1 March 2024 – Buffalo & Shorts

Miles driven today = 0

Total Miles to date = 1,791

That’s not necessarily a blog title I expected to write on this trip, especially on the 1st of March, but Southern Italy is the land of Mozzarella and, as we all know, the best Mozzarella is created using Buffalo milk.

There is a Buffalo farm just 10 minutes’ walk from the campsite here so we thought we would take ourselves for a little stroll to investigate.  We sauntered up the driveway to see all of the ladies tucking into their breakfasts.  I’ve no idea how many there were but to say dozens would be no exaggeration.

We popped into the shop where we were offered an extensive range of cheeses and yoghurt made from the milk.  They also have a well reviewed restaurant but we were a little early for lunch.

We thought it would be a bit rude not to at least purchase some Mozzarella so I bought a ball.  Lisa thought I had massively over-ordered until I explained that the cheese was in a bag full of what I assumed to be whey, all tied up like a goldfish won at the fairground.  We had a couple of slabs each in our sandwiches at lunchtime with some left over chicken and sliced tomato and it was fabulously fresh.

We didn’t really explore too much further afield, although we did pass this interesting tower with its external arched staircase.  It’s not marked on any map I have found so I have no idea as to its origins or what purpose it may have served.  Perhaps a lighthouse or watchtower from times when it may have been a little closer to the shoreline.

Instead we have been happy to just have a chilled day around the campsite and on the beach.  I’m reading Neil Gaiman’s re-telling of tales from Norse Mythology, which my daughter Lucy gave me for Christmas.  Driving all the way to Nordkapp at the top of Norway in the van is my No.1 Bucket List item so I’m hoovering up as much knowledge about that part of the World as I can.

We had a truckload more rain overnight and some big rumbles of thunder too, as evidenced by this 24 hour lightning map of the Med, although Lisa somehow managed to sleep through all of that.

But for the majority of today it has been gloriously sunny and I’ve celebrated the first day of Spring by retrieving a pair of shorts from one of the vacuum pack storage bags that has been tucked away above the drop-down bed since we left home, and giving my pasty white legs a bit of an airing.

2 March 2024 - Detours and Double-Backs