Well the Enoteca is finally just about nearly almost ready to open at last.

The 1970 Vespa (1 careful owner and 4000 miles from new) has been hoisted up to sit above the bar and the initial selection of 45’s for the jukebox has been whittled from 4000 to 80. When we had coffee bars in the 60’s the juke geezer came around once every 2 weeks and replaced 4 singles on the box, if I was moping around he would give them to me so I started collecting records at an early age. Horrifyingly, besides rough treatment on the Dansette, I used ‘em as Frisbees on the playing fields at school or the fern filled valley by Farsley Celtic Football ground where we would run off with any ball kicked over the corrugated iron perimeter on match days.

I have decided that I too will change 4 singles every fortnight to keep things fresh albeit in an old fashioned kinda way. The current crop is mostly 60’s vinyl with a smattering of 50’s and 70’s and 2 modern pressings – a limited Tom Waits 45 from his stunning new triple album, Orphans, and a reggae version of the White Stripes ‘7 Nation Army’ by the Dynamics

Anyone wanting to play a tune should get a 2 bob coin from the bar which is good for 2 plays but choosing from the splendid choice of Memphis soul, rhythm and blues, jazz, reggae, rockabilly and Italian and 60’s pop will be a hard task indeedy.
Local artist Lori Rebequ is the Artist in Residence and her work will be on display in the Enoteca throughout the year. The first canvasses I saw of Lori’s work reminded me very much of landscapes from the Veneto like Venice under mist or the Po Delta in autumn but the inspiration for them apparently came from Aborigines and their culture. Oops! The important thing is they are great to look at, Italy, Oz, what’s the difference anyway. If you are in Salvo’s for lunch or dinner and would like to see the art ask one of the staff who will happily point you in the right direction.

So, what is an Enoteca I hear you ask?
The word derives from Enologia, the study of wine, so it’s a place where you can sip, sup, sniff and snort a selection of wines and prosecco with some delicious spuntini (snacks created to complement the art of enjoying a drink which can only be a good thing.).
The place is named after me Mam (Nunzia) and the pic of her on a Vespa in the 50’s takes pride of place above the jukebox.

We should be up and running in a week or so.

After noticing the confusion on the faces of some British holidaymakers visiting the lido and not understanding the crack I was reminded of my first time on the beach. I was shown to a parasol on the first day not realising it was mine exclusively for the week. The following day I sat under a parasol roughly in the same area as the day before, fell asleep and was rudely awakened by a little old lady ranting at me as if I had fell asleep on her sun lounger while she was still on it herself! Blimmin’ eck she nearly had a thrombie right in front of my bleary eyes. Moral of story – don’t think you can plonk yourself down under any empty parasol, someone may have rented it for the summer. I wrote this little info sheet for the lovely Francesca at the hotel to try and enlighten the unenlightened so they can become er…… enlightened and suntanned at the same time.


Beach Life, Pescara Style

The Lido’s that line the City coastline are one of Pescara’s major attractions, with holidaymakers returning year after year to their favourites, enjoying soft sands and the calm warm sea.

The Lido’s are privately owned, paying rent to the council. Prices for parasol and loungers are set every year by a Professional Trade Association and are available to view at most of the beaches. The recommended prices for 2007, for example, range from 14 euros daily (low season) to include 1 parasol and 2 deckchairs to 1500 euros (for the entire season) for a large Hawaiian palm parasol , complete with beach safe, on the waters edge! Many of these are booked up to a year in advance.
These prices include use of the Lido’s facilities. There is a free public beach without facilities 20 minutes walk away and many people buy parasols etc from the supermarkets and make use of this beach.

The Hotel Bellariva has negotiated a special price for residents who wish to use La Capponcina, expertly run by Paolo and his family, which is situated just across the road from the hotel.

The excellent price of 7 euros a day includes 1 parasol and 2 deck chairs as well as facilities such as hot and cold showers, kid’s playground, volleyball and beach football courts, a picnic garden area and changing facilities. Lifeguards are on duty until mid September and the Capponcina Beach Boys clean the beaches daily and are always on hand to blow up inflatables or fetch an extra lounger.
The food at La Capponcina is a big attraction, with customers from other Lidos arriving for lunch as well. It has a snack bar serving freshly baked flatbreads and pizza all day and a lunchtime self service restaurant which has a magnificent selection of hot and cold seafood, meats, pasta, vegetables, seasonal fruits and salads as well as chilled local wine from the barrel. Check out the Daily Menu by the entrance or ask the affable owner Paolo who is always on hand to offer friendly advice if needed.
There is no need to find a restaurant at lunchtime as the food is so good here! There is also a fully stocked bar serving cold drinks, ice cream, coffee, aperitifs and sorbets.

The weekends are particularly lively with Italian families flocking to the beaches to meet, stroll along the breakwater, sunbathe, play, flirt, eat and have a good time Pescara style!

If you would like to reserve a parasol, the Bellariva will issue a Beach Voucher which you then give to a member of staff at La Capponcina, they will prepare your parasol for you with 2 deckchairs per voucher.
This parasol and the deckchairs are exclusively yours for the duration of your stay. The Lido is locked at night and many families leave the kids beach playthings by their parasols for the following day.