New Delhi

In the last month there have been two visits to the Blog from New Delhi in India. As well as our first visitor from Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. I suppose that in economic terms there is a significant contrast between these two countries. Vast tracts of the Indian Sub Continent would be relatively poor compared to those that live, work and play in the United Arab Emirates. But not as poor as those who are suffering in Niger, Chad, West Africa and Pakistan.

Sharjah is the third largest Emirate of the United Arab Emirates, with tourism, business, and investment all booming. The University offers courses in (amongst other subjects) Health Science, Sharia (Islamic Law), Business, Management, and Arts. The Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization boasts an array of outstanding artifacts in its collection. Like Sharjah, New Delhi also has an airport, and thriving tourism. I was recently speaking to someone that spent a month on holiday in India and raved about the experience. The unusual bit being that he was not a young 'back packer'. He is retired and spent the month in India with his wife. They thought that the food and culture were wonderful and that the holiday and the costs in India were all well priced.

That's the joy of being in a society that can enjoy a comfortable lifestyle. Where people can afford to travel throughout the world. We don't depend on the success of crops for survival. And all too often we have disposable income that extends beyond our basic needs. So please consider this when you make that all important donation to the aid relief for Niger, Chad and West Africa.

Niger the double catastrophe

The work in progress car drawing is coming along nicely. My next task is to pop into Cambrian Hyundai and photograph the grille of an i30 so that I can draw the detail in pen and ink. But there's no rush to take that photograph as I am still working on drawing the rear wheel. I have also started a pen and ink and 'coloursoft' crayon drawing of Ludwig Stautner. So with the oil painting and the Superman artwork on the go, there are four pieces of artwork in various stages of completion.

All of this drawing and painting is not so much a 'new me' as an 'old me' that has been resurrected. I almost began an art course at College when I was in my second year as a firefighter, and I have sold or gifted various pieces of artwork throughout my adult life. Nevertheless it will take a superhuman effort on my part to complete all four of my current ongoing pieces of art, in their various mediums to a standard that I am satisfied with. But that effort will pale into insignificance compared to the Superhuman effort that is required by the various Aid Agencies to stop thousands starving to death in Niger.

Niger on the West Coast of Africa; faced a drought earlier this year that led to failing crops, and any chance of survival was dashed with the arrival of floods. Failing crops lead to higher prices for staple foods and puts simple but basic nutrition out of the reach of the average person. While events in Pakistan dominate world headlines, and quite rightly so due to the sheer scale of that disaster, the little known events in Niger are leading to people starving to death. An Oxfam representative spoke well on the UK News this morning, but other organisations are also involved in the relief work. The UNICEF web site explains the tragedy that is occurring in Niger extremely well. The Save the Children Niger appeal web page breaks down your potential donation into its relevance in West Africa. The Oxfam web pages explain that the catastrophe is effecting Niger, Chad and West Africa. Oxfam also explain about the shortage of water as well as the lack of basic nutrition.

I won't be able to sit down to enjoy my Sunday Lunch today without making a charitable donation to one of the Leading Relief Agencies. I know that citizens of the UK have made the greatest charitable contributions worldwide to the disaster occurring in Pakistan. But we all need to dig a bit deeper and make a contribution, however small, to assist those that are in great need in Niger, Chad and West Africa. It is the least that we can do, as we ponder the simple fact that we are fortunate that we and our families do not have the same need at this moment in time. So wherever you are in the world and whenever you read this Blog, (even in the years ahead) dip into your pocket and make a donation.

If you can't donate online, then pop into your local Oxfam (or other relevant Relief organisation) shop and place a few pennies into their collection tin.

It is better to make a contribution towards something that really matters and for something that you can make a real difference to, than to part with your money to one of the many false charitable collections that all too frequently seem to crop up at home. You know, the ones where someone wants to travel somewhere or the other and expects you to pay for their journey and subsistence. Or so and so wants to study at College, but Mummy and Daddy can't afford it. No, please forget the false 'charities' and instead concentrate your charitable donations for 2010 where it really matters:

To save life, to support the quality of life, or to invest in research that could save life. All other charities would appear to be insignificant.

Web links
(type or copy and paste into your browser)
www.savethechildren.org.uk/niger
www.UNICEF.org.uk/Donate_Niger
www.Oxfam.org.uk/Niger
www.bhf.org.uk
www.macmillan.org.uk
www.cancerresearchuk.org
And others that save life or research to save life

Work in Progress

Without any wheels, I am reduced to working out the Public Transport Timetable and the daily battle between the two Service providers from our village (that's a long story and readers are directed towards the Cambrian News for more information). If I get lucky, then I hitch a lift from the village into the town with one of the girls or the wife. Maybe buying them all a car wasn't such a bad idea after all! Although when I do make it to town; I tend to mooch around for a bit longer than usual. It's always a stealth visit, as I like to spend time with friends, but you have to watch out for those really horrible people that you sometimes notice walking past, when you are near the bank. But that's the joys of adulthood, you don't have to spend time with the sh*ts of this world, but you can spend many a good hour with those that you like.

I done that today, and again yesterday with good friends who run the ART SHOP on Pier Street in Aberystwyth. They are lovely, lovely people and always have the time of day. Costa is another favourite haunt. Ed and the gang are also lovely people and Costa is a good place to keep up the mental exercise reading one of my current three books. Now that I no longer have to work, it is great to once again dabble in art. My latest creations are ink and watercolour, and oil based. Although I am going to try some oil pastels and pencil pieces as well.

While I wait for the Volvo S60 D5 SE, AKA 'The Beast' to be brought back to Wales from Firenze in Italy; maybe it is a good time to think of my ideal car. This drawing is of a Hyundai i30 that I spotted outside Cambrian Hyundai in Aberystwyth on their Open Day. I quickly took a few photographs on the Xperia X10 from different angles ready to create some artwork. I balanced these shots with more detail taken from other images that I found on-line. This particular piece is work in progress. It has already gone through the pencil drawing stage and I was really pleased with that result. I used a 2B pencil as I could easily remove the pencil strokes with a Daler Rowney Mystic Eraser. This is a rubber compound based product and not a harder plasticise rubber that tends to smudge the lead onto the paper. I am using pulp water colour paper. It looks good, but in reality it is relatively poor quality for the task. The main reason being that the Rotring Isograph 0.25mm pen skips as the paper has ridges and a sizing agent. Although the thicker 0.35mm nib works well.

The pencil drawing could have been worked into a finished piece with shadow and tone added. But I want a pen and ink drawing complete with a watercolour wash and water colour detail by applying several coats of colour. So this pen and ink drawing is starting to look good, but this is just work in progress. I need a few more days of adding detail and then have to take the brave step of applying the water colour. The upside being; that the longer 'the Beast' is away, the better are my chances of honing my artistic skill.

A very long Journey

'The Beast' should start out on a very long journey alone later this week; as the lovely people at the European Breakdown Recovery service have decided to ship her home rather than fly me back to Italy, for me to trundle half way across Europe again. A big thank you to everyone that I have spoken to over the last few weeks. The transportation saves me a fair bit of money and a lot of inconvenience. But I suppose that there is the downside of not seeing the stunning Alpine and Swiss scenery and the joys of almost empty roads across most of Europe.

