Cesare and Sant Ansovino

First of all, something to make you jealous :-)

Not that you think we're living badly here...

These are the scampi from yesterday, fresh from the oven, in olive oil, garlic and lemon, and there was:

Homemade risotto with fennel, lemon, dill and white wine.

But now to today:

First of all, the sun finally shone again, which definitely had a positive effect on the general mood :-)

After the exhausting day yesterday, we didn't do anything for a while. Only in the afternoon did we feel a bit of energy...but only for a small action.

We wanted to finally meet Cesare. Promoted multiple times by our landlord, the owner of a small bar in the neighboring village was an institution that we absolutely had to get to know. And we were out of milk...well, not exactly the standard drink in a bar...but Cesare had a small grocery store right next to the bar...more like a -room. But anyway, milk is milk!

So we went there, and at the corresponding intersection the puzzle began. There was a really small sign with Alimentari...nothing else that remotely fit could be seen. So we bravely went in. A nice and patient man appeared from the next room of the bar and spoke to us kindly, of course fluent in Italian. I could at least explain our appearance enough to make it clear that we are guests of Peter and Susanna. After the first coffee (here, of course, espresso) we got the opportunity to visit the small Romanesque chapel of Sant Ansovino. We were given keys and a flashlight, and off we went in the car, to the bridge and then sharp right, attention strada pericolosa! Well, after our adventures, this was not a real challenge for us!

The chapel was completely deserted and lonely in a small valley:

Turning the keys in the lock was not that easy, but Gerhard's patience was rewarded. We were standing in a small, wonderfully peaceful little church:

with exactly 6 small wooden benches. After some contemplative moments and a trip to the underlying vaults (clean, but also creepy and with all kinds of critters...) we went back to Cesare, we still wanted to go shopping.

There, in the shopping room, there was actually everything you needed for the most important daily tasks...and of course, milk and mayo (for the leftover scampi that we want to devour with aioli). And at Cesare's we also got the next tip: Castello in Avacelli...just around the corner.

Another beautiful tip: We can see Avacelli from our terrace, the castle is a bit higher on the other side. So we drove there in 5 minutes, enjoying a nice view of Avacelli, which is located on the mountain ridge in exactly 2 rows of houses, on each side of the road it goes steeply down right after the house, and there is a great view on both sides:

Up at the castle, everything has been beautifully restored, there is even an original well:

So we saw a little something again...and on top of that, it was completely unplanned.

Back over our private steep ramp road, our landlord was already waiting for us, he wanted to have an aperitif with us somewhere. So we went to Cupramontana, not exactly the shortest way for an aperitif, but after 25 km and many curves and mountains, we arrived there:

Very charming with a very beautiful market square, illuminated like a film set. There we had aperitif with lots of snacks, fresh from the oven or cold, all delicious, and the aperitif had a bit of a basis. There was a real hustle and bustle in the little shop, until 8pm people come here to gather courage for dinner at home with Mama :-)

So we went back, relaxed and lively, with a little stop at Cesare's...as it's on the way. There we bought a special panini for breakfast, which is only available during the grape harvest time here (pane di moscato? I have to ask again...). Then we were offered another specialty to try, a liqueur made from red wine and cherry leaves...oh, the mountain road would probably have to find the way back itself today. But it was very delicious and fun.

Best regards and see you soon!