D hit the pastry store for his morning fix, I had my usual juice and we waited to see if the day would clear. We had discussed maybe taking a ride up the coast but with gas prices at $8 bucks plus and an early night tonight, we decided to pass. We'll be up at 4:30 to get D to the airport for his 7:15 flight out of Lamezia. The car rental doesn't open till 8 so I'll drop the car off and then have two and a half hours till my train leaves for Tropea.
Finally around noon we decided the cabin fever was taking it's toll and went out for some lunch. We choose Pimm's Restaurante due to Cristian's recommendation. Very high end, but with a superior wine list.(The first I've seen in three weeks.
Since D wanted a glass of wine with lunch I went for the bottle. Got a very nice Calabria Cabernet Sauvignon called Leonardo II by Lento that we both enjoyed. For lunch D ordered. drumroll, eyeroll. Spaghetti with Tomato Sauce. Talk about a guy livin on the edge of Italian cuisine! Me, I went with the Tagliatelle Asparagi E Code Di Scampi (Tagliatelle Pasta with Asparagus and Scampi) D, being the heathen that he is, attacked his before I got a picture of the presentation, so you're stuck with just mine.
Nice meal, swell place, I won't go back though, the waiter didn't really make an effort to work with us. I asked for a small bottle of wine, he said they just had glasses of one variety and so I got the bottle. Well it turns out, some locals came in got a small bottle of wine. Probably brought it with them. Sorry, you lost me with that one.
Rather than head back for a cabin fever redux, we decided to take a short trip up the hill despite the rain. I had found a little town on google maps where it appeared that I might be able to walk up to on a back road. So we drove down in the direction of where I thought the road up was at. Dead end. Let's try this one. Dead end. One more, dead end.
I turned around and went into town and went up the hill via the normal route that we've used on a couple of occasions. We got on top and headed for the first left, as I knew that the village, Z--------i (I couldn't remember the name so I just hummed a few bars) was that way. Found the first left towards a village called Gasponi, figured it might take us to where I wanted to go.
Got into the village. Drove thru the village. Nothing much going on, it's like 2:30 by now. Siesta time. We drive some more and I see this sign.
Okay, so the sign is a street with a red bar across the end. What could that mean?
"Dead end" I declare. ( I am after all a graduate of the Greatness in My Own Mind International School of Driving)
"How do you know" D says. " Just drive on up there" Ok. So we driving up around the corner. It went a while so I'll admit (to you) I was wondering if it was just another example of the wonderful signage here in Italy, when suddenly...
Now I won't say that I gloated. Cause those of you who know me, know that I would never stoop to gloating (eye roll), but I did milk it for a couple of kilometers.
We got to the main road, then a few more klicks and lo and behold a sign for Zaccacopoli.
The whole reason for this exercise in back road driving was that I thought I might be able to walk up the hill to the town someday since it seemed to be a road less traveled. Now, having drove it, I think I can pass on that. Only 10 KM total (6 miles +) but after driving it, I don't think so, lots of exposure on the road up.
Back down to Tropea, we're eating in tonight so we'll go visit the market for some soppressata and make a night of it here. Turn in early and up and at it early.
D's week here is over, much to fast, but after 40 years you'd expect the time to fly by when you're having fun.
Mr. Thin Blood's last visit to the beach here at Tropea.
So Ciao for now. Film of the sad departure tomorrow.
No comments:
Post a Comment