Embassy Hotel Pesaro

... heard of San Marino but as Sue mentioned it is an independent state named after a Christian stonemason Marinus from around 300 when he hid in the mountain peaks to avoid persecution by the Romans and started a community there. It must have been a case of too small a fish to worry about as today, the mountain state exists as the 5th smallest country in the world. The buildings and scenery were breathtaking. Well worth the long bus ride to get there

... as each seat filled the novelty soon wore off. It became cramped and uncomfortable... both physically and socially. As soon as we got to Austria however, the stunning views of the huge, steaming mountain forests, and ice blue rivers took our minds off the traveling conditions. On several occasions we couldn't help but gasp and 'wow' at the surroundings (which I felt quite guilty for doing because there was a blind woman in our carriage).

Nevertheless, it is an understatement to ...

We got to Rimini later that night after Pompeii. It was another 6 hour drive so again we were exhausted. We checked into the hotel and it was perfect. Nicer than the last one we were at. We had booked in advance for the night and the rate was 30eros cheaper than the next night so we (I) thought we would just get there and tell them we wanted another night at the same price. Unfortunately they played me harder than I played them and said they had no availability ...

... in my life on one beach. There was even a beach shower at the waters edge (advising us not to use shampo (their spelling not mine).

The water temp was cooler than in Sicily but still pleasant enough. by this time the sun had disappeared behind rain clouds. We headed back into town for coffee & shopping. Mandy found a ring but didn't buy it. I think she regretted it as for the next few days she wanted to head back to Fano.

Ciao

We left for Urbino after breakfast for a quick trip (Birth place of Raffaello - painter) of course coffee & gelati was part of our plans with some sights thrown in.

Nice place and worth the trip. No time to view the museo a bit of a shame as there is a section with Rafael.

We had some great views going over the mountains going to/from Urbino. Mandy is handling driving the larger car just fine.

Ciao

... The best of all is a large pool to lazy around after Yoga and eating, what a life, the weather was fantastic during the week, high 20's

I think I did too much on the first day of yoga as I couldn't back up on the Tuesday (lucky to get out of bed) but once moving I did both afternoon sessions (playground) breathing in the afternoon and then meditation after dinner.

Wednesday afternoon is free time so we are planning on a trim to the coast Fano

Ciao

... museum was closed that day.We explained we had come all this way to see it and he kindly agreed to open it up after lunch for us. He showed us a place to get lunch agreeing to meet us back at the museum in an hour and half. At lunch we ate a great meal of antipasto and pasta and I downed the house wine which came in a caraffe. Not wanting to waste it I drank the lot and so was suitably mellow by 3pm when we returned to the museum. The museum was ...

... countryside from up on the peak, where you can walk along the fortified walls linking its three defensive forts.    For some reason the town itself is full of gun and crossbow shops. Also we were disappointed to discover that the (in)famous San Marino grand prix is actually hosted miles away in Imola, Italy.  Caught in a flap about catching the right bus back we raced down the mountain to the bus stop to find we were ...

... s most advanced civilization after its mass fratricide and imaginary Maginot lines, henceforth only to be moved eastward to cordon off Slavic lands with a spur through Berlin? Antonioni maybe? Naahhh... Truffaut or Godard perhaps? No way. Bunuel maybe, but he pre-dates the war and includes Mexico in his oeuvre, so I respectfully avoid any comparison there. And Fellini, as with Bunuel, accomplished his task ...

... In this way, the American company makes a sale, takes in the payment and then the container is shipped back to the U.S. port because entry to Italy was denied. You can all derive your own moral to this story. By the time we got out of Genoa, we were able to breathe a sigh of relief. We had our car, everything inside was okay, the license plates were still on the car, and we had received back the original title!! Next stop- Monza! This town does not have a huge place in the ...