It will be nice to see the Volvo S60 D5 SE when she arrives from the Continent sometime over the next four weeks. I shall be certain to wash her off, polish her up and buy one or two new gifts from the Volvo range for us to enjoy on our next trip in the car. I shall also take a photograph and add it to the Blog. Unless of course, I do come across the images of the Volvo, that I have been looking for over the last few days. Otherwise it will be a case of finding the camera and tripod and taking a short drive up into the lovely Welsh mountains near to our home in order to get some good pics of 'the Beast'.

Meanwhile I shall continue to car share and mooch around Aberystwyth whiling away the days.

Paid

I have paid for the car repair. A tidy four figure sum sent to Italy and an extra £20 for the Bank Transfer. It took a while to sort out the IBAN, but it's all done and we now wait to find out what happens next

Ms Ashtiani

The case of Ms Ashtiani in the Islamic Republic of Iran is still ongoing. The Australian newspaper ran an excellent impartial article on the topic today. Pressure on the Iranian authorities to re-consider their position has increased rather than decreased. That is a sign of World view, and how strongly people feel about Ms Ashtiani's situation.

At a time when Iran could make friends and build bridges, for some strange reason the authorities won't budge. According to The Australian they have even declined the offer from Brazil to grant Ms Ashtiani asylum. Indeed, the paper explains that the case of Ms Ashtiani in the Islamic Republic of Iran has become a Big Issue for the forthcoming October Brazilian elections.

All I can say is; well done to the Boys from Brazil. And the girls of course. Cometh the time, cometh the man. Who would have guessed that it would be from Brazil? You see, we never know do we? Just when we think that we understand everything, something else comes along and surprises us.

Cameroon

Of course I know who it is from the Cameroon who has visited the Blog pages from the Continent of Africa recently.

It is undoubtedly a lovely lady whom I met in South Wales a few weeks back before we travelled to Italy. She is part of a very nice family. Lovely people who are open and friendly and like those that we met on holiday, they also represent their nation well. With that in mind, you can imagine that I was saddened this morning to hear of their bad news.

I hope that they can overcome what has happened and move forward as a family by 'keeping hope alive'. It is so sad that the worst things tend to happen to the nicest people. It is as if God is always challenging our faith. For me it is a paradigm; that the bad in this world suffer the least. And that those who deserve the best, face challenge after challenge. My thoughts are with you all.

Croeso

'Croeso' is Welsh for 'Welcome'. So 'Croeso mawr i bawb' (a big welcome to everyone) with Google analytics showing readers from an additional four countries (in no particular order) - Finland, Turkey, Cameroon, and France visiting the Blog. Along with the increased interest from across the Pond. A reader from Vermont has added that area to the list of 11 areas of the United States of America from which Blog readers have accessed this Blog.

I have no idea what has caused the increased interest from the United States of America and from many countries spread across different Continents of the World, but I welcome you one and all.

I would like to think that it is the quality of my writing. Your interest in Africa. The story of our journey from Wales across France, through Germany and Switzerland and down into Italy before our S60 D5 SE gave up the Ghost in Firenze. Maybe it is my human rights ramblings, or truth be known, you have simply stumbled across the Blog and can't wait to leave and find the correct page. But whatever the reason; 'Croeso mawr i bawb'.

The Negotiation

The really good news is that my car is repaired. The bad news is that the car is in Italy and we are back in Wales. I suppose the other bad news is the extortionate price of the repair. But I suppose that when you are over the barrel, then you simply have to grin and bare it.

The image above is a stock photo of a Volvo S60 D5 that I found on some CD's that I have. I don't know if it an SE like mine, but it looks 'Special' so it probably is the Special Edition (SE) model. I was looking for the photograph of our Volvo taken high up in the mountains in Italy when we toured the lovely Italian countryside in 2007. Or the shot of 'the Beast' parked up in the Welsh mountains a few years back as well. Both images are pretty good, but to my disappointment, I could not find neither.

I am now in negotiation with the lovely people who provide the European Breakdown Cover. I will let everyone know how I get on as the negotiation develops.

Vrooom, vroom

I have been on the Internet to find out how much my Volvo S60 D5 Special Edition is worth. Absence certainly makes the heart grow fonder, and I'm now missing 'the Beast' with a passion. She must be very lonely in that isolated garage on the outskirts of Florence. A postcard would be nice, or at least a telephone call home.

Maybe the garage staff will read this and take a photograph to send me by email? Well, maybe they would if their English was good enough to read this Blog. Mind you, I suspect that their English is better than my Italian. 'The Beast' is going to have a good clean and polish when she eventually returns home. I shall even treat her to a hoover and have that Tom-tom Satellite Navigation System wired in properly.

At Lloyds Motors in Aberaeron on the Welsh coast, I know that she would be thoroughly cleaned before I take possession. I wonder if the Volvo Dealership in Firenze will shape up and meet the same exacting standards of Customer Care that I enjoy in Wales? The staff at Lloyd Motors even thoroughly clean the Alloy Wheels. Meanwhile I am reduced to cadging a lift from the family and dossing down for a few hours in town. It's not too bad, as summer is here. It's not as hot as Firenze or Accra; but it was hot enough today for me to seek shade beneath a tree while I passed some time sat on a bench watching the world go by.

USA

Google Analytics identifies the visitors to the Blog from the United States of America as being from the following locations:

Illinois
Pennsylvania
District of Columbia
New York
California
Nevada
Georgia
Virginia
Ohio
Arizona

Google identifies the visits from Illinois coming from 5 separate cities, and from 3 cities in Pennsylvania. Of course the value may be greater if I could analyse those that choose to use Google Reader instead of accessing the Blog WebPages through its main Website.

Joys of Florence

Whatever the joys of being on holiday in Florence, I must warn travellers that I suffered some 16 nasty bites on my legs. I'm a shorts and trainers or sandals sort of guy. And I can't put the bites down to any particular venue or time of day. The first one on my right leg just above my ankle happened on day one in Firenze at about 4pm, whereas the last ones were late at night inside a restaurant. I am using Anthisan 25g Cream three times a day to sooth the pain and to reduce the redness, while keeping an eye on the bites in case they become infected and need antibiotics to treat them. I only started applying the cream when I returned to the UK, as a lot of the bites had not come to a head until we were travelling back.

Hello from across the Pond

Hi to everyone from the United States of America. I have had an astonishing number of hits from many parts of the United States and a big welcome (Croeso) to each and every one of you.

Paris to Cardiff and on home

I laughed when I saw our aeroplane from Charles De Gaulle to Cardiff International Airport in Wales. No offence to the carrier or anyone who booked the craft. We are very grateful, it's just that I have never flown on one before yesterday, that had propellers. OK, you can call them turbo-props, but to me they are simply propellers. And blinking noisy ones at that, with my bad ear and being sat close to the wing.

Now we aren't your typical sized people. Super-size would be a more fitting term. Boy oh boy it was a tight squeeze with Mrs. B and me sat side by side next to the part of the fuselage that impinges into the aircraft to aid where they bolt the wings on. No don't get me wrong, I would rather have a tight squeeze in the narrow part, than have the wings fall off. But the next time that I break down in Europe, I'm going to ask the lovely people at IMA to book me a better seat. One away from the fuselage intrusions and well away from the propellers.

