Reggio Di Calabria

Our last stop, Reggio di Calabria. 

We had hoped to start with a hike in the neighbouring mountains. Instead of a hike we had a nice drive. The national park was beautiful, but just nowhere evident to hike. Or eat lunch. Even the town that apparently had the park's visitor centre, didn't. Or at least didn't have it signposted in any way that we could find it. Southern Italy is wonderful, but it misses opportunities. We would have spent more of our tourist euros if they had given us the chance.

So first priority in the city was lunch. And we went for Japanese. No one else did. We had the place to ourselves. But a very decent meal. One doesn't always have to eat Italian.

The city has really two things. A pedestrianised grand street, which is the main drag so to speak, and a promenade along the seaside.

That is Sicily one can see across the bay - and indeed in the background that is Mount Etna

And of course there is a cathedral. A twentieth century rebuild after an earthquake.

 After a bit of exploration we went back and got into our apartment. Nice and spacious. I took the room with two single beds. Have to say was very pleased with all the accommodation we chose in Italy. And all at very modest cost. Would heartily recommend the area for a late season break.

Tropaea

So leaving Matera behind, the idea was now to find a nice restaurant in a small town on the way to Tropaea on the Calabrian coast for a late lunch. The perfect spot according to the internet was in a town called Vassani.

Now to call this place steep would be an understatement. It was barely clinging on. Walking up the streets one was on the margins of where gravity takes over from friction. It is so steep that you doubt you can climb it without slipping back. Also difficult to navigate the winding "streets" on google maps, but we found our restaurant. And were able to translate the closed sign. They were taking a two week break. 

And everything else was closed too. We gave up on lunch, and resorted to my emergency rations of cereal bars. Frustrating.

So we arrived at our one proper hotel of the trip. We found we had ridiculously overbooked since we had booked separate "rooms". But each room actually came with two separate double bedrooms.

The back of the hotel overlooks the sea.

 So, settled in we went off to explore and find somewhere for a drink with nibbles before dinner. And wanted a view for sunset.

That little grey mound you can see in the background is the volcano Stromboli.

 Better view of Stromboli

Tropaea at night

And finally a well deserved and long overdue feast.

And then to cap the evening, there was a blues festival and we stayed watching these couple of guys playing blues in the main square for about an hour. They were brilliant ( I bought their cd). And a few little kids came out and danced, really natural like, just so cute.

 Hotel pool

Next morning while Thibault had a lie in I got up, enjoyed the very decent breakfast on the terrace....

 ..and then pottered down the steps at the back to the beach below.

I think it is fair to say that it wasn't overcrowded. Have very fond memories of Tropaea, as well as Matera. Would have been very pleased to have spent an extra night at both. Our nine day holiday would have very nicely stretched to two weeks if T had had the time. But I was lucky he had what he had😊