Last day in Cassino, so I did a tidy and repack. Then off to L and C for a last lunch.
After a yummy meal we went to visit L’s sister who lives in a newly removed house next door. Big screen TV and aircon in every room made it a boy paradise. They all sat on the sofa and watched soccer.
The plan had been to go up Monte Cassino to L’s uncle and get some last photos but come 5.00 and we were only just on our way. The uncles villa ,farm is on the slopes overlooking the Abbey and during the war was a German command post. As a 2 year old the uncle had been sheltering in the Abbey crypt when the bombardment happened.
We put on our walking shoes and got walking sticks from the uncle and headed off cross country
. The land was incredible dry apparently no rain for 3 months and nothing substantial for a year. Huge cracks feet deep in the ground.
We had a good ramble and found some good sites for P, and a lot of shrapnel on the ground.
Then they carried on through a rough bramble patch and I made my way back to the “Dr’s House” where the dogs alerted the owners and 2 men came to see what I was up to, fortunately L arrived and was bale to explain. They then took us to their home and let P take some more photos, astounding view of Abbey and Cassino environs. This house mentioned in all the histories of the fighting up here.
Finally back to Uncle’s at about 8.00 then L a bit panicked as the lights on his car don’t go. So we all rushed about but then in true Italian style the uncle started telling a story and L wandered off. Finally ready to go and a cousin arrives so we all go for a drink. Then we assume that someone has lent a car as it is pitch black, but no we all pile in L’s car. Feeling a little nervous, no seatbelt, no lights and a windy mountain road oh and there is no back doors in the car.
We head off only to discover the light work on full, no dip tho, and they cut out every now and
then. Still better than what we expected. Driving at 80 km on a narrow road with light that failed off every now and then was a treat!
Tried to get out of dinner as now 9.30 at night and we need to pack and clean. But no off we went for dinner and it was a full family get together and a BBq,
After a long night and fond farewells home by 11.30, did a bit of a pack and clean then gave up and headed to bed hoping the dog would not do it’s 2-am bark-a-thon.
After a yummy meal we went to visit L’s sister who lives in a newly removed house next door. Big screen TV and aircon in every room made it a boy paradise. They all sat on the sofa and watched soccer.
The plan had been to go up Monte Cassino to L’s uncle and get some last photos but come 5.00 and we were only just on our way. The uncles villa ,farm is on the slopes overlooking the Abbey and during the war was a German command post. As a 2 year old the uncle had been sheltering in the Abbey crypt when the bombardment happened.
We put on our walking shoes and got walking sticks from the uncle and headed off cross country
. The land was incredible dry apparently no rain for 3 months and nothing substantial for a year. Huge cracks feet deep in the ground.We had a good ramble and found some good sites for P, and a lot of shrapnel on the ground.
Then they carried on through a rough bramble patch and I made my way back to the “Dr’s House” where the dogs alerted the owners and 2 men came to see what I was up to, fortunately L arrived and was bale to explain. They then took us to their home and let P take some more photos, astounding view of Abbey and Cassino environs. This house mentioned in all the histories of the fighting up here.
Finally back to Uncle’s at about 8.00 then L a bit panicked as the lights on his car don’t go. So we all rushed about but then in true Italian style the uncle started telling a story and L wandered off. Finally ready to go and a cousin arrives so we all go for a drink. Then we assume that someone has lent a car as it is pitch black, but no we all pile in L’s car. Feeling a little nervous, no seatbelt, no lights and a windy mountain road oh and there is no back doors in the car.
We head off only to discover the light work on full, no dip tho, and they cut out every now and
then. Still better than what we expected. Driving at 80 km on a narrow road with light that failed off every now and then was a treat!Tried to get out of dinner as now 9.30 at night and we need to pack and clean. But no off we went for dinner and it was a full family get together and a BBq,
After a long night and fond farewells home by 11.30, did a bit of a pack and clean then gave up and headed to bed hoping the dog would not do it’s 2-am bark-a-thon.
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