Navigational Challenges

Tra il dire e il fare c'e di mezzo il mare.
Between saying and doing, there is a sea.
(Easier said than done.)

Italian adage

We are having some navigational challenges with the rental car's GPS system. I have yet to figure out it's logic except that it seems to prefer sending us on picturesque routes. This morning we left our hotel in Sorrento with the intention of driving directly to Cassino. Instead of taking us north to the autostrada, the GPS gave Bro a chance to drive the Amalfi coast a second time.

The views were spectacular -- particularly as we were now driving on the cliff edge side of the roadway. Thankfully, traffic was lighter today.

And the routing provided me an opportunity to finally photograph one of the ceramic tiled church domes. While picturesque, the southerly routing took us further and further away from our desired destination, so we bailed halfway along and worked our way back towards Sorrento and then Naples and finally found ourselves at Cassino.

On our approach I read aloud the pages of Farley Mowat's book, The Regiment, that described the difficulties and triumphs of the Canadian troops.

In particular, we wanted to honor the men who fought alongside our grandfathers. Mario Zecca was a gunner in the same unit as our paternal grandfather, who was also a gunner. Poppa was wounded at Cassino but was fortunate to return home.

In the records we found the names of fellows who may have fought beside our maternal grandfather.

We also paid our respects to servicemen who came from our hometown and rest on the other side of the world. It is such a moving experience to visit one of these cemeteries that are so well maintained by the Commonwealth as an acknowledgement of those who lost their lives in war.

The tranquility of Cassino didn't last long as we drove north to the outskirts of Rome and then further along to Tuscany. The GPS didn't like my direction to stay on the A1 heading to Florence and it insisted that we make an hour-long circuit that only returned us to where we began, passing the gas station where we had thankfully filled the tank. Grrrrrr. Following the all-knowing GPS took us along the Via Flamina, originally an ancient Roman road, through the countryside, only to bring us back onto the A1. The route was picturesque but not timely. Thankfully, we arrived at our hotel before dark.

A traditional Tuscan meal featuring fresh porcini mushrooms and a litre of smooth red house wine was the perfect antidote to the long drive. I could smell the tomatoes of the bruschette across the table. When in Rapolano Terme I definitely recommend repast at the little Trattoria Trente.

So now that the blog is up to date, I am off to a bed where I will sleep like a queen. Our Tuscan countryside B&B is quite a palazzo, but a more detailed description must wait until tomorrow.

A presto!