Aquasanta Hotels

Il Passo: Somebody told me

I had been desperate for a room. Hotels a few kilometres up the road had been closed for the off season. Unfortunately, that's when I tend to travel.
So it was that when I hit the main road again after Arquata del Tronto I noticed a supermarket and, in desperation rather than hunger, I called in and bought the type of things you purchase when you want to ask a question but don't really want anything.
Fortunately the proprietor understood my request (which is more than I can say for me trying to decipher his answer) and the magic words "El Passo" stayed in my memory.
Acquasanta Terme was just 10 kms down the road and, compared to the villages I had passed through in the previous two hours, was a bustling metropolis. Restaurants and hotels were actually open! People were actually on the streets! Civilization beckoned. Luckily I noticed the "Il Passo" sign and worked out that was probably the "El Passo" I was looking for.
When I entered and met the manager I was informed that the supermarket owner up the road was a relation (I should have known).

This however, did not deter me from booking a room in the three star establishment. It was clean with reasonable amenities and I had been invited down for dinner. Seeing as how they had a cook there and I was the only one for dinner it's fair to suggest that I was spoiled for portions. Let's be totally truthful here, I had to leave half of it, so bountiful was the feast.
However, the cook, whose name was Phil, wanted to practise his English on someone and I was the obvious victim. We passed nearly two hours away chatting about all manner of things, including my two favourite topics, Italy and Australia.
Thus sated, both in epicurean delights and conversation, I retired to bed. It had been a lovely finish to a lovely day.