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I’ve lost count of my weekends in Le Marche, and I get the rounds mixed up a bit; but one I remember for sure: I happened to win a mall lottery.
Winning the lottery, again
With a friend who was staying in Pesaro, first we went to beautiful Ascoli, then to the caves of Frasassi which, if you don’t have a problem going underground, are absolutely once in a lifetime must-do’s. Access is not free and you go down with a guide and in a group; I remember a lady going down those bumpy underground streets in her heels.
We were late and I missed the train, my friend said, if we have to wait at the station for the next one, I might as well take you, sleep at your place and come back quietly tomorrow morning.
I knew I had an empty cooler and we stopped at a big mall on the street that I hardly ever go to. It happened to be the 20th anniversary of the opening, and that day for every 10 euros spent they were giving a token with which to play on some kind of slot machine set up for the purpose. We did minimal shopping and with my one token we lined up to play along with those who had 20.
Serious I told her: now I win.
She continued in her speech without giving any weight to that statement, and then I again: look I really win now.
She, continuing to talk about something else: yes it’s fine.
I won, and when we got to the desk where the various prizes were being collected, my friend couldn’t stop laughing. The clerk said to me: congratulations, you won the overall first prize.
Unlike other wins, like the one on the cruise, this one was substantial! 500 euros in shopping vouchers, I accumulated detergents and canned goods for a lustre.
My many weekends in Le Marche
Senigallia is where I first camped in my life. I went back there for both the Caterraduno (gathering of the loyalists of the famous radio show) and the very fun Jamboree festival . I had a great time especially seeing the aged and colorful dancers on the notes of old rock ‘n roll and swing classics. In addition to the aforementioned Ascoli, all the inland villages and towns are beautiful, but so are the towns on the coast, my favorites where I have been several times:
- Fano (with its walls and Roman remains)
- Urbino (not to be missed)
- Gradara (the -apparent- castle of Paolo and Francesca)
- Jesi (where Frederick II, my favorite emperor, was born)
- Macerata
- Stop
- Recanati (the city of Leopardi)
Landscapes and small towns in the Marches
A separate chapter is the beautiful walks that can be taken on the promontories with beautiful sea views of San Bartolo (near Pesaro) and Monte Conero (featured photo), although quite crowded. I have done many weekends there in the Marche, but because I am close to it and you could do a longer period there of course.
Le Marche is very beautiful just to drive through it, with the rolling hills with the fortresses on the hills and the glimpses of the sea. Then I have my own passion for going to places with curious names, at least in my opinion.
I wonder if St. Leopard’s mother, giving him such a name, had thought that one day they would dedicate a Cathedral to her son; and if she had another son maybe she would have named him Cheetah? Montelupone, that’s one of the places I had always wanted to go to: besides the name, however, it’s a nice village
Home set of travel On the road into central Italy, marriage proposal (Italy and Vatican)
Previous stage Alternative New Year’s travel: ditching the spouse
Next stop Visiting Tuscan islands, umbrella talk
Trips taken, travel stories divided by continent
Countries visited in my travel stories
Anecdotes, divided by type in travel narratives
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