Marina de Grossetto

1st - 2nd August 2007.

01. Leaning on the Leaning Tower

On our way south we took a detour via Pisa to check out the Leaning Tower. I can confirm that it does indeed lean. I can also confirm that almost everyone gets a photo taken of themselves holding up the tower, or trying to push it over. Hundreds of people all along the path standing with their hands held up while the photographer gets the angles right. As if you'd do that. It's not like it's a pyramid or a fountain in Geneva.

We left Italy's greatest construction mistake to the hordes of tourists and street vendors, and continued south looking for a campground by the beach on the Mediterranean. A couple hundred thousand Italians had the same idea. We found a campsite at a place called Marina de Grossetto . The site we were allocated was quite big. I think they are used to people turning up with huge caravans or motorhomes with annexes, outdoor settings and BBQ's and staying for a month. So when we put our little tent up we had three quarters of our site empty. A bit of space is a welcome relief at the moment.

02. Tower, Us, Leaning.

We took it easy the next day. We walked down to the beach to find everyone packed in together near the beach access. A sound system was pumping music while a dance teacher instructed 30 holidaymakers standing in knee deep water in some fine dance moves. Just a five minute walk down the beach there was relatively few people. Strange days indeed.

That night the disco fired up and Mandy couldn't help herself, she had to go and have a look. What she found left her speechless. 6 dancers on stage, going through a previously choreographed dance routine, while 200 campers of all ages followed their every move from the dance floor. That's it, we're out of here, this is just too weird!!!

03. Beach @ Marina Di Grosetto

04. Our Camp

05. Mandy Loving a Home made Pizza