Tuesday, 27th June 2023

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The News

The beds were comfortable and the air conditioning meant that for the first time since the hot weather hit, we got a good sleep ... short but good.  The shower was excellent and so waking up "early" (6am) wasn't too bad.

Breakfast started at 7am, so we were down by 7:15 bright eyed and ready to re-explore Turin.  We had considered doing the bus tour, but that would have meant sitting down for an hour plus.  Maybe we to turn to adventure and take the tube instead?  Dare we?  Yes!  There's no holding Jan back when she gets her pioneering spirit up.

A two day ticket for the underground was €7.80 each.  There was an underground station just outside our hotel and it was only five stops to the centre of town, the Porta Nouva station.  We decided to walk down the colonaded main road to the big plaza where The Italian Job was filmed.

We tried to get into the Egyptian Museum, which got a good write-up.  Unfortunately, both their lift and escalators were out of order and lots of stairs would not have been a comfortable experience for me.  But the walk through the colonaded main road to the biggest piazza was rather nice.

We had a nice ice cream outside the same restaurant we used before.  The ice cream was fine, but it also had facilities which is not always the case in Italy.  It was time to start back by time we finished. The alternative route took us past ...

Negotiating the underground was easier on the way back was eas and we were soon back in our hotel and checked out.  Everyone was early so there was a short wait before we were taken back to the Porta Nouva station where we had a short wait for the train to Florence (Fierenza).  Then it was on a coach to Montecatini Terme.  We took a coach because the Italian trains are packed at this time of year.

A meal was laid on, but I was too tired to go, so Jan had a high time on her own.  The group with whom we are travelling are all very nice and made pleasant company.  The meal was lovely despite my absence!

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Weather: Turin sunny 32°C, Montecatini sunny 32°C evening

Steps: Jan 17,516   Andy 15,400

Sunday, 25th June 2023

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The News

It may seem a bit odd, but my 10 week, 70 day countdown sheet to the holiday started on 17th April.  It keeps me amused and makes me feel as if the trip is starting.  Crossing off each day makes the anticipation mount - it's all part of the fun.  And now all the days have been crossed off.

Our first stop today was a family breakfast - one of those "eat as much as you can stuff in" places.  And we did as you can see below.  It's nice to see everyone together (except Max, who was working his last shift at McDonald's, and Molly). We had a laugh and then toddled back home to export Hugo to #1 daughter ...

... who can talk for Earth in intergalactic competitions.  And then we were running later than planned.   But we got out more or less on time.  One of our wonderful neighbours, Pavel, took the photo for us ... and then Jan realised that she had left her handbag indoors.  A minute later and she was back out ... only to remember that she had left her rings!  So, back inside with much mumbling and grumbling from me.  We then power marched up the hill to the station and made it in time!  That's when I discovered that I had left my cards behind.  Fortunately, the wonderful Pavel drove up to the station, collected me and drove me back to eat humble pie.  And more food was the last thing I needed!

We were eventually off half an hour later than planned, but we were off on holiday.

The hotel was quite easy to find, but we managed to go to the wrong Travel Lodge.  There was a very nice young lady who sat us down, gave us a bottle of water each and clear directions to where we should have been.

The room was probably the smallest that we have ever stayed in and the bathroom was on a similar scale.  Even little Jan found it tight.  We dumped our cases and finally, it was off for something to eat at last.  We thought we would find the correct route to St. Pancras and found a really nice Steak House on the way.

And then to bed.

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Weather: Hot (31°C) in our garden, humid as well in London.

Steps: Jan 12,186   Andy 14,093

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