Got up early after being awakened before 7 by some beggar thumping away with a hammer... not best pleased I can tell you. Still, it got me up and moving. Quick shower and dressed and back up to photograph the row of five trulli with their signs on the roofs. Great shot with the sun fully on them, the streets clear of people and the shop junk not yet on display.
Wandered back and go everyone underway. Once we packed up we walked the bags down the path to the main road. Mum and Caitlin stayed with the bags whilst I got the car. Did an ‘Italian’ and swung in to park on the wrong side of the road so we could pack the car. The GPS co-operated long enough to get us back to the office where we parked and had breakfast at a nearby cafe. After light brekkie we checked out and set course for Loreto (had to select by postcode as there are lots of places called Loreto in Italy). With five hours of driving ahead we got started.
The changes in landscape over the journey on this day were marked - red earth, stone, olives and cacti in Puglia; verdant green pasture, crops and white dust of quarry slag in Marche.
To break the drive, we stopped at a beach in Termoli – a truly Italian beach experience; €22 for two sun-beds and an umbrella in the second row on the creamy white sand. The repeated dips in the salty, salty water did little to refresh body temp. Water just doesn’t cool one. Still the three hour rest was appreciated.
Another 2 ½ hours driving all on the autostrada meant we finally arrived in Loreto about 6 p.m. The place we were staying that night was a Franciscan monastery. The rooms were very simple; three beds and a bathroom, small table and two chairs. No air con!! Ah well!!
After a good shower to get rid of the salt and sand we bravely ventured into the town of Porto Recanati, on the other side of the motorway. Brave it was because the GPS was again on strike - as she had been for about three hours of the drive.
We found our way to the beach and even got Mum some diuretics (and new sandals) from a pharmacy. This entire thing being accomplished in far from fluent Italian. Caitlin found the largest beach soccer ball ever seen and added it to our growing luggage collection.
Checked out various restaurants along the strand, before finally settling on one, and ordering a seafood feed. Was feeling really hungry as lunch was only nibbles and muesli bars at the beach. Dinner was okay but the drive home was almost a disaster with the GPS refusing to play the game for some time before finally trying to send us up a goat track!
Back at the Monastery we borrowed a key from reception an went out onto the fourth floor terrace to see the view of the coast and the huge basilica on the hill nearby, an amazing view for certain sure. We were well ready for sleep, after all the salty air and water and the concentrated driving.
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