Holidaymakers entering the EU were being faced with an additional layer of security; an entry-exit system known as EES that had come into force that week. The new system was being introduced for all non-EU visitors – Australians, British, Americans, Canadians etc in order to clamp down on tourists overstaying their 90 day allowance in the EU Schengen Area. These security measures seemed bizarre when the EU was already allowing a constant flow of illegal migrants to roam freely through Europe – eventually arriving at the north coast of France and onwards to the UK in small boats.
It was a two day drive from Turín to the Abruzzo region of central eastern Italy where our friends, Jacqui and Sergio, had a home. Alba Adriática was a popular seaside resort with long sandy beaches surrounded by rolling hills. We spent several days in the area enjoying sunny weather and excellent food. We bought slices of delicious porchetta from a market stall. Porchetta was an Italian street food – a whole pig, boned, seasoned and rolled, then roasted until the skin was dark and crispy and the meat tender and tasty. There was a shop in town that made their own pasta and one day we had fresh gnocchi which Jacqui served with a savoury tomato sauce. There was an excellent beach side fish restaurant where we spent a few happy hours. And, of course, the ice cream. . .
We visited the Shrine of Loreto where, it was said, the house of the Virgin Mary in Nazareth was transported by angels to Italy – a fortuitous miracle which earned the town of Loreto a good income from coach loads of pilgrims keen pray to the Virgin Mary and to admire the beautiful basilica.
