She Left No Note

She Left No Note
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September 2020 Circeo Lungomare from Sabaudia to Marina di Latina

The next day is Sunday and the objective is to do as little as possible, it's hot and it's busy and we have no desire to mingle. The apartment has a delightful terrace equipped with absolutely all one could wish for to lounge, including a sea view.....so we lounge, catch up on writing this blog, do some washing, eat, nap, rest. Eventually at about half past four it's getting a bit cooler so we go out for a walk along the sea front as far as the port, nothing special but on the flat, a nice walk.

On Monday we wake up to clouds and since looking south seems very dark we head north and take the long way round through the countryside to Borgo Grappa and then towards the coast. It's quite relaxing driving round here, there's not much traffic, drivers don't seem too frantic. Which is just as well because the distinguishing feature of the roads are the enormous roots of the equally enormous maritime pines to the side of the road which have invaded even both lanes right to the middle pushing up the tarmac into some impressive bumps. There are lots of warning signs and speed limits but no further more drastic action seems to have been taken so it's wise to proceed with caution. Oncoming cars may suddenly verge into a neighbouring lane to avoid a bump and higher speeds and distraction can result in the car taking off. Still, the pines are very attractive and characteristic of the area. We park as soon as we arrive at the sea from Borgo Grappa. There's a large free car park with a bar and fishermen looking doubtfully at the sky in all directions and discussing whether it's a good idea to go out or not. We carry on towards Marina di Latina with the sea on the left and the lakes on the right. Marina di Latina is a more generous municipality than Sabaudia further south because here parking is free during the week and after 17th  September. So we park and walk a while on the beach. To the south it's still dark and cloudy and the beach while natural and without buildings is not particularly panoramic because the sand is quite dark, even among the dunes near the road, although the sea looks clean.

September 2020 Circeo Marina di Latina

On the way back we take the long coast road from Bufalara where there are indeed buffaloes at pasture, 

September 2020 Circeo

but the dunes hide the view of the sea and parking is pay all year. I wonder who wants to park here in November......The sand does get lighter in colour as we progress towards Circeo.

After a leisurely lunch and rest the sun is shining and all clouds have disappeared so we drive to the Capo Circeo lighthouse where parking is free. Although there aren't a lot of spaces it's Monday so there are few people around. We walk along the tarmacked road which is also route 757 to the Batteria. There are nice views of the coast but the land either side is mostly occupied by private villas. At a certain point there's an open gate with no entry for cars at the Consorzio Batteria. We continue on foot and follow the signs for the 757, now an actual path, on the left. In about ten minutes this takes us down to the rocky coast where a natural inlet 

September 2020 Circeo

has become an attraction for young locals to dive off a vertical cliff 

September 2020 Circeo

and then climb back up. We sit in the shade a while and watch the waves and then continue to the Batteria itself where the path ends. More nice views, also back towards the intrepid cliff jumpers. It's nice to walk among nature for a while. Back at the lighthouse we sit and do nothing on the rocks below and wait for the sunset. 

September 2020 Circeo

Just below there's a sort of photographic session going on. The model is wearing a red woolly hat, an enormous yellow cagoule, jeans, Wellington boots and is holding a fishing rod. The look is 'pensive waif' but I can't imagine what the photos will be used for unless yellow waterproofs are the new trend for the autumn. In the distance there are the islands of Ponza. It's relaxing sitting and watching the sun descend, reminding us of other sunsets, other holidays, other places. Dusk comes quickly as we are leaving, the photographer is still persevering. Pondering about passing time and how we use it is inevitable.

September 2020 Circeo

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