Middle-aged flash packers

Today we added to Steve’s list of visited countries (73 now. Very nerdy.)

San Marino is a tiny country with a fierce heart. Liberty is mentioned on its flag and is it’s motto. They also have very attractive car number plates.

The main (some may say only) attraction is the castle that is perched on top of Mount Titano, from which small streets radiate.

We weren’t alone – it seems that San Marino is an attraction for Italian families too but it swallowed us all up with out any trouble and we got to see the main sights.

Next – lunch. Lunch is difficult here as previously mentioned. A nice bowl of soup is just impossible unless it’s accompanied by at least 2 other courses which is just too much for us. However, I have discovered a delight. The piadina. (Or piada) It is an Italian flat bread filled with all sorts of deliciousness.

We stopped at a restaurant where they tried to make us eat the traditional huge Italian lunch , when I spied another menu with piadinas on it. We had no idea what they were but ordered them anyway. Steve had salami and Gorgonzola (healthy version as usual) and I had grilled vegetables with stracchino cheese. (Impossible to have anything without cheese here so I’ve given up trying). Divine.

I think the cheese had a strange effect on me as I decided that before we headed for home, I’d like to see the Museum of Curiosities. If I’m going to suggest something that S would normally not want to do, it’s always best to do it when he has a full stomach, so I seized the moment.

We handed over our euros and in return had a very entertaining 45 minutes. A random collection of the most bizarre historical items from the past had me transfixed. Some of them are x rated but things like contraptions for stopping mice making nests in ladies’ wigs were hilarious as were devices to stop fleas and parasites from biting people’s nether regions. If you go to San Marino, defo worth a visit but if you take children, expect some awkward questions.

Heading for home and a swim at the local beach, we got on to the autostrada which was nice and quiet. However, disaster struck when we pulled up to get our toll ticket – and nothing was dispensed! I pushed the red button several times to no avail – no biglietto. We had no idea what to do but the barrier was up so we drove on. Realising that probably wasn’t the best thing to do, S got me to google what happens if you don’t have a ticket and it’s really not very nice- Pay for the ticket and get a big fine on top. I quickly tried to look up what I could say to an official at the next pay point and decided it was probably better just to cry rather than shout “Rosso butone no funczione “ or some other similar rubbish. (S corrected me saying it should be non not no. Whatever.)

Luckily for us, there was a lovely lady on duty at the next point who took pity on us and gave us a receipt in exchange for payment. 3 euros. Phew!

When we arrived at the beach we immediately got in the sea. The next hour or so was spent letting our heart rates get back to normal and having a snooze. There were lots of people doing a similar thing, Sunday is rest day. There was lots of smooching going on too. All that frizzante at lunchtime.

Tomorrow we are going to the Conera Riviera, hopefully no ticket trauma.