It was great leaving the airport and finding a nice chap with a placard 'Mr Bennett'. The lovely man was from Premier Taxis in Cardiff. Now I didn't book him; the lovely people at IMA did. I'm a fatalist, and IMA Milan had managed to book us the only Taxi Company that I rate so much that I have their number in my telephone and always use when I am in our Capital City. Brilliant, well done IMA you came good again.

Firenze to Paris

I think that the American group said that they were from North Carolina. Of course it may be anyone of the 50 States, as yesterday was quite stressful. They were a great family, and enter into dialogue and banter with ease. This is the aeroplane that we shared with them from Florence to Charles De Gaulle airport in France. A lovely little machine, and the first aeroplane that I have ever been on where the wings are bolted on above the aircraft.

It was also a first for Pauline, as she has never flown before. Fair play to her, she did not display any outwards signs of nervousness. Pauline simply settled down for a good read of the English language novel that I was able to pick up in an Italian bookshop while we were away.

More people

...and of course there were the lovely German couple in Merzig, the hotelier and the staff in the bakery that remembered us from 2007. There was the really nice Libyan gentleman and his lovely Indian wife that we met in Firenze when we took a long bus ride on the number 14 around the city. Our friends from Wales who telephoned to check we were OK, and so on. In many ways this trip will be remembered more for the lovely people that we met than the problems with the car. We met a lovely American family in Florence Airport who were travelling to Geneva via Paris. What a pleasant family they were. And then there was the lovely chap on the FlyBE desk in Paris and the ladies in the Airfrance baggage office. One of whom came outside to show us the way to the free bus shuttle. There was the Canadians at Vimy Ridge in France, and all of those that I mentioned in an earlier post. There was the African lady and her baby smiling away on the Paris Charles De Gaulle CDGVAL (or the little train).

I think Pauline summed it up the best when she asked, "why is there so much war, with so many lovely people around?". In no particular order from our holiday there were; German, Welsh, Armenian, Brazilian, Libyan, English, Italian, Indian, American, French, and Canadian

Bye, bye Firenze

The European Breakdown company have decided to fly us home so we should depart from Firenze airport sometime tomorrow afternoon and head for Paris to make a connection to Cardiff later in the day. Martin’s Moneysupermarket directed us towards the company and to be quite honest they have been brilliant. Yes, there have been a few niggles, but we have to consider these minor things in the context of 1200 miles, an intermediary, and a language barrier.

All in all I’m chuffed, and well done to those that suggested that we use Martin’s Moneysupermarket. Five nights in a hotel, a breakdown recovery vehicle, three flights and three long distance taxi rides don’t come cheap. I say three, because I have to come back to Italy in a few weeks to pay for the repairs and to collect the car and then drive it back to Wales.

European touring important points:
Check out Martins Moneysupermarket.com for great European cover
You need European Recovery and would be a fool to travel without it

Today’s important points were:
You pay the labour and parts for any car repairs

Armenian

For us Europe has shrunk considerably on this trip. We have made friends with the lovely Italian staff at Hotel Residence Grifone. We have been made very welcome in several restaurants, at least two of which the staff went that extra yard above and beyond the call of duty. We met the lovely couple from Birmingham and on the same day Britain’s number 1 ladies Tennis player Virginia Wade gave us the time of day. We met the people who were heading for the Cruise Ship, and the group on the train. Amongst these lovely people there were the Chinese group and the two from Brazil.

Tonight we chatted to the lovely Nono Aznavur and her lovely husband who are Armenian’s from Russia. Lovely people who like the Brazilian’s, Chinese, and Italian’s that we have met, are all a credit to their country. We had a nice evening and some fond memories of a holiday that slipped a bit off schedule. Hey ho, what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger. Although the adventure is not yet over as I have a significant journey to make back to Italy in the weeks ahead and then a long trundle in ‘the Beast’ back to Wales. That will take four or five days of driving and a day of taxi and flights to reach Firenze.

European touring important points:
English is widely spoken

Today’s important points were:
It can be seriously hot in Italy in August

Our broken car

Our Volvo S60 D5 back in Germany when it was working on our way to Italy. It's now in a garage somewhere in the commercial area in Florence and we are none the wiser as to the diagnostics or potential outcome some five days after we found it broken as we were due to depart from Hotel Residence Grifone in Firenze.

Holiday thoughts

Paradigms and other observations on our 2010 holiday in Italy:





We have walked miles and eaten two main meals a day, but I have put on weight!

Why is it every time we try and catch a bus, it is just pulling away or has just left?

You can buy a bottle of water for 50 Cents but it costs 60 Cents to use the toilet!

Unless you are Pauline, then it costs 1 Euro

The price is not the price, that’s just the entrapment

The real price is +10% and +1 Euro 30 to 1 Euro 50 each

The Railway Station vending machines are cheaper than the street traders

Everybody wants your coin, so it was nice to find in shop in Pisa called ‘Coin’

If you are told that a walk will take 20 minutes, then it always takes 40

When they say the train is 5 Euro 80, they mean 5 Euro 80 each person, each way

If you ask the price of the Euro-Star to Rome, you will be told it is 44 Euro

That is 44 Euro each person each way = 176 Euro

If the owner likes you, then they bring out the fire water at the end

If you are mugged, pretend that you don’t understand English or Italian

The Italians also use quad bikes in the City

To avoid looking like a tourist, you have to slim down and spend a lot of money on clothes and shoes

Many people dip cakes and croissants in coffee

Breakfast for some is a plate of cakes and a shot of espresso

We don’t know if the metal window roller shutters are to keep out the sun or the burglars or both

Whatever the stated temperature, add on quite a few degrees for the sun bounce and absorption on concrete and brick surfaces, gosh it’s hot!

Lost in Translation

It has been a lovely day in Firenze. Scorching hot with the locals calling it cool and letting us know that tomorrow it gets hot. The question is; how much more water can this Welsh man possibly drink?

We stumbled across the outdoor pool as we walked along the other side of the river. The well honed Italian men with their small Speedo costumes were matched by the quality of the women. The pool was divided neatly into lanes, and there were smart sitting and lounging areas either end. I am often referred to as ‘Americano’ in Italy. It is due to my girth and the bright colours of my t-shirts. Especially the surfing ones, little do they know that the only surfing that I do is on the World Wide Web.

Anyway, we were at the pool and Pauline was laughing at the imagery of me jumping in. She said that I couldn’t dive, and I agreed. Although there were diving boards positioned for all of the lanes at one end of the smart pool. Nah, I retorted “I shalla belly flopper” in my best Italian accent.

“Gosh” Pauline replied, “I can imagine what they will think when they see you in your Speedo’s”. “Yes, I shall impress the women” because I knew that “they shall think, ah ha, rich fat Americano. He won’t fit on the scooter so it will be mine every day, and he shan’t speak Italiano, so he won’t know what I’m a saying”. Pauline laughed as I continued, “then the lady will meet her friends a few months later for coffee, and say, oh my gosh, he has losta weighter, he rides the scooter all the time, he’s at it all of the timer and he now speaks perfect Italiano. What am I a doer, it’s now a babino’s a coooking every day?”

