October 3 & 4
Written October 3 & ??
Dear Family and Friends,
We left Orvieto on Wednesday, October 3rd, at about 9am and descended off the hill with no drama. By 9:30, we were on the autostrada and would stay in the toll road system for the next six hours. The goal was the little village of Varna, just outside Bressonone/Brixen, the town we had visited four weeks ago.
The drive was ... a drive. Marianne did 60% and I did the last 40%. Again, no particular drama. Plenty of concentration however, as Italian drivers confirmed their place in our judgment as the worst of Europe. Speed limits don't matter. They routinely drive down the middle of the lane divider. They tailgate. They cut in after passing. They pass on the right. They don't signal. They drive inconsistent speeds. They talk on the phone. They talk with their hands -- both hands -- to the passengers. At least we spent the day on a controlled-access highway.
We stayed overnight in Varna, just short of the Brenner Pass into Austria, so this will be our last Italian experience. Our place, the Hotel Loewenhof, seems perfect for us. It was easy to find and did not require any sort of narrow-hill-town driving. It has wifi, CNN, free parking, breakfast, and we get to use German communicating with the staff, as this is South Tyrol, a bi-lingual area.
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The road through Austria is very pretty, even with traffic, trucks, and spots of rain. The surrounding mountains are always dramatic, although we were taking an easier route north than we had taken going south.
Home in Pommersfelden was a welcome sight. The house was welcoming, although it was pretty chilly since the heating had been off during our travels. The yard was overgrown, but nothing that a couple of outside days could not fix. Home-cooked meals and our own bed made the travel difficulties fade.
Map back, traffic shots.   North route through Alps in yellow. South in one-per-day colors.  Home, wet home.  |
We do need to get organized because we have only 10 days before we do our longest 2012 trip: America! Another story.
Regards,
John and Marianne