we have a want and now a plan to visit the east coast of italy
this a 2 day trip with an overnight stay at some random place
or possibly on board a ferry to and then back from dubrovnik
our other side-trips in italy have been well planned in advance
mainly due to the presence of other people - this time - wing it
the first part of the journey is cutting straight across to pescara
and what a fine trip too - once again the autostrade impresses
in this case particularly the road through the mountainous middle
a fairly constant (high) speed is maintained despite the landscape
with no end of tunnels and high bridge overpasses on the journey
so the changes in the height and direction of the road are only slight
a bit of a drivers paradise really with the high mountain backdrop
the car radio tuned into an ad-free station offering familiar music
not much traffic either so the so the 3-hour journey is easy and fun
pescara is a large town on the adriatic coast that comes and goes
our schedule is such that a fleeting visit only is possible today
and that is all that seems required as nothing of note is seen
a perceptible change is noted in the houses and streets here
this town and the general area seems to be largely functional
a feeling that the recent economic hardships in italy is evident
we decide to get closer to the action and avoid the autostrade
so the prior main road to bari is taken - and more depreciation
it's a bumpy old road and for the first time litter is a problem
lots to see though with large plantations of fruit and olive trees
grapes also seen in large and clearly commercial quantities
and another industry - prostitutes seen in clear daylight
strategically placed along the road in the hot sun - what?
we approach bari from the north and head first to the port
large ferries and cruise ships are docked in the distance
we end up in a car queue and are pointed to the correct place
sadly (or not) there is no dubrovnik sailing today - come at 5am
so that settles our plans - we'll stay landlocked on the east coast
we drive and park the car in bari central and go into wander mode
first stop is castello normanno-svevo - a 12th century seaside castle
sea on one side, a moat on every other - it is small but impressive
inside are some fixed displays and a/v presentations - thanks
in the historical centre of town it's all about marble streets
a couple of large churches of which one is hosting a service
st nicholas is buried in a crypt here so that is locally important
over a beer we decide to park ourselves in bari and book a hotel
a 20 minute drive then to the outskirts and into a ghost town
high-rise buildings, shops, parks, businesses - but no-one
public holiday? holiday season? economic hardship?
who knows but our 5-star hotel is a welcome oasis
we enjoy a meal there and a very comfortable sleep...
