, soggy, onto the boat. Stunning views all morning! At lunch, the hotel chef demonstrated how to make pasta. He uses 4 ingredients: flour, olive oil, salt, and water, and no measuring. He kneaded them to the proper consistency, then pinched off small bits to make oriechetto, little ears pasta, with thumbprints. He also showed us how to make another small pasta, as well as long skinny pasta, which he forced through something similar to harp strings with a rolling pin. Another excellent and large meal followed, necessitating an afternoon rest. Refreshed, we spent some time at the hotel beach. The water was not deep at all, and Diana and Anne went wading. We then walked through town to an outdoor market. Beautiful local produce was on display. A feast for the eyes! We met the group at the hotel for evening appetizers and prosecco. We had intended to eat at a local ristorante, but our stomachs were begging for mercy after the recent big rich meals, so we opted instead to return to our room, lounge, work on the trip blog, and get ready for bed.