Saturday 17 October
Bus, tram then train to the airport via Katsouri's for an early lunch.
Long queues in Rimini to clear immigration then out to find a taxi. Big queue but no taxis.
Some people were ordering them privately through an app and a couple said that they were going to the same hotel so we hopped in with them and shared the fare.
Quick drink and then bed - it had been a long day.
Sunday 18 October
View from our window.
Lovely buffet breakfast - I'd forgotten that it was included so that was a nice surprise!
Walk to the old part of the city in beautiful sunshine.
White wine stop.
The murals scattered amongst the colourful houses on the old fishermen's quay are amazing.
Graffiti by the river.
Outside the Fellini museum.
'Chatting' to an old lady about the red ribbons on her window grill - neither understanding the other but lots of gestures and smiles.
Near the station.
Back out again in the event to look for food - eventually found somewhere open Mike had sardines on a pizza base and I had a burger - both delicious.
Then back to the hotel - both of us were pooped we'd walked nearly 10 miles!
Monday 19 October
Another delicious breakfast - loads of choice!
Walk to the train station to catch the bus to San Marino.
Lots to explore.
Cable car to go down to the city below - luckily for me it was closed.. 😁
Went to catch the bus and didn't realise we needed tickets from the shop so it was full and we got tickets for the next one.
Walked back and had a delicious meal at a nearby osteria. Well worth missing the bus for!
Clam gnocchi and tagliatelle.
Back down the mountain side on the top of a double decker. Quite an experience!
Back over the river to the hotel.
Tuesday 20 October
Train to Bologna for the day. Lovely city - we just wandered.
An Italian 'tapas' board for lunch with an April spritz.
Back on the train and home.
Solved my tiny coffee cup problem by using the plastic tankard Mike had his beer in. That will be going in my suitcase for safe keeping while I'm here - everything is taken back when they clean the room lol - even the coffee cup went although it had my coffee in it.
They'll get the full collection back when I leave.. 🤣👍
Wednesday 21 October
Lots of rain in the night but it started to brighten up mid morning so we went for a walk to the market.
The tide had come in and flooded the narrow quay sides - combination of rain and winds.
Went into a couple of churches en route to the market.
Hotel in the distance.
Evening meal in a fish restaurant. Seafood spaghetti carbonara for me and a rustic Riminese fish soup called brodetta for Mike.
A laid back day but still lots of walking.
Thursday 22 October
Went for a walk on my own as Mike wasn't feeling well after the fish stew.
Walked down to the harbour on the other side of the inlet.
Some serious fishing vessels.
The fishermen were taking out the small fish and crabs which were tangled in the nets and they were being sold from the boat to the locals.
Then along the board walks - hardly anyone around even though the sun was shining. All the amusements, kiosks, bars, play areas etc along the sands were all shut up for the winter.
It must be like Blackpool on steroids in summer - so many flats and hotels around.
Eventually turned round and made my way back behind the hotels etc. An interesting mix of shops, mini markets, restaurants etc - some open, some closed.
Mike was feeling a bit better so we went for a short walk to a nearby beach bar.
Tapas board with ham, salami and cheeses served with a flat bread that looked like pitta but was called piadino.
The sparrows were very interested.
Another short walk just before sunset.
Friday 23 October
Walk to the old town to look round the market.
As we walked through a university area some graduates were coming out having received their degrees. They were wearing laurel crowns rather than the UK mortar boards.
Five tears of study to become a doctor.
Coffee in the sunshine.
Lunch at the harbour.
Walk by the river Marecchia - lots of great art painted on the backs of the houses.
Saturday 24 October
A last walk into the old town. We wandered round the market a bit and the weather cleared up after the rainy start.
As our flight wasn't until the evening we decided to cancel our taxi for the late afternoon and take a slow walk along the board walks to the airport.
It took us 3 hours to cover the 6 miles but we weren't in a rush and the weather was very pleasant.
Picked up by Luisa in Manchester and back to the wind, rain and cold of Storm Boelo.
.. after a week of mostly good temperatures in the low 20s normal service was resumed.. 😁
