Buona Pasqua/Happy Easter
For our last day in L’Aquila we had no big plans. First off we walked south on the main street to check out the location for another hotel for our friends, Jim.and Diana. I got a kick out of this sign:
We kept on from there, not really certain of where we were headed. This wall was interesting to me–I wonder if these were remains from previous wall inserted into the new stucco layer?
We came upon a totally ruined church in the center:
Before we knew it we were back at Piazza Duomo where we entered into the church on the side of the piazza. Mass was just about to start so we didn’t wander, just looked from the back. The actual duomo is still under construction. The dome is totally gone and the front looks like this:
The large posters explain the restoration work.
We sat in the sun for a while enjoying the little kids and the dogs as well as the warmth and the ringing church bells.
A light lunch was in order, so we walked to the other end of the street and finally sat at an outdoor table with yet another QR code menu. I had a salad with tuna and Ken a panino. It was cheap and did the trick.
Back at the apartment we started our packing, reading, and playing on our devices. We headed out for one more quick walk before dinner. The streets were crowded with people on the passeggiata, greeting each other and saying “Buona Pasqua.” The town seems lively and full of joy. And Ken’s favorite teenager was out playing her saxaphone:
We went back to Pinzimonio where the staff reminds me of my son and nephews. We had a good dinner starting with their best seller chicken appetizer. It’s like really great, flat fried chicken nuggets with a guacamole dip. Not very Italian, but every table got an order of it! We shared a pasta called “fregnacce: (a fresh egg pasta cut into large squares” with a ground lamb sugo bianco. Then we had beef cheeks with mashed potatoes, local, hearty and authentic. The Montepulciano d’Abruzzo was the perfect compliment.
We watched Rooster which seems to put me to sleep every time. The night before, we watched DTF and I am really into it. The acting and the writing are really engaging.
Last day in L’Aquila is over. We leave in the morning for Ostia, near the Rome airport. Forecast: nothing but sun. Things are wrapping up nicely.
I have enjoyed reading your travels in Italy with the occasional hiccup all part and parcel.
I live in Friuli have you ever visited this area.
Buona vacanza.
Liz
Hello, I’ve really enjoyed your blog (and TA posts) over the last couple of years..
I arrived in Rome 5 days ago, the beginning of a 9 week trip! I’m on the train now to Salerno and I could see snow in the mountains to the east where you are! But I had warm weather in Rome and I hope you get some soon!
I love your slow travel style and you inspire me to cook more dinners in on this trip. I travel alone and rarely have dinner out, but it’s usually simple takeaway etc.
I just wanted to say hi and thanks for your informative blog!
Audrey
On our visit to L’Aquila in 1999, I vividly remember arriving in the mid-afternoon and finding the centro completely silent. After checking in at our hotel and walking back to the centro, I recall being amazed at the wall of sound we heard (it was like a loud buzz) as we approached the main piazza and then saw the bustle of activity during the early evening passeggata.
This was our first but not certainly not our last experience of this Italian phenomenon.