Day 20 - The Olive Oil Journey

Some people have 0 regrets in life. I don't.

My biggest regret of this trip is bringing an American carry-on. Even after studying abroad and knowing the specs of European carry-ons, I felt the urge to use the American carry-on. and bring an extra coupe going out shirts.

Those checked bag fees on flights add up.

Day 20

Cartoceto, Italy | November 13th, 2022

1:30am, me (non-cigarette smoker) and 30 other 24 year old cigarette smokers are chilling on the balcony - no picture…but so many people in Europe use these Electronic Vape Cigarettes

8:00 Wakeup / Cleanup

8:30am Breakfast which was just pastries

8:45am I wait outside (note I have no phone number).

9am I ask hostel guy to give this guy a call

9:10am I'm told 10 minutes. I also heard this guy saying something about me in Italian and I wanted it recorded. I conduct a 3 minute interview of what he thinks of me in Italian. I still haven't yet translated - will eventually post to TikTok ha.

9:20am Gregorio arrives and I have him do the same interview - no idea what he said.

9:30am I arrive in Cartoceto , small Italian town on the other side of the hill that I had a semi-view of from Lucrezia. Today was the annual harvest festival - brought in all the locals and a variety of Italians from different regions. Antonella was my tour guide / translator / connector of the day and helped me out a ton. Somehow someway she knew every single person in that town

11am I take a couple hours to walk, grab some local food, take pictures, talk to locals, etc.

1pm Lunch - which of course lasts an hour and a half. Very tasty Gnocchi and red wine. Others were convinced I was buzzed off my many cups, I thought I was perfectly fine - they were probably right…

2:30 another walk around town and a view of the Shakespearean theatre that takes place in an ancient Olive Mill (this town btw has been producing olive oil for centuries)

3pm: I hang out for another hour in town

4pm: Say my goodbyes and get a ride from Gregorio (again!) to the bus stop

Bus to train to 4 hour train to Bari in Puglia.

10pm I walk to my hotel for the next 4 days

10:20pm My parents are going to freak out when reading this…

My computer slipped out of a sidepocket and shattered. Odds it lasts until the end of the trip are at 75% at the moment.

10:30pm I do an Instagram live as a punishment for the computer cracking. I actually enjoyed the live and will do again soon.

11:30pm I grab a terrible dinner where they served extra light olive oil. I mean in Puglia how is that even possible? I guess it is...

Midnight - I go to sleep.

1 Olive Oil Takeaway

I never thought I'd be saying this, after surprisingly tasting a some rancid oils around small towns in Italy and Spain, I have gained some respect for big supermarket olive oil brands. Consistent flavor that lasts. Of course oil is not supposed to be this way, but they aren't as bad as the plain defective oils I have tasted.

-Jack

Thank you for reading and welcome to the blog! I'm traveling through Europe on a quest to find great Olive Oil.