A Packed Day

If you’ve ever had one of those days that feels like you didn’t set out to do a lot, but ended up really busy, you know what my day has been like. It’s still not over. But we only have the car for a few more hours, so Zia and I are filling the docket.

I was out of the house before 8 a.m. on a long walk to the end of town. The old beach club that I went to back in ’09 has been overtaken by the water on one side and is now affectionately called Le Petit Beach. It’s Friday, so the flea market is in town, and it is right in my walking path. I looked but didn’t need to purchase anything there. I did manage to stop  and get some produce from the farmers and bread, and breakfast pizza, from the baker on my way home.

Zia and I had plans later in the morning to head to the town hall. I was able to snag photos of the Minicipio (municipal hall), nuova chiesa (the new church), and the arena that is in Campomarino paese, the main part of town on the hillside. Where we are in the beach town used to just be squash and melon farms. We need to go back another day to the municipal building, as the people we needed are only working Tuesday-Thursday this year…not summer…year. And to top it off, they work three hours a day beginning at 11. Appointments can be made for other times.

When we got back I had to help Zia with her air conditioner. She’s told me at least 20 times how her Samsung is a better brand than my Kelon, but it’s funny that she needs me to control her remote because it’s digital and all in English. On the way back to my place, I ran into my parents’ old friends Vitorrio and Anna in the parking lot. I was just getting done telling them about what happened with my mom, and we ran into my father’s cousin Luigi. So we spent some time talking before I finally had the chance to head to Lido Ritz. By the time I arrived all of the beach dancing and lively music had ended. I grabbed a Fanta orange, which is surprisingly different here (think more Orangina and less Sunkist), and sat in the shade with a view of the mare (sea) and worked on the characters for my next script.

In a little while I’m taking Zia to the macelleria (butcher shop) and planning on an evening walk. Phil is coming tomorrow, so I will be on the road most of the day to get him in Rome and get back to the beach with him.

Foodtopia Moments

Throughout my visits to Italy, I have made mention of pizza being my favorite breakfast. Yesterday I went for a long walk, after which I had a delicious piece of zucchini pizza. I love the flavors of the zucchini and spices. Though no matter where I buy it, my Zi Olga always made a better zucchini pizza.

Working Days

The first few days in Campomarino are usually reserved for working. This year is no exception. I have mopped inside and out, cleaned the toilet, washed five loads of laundry including sheets and towels (which take forever to dry), clipped some of the overgrown (yet flourishing) garden, and done some shopping. Yesterday, the township turned off the water in all of Campomarino for six hours in the middle of the day, so my work was kind of put to a standstill. I went to the beach and had a slice of tomato pie and worked on an outline for a script I plan to write. Then I went to my bank in the main part of town and did some grocery shopping. I managed to snap a picture of the Adriatic Sea from the overlook while in the main part of town.

I was on a roll so I decided to look for ceiling fans for inside the condo. We need new lights inside, as the 1980s neon bulbs have seen better days. Years ago, maybe 2012, Mom and I looked for a fan for outside. We went to all the logical home and electronic places, each one saying they were sold out for the season. Later that summer, we luckily stumbled upon one at a local supermarket, and have been using the fan ever since. It’s not necessary all the time, but sometimes the breeze just doesn’t blow and fan feels incredible. This time around, I was able to snag three matching ceiling fans with lights and remote control. Now I need to have them installed, which is the harder part.

Zia and I headed into San Severo to do some quick banking where my father banked. It was a successful trip, the third time we’ve attempted this banking business since 2013, and finally they accepted the documents I brought. Zia thinks it was her doing, but after how mad my mom was the last time we went to that bank, I’m feeling that she helped move things along too. 

