Waterfalls and Sheep

 Mike and I are always ready to go exploring our beautiful province.  So when our friend Monica suggested we go to see a waterfall and a sheep farm, we didn’t have to think twice.  Of course we want to go!

Both are located near a town called Farindola, a town of about 1,200 people, located at the foot of the Gran Sasso d’Italia mountain range.  The elevation is about 530 meters above sea level.  And like many other hill towns, the road to get there is a bit challenging for those of us from the prairie lands of Illinois.

Monica had two friends, Barbara and Gina, from Florida visiting her, so she drove in her cute little red Fiat Panda.  Mike and I picked up friends Valerie and Cecil from Pescara.  We all had high hopes for Google GPS to get us to the right place.  Of course, we would occasionally lose connections, and have to guess where to go next.  But we finally found the trail head.

Monica and her friends had even more trouble than us trying to find their way.  We did connect, however, and other than Barbara being afraid of heights, all was good.

The path to the waterfall, Castello del Vitello d’Oro (Golden Calf Waterfall) began with a very steep stairway down to the stream.  It was a bit of a challenge for us old folks, but definitely well worth it.  You have to see the photos. (Click HERE)  It is a spectacular 28-meter natural waterfall fed by the Tavo River.  The name comes from a popular legend that tells of a golden-colored heifer appearing to some women while they were drawing water. The "mooing" heard near the rock is actually the sound of water rushing beneath the rock.

After taking lots of photos, it was time to find our restaurant, the Altrocontro B&B, also in Farindola.  Again, Google maps was challenged.  And, as is common here, there were very few signs.  We did manage to find it, and what a hidden gem it was!  A charming B&B, and the little restaurant was lovely.  The food was really good too, and they offered wine from a town called Bisenti that you can’t buy anywhere else. The water at the table was mountain water and wonderful. Everything about lunch was delightful!

Our appointment at the sheep farm was at 4:00, and, again, finding it was a challenge.  Maybe I should have called this post “Searching for places in Abruzzo” because we did spend a lot of time on the roads and looking at our phones’ GPS. 

Anyway, the Farindolagri sheep farm was a fun stop.  Owners AnnaLisa and Lorenzo are very nice people and they love their jobs.  We learned how they care for the sheep and chickens and geese.  They were getting ready for a professional sheep shearer from Australia to come the next day and shear the sheep.  They said that he is so efficient that he can do all of them in one day.

AnnaLisa took us to the cheese room and introduced us the various stages of cheese aging.  We got to taste some very very good Pecorino cheese and learn about the different sheep diets and herbs that affect taste.  Of course, Valerie, Monica, and I came home with a nice chunk of cheese.

It was a full day for us, and we loved seeing more of Abruzzo and learning of its history.  We look forward to many more such days this summer.

To see photos, click HERE.