Siena

To escape the warm confines of Marge, late yesterday evening, we took a walk out across the car park. On turning round to come back, we were greeted by a spectacular view. The church situated behind our van, was lit by soft orange and yellowing white light.

The dark sky behind, like a black canvas, allowing the building to shine in all its glory. To the left, the bright light of the crescent moon, equally striking.

A beautiful start to Sunday morning. At eight o' clock, the vans were already coming down from the narrow streets of the town above, with luggage to be loaded onto the waiting coaches. By nine o' clock, the coach park was full. We were kept entertained by the incoming visitors. One coach had quite a few nuns on board, and we were amused by one of them, whose habit was topped off, by a bright orange baseball cap! One of the other coaches, turned out a party of children. One of the adult supervisors with them was a little on the large size. We noticed she wasn't asked to carry the bag containing the packed lunches!

On leaving Assisi, we stopped in a lay-by to photograph the cathedral. We could see all the lighting rigs that had been set up, for a charity concert, that will be broadcast from here on Monday.

A calm easy drive today, crossing from Umbria back to Tuscany, a land of pretty farmhouses, and acres of greenery. We were pleased to be back in this lovely area. By lunchtime we had reached Siena.

Just after we'd finished our lunch, a German couple in their seventies, pulled in with a very long motorhome. Enquiring if we would be staying the night, they decided to stay as well. They seemed nice, unlike 'Herr Unlucky' who was next to us in Vieste. We think of him from time to time, and wonder who he's entertaining in his underwear now!

It took fifteen minutes to walk up hill to the medieval city. The temperature in the shade 34c. The heat had caused both us to suffer from swollen ankles this morning, so we hoped a good long walk would help sort out the problem. Siena is a city with the 'wow' factor.

The impressive Piazza del Campo, on the site of an old roman forum, is looked over by the equally impressive Palazzo Publicco and Torre del Mangia, which stands eighty eight metres high.

An added bonus in the piazza was a display of Ferraris, courtesy of a local enthusiasts club. In the skies above the piazza, hundreds of swifts flew busily through the air.

As we trod the streets of Siena we marvelled at the architecture. It was nice to be back amongst culture.

Our ultimate quest was to find the Duomo di Siena. When we first caught a glimpse of it, we knew we were about to see something very special. It is a cathedral with presence. It's columns and block-work were marble, including some of the famous Tuscan red marble. The intricate carving was both detailed and fascinating. This marvellous building is up there in the top five best places we've seen in Italy. We sat for a while in the shade of the building, but the sunlight was so bright, Angela resorted to putting her beanie hat on, which always results in John calling her 'Helmet Schultz'? (after Sergeant Schultz from the 60's WW2 comedy 'Hogan's Heroes, Google for more info). After three hours of walking around, we returned to Marge for a shower and a cool down. Our ankles looked a little better from the exercise. Whilst we were cooking our evening meal our German neighbours returned. And guess what, he dropped his trousers! Honestly. It must be a German thing! They are a really nice couple who have motorhomed to every country in Europe except Russia and the Ukraine. On the side of their van is a beautiful hand painted view of an oasis painted by a Moroccan whilst travelling in that country.

Finally a photo of a visitor who drop through the skylight into our bathroom, a Rhinoceros Beetle, luckily only around an inch and a half long, they can grow quite large!

Assisi

A very warm start to the day today. Two of the other vans, left a seven o' clock this morning. These are the sensible people, who travel during the cooler parts of the day, they didn't arrive until eleven o' clock last night. Not like us Brits, we drive through the heat of midday, arrive at a destination in the afternoon, and set off exploring, while the sensible Italians, are indoors, curtains and shutters closed.

Yesterday a crown on one of Angela's teeth, became loose, and this morning, while eating her breakfast banana it came free. Yesterday, she'd emailed her dentist for some advice, and by return, a message came back with some do's and don'ts. It unbelievable, that we are now in contact with everybody, everywhere. Not that long ago, the problem would only have been resolved by visiting a local dentist, that's if you could find one, without the internet, and a good command of Italian.

One of the problems we have found in Italy, is it is very hard to find a tourist information office, where as in France, they are in every town, and larger village. So if you need to know anything, they can always help you.

Today we have decided, we've had enough 'bucket and spade' holiday, and have travelled inland, to the region of Umbria.

