While in Rome several years ago (Janis) I viewed part of the Appian Way from the bus tour I was on. I was told it was one of the first Roman built roads and parts of it still remains very sturdy and intact. Today I drove to Brindisi which marks the end of the Appian Way through an arch with traffic still running through it (one-way). The Appian Way was started around 330 BC, starting in Rome and extending down the Western coast to Taranto and across the boot to the Eastern coast to Brindisi. Across the street a ways is the port of Brindisi where ships travel to Turkey and Greece. Many years ago Brindisi was a major port between these cities. It's amazing how many people have never heard of Brindisi. It was the airport I flew into.
Driving around the city with its' many, many one-way roads was stressful, taxing and just plain horrible giving way to almost giving up in the effort to find the port which is where I knew the "arch" to be. Again...Italian drivers are soooo awful, disrespectful, rude and every other synonym relating to horrible.
I passed by a vendor selling fruit and veggies so made my way around the block so I could park and not get run over. When I saw the tomatoes I wanted, the man who was selling them got very annoyed because I only wanted to buy a Kilo of these beautiful baby Roma (Plum) tomatoes. It cost all of $1.90E (about $2.35). He wanted me to take all 3 baskets. I just wanted part of 1. I ended up taking all of one. Still annoyed with me.
I got out of the city as fast as I could, back on the Autostrada towards Bari. Several miles before my exit to Villanova, I got off the exit to Serravova. It looked like it might take me to a nice beach. But to get to the beach I had to go on this road that was really meant for 4 wheel drive. The further I went the narrower the road got until it turned to just sand. Flashbacks to getting stuck in the sand with 3 other friends at Virginia Beach on Easter weekend on a military base. I buried the wheels up to half way and had to find help to pull us out. I was driving my VW Rabbit.
I decided to turn around and just forget about the off roading today. Maybe tomorrow.
I returned back to my apartment, glad to be in one piece with no scratches to my poor, overworked Aygo. The town is starting wake up now. I wonder how late they will stay out socializing with each other on the sidewalks. Last night they stayed out jibber jabbering until 1am. Wish I knew what they were saying.
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