The Long Road Home

 I've been back home for a few days and I'm already busy back to work with the BBQ business. However, I wanted to post the last update for the summer of 2026. Wednesday morning, I woke up early to finish my closing checklist and started walking to the train station before 7:15 am. My train from Campomarino to Foggia was at 7:59. I usually wouldn't be nervous about getting there with that much time, but I had a full backpack and two suitcases with me this time. I made it to the station with 15 minutes to spare.

The first train was right on time, and I had about an hour in Foggia before the next train. I used this time to eat a croissant filled with apricot jam for breakfast, and call Zia for a little while. The second train was 5 minutes late, but it was time we made up on the way to Rome. When booking trains in Italy, I always search for Frecciarossa, which is the country's fast trains. There is another company called Italo that also has fast trains, but way less of them. A few years ago, I bought a ticket in business class and I've done it ever since. On an airplane when the cost of business class is usually a thousand dollars more I skip it, but on the train it's just a $20 upgrade that I find well worth it. So if you're ever in Italy going from one major city to another, be sure to book the business class on the Frecciarossa. 

I got into the Roma Termini train station around 1:15, and hopped on a direct train to the airport where I had a room waiting for me at the Hilton Rome Airport. You can save some money staying at hotels in the center of Rome, but if you have an early flight like I had scheduled for Thursday, I'd definitely suggest the airport hotels. After checking into the hotel and repacking my suitcases, I set out to reach the center of Rome and visit with my cousin Erica. She's a doctor who works at a hospital in the Eternal City. This was where I hit my only snag of the journey. The trains going between the airport and the center of Rome were no longer running due to a technical issue. This meant I was cabbing it. The rides were fine and price fixed, so there was no need to negotiate. Just sit back and enjoy the view. I met up with Erica, had some delicious artisan gelato, and went shopping for last minute gifts. On our way back to her car, the heavens opened and I saw the first rain of my three week Italian trip. We hopped into Sephora to avoid the deluge and contacted a taxi from there. The driver was nice enough to drop her off at her car on the way to taking me to the airport. It was great to see her. 

I was lights out Wednesday night at 9 pm with an early alarm awaiting me. I woke up at 10:30 thinking it was mid morning, but it was only an hour and a half after lights out. Then I woke up again at midnight and 1 am before finally getting going with the piercing alarm at 2:15. My flight was at 5:55, and I had a long travel day ahead so I wanted to shower in the morning and make sure the bags were good to go. I was in the airport, checked in and through security by 4:15. The departure gate wasn't announced until 4:55, but the person who took my bags had said the gate so I went and found a seat nearby. Flight one on Thursday was from Rome to Lisbon, Portugal. It was smooth and quick. When we got into Lisbon it was 8:15 their time, but by the time we got to a stopping point and the stairs were brought to the plane to disembark, it was 9:15 am. I spent some time eating breakfast, walking, and shopping in the Lisbon airport before heading through passport control and to the gate. 

The last flight was from Lisbon to Newark, NJ. I had paid for an upgraded ticket when I booked, which is why I had a second suitcase included and I ended up with three seats to myself. I also had an upgraded meal. TAP Airlines, Portugal's national airline, was very nice to deal with. The app worked great, and the flight was smooth. We landed in Newark about 3:30 pm and by 4:15 I was through passport control and customs. Onto the final stretch. From the airport, I took a train to Hamilton station where my friend Brian picked me up and brought me home. I got into my house about 6:30 pm. The total journey from my door in Italy to my door in America was 41 hours and 15 minutes. All in all, it was a great trip. I got to visit with a lot of family members, spent many hours relaxing on the beach, read two books (finished the last one on the train to Rome), and wrote the first act of a screenplay. For the summer, I'm down 39 pounds as well so that's also a plus. Looking forward to heading back next year. 

Foodtopia Moments

When I think of my favorite desserts, there are many things that come to mind. However, one type of pastry, when done right, stands out to me and that is sfoglitelle. The flaky layered pastry, filled with a ricotta cheese filling with a slight citrus note is just incredible flavor and texture with every bite. Sometimes I find one I like in America, but I wouldn't choose it over other pastries, but the one from Shangri La in Campomarino stands out among the best I've ever had. 

Closing Time

 All good things must come to an end, and my time left in Campomarino is down to 10 hours. I have a full list of things to do here to close up the condo, but I'm procrastinating and writing blog posts. I just ate my last meal here and closed up the stove, so I'm digesting not procrastinating. 

During my walk this morning, I went to the end of town and snapped a photo of Termoli in the distance. Most of my travels here this year have involved Termoli and their train station, but tomorrow I head south and inland to Foggia to catch a train to Rome. My bags are almost completely packed, just have to put in the flip flops I'm wearing. Electronics bag is a work in progress but currently using the electronics that need packing. 

