Arce

We checked out of our place in Rome (Nicky and Alex left much earlier than us so we didn't get a chance to say goodbye again) and we made our way to the airport to pick up our car to then drive to Daniel’s family village, Arce.

We got a bus to the train station then a shuttle bus to the airport before a shuttle bus to the parking lot for our car hire company! The process to pick up a car is never easy (especially in Italy we have figured out) because there is usually a line up for a while so Gab patiently waited outside with the bags for around an hour before we were ready in the air con car!

We had a bit of traffic but arrived in Arce with the whole family greeting us and eagerly awaiting to have lunch - 4 courses of delicious home made food by Daniel's cousin Filomena, starting with antipasti, then spaghetti with home grown tomatoes, beef and seafood sauce and finishing with tiramisu which is better than any restaurant in the world! It was a huge tiramisu as well (see photo of our hands for reference!)

After definitely overeating, the rest of the family went for siesta whilst Gab and Daniel went for a walk across Arce to see Daniel’s Nonna’s family house (we were staying in the family house of Daniel’s Nonno). We saw some cool vineyards and farm animals along the way as well.

We came back for showers and then went on a ‘Tour Di Arce’ by Daniel’s cousins' Margherita and Federica, seeing the Main Street in front of the church, before driving to the town of Arpino, an old medieval town for a beautiful sunset (and beautiful view!!) We then had an Aperol Sprtiz in the main square before heading to the town of Isola del Liri. This town is very cool as it has its own waterfall and it was surprisingly busy in all the main streets with busy restaurants and a concert in the streets.

We met the rest of the family for dinner at a restaurant right at the foot of the waterfall. Thankfully, we couldn’t book until 9.30pm which was great given how full we were. We had some delicious (and huge) pizzas at the restaurant and some local wine which was delicious. We headed back to the house to sleep around midnight as everyone was very full and tired! First day of using Google Translate, broken English and Italian and charades was a lovely success!Read more