So there we were happily driving (well, as happy as driving can be in Italy) through the Tuscan countryside and entering the small town of Montecatini Terme when the clutch stops working.

Managed to roll to a parking space and that's where we had to stay because nothing is open on a Sunday.

As luck would have it there was a local bar right around the corner selling cheap beer so we buried our heads in the sand and got leathered. Awoke early and started making a plan of action. Justin had a look at the engine and ended up with an eyeful of oil! He can laugh about it now…… then he rode around on his bike looking for garages, while I made tea (very important when hatching a master plan).

When he came back empty handed I noticed that the car hire place across the road, which also had a closed down Ford garage attached, had the gate open. Armed with my phrasebook I went over to shout 'breakdown' in Italian and point vigorously at the van. Luckily it paid off and he called a garage with a tow truck where the guy spoke English. Result!

So the van got towed and we gathered up some belongings and went to look for somewhere to stay. Stopped at a hotel the first night but was too expensive for our meager budget so packed up and set off again the next day. At this point the garage had said it would be at least 3 days before the part he needed would arrive and we were due to meet my mother in Rome in 3 days. Nooooo!!!

Further disheartened, we wandered the streets some more and found the cheapest b and b we could and settled in. It seemed like a nice place until spotted the Mussolini shrine in the hallway! He had the 2010 and 2009 calendar on display, along with some plaque's of quotes. The owner turned out to be a thoroughly nice fascist though and the garage called 2 days later saying the van was ready.

That meant we got to Rome on time to meet my mother and everything turnedout peachy! Oh, except for the bill.......