Thursday 10
October
We are going along the coast again today but in the
opposite direction Alassio towards San Remo.
Leaving the hotel at 09:00 we pass through more pretty
towns and villages as well as some magnificent coastal scenery before arriving
in San Remo at 10:15. On arrival (and I had been pre-warned) the coach park,
where we would normally drop and park, is closed due to the San Remo rally
which is taking place over the weekend. The coach parking area is now full of rally
cars and their teams so I drop off close by and then turn around to go back the
way I have just come to fill up with fuel before finding a lay by to park in. I
am due to pick them all up at midday.
Allowing plenty of time I leave my parking spot and drive
back into a very busy San Remo but instead of going through the town I turn
left down by the port to try and miss all of the traffic in the town. There are
no diversion signs or warning signs so I presume the rally won’t affect this
way. Wrong!!
I get down by the harbour only to find the road ahead is
closed and I will have to turn back the way I came. This is going to prove very
difficult as the turning is tight and there are loads of mopeds and scooters
parked in the way. I am not a happy bunny! I just can’t move and wait for the
police to come and sort it out!
A nice policeman appears and closes the road I have
driven down to allow me to turn and drive out of the area. What a relief! Phew!
Without any more mishaps I am glad to be soon driving out
of San Remo and onto our next destination, Dolceaqua, a lovely medieval town 45
minutes from San Remo.
I drop close to the famous arched bridge that is the
entrance into the wonderful old town before going off to turn around as the
coach park is behind me. As I get back to the coach park I realise I cannot
swing into the park as it is too tight so I go off in search of another turning
to spin round in before finally parking.
I then have a stroll into this beautiful town. Walking
across the steep bridge you come into a warren of narrow lanes with the
buildings so close together they almost block out the daylight. The buildings
are all supported against each other by brick arches primarily in case of
earthquakes but I would also think to stop these very old buildings falling
into one another.
I have my lunch in the small square close to the river
and bridge and enjoy a very tasty lasagne sat out in the sun. My meal is
accompanied by a delicious basket of homemade bread, homemade olive oil and a
little saucer to pour the oil in and dip the bread. Handsome!
It is very quiet here with a lot of shops closed but most
of the cafes and restaurants are open.
I return to Diano Marina via the coast road and what
seems like a million scooters, all driving like raving loonies!
We are back at the hotel by 16:45.
I am going to treat myself to dinner tonight so won’t be
eating in the hotel. I always like to have at least one meal out and as I’m not
driving tomorrow I can relax with a nice meal on my own.
I don’t think I will go far as a storm is forecast and it
doesn’t look good out there!
I go out of the back of the hotel and cross through a
couple of beach bars, part of the beach and onto the promenade that runs down
to San Bartolameo. There aren’t too many places open as I walk down as far as
the pizzeria I went in the other day. This is open but decide to try somewhere
different and also don’t want to be too far from the hotel in the coming storm.
And it is certainly on its way, I can hardly stand up in the wind!
I decide on a nice looking restaurant on the promenade
and enjoy a meal of Bresola, Mussels, crème Brulee and coffee all washed down
with a nice red!
The walk home is a little dodgy as it is now very wet,
windy and pitch black! I can’t see the steps down to the beach and need my
torch for the walk back.
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