In Rome. Delaying the chore of finding a parking spot on the street (free) versus a 54€ charge in the hotel garage. I'm quite tired after days of intense discussions with wine producers and a wild drive across the Appenines in rain, wind, sleet, snow and more gale-force winds. Believe me, ladies and gentlemen, no vines will be drought-stressed this year in Italy.
Or should I say "the Italies." Today alone we saw a beautiful, prosperous agricultural province in Abruzzo, Teramo, which contrasts starkly with the Appalachian-style meanness of southern and inland provinces like Chieti and L'Aquila.
We saw early blossoming fragrant spring along the Adriatic and hard winter in the Appenines.
We saw deserted stretches of countryside and endless suburban sprawl, franchised eateries and all the other familiar features of the modern world.
We saw the high-class beauty of Rome and the utter ugliness of countless provincial towns.
And then there was the clear divide between the Adriatic and the Tyrrhenian coasts, each with a distinctive look and feel and local folkways.
All this in a day and more. Some of the many Italies. There are many more. All fascinating whether you like them or not.
A dopo...
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
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