Sat 6th Acquappesa DAY 14

ACQUAPESA is about 200 miles South of Naples on the West coast.

0 miles – bike having another well-earned rest and is now clean and shiny again.

The balcony at Acquappesa - inviting sea: not much different
from 29 years ago when we stayed in this exact house!

This morning we got up early and walked 2kms to the market in Cetraro, chained the shopping basket to the railings and climbed up into the old town where we were promised pizza (breakfast type) and beer for breakfast. When we got there the pizza hadn’t been delivered yet and no-one felt like a beer so it was coffee and a rest. Nikki and Harri then took us (with Felix in tow with his bike) on a tour of the old town. All tiny little passages and everyone said good morning with a cheery smile. We then walked back down to the fruit and veg market and bought tomatoes, courgette flowers, aubergines, watermelon, bietola (spinach-like green stuff) and always basil etc thrown in free at each place. Another coffee stop for Rob but the others had ‘granita’ – a home-made lemon icy drink (needed a spoon to consume). Back to the market for more tomatoes and then walked home. Debbie and Nikki then went out again to another shop to get water, beer and wine…

Shopping in the local market - great tomatoes etc

Lunch was tomato and mozzarella with basil but, ooh, what a taste. Gallons of the stuff too with lovely bread to soak up the milk oozing from the mozzarella: yummy.

Debbie and Rob in the sea - Debbie is the happy one - Rob
is the white one on the right wondering what to do next!

The afternoon, so hot and sultry, was read-sleep-read-doze zzzzzzzzzz and then a bright swim in the impossibly blue sea with only a bit of 21^st century detritus – I think I did encounter one little ‘poo’ but nothing a good ol’ shower couldn’t deal with afterwards.

...next was drying off on the beach, of course.

Elio and Rosa (Nona) arrive sometime and the evening meal is well underway for the event. Aubergines are baking already for the Sicilian Pasta and some other delights are in the making.  We start our homeward trek tomorrow morning but after a walk into Acquappesa for breakfast at 6.30ish. Harriet made impossibly delicious food and we had to go to bed earlier than planned 'cos we were all too full. BUT not till after more vino rosso and this sunset.

...and yes, it was easily as good as this picture.