Walking from our door, down the stone pathway, to the main road/basketball court/beach is 300 paces. And along that pathway we pass olive, lemon and lime trees, a grape vine, a blackberry bush, and multiple flowering bushes and trees. There are also eleven grates (we suspect to collect rain water run off) that the kids jump over or walk around.

As we reach the end of the path, we come upon an alimentari (small market with the best peaches) and a store selling eyewear which seems to be open 24/7.

Today Paul, D and I arrived at the beach at 10am, and to our delight for the first time we could walk on the sand without burning our feet. It was only in the upper 80s.

In the water we’ve seen several types of fish, several about six inches long with brown stripes. We’ve seen little white crabs and the fish come right up to you if you stand still. No rocks, no shells, and the sand is so soft. The only thing I’ve seen floating in the water that doesn’t belong there is a tiny fig.

There are a few beach vendors but it doesn’t feel intrusive. Two guys wheeling huge carts up and down the beach selling floaties, but it’s not a hot commodity as the water is very salty (so salty that it stings the eyes) and there are no waves, so it’s easy to float.

A few times a day we see people wheeling huge carts selling dresses, cover ups, flip flops and crocs. Another guy selling coco fresco (cold coconut slices), one selling granita, and there’s another vendor that we’ve been unable to determine what he’s saying or selling

The beach club has three tiers of dining, from what we can tell: take away, sit down in the covered pavilion at beach level, and seated on the upper terrace. Each with different menus.

The beach level sells espresso and other drinks at the stand up bar, and they have a “crema cafe” machine which we remember from our last trip. It’s like slightly melted coffee ice cream which is cool and refreshing.

Each day we’ve seen the same two couples, probably in their late 70s, playing cards. They don’t recline on the standard loungers that come with the umbrellas. Instead the beach club provided them with upright chairs and they use the lounger as their card table.

For lunch, D and I went to the alimentari with the good peaches and had sandwiches made to order: mortadella without pistachios, a cheese we’d never heard of before but just pointed too, and I grabbed a tomato from their display. 5 euro for two fresh sandwiches – yum!

Miss M showed up at the beach at 1:30pm.

I went back to the AirBnB at 3pm to start my workday and D followed shortly thereafter since he’s not feeling great. He seems to have come down with the same head cold that Paul had earlier in the week.

In the late afternoon, Paul went on a walk while I worked, D slept, and Miss M did whatever she does.

For dinner, Paul and I went to Cucino Io (which translates to I Cook.) It’s right on the water with beautiful views facing south towards the island of Zannone and the town of Terracina in the distance. We started with polpetti di alici (anchovie meatballs in red sauce), and shared a mezzo pacchero con pesce spada (large tube shaped pasta with swordfish) and frittura di calamari (fried calamari that was very light and tender.)

This restaurant was the first meal where we’ve seen people drink espresso after the meal. Throughout Italy we’ve seen meals end with a salad. Or a dessert. But no coffee until today.

Tonight’s meal was also a limited, seafood based menu via chalkboard at the entrance. The waitstaff could verbally recite the options when you order, but we opted to take a pic of the menu at the entrance to think through translations and how to order in Italian.

At 10:15, Paul picked up a margarita pizza for Miss M and D (in case he wakes up) and I sat on the stairs of the piazza to watch “Spectacolo Zeta Circus,” a pretty bad street performer. Don’t know where 100 people appeared from but all of the sudden there were easily 30 kids under the age of ten watching. We headed back to the AirBnB and likely called it a night before most of the preschoolers in town.