# Campari & Soda: 0, # Gelati: 1
After the crowd of rellies yesterday, today was spent just with my cousin Rachele. We started (after my first sensibly sized breakfast since I got to Italy) with a visit to a seaside town nearby called Amantea. We went for a short walk along the beach, but they aren't a patch on the beaches in Australia. Just rocks of varying sizes rather than sand. I noticed in the hills above the town the remains of a castle and said something along the lines of "look at that". My cousin took that as an indication that I wanted to visit it so off we went, but on foot. Rachele's English is as good as my Italian so we can communicate but I think we misunderstand each other just as often as the reverse.
After a long climb to the top ("sempre salire") we got to the ruins of a church. The castle was still some distance away but we decided enough was enough. We took some pictures of the view and then headed back down for a restorative gelati. Of course, on the way up we meet a group of school children on an exercusion. I swear they are following me.
Once we were feeling human again we headed off to another town called Falerna Marina. I had jokingly said I would like to buy an apartment here by the beach. I had even picked out something on a real estate website that looked good. My family here has entered enthusiastically into my search. Everyone has their own idea of the best town to buy in. We drove around a little, to get a feel of the town and then onto the next one down the coast, Gizzeria Lido, which is the preferred location of another cousin.
We then headed back home for a two course lunch that Rachele easily whipped up. Her son joined us for lunch and put in his own 2 cents about where I should be looking to buy. His preference is for a town, Crotone, on the eastern side of Calabria. Largely because his wife's family comes from there.
After lunch we had a little nap before heading out to actually visit the apartment in Falerna Marina. As I said, my family is taken this whole search a little seriously. It was a very pleasant apartment. It is right on the beach with fabulous views. However, inside it was a little dated and it was right on the edge of town. Too far to walk to anything. Not to mention it is on the 3rd floor (above ground level for US readers :-) and there is no lift. The real estate agent had to pause twice to catch her breath when she was showing it to us.
After the viewing it was late afternoon and, as an Australian, I was ready to wrap up the day. However, because of the lunchtime pause, in Italy it was still early. We visited a big shopping mall, out in the middle of nowhere, and I attempted to buy a nice leather belt to replace the cheap & nasty one I got from Zara but without success. Finally, we called it quits and went home for dinner. Only one course this time.
Tomorrow we are going to check out two more seaside towns for my ideal apartment.
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