Belgium to Italy by bike

Views, Free Stuff, and Freedom

On our return from the Sunday market excursion we stopped in Pennapiedimonte. A charming village built on the crest of the mountain that includes settlements that date back to the Samnite period. It has an eye-widening view across the entire valley. The houses built here demonstrate the abilities of the master stonemasons. Buildings are dug out of the rock and finished with local stone.

This is actually Palambara, which is very similar to Pennapiedimonte (which has disappeared from my photos!)

​Views are hard to capture by camera, not with lack of trying. As we glide home for lunch our noses are assaulted by sweet jasmine and wild rose that fills the air. The smell, like a lover’s hair, will be remembered forever as Italy. This place is stealing my heart and I've purchased several properties in my mind (renovators’ delights) along the way.

A short walk in into the mountains in the afternoon, has us gasping for breath. Tomorrow we'll ride the first bit on the bike and venture further up the track on foot. It is gloriously devoid of cars, people, and rubbish. Paddocks are left alone to do their thing and are lush meadows, dotted carelessly with healthy daisies and rich clover, the odd olive grove changes the view.

The free deep-green bunches of parsley in the supermarket is the first time I’ve ever been given anything ‘free’ in a supermarket.
'This is Italy,’ the lady of the till said, ‘it grows everywhere.'
 
As 5 pm approaches our thoughts turn to the Italian wine we must sample this evening - this is one of our jobs of the day. It’s been a hectic day:
 
So far we’ve:
Assembled a clothes rail.
Filled the dish washer.
Swept the floor
Done bike maintenance.
 
Life is so civilised. Usually we have several jobs going on at once. Day to day jobs (as above) are usually squeezed in around umpteen different tasks to earn a crust, and are only completed because we've run out of clothes and food, or are hungry.
 
It is total contrast to our regular existence - it’s bliss and a welcomed relief from the feeling of waking up each day, running around like idiots to fall into bed – what feels – like two minutes later!
 
Next: Language Conundrums and Internet Withdrawal