(No internet as of yet in our studio in Arpino (hopefully by the 20th), so we went to Figline for a few days, outside Florence, to our landlord's other apartment to use the internet.)
We took the bus from Marseillan to Agde, then caught the train to Beziers. Once in Beziers, we hopped on a Spanish train and headed to Barcelona. There is no easy way to get to Italy (and Ciampino airport) from Marseillan, so we had to go to Barcelona. The train stops in the last town before entering Spain and the Spanish Border Patrol agents hop on. Once the train rolls a few hundred meters into Spain, the train stops and the agents check out the passports of all the passengers, looking for ne’er do wells. They barely give our passports a glance, but give a group of students a hard time for traveling with a copy of their passports instead of the real ones. Everyone had to get out his or her passports here, but not when we entered Italy from Switzerland. Only suspicious folks were asked to show zee papers then. An hour later, and Bob’s your uncle, and we were off to Barcelona.
We took the bus from Marseillan to Agde, then caught the train to Beziers. Once in Beziers, we hopped on a Spanish train and headed to Barcelona. There is no easy way to get to Italy (and Ciampino airport) from Marseillan, so we had to go to Barcelona. The train stops in the last town before entering Spain and the Spanish Border Patrol agents hop on. Once the train rolls a few hundred meters into Spain, the train stops and the agents check out the passports of all the passengers, looking for ne’er do wells. They barely give our passports a glance, but give a group of students a hard time for traveling with a copy of their passports instead of the real ones. Everyone had to get out his or her passports here, but not when we entered Italy from Switzerland. Only suspicious folks were asked to show zee papers then. An hour later, and Bob’s your uncle, and we were off to Barcelona.
Barcelona airport is two terminals: a brand new one for the richer, big boys and a smaller, older one for the low-cost sit down and shut up airlines. We were at the latter. The food is hideous, even for airport fare, and really not suitable even for Disneyland.
The floor show is watching people unaccustomed to flying with Ryan Air and dealing with the weight restrictions on baggage. Ryan Air is very strict about carry-on baggage size and weight, and the weight of the checked baggage. All baggage is weighed, and a Ryan Air employee walks around with a cardboard box just a little bigger than the size of baggage allowed on board. If she thinks your bag is too big, you have to stick it in the box to make sure it will be allowed on the plane. If it is too big, it must be checked, and that costs about $50.
If you baggage is overweight, (10 kilos/22 pounds, carry-on, 15 kilos/33 pounds, checked) you must either move your stuff between bags to get to the required weight, put on some more clothes, throw some stuff out, or pay $30 a kilo extra. No exceptions, and not an ounce over the weight limit. Great fun to watch. They have a large trash bin right next to check in. Ryan Air is famous for their strict policies. Check out this link to a video that says it all (thanks Francis!): Ryan Air
We made it to Rome after a few hours delay, then drove around trying to find our hotel at night. Quite a bit of fun. I was tempted to ask the hookers we passed where the Sheraton was, but resisted the urge. The next day we drove down to Arpino and were in a totally different world, home of the real Italians. Romans are often referred to as "Damn Romans" or worse (like Parisians are to country French folks).
View from our patio towards owner's (Ferdy and Elena) house. Arpino is on the other side of his house, about 4 kilometers down the (winding) road.
Inside the studio.
View of our clothes dryer on the patio.
Rural restaurant next door.
Kirsty setting out lunch.
Elena is always bringing us food, like a cheese, egg and spinach roulade, and chargrilled zucchini in garlic and their cold, hand-pressed olive oil! The strawberries here are huge.
Elena also made me a Tiramisu for my birthday. I think it weighed about 3 pounds! We ate it over the course of a few days. Just to be polite.
Their olive groves:
Flowers on the patio:
We went wild asparagus hunting by the studio. MMMMMM good!!
The asparagus shoots grow only near this green prickly plant, shown in front of Kirsty's hand. The asparagus is hard to see, so we have to look first for the bigger green plant. They are smaller than commercial asparagus, but much tastier.
Lots more to share my friends! Much more of Arpino, including the Acropolis on the hill, and the Abbey on Monte Cassino. Life is beautiful here!
Miss you all!
Peace
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