Training Log Archive: Charlie

Departure day from Alto Molise, and quite a fine time. A little taken aback by my bill this morning for 3 nights stay and 3 full and spectacular dinners. Less than €200! I pressed another 60€ in cash on her, which seemed to be a big surprise to her, so that felt a little better, but I would certainly have been happy paying quite a bit more. Not in any rush, so stopped in Carovilli to walk around a bit. Classic little Italian hillside town, very intricate, nice architecture, lots of narrow curving staircases in all directions. Quite a fine place for a sprint, but of course many old European towns are.

Then thought I would go for another walk in the forest preserve at Collemelluccio, but to my surprise it is closed on the weekends! Never would have thought. So on my way, a bit earlier than I had planned. A very pleasant drive down to the sea through rolling country, quite open, with rather pointy hill tops with villages perched on them like jewels.

Glad I had taken the trouble to learn Italian traffic signs and rules, as it made me feel more secure driving, but alas it is a trouble that not very many of the other motorists have gone to, including the guy who passed me, pulling into the oncoming lane and over a crosswalk when I stopped to let a lady cross. She had the sense to stop in front of me to make sure of what the guy was doing. But otherwise driving was easy and pleasant. I was able to drop the car half a mile from the hotel in Vasto, so pretty easy. I will take a bus next Saturday when it is time to go home.

Here in Vasto it is quite warm. No one at the beach, though. I asked the lady at the desk and she said that for them it was winter and in fact she had a sweater on. I was sweating in my t-shirt.

I came to an accommodation with her. I addressed her in Italian and she responded in English, I responded again in Italian and she in English, after the third time she asked me if I wanted to speak Italian and I told her I come to Italy to speak Italian, and now we understand each other. This was certainly not a problem in the mountains.

C • Alto Molise 8

Part of a walk along the beach from the hotel. Didn’t start the watch until I had been going a while, and 5his was the second excursion anyway. The first one was in flip flops after going for a swim and I was a little concerned about going any further. So back to get sneakers. Beach is good for walking.