Walking down through Poggio San Lorenzo
Today was supposed to go very differently.
Option 1
Another HARD and challenging day according to the guide book, so after some initial investigations on the rome2rio website we thought we would take public buses to our accommodation, which was not on the direct Via di Francesco route. Our accommodation was in Nerola, due to a cancellation by booking.com.
Option 2
We had a vague idea of what was possible so ventured down the hill/mountain from Poggio San Lorenzo at about 8.30, realising there was no bus service from the top.
On reaching the bottom we asked at a bar about the bus services and she said that the buses ran from the main highway. A little concerned about this with the lack of a timetable we considered taking a taxi - no taxis in this area. So we wandered towards the highway.
After 15 minutes we found a rundown bus shelter and no timetable. We decided to wait and see if a bus passed by.
In about 10 minutes a huge double decker bus thundered down the highway so we signalled and it stopped. A very gruff driver, misunderstanding our destination, charged us €7 each and we climbed aboard the crowded bus. We very soon realised it was a intercity commuter bus and was heading to Rome.
After about 15 minutes, with Mark following our progress on his GPS, we pressed the button to get off and were left in the middle of nowhere beside the highway, as we had well and truly passed our bus stop.
Not to be defeated, Mark checked the GPS to find our location and how to proceed to our destination of Nerola.
Purple cross designated start from a random stop on the highway.
Option 3
Then we set off cross-country following tracks and minor roads for about 3 hours.
Perfection
Then, in the distance, we saw our destination - a castle!
A steep climb to the top
A random bar for lunch - sandwiches the only option - today it was cheese, salami and spinach!
Booking.com cancelled one booking and suggested this hotel for €45.
When we arrived we found it was a 5 star hotel, Castello Orsini Hotel, and we have been upgraded.
The front gate
The first courtyard
The main entrance
Secondary courtyard
Our bedroom
Some issues for Mark
Curtains
Public areas
Views across the valley
Dinner
A very eventful and surprising day!
What a difference to have our GPS to save the day.
M&M
1 comment:
Very impressive wayfinding. Liked your accommodation for Eur45 too. Well done.....JulieJ
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