Prodigal cousins return

 Friday 9th May 2025

Today was a big driving day from Chieti to the Contesa vineyard and then to Sefro where we are to stay a week.

The Via Con Vento in Chieti has been a lovely hotel with the best views ever. This morning after a rainy night, the sky was clear and beautiful.

And the lovely Lucca had prepared breakfast for us and was very upset I had not mentioned my gluten freeness yesterday so that he might have catered for me.  Such a nice man. So I had fruit and yoghurt instead of what is in this photo. And of course great coffee.

It is a very interesting B&B as you can see.

jukebox seemed great but he could not get it to work.

And then off to find the winery/vineyard that Ben and Izzy had visited 2 years ago and from where they bought the wine for their wedding.

After the stray people recovered from their surprise at having visitors, we were given a tour of the vineyard, the wine making process and then of course a wine tasting that became lunch. It was very good and we ended up buying some of their excellent wines.  They are completely organic and have just been certified by the Italian government as being so. They make small amounts of really good wine opting for quality over quantity.

our favourite wine

And then to Pescara for a look. Pescara is the town mum was taken to for holidays with her aunt and  uncle as a child. We have a very special photo of mum as a child with them. I was also in Pescara with mum and dad 35 years ago when we visited Italy. I remember sitting on the beach and sun bathing. It was September and there was no one else on the beach and cost me nothing.  That was before I fell and sprained my ankle  and went to casualty in Pescara.  Dad took charge but was in formal mode and stated talking to them in English (bad english) Mum and I could not stop laughing.  Anyway, they finally understood that I was pregnant and had a sprained if not broken ankle. We had a great time going backwards and forwards to the Xray who would not Xray (pregnant) and sent me back and then back again as it was my ankle but no they wouldn't.  Fun for me as I was in the wheelchair.  

Today,  there was no one on the beach as it was still too early in the season and not a great day. The beach clubs were yet to open and only some of the bars and restaurants were open. No sun bathing today.

We had a walk along the promenade and then made our way out of Pescara to Sefro.

This was a 2.5 hour trip along motor ways and autostradas which would have been mostly easy if not for the rain and road works.  It was a long and scary drive at times as we are still trying to understand the road rules and roundabouts.

On arrival at the hotel, we were greeted by Maximo and shown to our rooms. I had particularly wanted the honeymoon suite and not the apartment in the tower next door we had had last time. I thought the hotel rooms were much nicer.

hallway

stairs

the stream through the town outside the hotel.

more

Our room was huge but the whole place looked like it belonged in the 40s and 50s. Very kitsch.  We went for a walk to the deli nearby for a coffee and snack. And back to the Hotel Faustina  where my cousin, Gianfranco and his wife Patrizia were waiting for us. After intros, hugging/kissing etc, it was decided to go to Castelraimondo for pizza. (der).  

Of course  no gluten $%^&* free pizza so I had chicken. They had local beer, and 10 kinds of pizza. Perhaps I exaggerate.

my chicken. no photos of pizza. So there!

Exhausted we returned home by 11pm with promises of a big pranza (lunch) at their place on Sunday with all the family. And promises of GF food.                                Ok we will go then.

PS Still cant get the earing off.