Last night we spent a wonderful evening in San Marino and clocked up country number 12 into the bargain. We also technically left the EU for the first time on our trip, although you wouldn't know it: they use the Euro, speak Italian and with the exception of the welcome banner over the road, there is no real sign of an international border..
The city of San Marino is set on the top of a very steep hill and has amazing views over the surrounding countryside. We pushed poor old Jam Jar to the limits driving up the hill to get there but it was worth it. To get to the city centre from where we were staying involved riding 4 consecutive lifts (up about 20 storeys) and then a reasonable tramp uphill as well. The town itself is entirely aimed at tourists and reminds me a bit of Le Mont St Michell in that sense. Like Le Mont however all the tourists leave before dinner and we then had the place to ourselves as the sun went down. It was just beautiful and to round of a lovely day we treated ourselves to pizza and a glass of red wine in the square.
Since I last wrote we have been quite busy people and have visited the towns of Vicenza and Ferrara and also managed a day or two out cycling in the country, through vineyards and olive groves. For all those architects amoungst you Vicenza is the home of Palladio and is packed with buildings designed and constructed by the great man. It makes for a lovely city centre and we had a very enjoyable day wandering the streets. Ferrara is an old walled town of red brick buildings, palaces and collonades. Unfortunately as it is on the venetian plains and the weather still hasn't broken here it has mosquitos of gargantuan proportions that have had all summer to become monstrous. I am now the proud owner of both italian mosquito repellant and cream and £17 the poorer for it! We did however have a nice few days here, helped by the balloon festival going on near by and a fabulous display of historic cars in he medieval town centre. For the Bristolians amoungst you the balloon festival was a bit lame, launches seemed to only have 6 or 7 balloons!
Anyway time to sign off, its past 3 o'clock so time for me to go shopping.
PS -if anyones wondering the batteries seem to be OK, dodgy mains connection not charging properly we think.
2 comments:
Beautiful picture Alice. I'm just catching up on the last month!!!
Lovely to hear of all your experiences, it sounds like you continue to have an amazing time! xxxxx
that 'anonymous' was me by the way!!!
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