Hotel Giubileo Potenza

... sat there for a bit and soaked up some rays – the closest thing we have had to a day at the beach since Levanto. We walked back up to the bus stop a bit early because sometimes the busses fill up and you have to wait for the next one. There was already a big line and there was still almost an hour to wait but we met a couple from Victoria and chatted to pass the time. The first bus showed up and it was a mad ...

... to the grotto stairway, it was barren. We went down the stairs along with a New York couple and discovered there were no boats there. There were no signs saying anything and no gate closing off the stairway. We watched as the waves crashed into the cave, we were not going in. We had read in our travel guide that it would be closed if the waves were too high. Ryan suggested swimming in, ugh noo! So we headed back up the stairs sulking. But at least we ...

... a glint in his eye, before you leave to fly across the canyon.

Trepidation was mounting, and all I could think to write was a message to my husband and sons – in case I never saw them again! I felt less angelic and more like a sacrificial lamb as I was trussed up in secure harness; logic and fear are not good bed fellow. And then I was off – flying at a speed of 120km an hour, racing ...

... train station in the country and they could give you any information about any train in the country. We showed up to a small town train station and they had to call 2 different numbers to find out what the price was for the train and also to find out that in fact bikes are not allowed on the smaller regional trains. We would have to bike the desert and mountains in order to arrive in Potenza a train from which we could take a State train.

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.

What a ride! 130Km of hills, hills and more hills. The Apennines were magnificent, the road though left much to be desired - biking wise. It was one of those roads you just have to shout out: "didn't these planners have non motorized vehicles in mind!". The road begins by climbing uphill from the sea line and then continues with a series of descents and ascents that can ...

Quick daytrip while we were waiting for our ferry to Croatia. Basicly, in the 1970's this town had so many disease and poverty issues that the Italian government had to build a new town. People were living in caves houses and malaria was rampant. 50% infant mortality also. Now it is a tourist draw to see what it was like and ...

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 :)