Barolo Part Deu & Tre

Yesterday was another walk! Up in the morning and off to brekkie. After almost 2 weeks I have decided that breakfast we might want to have skipped. We are eating 3 meals a day and that seems to be too much for us. 

According to the programme we are to be picked up at 9am and be taken to another village to be left to our devices and find our way home. The B&B owner said that it was a guided walk and taxi driver (a very likeable fellow) was here at 08h45 and said that we had to be at destination at 09h00 although or intel said 09h00 pickup. Quick quick into the taxi bus. Times have changed. This minivan now has an automatic door. One pulls on the handle and the door slides back on its own. Very fancy and all! Off we went to Roddi where taxi man dropped us off at the main square and we were left wondering where our guide was. Perhaps the 15 minute rule? At 09h20 we decided that we had been dropped off in enemy territory and had to make it back to the allied lines on our own! 

Ingrid had found that she had an app that would point us in the right direction and show us the way. Well, that was also not according to our intel. The app sometimes told us that we could go right for example, but were directed toward a solid brick wall that stretched as far as the eye could see. Apparrently there was also supposed to be markings along the route, but oftentimes these we not visible or there. I felt like an orienteer as we negotiated our way back to base. 

About 4 hours later we were trundling the final steps back to base camp and a more than well deserved beer. Thankfully they have 600ml beers on offer and we shared 1 before hearing to the shower for a well deserved clean. Looking for a place to have lunch therafter was also a hoot (not owl related)! We stopped at this posh looking place and before getting out the car we were approached by Mario who duely laughed at us for looking for a place to lunch at 3pm! Nothing in the region is open except blah blah in Le Morra. Thank you Mario! I belive that you have a story to tell the grandkids!

We did find a restaurant in Le Morra (not the one suggested by Mario) that was open and were happy to have a meal after our walk back to allied lines. It was a very pretty walk through the vinyards and surrounding area. I had to pick a bunch of the ripe red grapes off of a vine to taste. Very sweet they were! Coffee? Yes please 2 normal coffees. Strange that Ingrid was taken to the Espresso and loves it too.

We were back in La Morra in the evening at a Pizzaria and were happy to be seated away from the rest of the locals who were enjoying thier meals and appropriate wines. Pizza, coffee and home for that well needed sleep!

And what a good sleep it was. We have a lovely traditional room in an old farmhouse and the beds and duvets and temperatures are sublime! To whit to whoo was again active this night and in the morning I was pleased that Ingrid had heard the owl too. He is attractive to listen to and seemed to be a tree away.

Today is our last day in Italy proper. Nothing on the agenda and nowhere in mind. Up in the morning and off to brekkie. They have coffee from a modern machine that supplies many options, but I like the home made filter coffee that is displayed in an old kettle on a hot plate. ALBA was the destination for today according to travel agent Ingrid. No rush, no fuss. We duely found parking using our local Italian gained knowledge and with our parking app that is also valid here in Italy we were ready, set, go. Alba is a larger town in this region and as per usual the early bird does not catch the worm as opening times are a little later than we are used to in Holland. 

We walked the town centre and visited a few churches before having an espresso. I am guessing that the choice of a bigger town may have been influenced by the shopping possiblities, but I would not like to Mary Antoinette my neck on that one. We did find a good present for daughter number 2 and also for daughter number 1. Another mission accomplished. Lunch was difficult and we struggled to find a suitable place as most only served coffee and cake. Vegetable pie and salad seemed like a good option to us and we were presented with a slice of quiche and a few salad leaves. Filled the gap.

I am done now. I am tired and not really interested in further goings on. I want to sleep for about 3 days and after a seemingly short afternooner I decided to go to the pool to laze and have a little rest. Upon arriving at the pool and seeing those hords of people (maybe 15), I high tailed it out of there and came to the tranquil garden to sit with Ingrid. She is reading her book and I went back to the room to fetch the laptop to write a blog (or 2 or 3) to catch up. Here we are 2 beers in and still enjoying the tranquility that exudes from this place.

One more dinner in Italy and then Ed will point us in the direction of home. We have a night planned in Lyon on our way home (+- 4 h30  drive from here) but I think that I will push through the other 8 hours to sleep in our own bed tomorrow night and have brekkie at home. Girls please stock up on bread, bacon and eggs!