In Monte Carlo they were preparing for the FI starting on 24
May but they were also preparing the vintage race cars racing from 11th
– 13th May. We went to have a look round the pits and then the
vintage cars which were parked around the Marina. We stopped to speak to a
couple of English guys, who had a car in the race, and asked where we could buy
tickets for the race the next day. One of the men said “Oh, I think my wife
might have a couple of complimentary tickets spare” so off we went in search of
his wife who was at the bar with their friends who were from Tarves. Anyway after our excitement of maybe getting
tickets our hopes were dashed as the wife had just given the tickets away, just
our luck as usual. We took the open top bus tour which takes you along a good
bit of the race track, through the tunnel, the starting grid and past the
Fairmont Hotel. Outside the Fairmont there was a display of around 20 vintage
Bentleys so we stopped to have a look at them and then we caught the train back
to Antibes only to discover that the last bus back to the campsite had gone at
7.30pm, it was now 8.20pm. DON’T ever
take a taxi in France. It cost 15€ to go about 2km, we could have walked
but we didn’t know where the campsite was.
On Friday we took the bus to Cannes, you can take the bus
anywhere along the Cote d’Azure for only 1€ each. The town was preparing for
the Cannes Film Festival which began on Wednesday 16th. We took the
petite train round the town to see all the sights, again a lack of celebs.
Cannes has a really nice feel to it not posh and snobby as you might think. Got
a picture of Kev, to follow, trying out a new bike for when he gets home.
Saturday we took the bus to Nice. Had a walk round the old
town and went for lunch to a restaurant recommended in the lonely planet guide,
and very nice it was too. We had a local dish called Morue a la nicoise. We
then went on the tour bus to see the sights, glad we did because it takes you
round some of the most beautiful apartment blocks we have seen. We both liked Nice
and decided it would be a nice place to stay. Sunday we had a relaxing day as
we had been quite busy.
On Monday we moved on and into Italia. We didn’t go far over
the border, just passed San Remo to Diano Marina. Didn’t like the site so we
moved on on Tuesday and trying to make up some ground we took the toll road to
a place called Viareggio which is just North of Pisa. In Spain the diesel was
around 1.37€ a litre and in Italy it ranges from 1.65 – 1.79€ a litre. We
forgot to get fuel in Spain so had to fork out the extra in Italy.
Wednesday we took the bus to Pisa. The whole place is quite
compact and it is quite easy to walk around the sights. We went first to the
leaning tower, which was smaller than I had anticipated. We climbed right to
the top, around 414 steps, all made of marble and worn and slippy, not too easy
to navigate in a pair of flip flops. It is a really weird sensation of climbing
up and down hill on the way up to the top depending on which side of the tower
you are on. There is nothing inside the tower except a hole down the middle,
I’m sure they could have put in a lift when they restored it .
Thursday we took the train to Firenze, about an hour and a
half journey. First thing we did was get on the tour bus again which took us
round a good deal of the sights. We then had a walk around and went to an
indoor food market which was really nice but very expensive. We then had lunch,
had to have pizza of course, and then headed off in search of the Galleria
dell’Accademia to see the famous statue of David sculpted by Michelangelo. If
you haven’t booked a ticket you have to queue for ages to get in. Guess what we
hadn’t booked a ticket and got in eventually. Had an interesting train journey
home as after about 15 mins into the journey I realised I didn’t recognise any
of the surroundings as having passed them on the way there. I then voiced my
concerns to Kev that we may be on the wrong train. We couldn’t find a member of
staff to ask until an hour and a half later. We asked the cleaner if we were on
the correct train to Viareggio and she said no. Ok it can’t be that bad we will
just have to change further up the line. As we were getting ready to get off at
Lucca she came back and said that we were on the right train after all it was
just going a different route from the one that we took in the morning. Panic
over. Why didn’t she know where the train was going?, weird.
Friday we headed towards Rome and spent the night in an
olive grove. Stayed at a vineyard in Tuscany called Il Cerchio where a mother
and son produce their own wine and olive oil. Of course you can stay for free
and don’t have to buy any of the produce but we couldn’t resist a wine and oil
tasting session on Saturday morning. Bought some wine and olive oil.
Next stop Rome
TTFN
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