Pivkef up our rental car Tuesday. Now what could this title have to do with that statement. First, let's all remember, we are in Italy. Roads, like underground cave passages, are generally narrow, go up and down and zig zag/curve every which a way. On top of that, these relaxed, smell the roses Italians are anything but behind the wheel.
We rode the funiculore down to Orvieto Scala, and of course half way down I realized I had forgotten my International drivers permit(IDP). Hoping they would not ask for it we proceeded to Hertz. I have an idea that who you rent from and who may ultimately stop you depends on whether you are ever really asked for the IDP. Bruce just said get it, its $25 and if needed and not had something like a €300 fine. The Travel Gods were with us as all she wanted was my passport, both our drivers licenses and more money. Rain began as we walked out so we hurried to the Pizzeria next door for a quick lunch.
After we finished lunch the rain had subsided and we were getting into Siesta time so we decided a drive was in order as maybe most drivers were home. We jumped in the car and tried to back out. First I need to say, its been at least 30 years or so since I drove a standard transmission, and then you usually pushed the shifter down and into reverse. We were very lucky we didn't end up plowing into the wall in front of us as I tried to quickly back into traffic. The car kept trying to go forward. Just before going inside to ask how to get the bleepity bleep thing into reverse we stumbled on the button on inside front of shifter. Imagine that, push and put in R, why didn't we think of that? Then it was balance the clutch, back out onto a busy road, get it back in 1st, don't stall out and Get Out Of The Way! Success and we were off.
Our next hurdle was map reading and using the Garmin NUVI(GPS). We finally got out of town, got the GPS working and then realized that we were in the mountains or at least pretty big hills and every road zig zagged up and down. As tourists, we weren't interested in speeding up, down and around so learned very quickly to pull to the side and slow down for locals racing up behind us and ultimately around us. As we were exploring the Travel Gods smiled on us again and we passed Le Velette (e's sound like eh), a vineyard that had been mentioned in a Rick Steves' radio program Maggi had downloaded that included an interview with one of the owners, Cecelia Bottai.(C with e or i following sounds like ch so her name is pronounced chehchehlia , Bota, long o and long a) We turned and drove slowly down the teeny road through the vineyard and of course a car speeds right up behind us. What a surprise when the woman who rolls down her window turns out to be Cecelia herself. We inquired about a tasting/tour and she said they usually do it by appointment but if we wanted to return at 4:30 she had 2 Americans coming. She couldn't do it then as she had a busload of Germans coming that afternoon. We agreed to return then, thankful we would get to do it at all.
Now we had about 3.5 hours to kill and didn't want to go back to Orvieto so took off south along same road. Unfortunately Maggi had marked Le Velette on NUVI so we think it kept trying to take us back there. Even better, NUVI told us to turn left or turn right where there were no roads. Took us awhile to realize all those zigs and zags were really confusing her and even longer for us to find the mute button. We ended up having a wonderful drive through small medieval looking towns and spectacular countryside to Lake Bolsena and back and by then we needed a rest stop badly. Again, Travel Gods smiled on us and we stumbled, literally on CUSTODI Winery. The parking lot was empty and of course it was Siesta time but we gave it a try. As Maggi was walking away the door opened and the proprietress invited us in. We sampled several wines, of course bought a few, and then returned to Let Velette just as the large group of Germans were picking up their wine purchases and getting on their bus. We were treated to an impromptu song by the group where it was immediately obvious they didn't learn that harmony riding on the bus. After they left, Cecelia came over, said she was wrong, they were a professional choral group of Austrians. She then indicated that the other two Americans had canceled and would we rather come back for a wine tasting and buffet on Thursday since she had a Rick Steves' tour group coming and we could join them. We readily agreed, hoping Rick might actually be there too of course, and took off for home.
We miraculously found our way back through the small towns and up the hill to the designated parking garage right behind Ripa Medici, where we were staying. Sabrina had given us a pass to wave at the machine getting us in to the passholders garage and said Ripa Medici had 3 spaces and to park anywhere. What she had not said was anywhere meant just not in a reserved spot. We spent 10 minutes driving around inside looking for something designated for Ripa Medici parking. Thank God for texting or we could still be searching and not realized just pull in anywhere not reserved.
Dinner took us to the Trattorria Del Moro Aronne where we sat near the garden and enjoyed the beautiful overhanging wisteria, from inside. It gets cold in the evening. Then home via a new way where we stumbled on a wonderful bakery and bought some yummy flaky air pastries with a little filling, served by two hot Italian men. We vowed to return. On that note. Ciao
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