Unfortunately it was not to be, the pool was not the Public one that I was looking for. No, this was the private swimming club for the rich Italian’s who pay annual fees like in a golf club. I pay an annual fee for using the swimming pool back in Wales, but it is indoors and does not have beautiful Italian women and diving boards either end.

We stumbled on to the Old Bridge with its buildings across the span, and moved off into the shopping area. We spotted the quality shop, but the quality was too good for our purse. We stalled a few shops away, and it was then that I decided to compare prices and went back to the first shop. Like many upmarket shops there were no prices on display. So we cautiously stepped into the air conditioned interior. The girl was lovely; she explained the quality of the product, the exclusivity of their range. We were hooked and left with two items, one each for our younger two daughters. We carried the items with pride in the lovely shopping bags that had been provided to hold the goods.

We stopped for coffee, well coffee a pastry for me, and an ice cream for Pauline. For once the price was the price. Was our change in fortune due to us moving away from the tourist quarter? We enjoyed the break and then wandered over to look at the magnificent building. The sun beat down upon us, and we sought shade wherever we could. There was only one thing that we could do; we would have to have an ice cream. The other night it was 8 Euro each, so the one at 1 Euro 50 cents looked promising. Mine was two flavours of sorbet, whereas Pauline had two ice-cream flavours. Again we stopped in the shade and lent against a wall.

We eventually moved off to visit Chiesa di Santo Spirito. Yet another magnificent church hosting 15C and 16C art. I have learnt more about the history of art in this extended stay in Florence than I did thirty plus years ago when studying art at ‘A’ level and again in College while I was a fireman. To me, one piece painted around 1600 was simply astonishing. The vibrant colours and the folds of the clothing stood out compared to all other works in a glorious church. I was also impressed by the way that those women who had bare shoulders, had to pay to wear a red smock while they toured the church. All too often tourists forget that they are treading on holy ground. These are not tourist attractions, but places of worship. Pauline and I enjoy the artwork but we are mindful of the surroundings and take time to sit and to reflect on that which matters.

We moved on out of the protective shade and cool of the Santo Spirito and headed into the city. We passed shops that we could not afford to go into, the kind where if you have to ask the price, then you should not be stood inside. Our luck changed today and a traffic jam stopped our bus from leaving before we arrived at out bus stop. A prompt journey on a crowded bus delivered into the arms of Hotel Residence Grifone.

Some water and a light bite set us up for the afternoon. For the first time this holiday I had a siesta. It was well received and was followed by two paragraphs of my book before we ventured out for dinner.

I am sure that it is lost in translation, but we eat at ‘La Forca’. A lovely restaurant at Piazza Alberti in Firenze. We sat outside for the second time, and this time I went with the recommended pasta and fish followed by a selection of cheeses and washed down with 0.5 litre of red wine. Glorious food cooked and served by lovely people. We knew that we had arrived, as we were greeted with bread and smiles and concluded with a glass of local lemon fire water.

The lovely Italian lad who spoke prefect English explained that this was a friendship thing. Yes, we knew that we were amongst friends, as we were no longer ‘trapped in Firenze’, these people were practically our family.

Pisa

The train from Firenze to Pisa took about an hour. It was a lovely journey through some stunning countryside. The walk from the station to the leaning Bell Tower is straight forward and shaded in part. There is a map of the town outside of the station to help travellers, but in essence, you head straight, cross the river and turn left when you reach the old town walls.

The shock to me was the brain freeze of the Italian 'Slushi Puppi'. Wow, it hit me four times. But I had to have some liquid and it had to be cold as the weather was so hot. I felt liked a baked Pizza in Pisa.

We made the 20 minute walk in 40 minutes. The second shock was to see how far the Bell Tower is leaning. It is out of line so much, that you would expect it to fall over at any moment. But it was a good visit as there are many buildings of quality and well kept grounds. A tad too many people for my liking, but I suppose that if you were from Hong Kong then you would think that Pisa was deserted.

Train Italian

The train from Firenze to Pisa for two people (return) cost 23 Euro 20 Cents with a further 60 Cents each to use the bathroom.

The Italian train system, like their bus transport, is yet another honour system. If you read Italian then you can use the fast track ticket machines. Otherwise you stand in a snaking queue that makes the Post Office system in the UK look positively good. You buy a ticket that is for the number of people in the group and the ticket defines the number of people and states the journey departure and destination stations.

Watch the departure board for advice on when and from where your train will depart and make your way to that platform. Before you board the train you stamp your journey ticket in one of many yellow electronic stamping machines by inserting either end of the ticket into the machine. Jump onto the train and enjoy the 2nd class air conditioned quality of the Italian transport system.

The photograph shows the train that we boarded from Firenze to Pisa

You would be a fool to miss it

I had planned this evening’s meal as soon as I had seen the Club House earlier in our stay. It was to be a look forward to a grand event of drinks followed by good food. I had not underestimated the impact that our visit would have, and to be quite honest with you, I was expecting a much larger bill. This is the sense of expense that the Club House projects, when in fact it is quite affordable.

We sat down in the bar and I enjoyed a few pints of Italian lager beer. I also enjoyed the eye candy. An Angelina-Jolie look alike, that was more beautiful than the actress. Wonderful, even my wife commented on her beauty. She also rustled up a good Cosmopolitan Cocktail as well. ‘Angelina’ that is, and not the wife. We shared crisps and I noticed that Pauline’s eyes were beginning to roll. It had been eleven hours since breakfast and Pauline never drinks. And here she was with a 7 Euro 50 Cent cocktail of mixed alcohol. Shaken with ice to cool, but poured from the container without the ice into a cool glass.

It was time to eat, and we were met at the table by two lovely waitresses, and a hot plate of caviccini. Yummy, just what we needed to get started. We have eaten a lot of pasta and pizza the last two weeks, and it was good to choose a Cheeseburger. Not any old Cheeseburger mind you. No, this was the Emperor of Cheeseburgers; ‘el ultimato’ (my name and not theirs). You can tell that the bread was made on the premises, and that the meat was fresh and local. You knew it was going to be good, when they asked you how you would like it to be cooked. I said medium, and it was. I can declare with all honesty that the Club-House Cheeseburger is the best burger that I have ever eaten.

I can also declare that their cheesecake is equal to the astonishing cheesecake that we sampled in a small village outside Siena in 2007. I can also declare that when the Club-house brought us a glass each of the local ‘fire-water’ to finish our meal, they had equalled the hospitality of the family run restaurant that we stumbled across in Milano in 2007. It goes without saying that I left the largest tip that we have left this holiday.

We also took some photographs. The Waitress insisted on taking a photograph of us. That was a nice touch and greatly appreciated. The good looking young man wanted a photograph with Pauline. He looked at me and announced in front of the two waitresses “You are jealous, no?” I replied, “Yes, I am, you are so handsome that I wanted my photograph with you!” It brought about laughter from the waitresses, and fair play to the waiter he complied in good spirit. What lovely people, in a city that is after your coin, the Club-House near the dome on the Railway Station side of the city, brings a better dimension to affairs. Miss it at your peril.

An Assumption

Why is there an assumption between equals whereby one may receive more than the other without any dialogue? This morning there were no boiled eggs on display and when I asked the waitress, she brought three to the table. Why was it that I was able to consume two of these eggs? We both commented on their freshness, and fine colour. They were eggs of quality and my wife probably would have enjoyed eating two of them as well.

