A week ago, we woke to news of the earthquake in central Italy.  Knowing that we were headed for central Italy that day to spend some time with Chad’s parents and extended Italian family, I was a little nervous about our trip and nervous about how the family was faring.  Fortunately, the damage was north of the area where we were headed.

One of the fun things about traveling around Europe is taking modes of transportation that you wouldn’t use every day in the US.  We started with a ferry ride from Ischia to Naples.  Ferries are pretty awesome.  You’re out on the water with a cool breeze, a view that you can’t get from land (obviously).  It’s just a great way to travel.

Chad on the ferry eating his breakfast pastry

Me on the ferry, looking mischievous for some reason

Look! Another photo of the ferry!

Upon landing in Naples, we found our way to the Hertz office in the Naples harbor (easier said than done) and got our rental car.  Now, driving a car in Italy might sound like no big deal, but let me tell you, Italian drivers have no fear.  I have lots of fear.  It was a good thing Chad was driving.

Our sweet ride

Italian country road

We were kind of hoping that we could make it to our final destination in time for lunch, but the Hangry Monster joined us partway through the road trip, so we stopped for lunch.  I’m going to take a moment and say that we thought we were just stopping at a little mom-and-pop restaurant for some food, but this place turned out to be a destination restaurant. 

Ristorante il Casale? Sure, I’ll give it a try…

The restaurant felt like going to someone’s home

When we sat down at 1:15, there were only two other occupied tables.  Within the next hour and a half, the place filled up with large family groups settling in for a long lunch.  And by long lunch I mean long lunch.  Our little table of two spent 2-1/2 hours in this place.

The interior – check out the wood beams

Uh, the views weren’t terrible…

I’ll come clean and say we didn’t really know what we were signing up for.  Our server started out by saying (in Italian, natch), “I could bring you the mixed appetizer plate – a little meat, a little cheese, some bruschetta,” to which we responded, “Si, va bene.”  (Yes, that sounds good.”)  And then this happened:

Some appetizers

And more appetizers

Oh, and how about some more appetizers

Seven plates of appetizers later, the waiter asked what kind of pasta we wanted.  I thought my eyes were going to pop out of my head, and Chad told the waiter he was about to explode (“esplodere”).  The waiter thought that was funny.  Then we were served polenta.  We managed to get out of the full pasta course and meat course, but then they insisted that we have dessert.  Then they brought “digestivi” (after-dinner drinks).  Oh, my lord, I have never eaten so much in my entire life.  And it was all so good.

Dessert

Homemade digestivi

And THEN we got back into the car and finished our road trip into Monteferrante.  Where there was a family dinner that evening.  With more food.  And more “esplodere.”  But that is another story.