Today was also my last day at Lido Ritz beach club. I took a long dip in the Adriatic, and soaked up the sun twice today. It was very relaxing most of the past few weeks. These past few days have definitely been more hectic here with the Italian tourist season in full swing. Their big summer holiday, Ferragosto, is on August 15, so many people have the whole week off. Traditionally, people have their vacations the week leading to or the week following this holiday. 

Tomorrow I have an early exit from here to catch the train to Foggia, one of the main cities in the region of Puglia. From there I'll hop aboard a faster train to head to Rome. My flight is at 6 am on Thursday so heading to Rome the day before is a must. 

Foodtopia Moments

 This is a dish that I made on Friday. It's arguably one of my favorite pasta sauces to make and is known to most locals here since it's a local favorite. It's called Tonno e Caperi (Tuna and Capers), and is very easy and inexpensive to make. Most Italians would probably be upset that I didn't use spaghetti, which is the traditional pasta style for this sauce. Yes, sauces and pastas have partners here. However, I'm not a fan of spaghetti and I think this sauce works great on any pasta. I also sprinkle on some grated cheese. Cue the gasps.

To make Tonno e Caperi, you put a little olive oil in a pot, and add a can of tuna (drained if using tuna in water, all of it if using tuna in oil). Start heating the tuna over medium heat, breaking apart any big clumps. Then add a drained jar of capers and get those heated up and mixed in the tuna. After a couple of minutes of stirring, add in one jar of pomodori passata (crushed tomatoes). One can of crushed tomatoes would work too. Add a little water to the jar or can and add it to the sauce. (I add a pinch of salt, but it's not always necessary with the capers, so wait on the salt til later when the pasta is almost finished.) Stir it all together, and keep it over medium heat. Start your pasta water and cook the sauce for the duration of your pasta prep. It's a simply delicious meal. 

Sun and Sea

 This weekend has been filled with bright sunshine, warm weather, and plenty of relaxation. It's the weekend, so the beach was extra crowded. It's definitely more peaceful during the weekdays, but way more energy on the weekends. U stayed there today until 8 pm when they were closing umbrellas and people had left. Yesterday, I was at Lido Ritz when I heard someone speaking English and knew she was American right away. She's from California and her husband is originally from Foggia, a much bigger city about 45 minutes from here. They live together ion Las Vegas now. First Americans I've met at the beach club. 

Today was very nice. There was a steady breeze which made the heat bearable. In addition, my cousin Vincenzo and his wife Mariella visited for pranzo (lunch). I cooked a Sunday gravy with meatballs and brasciole. Mariella made some delicious peppers, eggplant, and zucchini (all three separate), and we ended it with fruit and some finger pastries. It was great spending the day with them. 

Foodtopia Moments

 Yesterday, I visited Termoli again, for banking purposes...again. It's only 3 euros roundtrip, and I really enjoy it there, so it's not a hardship. While I was there, I stopped at my favorite bakery in town for a piece of focaccia. It was still warm and featured pomodorini (little tomatoes) and olive neri e verde (black and green olives). The crust of the focaccia is great on it's own, but the addition of the toppings gave each bite a little something extra.

After putting on 14,000 steps in Termoli, I stopped at Ristorante Netti here in Campomarino Lido on the way home to pick up lunch. I had called from Termoli to reserve some food so I didn't have to worry with cooking. I picked up a portion of their lasagna, and some alli di pollo (chicken wings). The wings had a little BBQ seasoning, and were cooked in an oven, they were very tender and delicious. Not spicy, but very good. The lasagna is delicate, with a good mix of meat and cheese. No big layers of ricotta, like no ricotta at all. 

Beach time

 This week has been hot here, and more humid than usual. Just tonight it was 88 degrees with a real feel of 95, at quarter to 8 pm. I've brought a little fan I bought on Amazon, and it has been great hooking it to my lounger at the beach and always having air movement. I've also started to make some headway on my next script. 

Yesterday, I went back to Termoli, the town just north of here. I had one more bill that I had to pay, but I had to print it out in order to pay it. I went back to my banker and had him print it, and paid it on the spot. While I was there ( first return trip home is 4 hours after I get there), I went for a walk to the coast to enjoy a focaccia breakfast with a view, then walked across town to the Centro Commerciale (mall) for some unnecessary shopping. I stopped for a little while in the train station and called Zia. I'm still getting used to her not being in Campomarino with me. It's definitely an adjustment not having someone I can turn to here everyday. But she is doing well all things considered.

Today was the first day that I went to the beach in the morning, or before lunch. I decided to take a shorter walk this morning, and head to the beach around 10 am. I know I got more color than when I lay out starting around 3 pm. But I also went back this afternoon for a few more hours in the sun. My cousin Roberto and his friend Massimo, who I've known for 30 years now, stopped by for a quick visit tonight. It's always great to see them. Every time we get together I feel like we pick right up where we left off. Me and Roberto are probably the closest in age of my first cousins. We went for a passiagiatta (walk) and just hung out for a little while. 

I've started to put together my list of chores to complete to close this place back up. Tuesday is going to be a busy one.