On route here, we passed a medieval castle in the countryside, right alongside the dual carriageway. Normally, you only see such structures in hilltop towns, that watch over the landscape below.

Today, we paid to travel on the toll road, and then fast roads through the mountains. After Marge slowly ascended a hill, she peaked, and the next thing, was on the downhill. The road, steep, fast and long, very long, going down and down right in front of us, through miles and miles of mountain tunnels, quite a white knuckle ride! We would have liked to have known how many thousands of feet up we were before our descent, then again, perhaps not.

Tonight we are staying at the medieval, hilltop town of Assisi, famous for Saint Francis of Assisi, patron saint of the environment and animals.

With Marge now parked for the night, we set off in the heat the afternoon, the temperature well into the 30's.

We were quite taken aback, at how touristy the medieval town was, and as expected, because we'd seen the coaches parked near our van, bustling with visitors, which once again, along with the parked vehicles, made it difficult to take good photographs. However, during our three hour walkabout, we saw some interesting sights, ending with the Basilica, where in the crypt, we saw Saint Francis of Assisi's tomb. Although his body was actually taken to Toledo in Spain. In the crypt, we were suprised to see nuns, supposedly at prayer, actually on their smartphones. Perhaps God is on social media now!

Behind Marge, there is a lovely, large house, and over the fence cascade a fine display of pink roses, just like the ones adorning Marge's coffin last year.

Tonight, we sit in the van, with all the windows open, and enjoy a very welcome breeze coming down from the hills. Let's hope it continues all night.

We have the music of Ludovico Einaudi playing, after hearing it on the breeze, as we passed a shop just before we entered the town gateway.

Tomorrow we will continue to head north west into Tuscany and to Siena.

Giulianova

About ten o' clock last night, to try and cool off, we walked out along the promenade, which was lit by soft orange lighting, housed in conical shades. We welcomed the coolness of the breeze coming off the Adriatic sea.

This morning, around seven thirty, John took a walk out to the beach, where a local fisherman was selling his catch, but it was a case of too few fish, for too many people. After our breakfast, we watched the same fisherman and his wife, winch their boat over some wooden rollers further up onto the beach away from the incoming tide. The wife, who was of slight build, had the job of operating the wooden pole on the winch, which involved walking around in a circle in the sand, in a pair of oversized wellington boots!

By eight thirty, the sands of the beach were peppered by prostrate bodies, wanting to catch some rays before the heat of the midday sun.

Before we left, we walked along the seafront, away from the town, spotting a woolly caterpillar moving at a frantic pace, clearly on a mission.

We arrived at tonight's destination at Giulianova around two o' clock, after one of the best days travelling, if not the best day ever. Although Marge, did manage to lead us into one backwater! There were quite a few vans already here when we arrived, including one from England. We have not seen any English people for nearly three weeks, so were really suprised. There is a fantastic cycleway, right beside us, which stretches for some distance along the seafront.

We took it to access the town, where we needed to source some contact adhesive for a floppy sandal sole, and a pin, for a bracelet watch strap. By the time we reached the shops, it was nearly half past three, so most of them were still closed, but luckily, we came across a Chinese shop, that sold everything. So with our purchases complete, we cycled down to the marina and along the harbour wall, passing the fisherman, fishing with large drop nets.

At the end, by the harbour entrance, we stopped to take in the hazy view, realising that sat amongst the rocks, and on the wall, were quite a few older men. Was this some kind of gentlemen's club? Some of them had obviously been there all day, as their skin was lobster red. Returning to Marge, we decided to cycle a little further on, where we spotted a family of European beavers. Their five young responding to Johns whistle, and scuttling out from the greenery.

This evening is once again warm and sultry, but when we took a late evening walk out, we noted the air seemed a little fresher, so hopefully we will have a more comfortable nights sleep. As we walked along the seafront, we passed many restaurants, all fairly quiet, as it was nearing closing time. Unlike the Spanish, who do not go out to eat before ten o' clock at night, the Italians are all done by nine, to nine thirty. Sat with three other people, at a table in the window of one of the restaurants, was a monk. Why wouldn't you see a monk, in a pizza restaurant in Italy?

We now have about four weeks left before we return to England, so tomorrow we must decide when and where, we will re-enter France.