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Well folks we've said goodbye to Italy and have arrived in Patras in Greece. It will be nice to have a change but we have really enjoyed Italy particularly the south where the hospitality has been second to none. Southern Italy is beautiful, with unusual Trulli houses (cone-like buildings poking through the treetops), olive groves, beaches, rolling countryside and white villages perched on hilltops and enough ancient monuments and history to fill even the most ardent historian.
We left Naples after almost being washed out of our tent - the first real rain in 2 months. So we took the chance and cycled through Naples (fortunately it was a Sunday and relatively calm for the city) to the station where we caught the train inland to Potenza and into the mountains. This has made a refreshing change from the coastal scenery. From Potenza we followed the Appian way through the mountains along the Roman road (those Romans certainly knew how and where to build their roads) The views were staggering and the cycling went well (I must be getting a bit more used to these mountains as we reached heights over 1000 metres) Up here touring cyclists are a novelty and we have people stopping their cars to get out and speak to us. In fact English people are a rarety around here we are mistaken for German or Dutch.
We want to say a big thank you to Anso and Salvatore who very kindly took us in for the night in Noci. We hope that we have helped with Salvatore's English and hope to meet them again in Cyprus to repay their hospitality and hope the trip to London goes well.
Next we stayed with Ed and Jerry Bowling who have moved to Caravigno in Puglia this year. And if any of you are thinking of a trip to southern Italy we can recommend most highly their self contained apartment which is available for rent. (Pictures to follow) We have contact details if anybody wants to know more. It has been a spot of real home comforts for us and has been an inspiration for what you can achieve once you take the step to move abroad.
As you may have noticed from the message board we have celebrated our 25th Wedding Anniversary and as you can see we haven't killed each other yet - so I think we might just make it to Cyprus and another few years in each others company. And no we haven't started planning any trips for the 50th Anniversary (but I can safely say it won't be on bikes - well push bikes anyway!!!)
We spent our anniversary as any other mad cyclists might in a cave (hotel that is). We had reached Matera which has a district called Sassi where all the houses are built into the cliff face alongside what can only be described as a mini Grand Canyon - such an interesting place and will be quite a tourist trap before too long as more European money is pumped into it.
Well folks we'll go and prepare for the next leg and will catch up again as soon as possible.
Take care and keep the messages coming.
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