We had a late start to this morning after a late night before. Breakfast here is a typical Italian one; a cup of coffee with a croissant or sweet cake or biscuit. We spend the morning chatting and then, later, head off to the local shopping centre for a look around. They are starting to build shopping centres in Italy like the ones we have at home; big, bright and full of brands that we have grown to know. If you ask me, that is not the way that Italy should go. The shopping strip experience is far better and if you ask the locals they agree. Despite this, the influence from American style shopping is great.
Lunch is a sit down affair here. People stop work and go home for a few hours so that they can have lunch. Foods to choose from include home made salami, peppers with potatoes, roasted eggplant with olive oil, fresh tomatoes and, of course, home made vino! Fanta is big here. In fact, it is Italy's number 1 orange soft drink.
Lunch finished, it is time for a road trip - destination Capo Vaticano (Cape Vaticano) and Tropea. These towns are both holiday destinations for Italians and other European countries. The views here are as good as anywhere else in Italy. Photos attached. Tropea is also a very scenic location. There are still a lot of tourists here. We stop for a gelato and take some more fantastic photos this time with some fading light.
Dinner turns out to be an FGI extravaganza. Pizza, home made, in a wood fired pizza oven out the back. The kids get the opportunity to see the dough being made and then the pizzas cooked. My Zia's family come to visit and the night turns out to be very special with lots of yelling and hysterical moments. The photo albums come out again at about 10.30pm and, once again, it is early morning before we stop reflecting on the time passed. This day has had many special moments.