the mountains

The Gran Sasso National Park in Abruzzo is part of the Apennines, and L'Aquila, where my cousin Dino and his wife Maria Grazia live, is nestled amongst them. The drive to L'Aquila was jaw dropingly beautiful...

Dino and Maria Grazia took us into the Gran Sasso National Park. In another month or so the whole area will be covered with snow and the ski season will be under way. At the moment there is just a hint of what is to come...

Without local knowledge we would never have seen these old shepherd huts, many of them restored and converted to holiday homes. There is also a chapel in honour of Pope John Paul the second and a bronze statue of him, apparently he spent time walking in these mountains, often alone...

And what family gathering is complete without eating together - another amazing, multi course lunch showcasing local produce. We paced ourselves better this time and could do justice to the 'dolce' which were magnificent...

Not much left of the dolce by the time we were finished.
We only just made a dent in the other courses. though.