A Big 10-4, Wines and A Mussel Weekend

Along a Pass at the Austrian/Italian Border

It is almost the end of October already.  The leaves here in the Veneto are changing faster now, we are seeing a lot of yellow.  We wake up to fog and hope the sun will win the day later.  Temperatures have held into the mid 70’s but next week will drop down into the 60’s leaving warm as a memory.

My bar today is frequented by men dropping in for a quick coffee and brioche while on their way to work.  There have been only two people lingering to read the newspaper, provided for free, or like me use the free wifi on their computers/phones.  It is a slow day for Bar Jolie, but later business will pick up as today is market day in my village.  Shoppers will stop for a pick me up, and then the workers will begin to make a visit for lunch.  What do they serve here?  Take a  look.

A second choice could be this.  Both come with a sauce I see a lot in Italy, which  is a mixture of ketchup and mayo.  I prefer it with a fish plate. Mustard could be also a  good choice but ...this is Italy.

This year has been a good year for  wine production.  There was little rain near the picking days, and lots of sun.  The grapes had more than enough water during the summer.  Now the vines stand empty of grapes and ready for winter to change the leaves to a dried dirty brown.  I am anxious to go to my favorite enoteca in Arqua Petrarca and  talk to the owner about this years production.  He was the one who introduced be to Vignalta wines and then   later other super choices.  I trust his judgement and he is very energetic to find small vineyards that have produced a great wine after which he buys their whole production.  

We are about to head south from our village and drive to the beach where they have mussel farms.  There is a restaurant there that serve platters of mussels with a spicy flavor.  We were shocked to see these giant mussels the first time, now we are hooked and try to go back twice a year.  The restaurant is always packed and you must obtain a reservation in order to be assured of a seat.  

The first time I ever tasted a mussel was at a festival in Belgium with my friends who were living in Holland for two years on a work assignment.  I had never eaten mussels and always used them as fishing bait on my hook when fishing off the pier in Huntington Beach, California.  So I was wary of this new taste.  The festival brought huge bowls of mussels to the table with lots of bread and Belgian Beer.  We had to have a second bowl.  Now I am hopelessly addicted!

On the way south on Saturday we will use the freeway joining folks who are whisking themselves along at a pace of 130 kilometers an hour, the so called speed limit here.  Left lane is used for the speedsters who desire to  push folks into a  more right lane by flashing their lights as they approach you.  It is best to move over.  Luckily there are usually three lanes, the one on the right is used for truckers who are not allowed to go at such a high speed. Sundays are a good day to travel, except on holidays when the traffic can get a bit heavy.   One of the best ideas that Italy has ever had was to make truckers rest on Sundays.  Since they are not allowed on the freeway on Sunday, you will see them lined up at roadside rest stops that feature restaurants, restrooms and sometimes showers.  We also do not see trucks pulling two trailers, nor trucks that do not have a live driver.  That will never happen here.  It would be way too dangerous, as one always has to remain totally aware of what is going on ahead and behind you.  Cruise control, a good thing driving across the desert of Nevada, cannot be used here much.  Your speed is always changing. 

I am not happy with Google and  Apple as in some way they have changed the way my blog is presented and the photos cannot be placed in exact places anymore.  Sorry, everyone.

  

                                                  I wish everyone a peaceful Autumn.  Ciao!