Room With a View

We have a very Roman view from the apartment, one of a blue sky and umbrella pines.

The area we are in seems to be adjacent to a national park but so far we have not found any way of actually entering it, probably because most of it is being actively farmed and the farmers don't want people trekking through their fields.

Wide awake at 3:15 AM, I spent the rest of the night watching a recorded broadcast of last night's rugby match in Paris between France and Ireland.  France threw everything but their bidets at the Irish but came up short 22-20 and Brian O'Driscoll retired with a Six Nations championship.

We headed out this morning to reconnoiter the area. After Jane found an ATM for us we drove to to a restaurant recommended by Alina.  I Casali del Pino is a farm and an agro tourism establishment.  It was apparent that they were fully booked as the outdoor terrace was covered by tables set up to receive dozens of families for Sunday lunch.  Lynne mentioned Alina's name and this sent someone scurrying to bring out a small table and two chairs which were placed on the grass next to the terrace. 

The meal was excellent, including the pasta with a ricotta and lemon sauce, the risotto with articokes and asperagus, the thin slices of pork in a prune sauce and a caponata of grilled vegetables.  We gratefully accepted the complimentary desert sweets including  a couple of ciambellette and a couple of marmalade crostatas.