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Thursday 15th September
Today started out like any other shifting day. We had breakfast, packed up and waited for the taxi to arrive. This happened dead on time and we headed off for the carpark where we had been told, by firstly the chap at the information centre and secondly by the lady that showed us to our apartment. Well when we got to the car park our car wasn't where we had left it!! The taxi driver who could speak no English suddenly threw up his hands and said something to us and guestured to get back in the car and away we went. We arrived at the Police Station and in we went the taxi driver and me. He prattled away to the lovely young carabiniere behind the glass window - The police are getting younger and younger and so lovely in Italy - she could speak a little English and seems our car was towed because it was in the way of some festival that was going on yesterday?? I explained that the chap at the information centre had told us we were able to park in that space free! "Momma Mia" she said, which made me laugh a lot. You will have to pay a fine - drivers licence? So €39 later and that was not easy either as she went to her purse and didn't have the change for a €50 note but the taxi driver rushed out to the car, that was double parked and got his money pouch and changed my €50 so I could pay the fine. She still had to give me €1 change from her purse. I reckon she did well today??
Back we got into the taxi with my bit of paper saying we had paid the fine and away we went, first to one place and then to another place and all of a sudden our driver said "Volvo" and pointed. Sure enough there was our car so in we went the taxi driver and me. I checked that it was our car and went up to the office - paid the €70 towing fee, by this time our driver had gotten Jannie and our baggage out of his car and with payment of €25 plus a tip of €5 he headed off. I asked the young lady how to get to the Autostrada (motorway) which isn't easy when neither of you speak any language the same but all prevailed and with a hand drawn map away we headed.
It wasn't long though and I thought that we had been talking at cross purposes as we headed down country lanes and narrow too. But hey we followed a truck and behold the Autostrada A11 to Pisa. We were on track and only one hour later than we thought that we would be. Having already spent our daily allowance I tried to think of what we could sell to make up the difference!! No it was a very easy trip through to San Remo with very little traffic and the trucks that were on the road had to stay in the right hand lane as there were so many tunnels on this stretch of the trip. The only tricky bit was around Genoa where there are exits and entrances galore but Jannie made it through for us. We have given up completely on Maria and don't even turn her on now.
Off the Autostrada to get to San Remo and we paid our toll - €28.60 - boy this was getting to be an expensive day?? Down the hill and straight along the waterfront looking for our hotel - number 77 Corso Imperitise. On Jannie's side of the road the numbers were in the hundreds and getting bigger. We have found this in Italy and should have looked on my side for numbers as with the U turn we were right outside our place! We checked in and went and uploaded yesterday's blog.
Into our togs and walked the 100metres to the beach. The free beach was rather shallow as there is a stone breakwater along parts of the beach and inside it the sand has built up so that it is not even up to your waist. Great for kids! We both went in and I clambered over the rocks of the breakwater and the water on the other side was so deep and clear. I had a great swim and just around the end of the breakwater I was able to swim into the next pay as you go beach. I got out and walked around the chairs and umbrellas to where Jannie was sunning herself. We didn't stay long and went and had a shower and went for a walk to see about a beer and someplace for dinner. That was a problem as most restaurants don't open for dinner until 7.00 or 7.30pm. But we found a place and I had fish (first time since I don't know when) Jannie had schnitzel and enjoyed it. We shared some chardonnay and didn't enjoy it! We walked back to the hotel along the promenade and enjoyed the lights and the sea.
- comments
Stu Wow, San Remo looks awesome. I'd love to go there one day and lie of the beach in the sun with a cold beer. Sorry we missed your calls over the weekend. We were very busy and hardly at home. I was busy winning the world famous Tour de Taieri (CNN) and then we went to the England V Georgia world cup game last night. The World cup games at the new stadium have been awesome. The atmosphere electric, very unlike All Black games that I've been to in the past, but maybe thats the indoor part that's playing a part. b***** about your car. They could've let you off... b*****s. Anyway, must go, talk soon. Love Stu P.S. Aussie lost to Ireland. Wooo hooo.
Stu This blog system is just too PC. it *****'ed out the word bugg3r. We can say b***** in NZ can't we. Gggrrrr, B*gger, it did it again!