The Crow Flies - Where?

Today was going to be an easy pootle up the coast road, SS16, maybe 180 miles. However, it was incredibly slow going - lots of traffic, traffic lights and random old gits in Fiat Pandas, backing into the road or driving into it then not actually speeding up. My satnav suggested a route some 35 minutes faster, which was interesting because we were already on a 17.00 finish with no stops or delays. So we thought we might try it. In fact we stopped for lunch at a services just after the critical turn to Foligno - it had taken more than 3 hours to go 60 miles!! 

So onto the highway, no tolls - interesting !! Basically, we were heading inland, through the mountains, and ended up on SS77var, which is a brand new road that is pretty much nothing but a sectional tunnel with short stretches of open road between the sections. For miles!! Popping out into the sun, we could see the old wiggly SS77 - maybe next time we'll plan better and take that! Beautiful hills and mountains, and we burst through into classic Umbria. The unexpected bonus was passing Assisti, with the Basilica distinctively extending from the hilltop. 

So we made it in 7 hours, maybe 250 miles. Ridiculous! And my head is still buzzing despite earplugs. Was it quicker? Who knows, but at least we were moving along.

Now to decide if it's hotel resto or town resto - last night's hotel meal was pretty average, so some debate to be had here.

We're in the Grand Hotel Mattei, which is lovely but a bit soulless, as wel as having rooms which are too far off the ground for Jim's taste.