My wife has the vote and in a democratic society can elect or reject a candidate. She works, which is more than can be said of me these days. She can certainly eat as much as me and enjoys her food on equal terms. So why was I allowed to eat two of the eggs, especially when she consumed her first one long before I started as I choose to butter bread and order some coffee. Is a figuration between husband and wife whereby for no obvious reason or purpose, a hierarchy is established?

Or, is it simply that this morning, Pauline only wanted one boiled egg?

Italian Driving Tips

For someone, who is unable to drive in Italy at the moment, here are a few tips for those of you who have a car that works, or are using public transport:


You can only be a bus driver if you have a mobile phone surgically joined to your hand

At junctions, the big bus has right of way at all times

Zebra crossings are where you might hit people

It is obligatory to drive at night without lights

It is safe to smoke with one hand and be on the mobile phone with the other hand when riding a bike

In Wales we have boy racers in Kiddy Cars, in Italy there are Scooties who are a menace to everyone

The bus driver does not have to let you onto the bus

The bus driver does not have to let you off the bus

If the bus driver does let you on, then say ‘thank you’

If you can stand, give up your seat to the blonde lady

If a Nun comes onto the bus, everyone get up

If a car stops at the Zebra crossing, look surprised

Friendly people

Pauline’s best friend is from Birmingham. She is a lovely lady, without a bad bone in her body. Well they both are, Pauline and her friend.

Whenever I check the blog, Google Analytics always tells me that the most visitors are from Birmingham. It’s a great city, full of great people. And there we were today, in Fiesole at the archaeological site and we started talking to a lovely young couple. We were talking to a curator from London and the couple started talking as well.

They now know that ‘the Beast’ is in the garage and we know that they flew into Rome and took a train to Firenze before taking a train to Bologna. Yes, the best people are from Birmingham, oh and Ghana, and Wales.

Is she, isn’t she?

As we sat in the square in Fiesole whiling away the time, Pauline mentioned that she had seen someone earlier in the afternoon. I was surprised to hear the information and asked what she was wearing. “A skirt and a pink polo top” replied Pauline. Well, I was certain that Pauline was wrong, but you never know.

A while later a lady fitting the description approached from across the square. “Is that her?” I asked. “Yes”, came the reply, “I am certain that is...”. I had made up my mind to ask and rose from the bench. “You won’t?” said Pauline, “Yes, I will” I replied.

“Excuse me", I said as I moved to meet the lady, "do you speak English?” “Yes, I do,” the lady replied. My retort was automatic “Are you Virginia Wade?”

“Yes, I am”.

Brilliant, the British all time Ladies Number 1 tennis player was in Fiesole. I was so pleased that our car had broken down. Well those that read the blog know that I am a fatalist. Everything happens for a reason. Virginia Wade had just bumped into her Number 1 and her Number 2 fans and had no idea then, and probably still doesn't know. What a lovely lady, she agreed to a photo with Pauline.

But I was a tad disappointed, as I had not asked her to pose with me. We were so excited as she moved on, Britain’s number one had given us the time of day.

Grand Tour of Italy 2010 Part 9 Sat 7 Aug

Friendship, as I explained in an earlier post is as important as family. You simply cannot put a price on good friendship. With that in mind, that call from my friend Richard to check if we were ok was most welcome. For those who are learning Italian, then please note that the Italian for ok, is ‘ok’.

Anyway, Richard's call to us at Hotel Residence GRIFONE at Via Gaetano Pilati, in Firenze was really appreciated. We know that there is not much that he could have done to help us, but the fact that he placed the call, shows the friendship.
I was pining for ‘the Beast’ this morning. Like a lost child, I wanted him to return home. I know that he will be lonely in the garage near the Airport. I also know that a Volvo main dealer will take good care of him. But however hard they try, no one looks after what is important to you, as well as you will look after them.

We could have stayed in and pined away, but I insisted that we put our best foot forward. It was a case of, English stiff upper lip and all that. We headed for Fiesole via the Number 14 bus to Marco Square and the Number 7 bus up the hill. Our destination being the Citta Di Fiesole and the Civic Archaeological Museum. The site contains a cafe, Museum, Roman Baths, temples from different periods and an amphitheatre. Entry to the site cost us 24 Euro. The ice-cream cost us another 4 Euro and the drinks in a shop nearby 4 Euro 20 Cents. But the historic site is breathtaking. We followed our ice-cream with the picnic and drinks from the local bakery at 11 Euro, and politely thanked the lady for cutting my Prune cacen into four slices. As a whole slice it would have been a disaster, but as four bits it was easy to handle and more importantly easy to share with Pauline.

The sun beat down on us today, and once or twice we had to find a chair to sit and rest. It is a pity that the Roman Baths had not been filled with water. Can you imagine what a tourist attraction that would be? The Baths had an entrance porch, a cleaning area, a shaded area, bathing pools, cooler room, medium heat room and a hot room with the ovens behind and the heat coming in under the floor. A bit like a modern sauna, but the difference being that, instead of you controlling the heat by turning a dial, you control the heat by moving from room to room.

And on the subject of movement, it was astonishing to note how geared up the site in Fiesole is to the disabled. This is an historic site which has modern devices strategically placed so that they are not intrusive or divisive. Well done to the designers of grounds of the Fiesole historic site. The (what I believe to be) Germanic artwork did nothing for me. In my opinion it did not add anything to the ruins and its setting. In many ways the modern artwork distracted from the relevance of the historic site. It came across as if someone had unnecessarily tried to add something to something that was already perfect.

We dropped back down to the city via the Number 7

This time it was to Chiesa di SS Annunziata. This is a stunning church with a humble almost civic building frontal facade. The entrance area had some superb fresco’s and the stonework in the scene on the one in the right hand corner takes on a three dimensional look. The quality of the artwork is so good, that I had to place my head against the wall and check that the paint had been applied to a flat surface.

Inside the church, we both lit a candle, but for different reasons.

I then wandered amongst the astonishing artwork, and remembered to look up to the ceiling now and again. Everywhere you look, you are faced with an item of beauty. It must be so inspirational to worship inside a building that contains so many outstanding pieces of art.

European touring important points:
You can’t do enough planning

Today’s important points were:
Buy cheap and buy twice
Watch out for double service charge i.e. setting your place, and % charge

Burn Baby Burn

Pauline at the Hotel Grifone toaster, for the full story read an earlier post. There was a huge fire in Firenze yesterday evening, when the story hit the television news, for a few seconds I thought that the Italian media were reporting Pauline's attempt at warming up two sugar coated Croissants.

Note the repositioned fire extinguisher to Pauline's right hand side. This was probably put there in case another crazy "Americano" tries to warm the sugar coated croissants in the future. Or maybe, it's there just until we leave the hotel.

Its not what you think it is

This delightful cacen (cake) looks like a Custard Slice, but is nothing of the sort. For starters it is soaked heavily in alcohol. The short-crust pastry was fine, and the texture superb. To my palate it was Rum based. Served with a small spoon, it was an excellent finale to an excellent lunch.

Trapped in Firenze

We are trapped in Firenze (Florence), but as the chap from the European Breakdown Recovery service said, “I can think of worse places to be stuck”.

