On Monday we walked down to the village to get some pennies (here we go again I hear you say) not quite that bad - card in machine, takes details, no can do. Apparantly here in Italy not all ATMs do international withdrawals and it's a good job I read about this in the Lonely Planet's guide so we were forewarned. OK, decisions to be made - do we get the bus to the nearest town some 20 minutes away or do we try the next village. It was a nice day so after lunch we headed off to Busana along a track over the hill (preferable to walking along the road) and anyway the sign read 3.8 kms and a woman of my tender years can still manage 2.5 miles even if it is over a mountain pass. We saw a few signposts along the way and disconcertingly they all read 3.8 kms!Eventually we came to Busana and wandered down to the hub of the village. I stepped onto the grass verge to allow a car to pass when I felt a sharp pain under my toe - on closer inspection I saw a wasp flying out of my sandal. I hobbled to a wall, Harry (minus glasses) managed to get the sting out and all I could think of was how am I going to make the 'Irish' 3.8 kms back over the hill and we still needed to get some pennies. Fortunately we spotted the bank and our mission was successful!
The local bar looked inviting and anyway I needed to recuperate. It's true what they say about a certain beer reaching those parts others don't - the trek home was pain free and didn't seem too long.
This week has seen us taking time out. We have been doing gentle walks here in the mountains, swimming, managed 40 lengths non stop and Harry did 80 non stop (OK the pool is only 15 metres long). Lots of reading and we had used this time as a period of reflection and thinking of loved ones back home.
Last night the camp put on a production of the musical 'Grease'. It was really good and a lot of effort had been put into it. The music of Grease, the crew miming to the lyrics and lots of children in the production. 
This site has been so different from the others we have been at. We feel as if we have been living as part of the community. The site is set out like a hill top village with the hub housing a restaurant, well stocked shop, a simple bar which is also like a community hall where the the young ones play ping pong and the oldies play cards. As we don't fit into either of those categories (stop laughing) we use this space to check e-mails and keep in touch with the outside world. Outside is what they call the Arena where folk sit and chat during the day - just like a village square - there is always something happening there. Traditional Italian dance lessons, children's club and musical events in the evenings. The van is far enough away so if we don't want to join in we still have our peace and quiet and the views - too beautiful to describe.
I think we have become a novelty in the local village - everyone seems to know us (the man with the long hair) - but we get a very warm welcome wherever we go and they try to help us improve our Italian. La Tavernetta, on the edge of the village, is a great place to sit awhile and watch the comings and goings of the local community. It is not only a bar but the local Tabaccheria so there is always a long stream of people arriving by car to buy their cigarettes or lottery tickets and a quick fix of caffeine before causing chaos by reversing on to the main road amidst blasts of horns from oncoming traffic and a lot of hand gestures (which don't appear to be rude!). It's great theatre and all for the price of a cappuccino.
Tomorrow we are moving to the area around La Spezia - a town not too far away from here and from where we hope to do the Cinque Terre -but more about that next week. But before then 2 views that will stay in our minds, the Pietra at sunrise and in all it's majestic glory. 
So until then, lots of love - Kath and Harry xxx
PS - He still has the hair - it's just a bit tidier!
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