Foodtopia Moments

   Spending four hours on the road may seem to some like too much, but Italy has some great rest stops for food. I used to be a big fan of Autogrill, and they do have a bunch of great choices, but Sarni rest stops have stepped up their game. Today, I stopped at an Autogrill, but none of their sandwiches were hitting home with me. So I had a breakfast pastry and drove for a couple of hours, then stopped at Sarni. Wow, their arancini di riso (rice ball) filled with ragu (meat sauce with peas) was one of the best I’ve eaten in Italy. I also had a ciabatta con cotoletta di pollo e pomodoro (chicken cutlet and tomatoes on ciabatta roll). It was basic, but when they pressed the sandwich, the tomatoes began to sweat making the sandwich moist and flavorful.

   Once in town, Zia and I had dinner at Ristorante Netti. I had the Pizza Netti, with rucola (arugula), mozzarella di bufala (buffalo milk mozzarella), pomodoro, and Grana Padano cheese. It was mom’s favorite and one of the best on the menu. Zia had Pizza Bufalina which was a plain pizza with buffalo milk mozzarella. She gave me her leftovers, and I had some of mine left too, so I have a great breakfast for a couple of days.

Plants Are Alive

   Today was a beautiful day. I didn’t see a cloud on either side of the Apennine Mountains as I drove across the country from Rome to Campomarino Lido. Every time I visit there are changes, some sad, some not so much. One change is that plants on the patio have made good use of the two years since we had most of them slashed almost completely away. The biggest bounce back has to be the grape vines. I’ve never seen more than a few bunches here before. It’s overloaded this year with scores of grape clusters.

   The condo was open and ready for me to clean. Zia had given it a once over, but It needed and still needs more. I washed the patio tiles, opened up the climatizadore (air conditioner), put the paddles on the fan outside. Swept inside and prepared my Brita filter for the summer. I managed a walk to the beach today, and it was as beautiful as ever. One day this week, I will head to Lido Ritz to make a reservation. I also managed to throw away about 15 old pairs of shoes and flip flops that we’ve accumulated. Much like at home, I have way too many shoes here as well. But I’m ready for any occasion.

   After a day of grunt work, Zia and I headed out to Ristorante Netti for dinner, settling on delicious pizza. After three hours, I’ve had no ill effects. Today was also good for step counting, popping off 18,700 steps without trying.

Foodtopia Moments

   In the first Foodtopia Moments of the summer, I visited Ristorante i Tre Scalini in Piazza Navona in Rome. I've visited this restaurant before, previously eating their delicious pastas carbonara and bolognese, as well as their tiramisu. They are well known for their tartuffo dessert as well.
   Tonight, I flipped it a little. I started off with a trio of bruschetta. One was traditional with pomodorini (little tomatoes), one had salt and olive oil, and one was topped with an olive and truffle spread. Each one was good in its own right. I followed that up with my first plate of pasta for the trip. This was rotini pasta with a sauce made from pomodorini, pesce (fish), olive (olives), and caperi (capers) with olio di olive (olive oil). I had seen the selection on someone's nearby plate and it looked delicious. It didn't disappoint. The sauce burst with flavor and each bite was filled with natural tastes.

The Tired Traveler

 
What a day of travel it was. After 20 hours of cars, airport layovers, and flights, I have finally arrived in Rome. The Hello Sky Hotel in Rome Airport is brand new and perfect for a single traveler. They do have bigger rooms as well in case couples are traveling.
   Following a three hour nap, I set off into Rome today. In just a quick few hour trip, I managed to see il Coloseo (Coliseum),il  Foro Romano (the Roman Forum), the memorial of Vittorio Emmanuelle, il Fontana di Trevi (Trevi Fountain), il Panteon (the Pantheon), and Piazza Navona. At the final stop I managed to sneak in a plate of pasta at Ristorante i Tre Scalini.
   The main purpose of my trip into Rome was to set up my phone and WiFi for the summer, and I managed to do it in the first 30 minutes of my time, without ever leaving the train station. This left plenty of time to walk around and enjoy the live music and various street performers that litter the path through the ancient historic city.