Four days relaxing and the Italian apes.

Punta Braccetto

Wed 28th – Sat 31st May 2014

Jenny on her bike at Punta Secca. It was a windy day and not beach weather.
Jenny on her bike at Punta Secca. It was a windy day and not beach weather.

We decided to have a few days at a campsite doing very little and hoping to catch up with some reading and relaxing. The campsite at Punta Braccetto is very nice and has good facilities right next to the beach. Unfortunately although it is quite warm it has was a bit windy making lazing at the beach not very pleasant. The next villages are only a couple of kilometres away and a couple of times we went for a bike ride to investigate and do a bit of shopping. A vast part of the local area is covered with glass houses except that the glass here is plastic, and on our way to the campsite we saw kilometres of them lined up in rows growing vegetables. Someone suggested that maybe it’s not all that’s growing in them!! On our second ride we had to ride through the smoke of a grass fire and we though was a controlled burn until we saw that there was no-one was in attendance. On the ride back two fire trucks were there to put out the fire.

The house where they film some of the series " Montalbano"
The house where they film some of the series ” Montalbano”
Our campsite with bikes, washing and Jenny doing some planning for our Greek leg of our trip.
Our campsite with bikes, washing and Jenny doing some planning for our Greek leg of our trip.
Up ahead you can see Jenny ,Clyde and Anna riding through the smoke of the grass fire.
Up ahead you can see Jenny ,Clyde and Anna riding through the smoke of the grass fire.
We went for a walk and theses are the rocks near to the campsite. It looks sunny but it was windy.
We went for a walk and theses are the rocks near to the campsite. It looks sunny but it was windy.

The small village of Punta Secca Is about 3 km’s from the campsite and its claim to fame is that the television series Montalbano is filmed with his main house there. We saw the house with people standing in front getting there photos taken, having not seen the show we couldn’t see what the fuss was all about, but Clyde and Anna are familiar with it and say it’s pretty good. The town also has a small monument to commemorate the site where the Allies-American landed in 1943. In town we had to try a gelato inside a sweet bread roll, it’s called a gelato brioche and tastes better than it sounds and we have only found it in Sicily.

Here we are eating our gelati in a sweet bread roll. Jenny with her look of "not another photo of us eating" !!
Here we are eating our gelati in a sweet bread roll. Jenny with her look of “not another photo of us eating” !!
At the campsite we had vans come with, bread, fish, gelati and on the last day we had a fruit and veg van and a meat van.
At the campsite we had vans come with, bread, fish, gelati and on the last day we had a fruit and veg van and a meat van.

Jenny did get creative one morning by making up a map of Australia with an arrow pointing to where we come from Adelaide. The idea came when we were asked again where in Australia we come from. We have a map of Europe which has the countries we have visited and each country has a separate sticker to put on when you have visited. Jenny used the offcuts between the maps to make Australia and put the map next the door of the motorhome. We think it turned out pretty well.

Jenny map of Australia, pointing out where we live. She did an excellent job.
Jenny map of Australia, pointing out where we live. She did an excellent job.
Our map of Europe on the front of our motorhome. We nearly have it all filled in. Some parts may be difficult.
Our map of Europe on the front of our motorhome. We nearly have it all filled in. Some parts may be difficult.

Italian Apes !!

Not the animal variety but the 3 wheeled vehicle ones. As you drive through Italy you can’t miss them they are a Piaggio  Ape 50 model and are used for a variety of purposes , on farms , mobile stalls, tourist transport, tradesman utes, delivery vans and a multitude of other purposes . They are driven on most of the roads except the highways and putt along at a slow and steady rate. Below are a couple of photo’s we have taken, they are hard to take photos of when we pass them as they go so slow we have passed them before we know it.

Why they are called Ape's we haven't found out yet.
Why they are called Ape’s we haven’t found out yet.
We saw this one in Tuscany. It looked like it was hotted up. Notice the stickers.
We saw this one in Tuscany. It looked like it was hotted up. Notice the stickers.
We saw it driving along the road in Palermo and it it looks like it's had a hard life.
We saw it driving along the road in Palermo and it it looks like it’s had a hard life.
At the market place in Palermo this one took our attention as to the stuff all over it.
At the market place in Palermo this one took our attention as to the stuff all over it.
At the beach where the kite festival was being held.
At the beach where the kite festival was being held.
We stopped on the road due to a motorbike accident and saw this one with a tipping tray on the back.
We stopped on the road due to a motorbike accident and saw this one with a tipping tray on the back.
On the farm where we stayed near Mt. Etna. Missing a door but does have some nice wrought iron work behind the cab.
On the farm where we stayed near Mt. Etna. Missing a door but does have some nice wrought iron work behind the cab.

 

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