Italy here we come. Bristol to Lucca

So..... the alarm went off at 2.30 am and even though we didn’t feel at all tired...... despite the best efforts of Mr Cage, we both managed to get to sleep, only to be rudely awakened by not one, but two alarms in the middle of the night!!!! and anyone who knows me will be well aware that I am definitely not good at waking up early......not only that, it was dark and cold and I had to engage my brain in order to apply enough makeup to get rid of the “just dug up “ look which my face takes on between bedtime and morning!!!

Despite all this we managed tea and toast and left the house on time ( even more amazing!! ) and set off for the airport.Our drive to Bristol was smooth and trouble free if you overlook rain of Biblical proportions and lakes of standing water on the motorway. Overtaking lorries required taking a deep breath and driving completely blind until they disappeared behind us in a cloud of spray. We made it to the airport in plenty of time and rewarded ourselves with bacon and sausage sandwiches.....and ... this will surprise many of you..... coffee....I am not, after all an animal and alcohol at that time in the morning would have tipped me right over the edge!!!

The flight was uneventful, probably because I had taken Valium, and slept all the way from takeoff to landing, and when we arrived in Pisa it wasn’t raining !!!

Whilst I am on the subject of the flight I must highlight the fact that the cabin crew were probably the grumpiest group of people I have ever flown with. The safety briefing was delivered with all the enthusiasm of a condemned man making his way to the gallows!!!

Oh and a well done to Jane from the wine association, who sat behind us and didn’t stop talking or draw breath for the whole flight......commiserations also to her companion who had to endure her prattling all the way. If it had been me I would have been routing through my bag for the free wine samples.

When we landed in Pisa the sun was shining, what a contrast to cold, rainy Bristol.

After coffee and honey croissants

(which cost a fraction of the price of our breakfast in Bristol) we took a train to Pisa and then to Lucca.

A taxi driven by an Italian lunatic took us at breakneck speed through the narrow streets to our B and B. When I say narrow I mean so narrow that at one point we came to a corner on which there was a cafe on one side and a wall on the other with a row of bicycles leaning against it. The cafe diners looked on with amusement as the driver attempted to negotiate the small gap available, although the fat person on the end who refused to move her chair didn’t hel p matters, finally with a string of words which I didn’t understand.... if it was swearing it was very impressive , even if it wasn’t it had just the right amount of menace for the situation, the driver stormed out of the car and moved several of said bikes and we were off again.

And so to our check in experience.....almost a case of no room at the Inn!!! A cleaner with limited English and me with no Italian, apart from a few swear words which didn’t seem appropriate.....

to cut a very long story short , we weren’t on the list. There was a lot of checking and re-checking, shrugging of shoulders and shaking of head and then the boss was contacted who after another lot of shrugging and shaking found us on the computer and found us a room.

A quick change and off we went to find a drink.

No problem in a town which has more restaurants and bars than you can shake a stick at!!!

Finally we sat in the sun with a glass of chilled alcohol and breathed a long sigh of relief, we had made it.... our holiday starts here.

Then dear readers, I am ashamed to admit, I got a trifle tipsy and we both had to go back to the hotel for a sleep!!! Well it been a long day( it was actually only about 3pm!! )

We spent the evening wandering through the little streets until we found ( yes I know!!) another bar and sat people watching, drinking and then eating delicious pasta ( salad tomorrow!!! )

Neither of us can quite believe that this adventure is going to last until next year.

Prendilo..... or bring it on . !!!!