I realized right away that I was not going to be able to see the places I wanted to see or go to the places I wanted to go....on a scooter. So I went online, rented a car, asked Claudio for a ride to the airport and got a Toyota Aygo. It's nice and small, 5 speed on the floor and we still drive on the right. Of course I got lost in the many parking lots of rentals because I do spend most of my life being lost. No one to ask as first but finally found someone and my car was not even close to where the lady at Hertz rental said it was. So this time it wasn't totally me.
Claudio got me some maps so I am all set.
I know no one but me would come here, not speaking much Italian, alone and NOT have a Smart phone. The owner at this tiny market where I got some fruit had a Smart phone and he brought up immediately a Google Translate app where he could speak Italian and I could see the English translation on his phone. And it worked in reverse. I spoke English and he could see the Italian translation. How easy is that!
Sometimes I don't know why I set myself up for these almost impossible challenges. I guess I feel good about myself once I get through all these dilemmas. Having a smart phone solves sooooo many issues.
So off I went in my little Aygo, headed North towards Carovigno. On my way I found Specchiolla. It was a town I walked to, on the ocean, from Carovigno 6 years ago. Driving through this little coastal town brought up so many emotions. All good. From there I found my way to Carovigno via olive farms on a very narrow road bounded by all stone walls. I again saw some olive trees I know to be over 100 years old. I base this on the lessons I learned from Gianni the farm owner I worked for. And then there I was at the entrance to Carovigno. It's a relatively small town with hilly streets and many one-way streets. After going the wrong way on a few of these streets and horns blown at me, I worked my way out of town, past one of the grocery stores I shopped at. Memories again. The best way to see this town is on foot. I walked these many street many times during my 7 weeks here.
Gianni is now up "in the North" as he puts it relaxing until next week when he and Graziella his wife will return to Carovigno to begin yet another grueling season of very hard work in harvesting his 1200 olive trees. We have been in touch and hope to get together in the next few weeks. His wife does not speak English but is a fabulous cook. She had a spectacular lunch of many courses ready for us when we quit work each day at 1:30pm. But they are in their 70's now and I wonder how long they can continue. But I don't think his son or daughter are interested in taking over. They are bother college grads with I think great jobs around Milan. This is where Gianni is now.
Villanova is just a few miles from Carovigno and I headed there to spend some time at the ocean.
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