Bari (not Barry) to Chieti

Today’s ride on Komoot 

Getting off the ferry took ages. By the time I retrieved the knives and got going, an hour had passed.

My plan was to take the train from Bari to Pescara, then Chieti and ride up the hill into town and stay at a B&B.

I couldn’t leave Bari without at least one slice of Focaccia Barese. It’s my absolute favourite from my time in Puglia in 2024. I also needed to get a Macchiato because Italian coffee is the best.

I had both missions accomplished before the train arrived. They were both so good. And that brings me to something that really bugs me …

Why, if Focaccia Barese is so good, can I only get it in Puglia ? Surely other parts of Italy would simply latch onto it and make it themselves. Why do they stick to their own recipes for Focaccias and pizzas and not embrace others. After all a macchiato is standard across Italy.

I accidentally got out a station early in Chieti which is about 15kms down the road from Pescara then got into Komoot to work out where to go. I knew there was a decent hill, but this one was a whopping 290m vertically above me.

I was shaking, and awash with sweat by the time I arrived and in no mood for the introduction course at the B&B. I think it’s a fairly new rental, and they are ridiculously happy to please. However, I endured it with a smile before grabbing a shower and having a lie down. The B&B is really nice. I bumped into the owner in the next street while searching for the building. Again, really nice. I can see that they are trying very hard to appeal.

It had taken 25 hours from Patras to get there and that doesn’t include the days ride into Patras. John was a tired boy, but after cleaning up, I wanted to see Chieti and take some photos in the fading light. That was all very well, but my main objective was dinner. I had the picture of a pizza in my head and nothing else would do.

After wandering around the nice town, I sat down for an Aperitivo, a classic – Aperol Spritz at the even more classic Vittoria Cafe. It was a great setting just sitting there watching, not the world, but a couple of Christians / Chietites / … wander past.

While there, I researched local pizza restaurants. Ok, I looked at a few reviews on google maps, but these days, that constitutes research. I found one near the B&B and went there.

I was the first customer but during my meal, the place filled up to the point having a buzz of excitement. The guy running it, helped me with my Italian and couldn’t have been nicer. Then there was the pizza. It looked good, it smelled good … It was everything I’d hoped for – absolutely brilliant.

I couldn’t be happier. Back to my digs then for a good sleep. Vittorito beckons tomorrow.