It rained most of today. We travelled down from the mountains to the coast at Pescara, then followed the coast north west to Roseto degli Abruzzo where we are stopped tonight.

The Adriatic coast seemed a bit bleak.

I imagine that the place must be very different in summer and probably crawling with sun seeking northern european campervanners - judging by the number of no campervan parking signs. We had quite a debate about exactly where to park. Next to where you see our van in this picture was a sign saying that anyone parking here would be fined up to 600 euros! The locals as usual have absolutely no respect whatsoever for the parking regulations!

Eventually we settled on parking in a small layby on the other side of the road from the sea where we think we are unlikely to be fined. Despite the poor weather the locals have been driving up and down this stretch of road from about 4.00 pm onwards - the same cars coming back and forth time and time again. This ritual seems to take place in every town and village around here and its meaning is obscure to those such as us who come from a different culture.