Back in Italy!

Images: SL, PJ and Silver; Locanda Dei Baroni; Our Room; Hotel Restaurant; Our Table

We arrived at the port city of Patra after a 3 hour bus ride from Athens. The bus was clean and pleasant. Upon arrival, we were told by the agent at the ferry counter that our ferry had been cancelled, but not to worry because they had booked us on a different one. It seemed to be of no importance at all that the ferry was going to Bari not Brindisi. Now this is like being told that the plane you were taking to Quebec City was now actually going to Montreal.

We changed our car rental arrangements and settled in for the overnight ferry ride. I must admit that the ferry was a huge step up from the one we had taken over to Greece. It was more like a cruise ship - (did we tell you we have booked a one month South American cruise?)

It was 38 degrees C. when we arrived in Italy. That's over 100 F.
We drove up the coast in about three hours, feeling like true Italians as we ignored every sign, passed whenever we felt like it, drove at whatever speed our rental felt like going, and when we stopped for lunch, parked blocking three other cars in.

Our hotel is called Locanda Dei Baroni in Vasto, Italy (near Pescara). It is the nicest hotel we have stayed at yet. The hotel is beautiful, filled with antiques from the local museum including a life-size horse clad in 15th century armour! Our room is stunning. (See pics!)

We knew we had arrived in Italy just from the change in food. I have come to believe that the Greek are a simpler people than the Italians. The churches are smaller and less ornate, the houses are built for function, not form, and the food is less complicated. In Italy food is worshipped, and it shows.

We ate at our hotel and simply let the owners choose our meal and bring it out. Antipasto, prima piatto, seconda piatto, salads, breads, cheeses, proscuitto, melon, seafood, beef, pasta dishes, and of course vino della casa. Then came dessert accompanied by limoncello as a gift from the house. I sent my "complimenti a cuccina" and the chef was my friend for life.

At night we went to see the procession in honour of Saint Angelo. It was quite a sight, hundreds of families genuflecting and touching the hem of the lifesize statue of San Angelo who was carried aloft on a stretcher through town by four priests. The ritual was led by J.B.'s father, Bruce Harrison. I know that this will come as somewhat of a shock to JB and Dawn, who thought their father to be passed away lo these many years, but Bruce always was a character..... I wished I had taken a picture.....

On to Bologna, then Venice, then......... 386 Delaware Ave, Burlington ON!!!