Time to Dust Off My Italian Driving Skills

It was hard saying goodbye yesterday to all our new bicycling (and drinking) friends. But now it's off in our rental car (a Ford Focus small SUV with a peppy engine - this model is NOT sold in the U.S.) along the autostrada from Bari (on the Adriatic coast) to the eastern outskirts of Rome (on the west coast).

This is not a picture of our rental car (on the right) - but we liked the photo op.

The Masseria San Domenico was truly a ***** hotel. It must be where wealthy Italians from the north come to chill out. Swimming pool, tennis, golf, beach club, bicycling, spa, gourmet restaurant, great weather, and lots of quiet.

Now it's time to try out my driving skills on the Italian motorways - can I hit 180 km/hour and not get passed?