Text 37395, 65 rader
Skriven 2010-05-05 08:23:00 av MICHAEL LOO (1:123/140)
Ärende: trip 97
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We'd wanted to visit one of the great lakes of the region,
but there wasn't so much time, so we chose Bracciano, the
nearest. For this our options were to go cross country on
the tiny roads that we'd had much experience but not much
success with, or else turn back toward Rome and then out on
one of the spokes. We chose the latter, probably wise, else
we'd still be there on our random walk. Shortly before we
hit the G.R.A., it came to us that we'd better have lunch
lest we lose out altogether.

We found a pizzeria called SuperPizza or Pizza Extra or
something, where a cheery attendant sold us a couple suppli
al telefono, a chunk of ham and cheese torta, and a slice of
pizza, all to be washed down with a Peroni. Total was about
E10. Though the suppli didn't suppli enough when I tried to
demonstrate, and everything was salty (bad for me), it was
an unpretentious meal for happy folk. As we chewed, the
shutters were pulled down: we'd been in the nick of time.

And then onto the G.R.A. (which means big ring road or
something) and back out on I think the Via Flaminia to
Bracciano, a lovely town on a lovely day. The company was
good, too, at least for me. Another castle, this one
enormous and apparently important enough to have admission
charges and guided tours. We decided against, though,
instead visiting the cathedral (18 c., mediocre art), where
a wedding rehearsal was taking place, and walking around
town a little.

Out to the lake to find a place to walk and sightsee by the
water, but in fact all the prime real estate is in private
hands, there being no apparent right to the shore in Italian
law. How to get to the water? A little pick-me-up at one of
the establishments by the lakeside was suggested, so we
turned into the Hotel Alfredo for a grappa and a caffe.
The rather harsh grappa was charged for as a premium spirit
- 50c extra an ounce, which made me indignant until halfway
through, when I decided it wasn't so bad after all.

The lakeshore is a nice, soothing place to spend the
afternoon, especially after the hordes from the countryside
had cleared out (must have been a big family lunch just
ended when we arrived), but we had places to go and things
to do, and there was the issue of an E25 surcharge for
after-2200 arrival at our rental to add a slight urgency.

Off through the countryside and back to the airport to return
the car. We took the scenic (nonfreeway) route, and all was
well until the last mile or so, when 1. the signage for rental
return is almost nonexistent; and 2. the turnings inside the
garage are tight, with illegally parked cars making life
ever so less good. At one point Lilli suggested that we might
do better trying to lift the vehicle to get it around the
corner, but finally we got it ensconced in an appropriate-
looking spot.

And then there was nobody at the booth - you have to call
them on the phone, and then someone shows up to check the
car and dislodge it from the tiny spot where you've squeezed
it with much care and repark it in an even smaller one, out
of which no tourist could ever get out.

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