The staff at Hotel Residence GRIFONE at 20-22 Via Gaetano Pilati, in Firenze have been wonderful. They have treated us more like family than guests. Nothing has been too much trouble, and the original four days at the Hotel were blissful. Equal too but in many ways different than the Hotel Cappana CAO, Brunate-San Maurizio-Via Alle colme-Piazzale C.A.O. Both are first class and both come with lovely people.

For me the real judge of a good hotel is when things go wrong. I suspect that in day to day running, hotel-staff operate, somewhat like ducks. They gracefully glide on the water while they are frantically paddling underneath to provide great service. But when things go wrong, which hotels step up to the mark and support their guests. As we were leaving this morning, I told the staff that we would recommend the hotel and would stay again. I even explained that if we could afford to stay somewhere more expensive in the future, we would decline that opportunity, and stay with them. Now don’t get me wrong, because Hotel Grifone is not a downmarket hotel. Indeed it is quite up market, and given the cost, it came as a nice surprise when the lovely man from Milan booked us in for the next five days while ‘the Beast’ is repaired.

Our Volvo S60 D5 is not termed ‘the Beast’ because of today’s misfortune. No, it is a loving term used by our family because of the engine power and torque. It simply takes off, and is a joy to drive. The Beast brought us to Italy in 2007. Indeed, on that trip we made it further than today’s mishap. In fact some 40 Km further to Siena.

We would have passed by Siena as we headed for Hotel Capital today, and the Italy to Sicily ferry tomorrow. We had a lovely breakfast in Hotel Residence Grifone and bid our farewells. We loaded ‘the Beast’ and twiddled with the Tom-tom. I had planned the scenic route but found that added a further 5 hours to the journey. So we instead opted for the tolls. I suspect that there would have been many tolls south based on our experience so far of Italian toll roads. I reset the Tom-tom for the direct route, and pressed the clutch pedal to drive away. There wasn’t anything there for my left foot to press, but my brain didn’t immediately register the absence of the pedal. Indeed, I moved my foot further to the right and pressed the brake. That is when I looked down to find out who had stolen the pedal.

Sure enough, the pedal was gone. When I eventually found it, it was to say the least, a sorry limp thing of no practical use. I was so glad that we had been good guests. Can you imagine re-entering a hotel if you had upset anyone? Especially when you know that the superb English language skills of the staff would come in handy when trying to communicate with someone from a garage that only spoke Italian.
Thankfully I had arranged European Breakdown Cover through Martins moneysupermarket.com while we were in Wales. And all for an astonishing price of only £59 for a whole year. That’s a come and sort you out, or if we fail, take you and your vehicle back to the lovely Wales service.

That’s also pretty cheap if you ask me. The helpline phone call was seamless. The truck arrived in about an hour and the driver checked the pedal to find it as limp as I had a while earlier. He then spoke to me a lot in Italian. The strange thing is; Pauline knew what he was asking for. Some bolt thingy, that fixes to the front of ‘The Beast’ so that the car could be hauled by a cable onto the low loader. We waved goodbye, not to the Italian chappy, but to our car. And then it was off for some lunch.

A delightful trio of pasta, alcohol cake (I ain’t driving now) and coffee.

European touring important points:
Check out Martins Moneysupermarket.com for great European cover
Bring a kettle and some long life milk as many hotels do not have facilities
Oh and enough cups for your group

Today’s important points were:
Go with your car when they come to collect it
It’s disheartening not knowing where it is (hope it’s ok)
You can’t be upset by what you can’t control

Medusa

The stunning Medusa by Caravaggio. The image is painted on a wooden full size shield. It is a stunning example of high quality art. The Exhibition at the Galleria degli Uffizi also housed a stunning Bronze depicting Mars, and two other fine pieces to my liking

Grand Tour of Italy 2010 Part 7 Thu 5 Aug

For those of you who know my Facebook page; you will be pleased to know that 80+ photographs have been uploaded to a new Album – Italy 2010.

It was hard to trump the great day that we had yesterday. The restaurant Trattoria Celestino at P.zza S. Felicita 4/R Firenze was stunning. It came recommended by the one of the Hotel employees who found us sat down resting in that quarter of the City during the early evening. What a lovely man to cross the road and engage us in conversation, check that we were ok and give us good advice. I have former employees who cross the road to avoid me. Worse still, they crossed the road when I worked with them. But many of my friends say that their behaviour says more about them than me. Good friendship is important, and I would rather have my 20 good friends than several hundred false friends.

Good friendship is like a good wine – you simply don’t mind what price you pay.

Pauline spent last night writing out postcards. It’s a tradition with us, even with the Internet and mobile messaging. It may arrive late, but you can’t beat a good postcard with old news. It’s about the time and effort that you took in hunting out the card, expressing yourself in words, and then finding a post office. This of course is not a small task for someone when they are in a foreign country. Especially when you don’t know the language and you don’t know the post office sign.

My main postcard is for the gang in the kitchen where I used to work. The next one is for a FIDE International Chess Player, friend and drinking partner. Several postcards are for the girls and there are the postcards that Pauline has written. If you are not on the list, then don’t panic as this is a three week tour. I found the tobacconist selling stamps easy enough and we made the Number 14 bus into the city. We hopped off and straight onto the Number 7 bus and went up into the mountains to Fiesole for coffee, cake and the view.

When we got back to Firenze I popped in to see the Caravaggio exhibition while Pauline watched the world go by in Piazza Bella Signoria.

European touring important points:
Hot climate = frequent change of clothes
Bring some clothes washing liquid with you like we do
£500 would buy 480 Euro in the UK but only 425 Euro in Florence

Today’s important points were:
The Hotel kept Pauline away from the Croissants
Can you blame them?
The Tourist Bus all the way to the community of FIESOLE takes the same route as the bus that we sat on
There is more than one bar in Fiesole so you don’t have to go to the expensive one
Fiesole is a historic site

Some snaps

Firenze (Florence) August 2010

Grand Tour of Italy 2010 Part 6b Wed 4 Aug

It has been a great day in super hot Firenze (Florence). It kicked off with the breakfast saga, and then rolled out into the street. Just outside the hotel there are some lovely buildings. We caught the bus into the City, and a bargain at 4 Euro 70 for four tickets. When we got on the bus, you punched the ticket twice for two people and that allowed you to be on any bus for up to 90 minutes from the time that the ticket was stamped.

We stayed on the number 14 and went through Firenze Bus Terminal and out the other side on a circular route past the hospital. Almost exactly 1.5 hours after we began we arrived back at the Bus Terminal and got off. The sightseeing bus is 22 Euro each. And we just saw Florence for 1 Euro 20 each. And we managed to have a lovely chat with a Libyan chap and his lovely Indian wife. They spoke; Italian, Hindu, and Arabic as well as local dialects specific to the area of India and the area in Libya. No wonder he had a good job in the medical profession and owned homes in three countries. Now we wouldn’t have had that experience on the staged tours.

We ambled through the city and broke open our picnic from the local bakery. Their English is not so good, but we manage to communicate well enough to stock up each morning. If you stay at Hotel Grifone in Firenze then check out the small bakery about 60 metres away. Today’s feast was essential water, open strong cheese pizza slice for Pauline. My choice was a closed pizza slice; with a middle layer of cheese and ham. An olive bread roll for me and cardoman seed bread to share. Oh, and an apple.

