WE WENT TO SEE-ENNA

Wednesday 10th October

Today we went to See Enna. She was as helpful as Florence and all the other cities in providing advice on tourist car parking. After some very tense moments, some last second directions from the male navigator, concerning a one way street and a policeman, then an embarrasing retreat to the starting point, we finally located a car-park within spitting distance of the cathedral.

The cathedral was a rapturous feast of marble inside and out, and far too detailed and extensive to appreciate and absorb in a short visit. The marble floor, which was carved over a period of 500 years, is only uncovered from the end of August to the end of October each year to preserve the detail,so we were very privileged to see it.

The next most impressive architectural experience was the Plaza del Campo. The plaza is famous for an annual horse race around the square’s perimeter.

Inspired by the visit, She who initiated the renaissance in fitted wardrobes in Australia, has announced that 22 Margate Street, is to be renovated with carved marble floors and a kitchen with marble tops and a marble table. I suspect 500 years for the cathedral was quite quick. The proposed horse race around the back garden was not approved.

THE SQUARE IN SIENNA

Thursday 11th October

Another day another Tuscan town! But wait, this one, Volterra, west of our villa in Le Ville, specialised in carving statues and ornaments from alabaster. Though tempted we purchased nothing, but instead had a leisurely day, supping coffee and inter- netting like a couple of super-annuated nerds.

Friday 12 October

A 4cm to the km map of local Tuscany, and a clearly defined and recommended walking route around San Gimignano (pronounced San Gimignano) should be no challenge to the Cheshire tea walk veterans. WRONG. 80% was perfect [see photo]and the remaining 20% involved touring the local olive groves unannounced and uninvited. Fortunately for us this 20% occurred during siesta, so we crept around the villas without disturbing even the dogs. The reward for this hiking achievement was a foaming Italian beer and three miles of spaghetti.

PART OF OUR WALK NEAR SAN GIMIGNANO

Saturday 13th October.

Wake-up at 6.30, (well climb out of bed 6.30 - Kerry slept very little) then scrambled uovo’s on toast, and with the sun-rising at 7.30, we started our journey back to France.

270 miles and 178 tunnels later we arrived on the French Riviera. Yes, we counted the tunnels. Kerry did 4 hours of driving, and I did the last hour after a short stop for our last Italian Cappuccino. For a novice tunnel-counter, the pressure of counting tunnels was intense. Driving at 130 km/hr on a two lane highway, kept Kerry focussed. At least the cars were all heading one way down the tunnels.

It is a lovely 26 degrees outside and so we will head out to enjoy the October sunshine and a Riviera champagne.

Sunday 14th October

Today we drove a long 760 Kms from Menton to Figeac (pronounced Feejac) through 10 toll roads.

MENTON TO FIGEAC

The instructions to Kerry for leaving Menton was to head to the viaduct and turn left (see photo). Her comment was "How the hell do I get up there?"

PAYING THE ROAD TOLLS

The usual procedure for paying tolls, is to collect a ticket at the start of each section, then pay in cash at the end. Because we have a right hand drive car, the job of collecting and paying for the ticket falls to the navigator.

The short-armed female navigator in the team repeatedly blamed the driver for stopping too far from the pay-station which emphased this anatomical deficiency, and so she decided to get her own back on this drive. The manoeuvre which I assumed was pre-meditated was to drive through the station without stopping and hope that the ticket was removed and the transaction registered before the car demolished the barrier.

Fortunately, taking a lead from the South African Rugby team, the running pass was anticipated by the male navigator, who duly registered a try and both travellers emerged unscathed.

Monday 15th October

We drove North from Figeac to Blois through lovely countryside around Limoges. Blois, in the Loire valley proved a larger town than we had expected, so we turned down the valley and returned to a familiar hostelry in Amboise.