Road trip Road Trip - part two

After the trip to the Villa d'Este, we had a fantastic lunch at a restaurant off on a side street somewhere that a young lady took us to.  A fantastic mixed antipasto platter with 2 kinds of soup, 3 types of salami, prosciutto, cheese, crostini and piazza blanco (white piazza), and a baked chicory dish with bread stuffing - a meal in itself if we had known how generous it was,but we had also ordered a pasta each,  Bill had Cacio & Pepe (Cheese and pepper) spaghetti, and I had Pumpkin stuffed ravioli with cheese sauce with nutmeg and pine nuts - deliciosso!

We had one more stop to make before we left Tivoli, and that was to find a restaurant where we could view a dramatic falls that had been created in diverting the river Aniene to provide water for Villa d'Este.  We did catch site of the restaurant but neither Greta or ourselves could figure out how to get there so we opted to hit the road. 

Now our intention was to drive no more than about 60 kms and get a spot for the night.  But, that proved to be easier said than done.  We were  heading into the Abruzzo region of Italy, where there is a lot of wine growing and farming appears to be the main source of income.  Inn keeping is not.  In fact it seemed almost none existent.  Hotels were few and far between, if even still operating.  We got to a University town and thought we would have more luck there, but found 3 hotels that were closed.  We decided to travel onwards thinking, shirley we will find something.  Well Shirley and hotels were no were to be found.  And ignoring Greta, we stubbornly stayed off the well travelled path and found ourselves winding our way up and over a mountain pass well after dark,  There was even a little snow left on the ground from the large snowstorms that hit Europe in late February.  We were so high up we were going past wind farms on the mountain tops and the only radio reception we could get was prayer broadcasts!  It was so quiet, that without a word of a lie, as we were passing through one of the towns about 8:45, all the lights went out!!  We think they probably shut a generator off at that time.  As soon as we were able to, we headed to the Autostrada and made our way to the first hotel we came to in Chieti.  It was a Best Western in an industrial area, but was palatial, modern and less expensive than our previous accommodation.  We had a king size bed room for 80 Euros - free WIFI, free parking,  and free hot and cold breakfast.

Here are some pictures of the many  hilltop towns we saw as we travelled, before night fell.

 

As I write this we are sitting on the balcony of our room in the Hotel Corallo, in Francavilla Al Mare, on the Adriatic Sea.   The view from our balcony.

Today our room are only 39 Euros a night - same amenities as before, beautiful location - this is more like it - I pre-booked this one.  These are great rates for the rooms because the normal posted rates are 90 to 160 Euros a night depending on the season.  We will stay here for 2 nights - touring the area to the south and west of here then move further North up the coast and do the same.