When In Rome, Camp as the Romans Do

Some of my fondest childhood memories involve going camping in New Hampshire’s white mountains with my parents, brothers and cousins. For a week we would rough it in the wilderness, sleeping on the floor packed into tiny tents, listening for bears, hiding our food in coolers, eating canned beans and then having farting contests (prizes for the most,  the loudest, the longest, and the strongest-in our family everyone’s a winner!), and so on.

Since I “grew up” and moved to Rome, my camping days had become a distant memory. When some friends invited us to join them at their beachside campsite for a day last weekend, I was curious to learn what camping in Italy might be like and so accepted happily. Given the 100+ temperatures in Rome, a day at the beach seemed like just what the doctor ordered.

Our destination was a tiny fraction of the city of Terracina, a popular Italian beach along the Tyrrhenian Sea and not far from the beaches of Sperlonga and Saubaudia. When we got inside the campground, I couldn’t believe my eyes. I am not exaggerating when I say that these campgrounds are better equipped than many Rome hotels! Each lot has room for a trailor, screened in tent, outdoor dining area, fully equipped and enclosed kitchen, and direct access to the beach.

As I looked around I was stunned to see people with flat screen televisions with dvd players and even cable TV, laptop computers, curling irons, crock pots, you name it they have it. Our friends even rigged up a washing machine at their campsite. The kitchen was one that I would be proud to have in my home.

Hours later after a bit of sun and a swim, while enjoying dinner with our friends it became obvious why such a kitchen would be needed in a place like this. While as children in the U.S. we would eat hot dogs, hamburgers, and a vast array of canned delicacies made by Chef Boyardee, Italians do not cut corners when it comes to their food. This was truly an all Italian meal. On the menu were bruschette with garlic, olive oil, and grilled sausage, a dish of spaghetti with garlic, olive oil, and peperoncino, steaks on the grill, mozzarella di Bufala, local marinated green olives, bread, salad, and delicious ripe fruit for dessert. Ah, and don’t forget the espresso!

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