Finally / Finalmente!

Finally, with a year delay we traveled to Italy. After a period in which many things took up all the time and the much-needed preparation often ended up on Sandra’s plate or was done in between, the time had come. Early in the morning on Sunday 19 September we got into the car on our way to Italy. A bit earlier than planned (5 am), because Pepper thought it was necessary to wake us up around midnight. She didn’t sleep in her bench this time, because we had already folded it and put it in the car. And so we drove off at 1:30 am. In the end it was quite nice to make many kilometers in the middle of the night through Germany to Austria.

First stop Austria

The expected arrival in Mörtschach at the end of the afternoon became early in the afternoon. First greeting Henk and Marco of Gasthof Fair after a long time of no see and then time for a cool drink. Since we didn’t immediately continued our trip the next morning, we got a few things from the car and then calmly recovered from a very short night and a journey with a small 100 km detour in Germany. By the way, refueling is best done in Austria….about € 1.30 per litre, which is a blessing when you know what the price is in the Netherlands.

Start of the day with a delicious breakfast and then we drove into the mountains. On to the heights and a beautiful view of Austria’s highest mountain, the GrossGlockner. We almost lost Pepper there, when she suddenly pulled free from Rob’s hands.
Where we went left towards the Franz Josef’s Höhe to view the GrossGlockner, we went the other way on the way back. That is the pass that you can drive in the summer between Zell am See and Lienz. In winter it closes there because of lots of snow. Of course you can then continue to Zell am See, but you can also go to the EdelweissSpitze. The last part is very steep and over lovely bumpy cobblestones.
It is special to see that on one side of the tunnel, and therefore the mountain, you drive in the fog and clouds and through the tunnel you have plenty of sun. That’s the magic of the mountains.

Marche, arriviamo!

After another good night and again a good breakfast, we left for Italy the next day. A route that took us over the Plöckenpass straight into Italy. A green wooded route, with narrow and very steep roads, where you will also meet many Italians who take a bend, who know their way there and sometimes scare us. The pass follows, followed by a road that winds through the valley around the mountains further into Italy and then via the Autostrada all the way to Pedosa. After the 130 km/h on the Autostrada Adriatica it takes a little time to get used to the bumpy white roads towards the first travel spot. A studio at Il Vecchio Acero in Montalto delle Marche in the south of the Marche.

We were a little earlier than planned and could therefore stop at the supermarket for some much needed groceries. Il Vecchio Acero is small-scale and has 2 apartments, a studio and a separate house. Facilities around the house were fine, although the water in the pool was quite fresh for us. We had the whole complex to ourselves for a week, which is really so relaxed since it is almost extinct in this area.

Where do we feel at home?

This week aims to see whether this environment makes us happy and whether it is the environment where we want to look for our own home and business. We’ve driven around, been to multiple places, both on the coast and inland. Uphill, downhill in an area that is mainly agricultural. Mountains full of vines interspersed with olive trees and more and more fields with solar panels. As beautiful as it was, it became increasingly clear to us that this is not the part of the Marche that makes our eyes shine. Fortunately, we both feel the same.

In this part you will find many small villages on top of a mountain or hill. Definitely worth a visit, as is Ascoli Piceno or the coastal town of Porto San Giorgio. You can stroll here, because the coastline is long. Not every coastal town could appeal to us, just like some towns. What is very clear is that Covid-19 has left its mark. Many catering establishments are closed, permanent and/or at the end of the season. In addition, it is difficult to walk or cycle on the slopes in the south. The narrow and unclear roads are a challenge in themselves, let alone the cars that also claim their space here.

On our way to the north of le Marche

Tomorrow (Sept 28) we leave for the second location in the Marche. This is a lot further up north, has more interesting things to offer as far as we can see and is located in a more sloping area (less height differences). And not unimportant, it is also more accessible in terms of roads. More yellow roads Strada Statale and Strada Provinciale, which is our preference over the Autostrada.