This was also the day that we picked up our rental car and due to the extra costs involved I was the only designated driver. This could be the stuff of nightmares - driving in Italy, wrong side of the road, unfamiliar territory and car, untested maps in my Tom Tom. What could possibly go wrong? We picked up the car (Hertz Ford C-Max) from the Rome Railway Station. So my first practice run was in the middle of Rome. Apart from Tom Tom cutting out for a minute (never did that again - must have been interference from buildings) we made it relatively easy. Onto the Autostrada, that was easy everyone on the same side of the road. I soon learned that the fast lane meant FAST. Pulling into that lane to pass a slower vehicle (not many of those in Italy) required a lot of study in the mirror to look for anything in that lane. If you could see something in the distance it was too close.
Anyway we had a good trip and found the service centres actually served really excellent food, although a little pricey. We made it to Atina a little later than planned but the owner had kindly waited for us (a nice ex-Yorkshireman). House was great and he even supplied us with bread, prosciutto and wine - and in Italy that is a feast. Excellent location in the old village - great views. Atina itself is charming and we looked to be the only tourists in town. Had a long walk around just soaking it all in.
I was glad to get there in one piece though. Although the final 50 metres to our villa was fun and a taste of the very narrow streets in these old villages.
Tricia said in her diary:
Left Rome today. Picked up car, a bit scary driving thru Rome. Arrived at Atina, nice place. Went walking.
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| The dreaded C-Max and the view from the villa car park in Atina (same view from in the villa) |
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| Colourful street in old Atina |
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