Grande Albergo Potenza

OK, so we're living on an Olive Farm for a while now.<br>Bohemian? Yes<br>Practical? Only when its sunny and only when its not olive picking season.<br>So what season is it now? Olive picking and its raining.<br><br>Welcome to our own little corner of Glastonbury<br>

... and nice to travel on a bike.<br><br>Surprise 2:<br>The roads in Italy are NOT at least better than in Greece and Turkey (why they are member in the European Union and don't provide proper roads!?). Meaning, that my back shock, which has started to leak damping oil since Turkey, is about to break this way the roads are bloody bumpy ...

... zip wire summon us onwards for the return journey. As I set off thunder rolled around the valley and lightening flashed across the mountains, adding to the drama. Unique, amazing and inspirational, I was shaking when I descended, but happy I&#8217;d done it &#8211; and survived to see my boys again and lived to tell the tale! I will never be short again for a good story to tell around the dinner table.<br><br>

... we get to customs where there's complete disorder. Then we see the road ways. I've never seen so much disorder in my life.<br><br>Last nights rest on the boat was awesome. We wanted to get some sort of cabin, but all were full and we were forced to be deck passengers. There were a lot of us and most everyone crowded into a lounge and attempted to make beds out of dining booths. Chrissy and I were the only ones to set up our sleep mats ...

Short ride yet breathtaking. Via Appia is magnificent! An ancient roman road which is situated comfortably on the mountains above the highway is also amerced in natural forest and meadows, dotted here and there by small town houses, grazing sheep, pigs or hens. There is barely any traffic on the road - definite a bikers heaven. The mountain peaks reach a hight of more than 1000 m.

Had a great time in Potenza, resting eating, enjoying some quality time with Pino's sister's family - Olympia, Angelo, Pasquale and Simona. I went site seeing with Olympia and then site shopping with Angelo when he got back from his work in the Batipaligia carbinieri (we went looking for a present for Betty's commune "festa" on Sunday). The next morning, a little weary of re-enacting my Salerno-Potenza journey I picked a fairly close destination and started pedaling again.

... any rider's patience. The weather was nice and cool though; by 9:00PM, flashing my red lights I arrived completely exhausted to Potenza, where I stayed with Pino's sister and family. I dubbed that ride - "the most difficult ride I had ever done". By the time I reached Potenza I was pedaling on fumes... As I was climbing one of the hills towards Olympia's house I ...

... the old building. Matera has be inhabited longer than anywhere in the world for the longest period of time. There is sone age painting in caves through this region. When we post the pics, you will be surprised about the living conditions that once were. Though some people still are living in the abondon homes. Later, J&amp;K

DAY 12 - Rome to Corfu via Pompeii This morning we departed from Rome and drove to the ancient city of Pompeii. We new a little bit about Pompeii, but we were given a guided tour that we found to be really fascinating. Not many people know, but Mount Vesuvius (the volcano that erupted and covered Pompeii), is still active and everyone who lives around that area today is on high alert! The artefacts that they uncovered were amazing, from the ceramic pots/bowls, to actual human remains ...

The next morning we left early and headed to Matera... As we were arriving in the city a man on a motorbike/vespa thing pulled up beside us and told us that for $10 he would show us where to park the car, and get the best pictures from, and also explain the Sassi di Matera to us.... The place is fascinating... people still live in the houses carved into the rock... worth visiting :)