The weather forecast said that today there would not be a cloud in the sky and it was right. Since Sarah had spent a lot of yesterday on laundry and other chores, we decided to stay on this very nice campsite for another day, this time a day of relaxation.

Team Basil’s summer has begun

We walked into the local town to do some shopping. This area is know for it’s Ciro wine and so I bought a couple of bottles. I also spent an educational 10 minutes in the local fishmonger’s. I bought some Sea Bass, but the fishmonger had a chart on the wall detailing the fish of the Mediterranean, each labelled with their Italian and English names. So I was able to point to several of the fish he was selling and ask him to show me them on his chart, so I now know a few more of the fish on sale around here and presumably in Greece. I need to look up some recipes for the ones we don’t commonly get in Britain. I don’t think I’ll get Sarah eating octopus though, whatever the recipe!

We walked past the usual groups of old men. Some in exactly the same position as we left them yesterday afternoon. One of Sarah’s friends has suggested the reason for all the men hanging about is that their wives have kicked them out for the day! I like this explanation and it will bring a smile to my face for the next few months as I see groups of old men hanging about across Southern Europe – the reason they are there is that they’re not allowed home!

We are currently in the “toe” of Italy, which is called Calabria. This has been a particularly lawless region of Italy. There is an organised crime group called the ‘Ndrangheta. They are less well known than their Sicilian counterparts the Mafia, but equally feared. The mountainous heartland of Calabria has been the perfect place, in the not too distant past, to hide kidnapped businessmen and politicians for ransom. It is reckoned that the ‘Ndrangheta account for about 3% of the whole of Italy’s GDP!

The Lonely Planet says that many of the apparently uncompleted buildings in Calabria have, in fact, got fully functioning apartments inside, but because it appears unfinished they pay no property tax. There are many many half finished houses and apartment blocks in this part of Italy and I suspect most of them are due to the financial crisis in Italy and worldwide, but it makes for a good game for Sarah and I to peruse shells of buildings and speculate whether there is a luxury flat lurking behind the dodgy unfinished brickwork.

Is there a luxury flat hidden here?

So today we have spent the rest of the day sitting in the sun. Suncream has been required for the first time. I have shorts back on and I think they may stay on this time, whatever the locals think.

I have a little foible when I am back home of declaring to all and sundry that summer has officially begun when I see the first man with a fat belly wandering down the local high street without a shirt on. Newcastle and Sunderland football supporters, shirtless in January don’t count, it has to be a local.

Today a German man, with a very fat stomach, has been wandering around the campsite in shorts and without a shirt. I am declaring the start of summer for team Basil.