Camping in Palinuro

THIS TIME WE'RE OFF TO PALINURO, ON THE CILENTO COAST OF OUR EXTRAORDINARY PENINSULA.... ITALY. IT'S AUGUST 2008, AND SINCE WE'VE GOT A WEEK OFF WORK, WE DECIDE TO GO ON HOLIDAY CAMPING WITH OUR FRIENDS ANDREA AND ENEIDA. VALENTINA AND I ARE NOW CAMPING EXPERTS, ANDREA IS NO SLOUCH EITHER, WHILE ENEIDA IS ON HER FIRST CAMPING EXPERIENCE, SO WHO KNOWS?... EITHER YOU LOVE CAMPING OR YOU HATE IT... SO WE SET OFF WITH OUR YELLOW PANDA LOADED WITH LUGGAGE AND ANDREA'S MICRA, ALSO BULGING LIKE A HOT-AIR BALLOON... AFTER 5 HOURS WE ARRIVE AT THE CAMPSITE, AND AT ONCE FIND A GREAT PITCH, BIG AND IN THE SHADE, EXCEPTIONAL FOR THE SEASON.

WE UNLOAD THE LUGGAGE AND PUT UP THE TENTS RIGHT AWAY; EVERYONE PITCHES IN AND AT THE CAMPSITE THINGS START TO FEEL GOOD! THEN EVERYONE INTO THE WATER, WE PLAY RACCHETTONI AND SCHIACCIA 7, THEN SUN, SUN AND MORE SUN!!! THE HOLIDAY IS GOING GREAT! WE HAVE FUN AND RELAX. THE PLACE IS STUPENDOUS, THE CAMPSITE IS RELAXING AND THE AIR IS WONDERFUL. IN THE EVENING WE EAT LIKE KINGS, THANKS TO THE EXCELLENT WORK OF ALL FOUR OF US. ONE OF US IS THE EXPERT ON FIRST COURSES, OTHERS TAKE CARE OF THE MAIN DISHES AND SIDES. A SHAME THERE WERE NO DESSERTS, BUT WE'RE CAMPING AFTER ALL, NOT IN A GRAND HOTEL... OUR DAYS IN PALINURO PASS NICELY; THE WALKS THROUGH THE LANES OF THIS LITTLE PLACE ARE LOVELY.

ONE AFTERNOON WAS DEVOTED TO VISITING THE VILLAGE OF SAN SEVERINO, AND ANOTHER AFTERNOON WE WENT TO SEE THE FAMOUS ARCH OF PALINURO, AND THEN, HOW COULD WE FORGET THE WALKS TO THE LIGHTHOUSE, WHERE WATCHING THE SUNSET IS A DELIGHT (see photos). ENEIDA IS HAPPY WITH THE CAMPSITE TOO; SHE FALLS IN LOVE WITH THIS KIND OF HOLIDAY, IN FACT SHE'S ALREADY ORGANISING OUR NEXT SUMMER. GREETINGS FROM THE CAMPERS ANDREA, ENEIDA, CLAUDIO AND VALENTINA PALINURO (1 - 1 AUGUST 2008)