Wife and I are pretty pleased with how we've handled the physical aspects of this trip. Before we left home, we were quite concerned because both of us had a bunch of physical issues. We had serious questions as to our ability to get around, walk, climb stairs, and be as active as we've done in the past. Getting so beat-up on our trip to Asia and Ghana in the spring did not help our frame of mind.
But by taking it gradual and slowly, we've really built up our capability as was demonstrated by our climbing in Francavilla a couple of days ago, and our tromping around in Ostia Antica yesterday. We were sore but nothing 'broke'. So it was good.
Today, our last day in Italy, we wanted to go to the ocean side to see if the beach here was any different than all those we saw on the Adriatic side.
Hmmmmmmm
NOPE
Commercial Lidos with beach umbrellas as far as the eye can see. Clearly this has to be insanely popular with Italians because you look at the sheer volume of these across the county, there must be a demand for it.
They even found the ancient Roman Deity of beach umbrellas
Parapluisius
Here shown with his tool for raising the beach umbrella.
We went inland
There are always interesting things to see (unless you are in Pescara).
Why would a bakery have a couple of Gorillas in front?
Look at this poor girl. Holding her head. Must have a headache. I would too if I had my morning snack with two massive Gorillas, a giant toy soldier, and ceiling of disco balls around me!
It is no shock to readers that Wife and de-I love their gelato. We tend to go for places that 'say' they artisanal (artigianale in Italian). But when you see that word everywhere...
I begin to wonder. Did Parmalat, the huge dairy company in Italy, create a subsidiary called Gelato Artigianale? Is all this coming from a few factories?
And let me close with a couple of modern travel ruminations.
Cell phone antennas.
How incredibly wonderful it is to have voice, text, data, email, internet at one's fingertips all around the world. Wife and I were reminiscing on traveling using travelers checks, and writing to make reservations, and using maps to navigate.
The ATM
Seriously, I never, never stop being amazed each and every time we go to an ATM in another country and take out local currency...in a matter of minutes. It is so freaking wonderful!
Well, our Italian research portion is at a close. I have a last foodie post which I will get up this weekend. Tomorrow, we're off for our return month in El Compello, Spain. Talk to you from there.
2 comments:
well this area of Italy is a bust but at least the weather was nice! On to Spain
Travel really has become so much easier, with ATMs and naps instant translators in your phone, plus free calls and messages home.
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