We did quite well financially. Pauline pressed on past one stall where I was going to buy and saved a few euro at the next one. The trader thought that we were in a negotiation and dropped his price further. In fact in the end he knocked some more off and said, “there, a coffee for you, and a coffee for you”. If you are in Firenze and you see his stall (photo) check it out and buy his stuff.

We saved another 10 Euro further on, and dinner came in at 12 Euro less than we expected. We did the ‘thin Centurion’ thing again. Spaghetti with tomato and basil was my choice. Whereas Pauline enjoyed a first course of what can only be described as the perfect Lasagne. Second course for Pauline was a delicious piece of chicken in a lovely white wine sauce. And I went for the Sole and Potatoes. The lady finished the meal with Italian ice cream, and I enjoyed the fruit salad. The beer and water was also good. But for the first time in a long time, I witnessed Pauline having a drink. She summed it up nicely with “why have coke, if you can have a large glass of wine for the same price?”

It’s great to be back in the air conditioned room to Blog away and enjoy another beer. The Lady from India mentioned that it was 40 degrees recently and no one could do anything. I’m glad that it’s not that hot, but it certainly is warm. And we have another two weeks to go.

European touring important points:
Check the hotel location if travelling by train as we seen many tourists lugging a suitcase behind them in the midday sun

Today’s important points were:
City breaks are expensive
A hundred metres outside the tourist area and prices drop
A supermarket is far cheaper
Don't buy the first thing that you see

Grand Tour of Italy 2010 Part 6 Wed 4 Aug

I mentioned the private security guard with the gun, who was responsible for amongst other matters; stopping tourists eating nearby or taking photographs of certain statues. But sometimes, you don’t need a person with a gun, for you to know that you shouldn’t take a photo. Walking around the city, any city, is hard thirsty work.

In fact it’s so tough, that the next time we are going on holiday I’m flying off to a beach and plonking myself down for three weeks. Now that’s not Pauline’s cup of tea, but ‘horses for courses’ and all of that. Pauline struggles with the city walking, and to be quite honest, so did I in this heat. Our dilemma is that the hotel is some 40 minutes walk from the old city. And being a Cardi, there was little chance of a taxi. Maybe that wasn’t the real dilemma. That could be assigned to returning to the hotel to find that the bar had closed at 2100 and it was now 10pm.

So we walked another hundred metres or so and landed in a bar. The couple at the end of the bar referred to us as being English. The thing was, that I was too tired from the walking and the heat to hit them with a retort “Gaul, non-inglese”.

Now picture this; four tall gaming machines with lights flashing and bells and whistles going. At the top centre if each gaming machine there is a full size dartboard. The dartboard is set out like ours, but they are playing a game that I did not recognise. The place was packed and the players were moving briskly through their turn. The best part was that they had to put coins into each machine in order to play darts! It was really strange, and these were serious players. They were so serious that I likened them to chess players. You guessed, there was no way that I was going to get the camera out. Instead I sat there like a good little boy and downed two pints of some kind of lager.

Wednesday morning brook with a stunning sky and a crushing heat. Time for a shower and for a few moments I felt like Bob Hoskins in Mona-Lisa. You know the scene where he gets wrapped up in the shower curtain in the B&B. It’s not that there is anything wrong with the bath or the shower in this smart hotel. It’s just that thin Italian Centurion thing. Ultra narrow baths, coupled with a basic design flaw. Who places the shower in the middle of a narrow bath and then have a plastic shower curtain? I couldn’t even have the shower head aiming at me. It had to be positioned sideways on. Mind you, that is the position that we found it in, so maybe others had worked out the hydraulics as well.

Reasoning and common sense are traits that we all possess in varying degrees. Sometimes, however hard we try, working things out can be quite difficult. Just ask Pauline how to toast a croissant. She was determined to have one warm with cheese and ham this morning. This is fine if you speak Italian, and you have the common sense to ask the waiter for help. But pretty bad news if, like Pauline, you don’t speak Italian and decide to go for it alone. Toasters are for toast, you know the large hotel type toaster where you place the bread on the revolving platform and it drops off at the end with varying degree of success. Not so cool if you put a sugar coated croissant on the conveyor belt with the heat turned up to 3 and the belt turned down to 1.

For thirty seconds I thought that I was going to have to be re-employed as a firefighter. The breakfast room started to fill with smoke, and forty guests turned to look at Pauline, as two burnt croissants popped off the conveyor belt. Well one popped off, and the other had to be dislodged by Pauline with the bread tongues. She then walked sheepishly back to the table. I heard one little boy say “Mummy, that lady has burnt her cake”. Mum replied “Ssssh, look away”. Still, at least the guests would have something to talk about as they boarded their luxury coach smelling of burnt croissant. I can hear them now “blinking American tourists” or maybe “Ah gee, I wonder which State they’re from”.

It was almost as funny as the bottle of sparkling water that exploded over her two days back. I managed to keep a straight face that time. This time I simply moved tables. No not really, I sat there with a ‘stiff upper lip’ and drank my excellent hot milk and hot coffee. It’s great in Italy. You ask for milky coffee and they bring you a pot of each. The coffee was nicely washed down with the untoasted croissants, bread, cheese, ham, and plums. Plural and not singular as the first one was so good, that I had to pop back and get a second plum.


European touring important points:
Don’t forget to search and print some ideas for each place that you visit
And places to stop off and look at in-between the long hauls


Today’s important points were:
Just less than a pint of lager in Italy cost 4 Euro 50
Check out the croissants there may be two types
Don’t put the sugar coated ones in the toaster
In fact don’t put anything in the toaster other than bread

Firenze eto

The square on a glorious August evening. Where we are sat taking this photograph there was an armed security guard stopping people eating nearby, and taking photographs of the numerous statues in a covered area just above where we were sat. I just didn't get why he had the gun.

Grand Tour of Italy 2010 Part 5 Tue 3 Aug

The drive through Italy down to Florence began with the descent from the stunning hotel near Brunate. A lovely chat with the lovely owner was followed with a few photos of Mrs. B and then setting the video camera to film the twisting descent.

Temperatures drifted from 15 degrees up to 33 degrees. We relied on the Satellite-Navigation and in doing so we forgot what effect the heat would have on the device. Even with the climate control on in the car; the Satellite-navigation gets hot in it’s exposed condition by the windscreen. The oversight cost us 5 Euro and around half an hour as it took us off the motorway and back on ourselves.

Still, before that calamity; we were able to overindulge in the excellent service station at Saint Martino. My Bro swears that West Moorland is the best Service Station in the UK, and that may be so. But Saint Martino is the best one in Europe. Pauline went for Lasagne, bread, coke and a peach tart. I managed two combinations of pasta. It should have been one, but because I was indecisive the lovely Italian lady suggested half and half. The cheese and ham version was stunning, but the tomato based sauce was far superior! I went for water, bread and some regional tart. It was all first class and came in at only 23 Euro. The Service station is very clean and the food is cooked in front of you. Well done Italy, you know how to look after your motorists.

We went through another 40 tunnels today, and over some stunning bridges. I started to lose count of the tunnels, but we can safely say that if you drive from Wales to Firenze (Florence) in Italy you will go through at least 80 tunnels with another 4 that we saw being built on our drive. So maybe the 20+ Euro worth of tolls today, aren't that excessive after all!

European touring important points:
Whatever the Satellite-Navigation says, for long journeys add on 3 hours


Today’s important points were:
The motorway toll Como and Firenze was over 25 Euro
That’s one way so sort out your budget in advance

Firenze

We are on the fifth (top) floor of the hotel and they have provided a room with a balcony as per my request before leaving Wales. The weather is a stunning 33 degrees

Via from above Brunate

A stunning panarama

Grand Tour of Italy 2010 Part 4 Mon 2 Aug

Breakfast in Merzig was lovely, and as in 2007 we popped to a local bakery in the main street to stock up for a picnic. The drive from Merzig saw temperatures drop to 15 degrees and then rise up to 28 degrees as we entered Italy. Although the highest temperature was some 32 degrees in the middle of the 11 mile tunnel in Switzerland. We have now managed to drive through in excess of 40 tunnels on our journey from Wales to Italy.

The directions provided by the lovely owners of Hotel Cappana CAO, Brunate-San Maurizio-Via Alle colme-Piazzale C.A.O. were spot on. Although it’s times like this that you wish that you were on a scooter or driving a Smart Car and not in the Volvo S60 D5 AKA ‘The Beast’. The route from Como up into the mountains was torturous with hairpin bends every 50 metres or so and single width roads most of the way, Demanding on the concentration but great fun and places Cappana CAO as our find of the holiday. The Panorama from the hotel is simply breathtaking. We are so high up it is like being on an aeroplane.

Drinks and a read on the terrace were followed by a feast. I love the Italians, they are so thin and so well presented but eat so much! I must have been Italian in my former life, as I share their national love of food. I was probably a Centurion, not a General, but some schmuck foot soldier being bullied for 30 years. But hey ho, I bet the Centurions never eat like this. The first course was the size of a main, and the beer is washing it down very well indeed.

There was a bad thunderstorm later in the evening as it got dark and the Internet was turned off due to the weather.

European touring important points:
You need a Motorway Pass for Switzerland
We bought our one online for £30.50 before travelling
In September 2007 we could have accidentally driven through the border
In August 2010 cars were being directed to buy a pass at the border
If you are stopped without one there is an excessive fine
Sat-Nav motorway speeds are incorrect in the rain
Motorway speeds reduce near towns and junctions
Don’t forget your headlamp deflectors


Today’s important points were:
France motorway toll between Merzig and Switzerland 6 Euro 90
Bio Diesel in Merzig was 1 Euro 18 per litre
Petrol was circa 1 Euro 40
A motorway stop in Switzerland took Euro for payment

Vimy Ridge

The Vimy Ridge site is run by the Canadian Govermnet and the front advance trenches have been rebuilt with concrete sandgbags, and concrete shaped like wooden floorboards/duckboards. There is even a trench Mortar. It is a shock to realise how close the two opposing armies where

The Canadian Monument

Pauline at the Canadian Monument near Arras in Western France during August 2010

Grand Tour of Italy 2010 Part 3 Sunday 1 August

The big mistake of the day was to decline breakfast at the hotel, while forgetting it was Sunday with everything appearing closed in France. Other than one of the motorway shops and petrol station. We set out from Arras on yet another bright day. Temperatures went from 22 to 25 degrees as we travelled to Germany, but did not reach yesterday's high of 26 degrees.

Arras is an important military site and I am keen on military history and by degree a qualified Strategist. I have visited numerous war memorials and cemeteries in Belgium and France, but this time I thought that we would visit something involving the dreadful events of the Somme in World War I (The Great War).

I don’t sign up to the 'Lambs Leading Lions' theory as everything has a place in time and space and what was decided was decided with the best theory and practice of the time. British people think of the British loss of life, and quite rightly so.

Nevertheless I decided that I would visit the largest German military cemetery in France at Neuville St Vaast and pay my respects. You can find out more about the site at www.theirpast-yourfuture.org.uk. It was a humbling experience standing in a cemetery where the crosses went on as far as the eye could see. Unlike Allied crosses, the ones that I observed in the Neuville St Vaast cemetery had two names on either side of each horizontal cross. There are some headstones as well, as explained on the website.

My love of military history is endorsed by my wife, and Pauline insisted that we visit Vimy Ridge and the Canadian Monument to the North. This is a visit that anyone interested in the Great War cannot miss. The Canadians take great pride in remembering their fallen. Some of the Canadian and German trenches have been rebuilt and there is a free guided tour available as well as an informative Visitor Centre. I know that the trenches brought to life for visitors are the front trenches of the two armies, but it is astonishing to note just how close they were and how dangerous the undermining and subsequent explosions were for both sides. The name of the crater at the Vimy Ridge site is disputed as it is not known which army mined the area and set the explosion. I was shocked at how generous the Canadians are with a Poppy lapel handed over free of charge. That prompted a donation. The Vimy Ridge site is a lovely area which you could easily find yourself spending a whole day with a good picnic and a good friend.

It was then onto Cathédral Saint-Aubain, which is located at Place Saint-Aubain, 5000 Namur, in Belgique. This is the French speaking southern part of Belgium. We chose St Alban’s Cathedral as it is renowned for its Italian influence architecture. Which if course is a fitting choice, as this trip is after all a Grand Tour of Italy. It’s just that there are a lot of miles to cover before you reach Italy by road. The Cathedral was stunning, with a massive organ taken up the whole area inside above the entrance, and a pulpit that is a work of art. We stopped off at Brassiere in the square that was well up market. Plush is an understatement, as it was well equipped with fine furnishings and deco and up market bar staff. Pauline managed to demolish an astonishing ice cream, bottled water and an orange Fanta. Whereas I had coffee, water, and a Fanta with a total bill including a 2 Euro 50 cent tip coming in at under 20 Euro. This was followed by an enjoyable walk along the canal and a chance to see the walled fortifications of the town. It’s a pity that I didn’t see the car on the roundabout as easily as the fortifications. But all’s well as Pauline shouted ‘stop’, and she who must be obeyed was obeyed and we stopped well before the junction line. Phew, a close shave there then, and a lesson in paying attention when driving abroad.

We have now travelled from Wales, through England, across to France, into Belguim, through Luxenbourg and are now in Merzig in Germany. Our evening meal at Hotel Sonnenhof, Zum Sonnenwald 42, 66663, Merzig, Germany was lovely, as is the beer. We also enjoyed the company of two German nationals who took the time to decipher the German menu. I settled for a tradditional regional dish while Pauline went for Chicken with a mild curry sauce and rice and potatoes. Oh, and both of us had a delicious salad to start. Both salads contained a boiled egg and olives and was the best part of a meal in itself. We were having soup but something got lost in the translation.

Planning a Grand European tour important points are:
I made good use of www.laterooms.com, www.hotels.com, http://www.theaa.com/route-planner and http://www.google.co.uk/

Today’s important points were:
The Arras towards Namur in Belgium Motorway toll was only 3 Euro 90 Cents
There were no tolls in Belgium
There were no tolls in Luxemburg
There were no tolls in Germany
Breakfast of 1 coffee, 2 baguettes, 2 cakes, and a toasty to share cost 20 Euro on the motorway