melbourne - a brief, busy and intentionally functional stopover
the highlight being wined and dined at a harbourside restaurant
sharing a table with a bunch of old music industry cohorts
the universal supplied duo making some impressive noise
onto shanghai and 2 weeks of gorging and pampering
the compulsory 5 day inter-city tour an easy connection
5 star hotel check-in, alarm call, buffet breakfast, bus
morning - roll into a jade/silk/tea/pot shop in the city
all-you-can-eat lunch and then onto a temple/park/lake
all-you-can-eat dinner and then prepare for repeat play
entirely satisfying and an absolute pleasurable experience
only to be surpassed by then a full week of total indulgence
treated like visiting royalty with digs, food, transport laid on
multiple meals in private rooms in seemingly top restaurants
our hosts from distant or recent past friendships now revisited
we leave shanghai with our bellies and hearts full to over-flowing
check-in to our inner-city digs in london and quickly hit a groove
it's a short wander to borough markets for street-food heaven
boris-bikes are a hit for us and so easy to travel wide and far
pick up a bike, 30 minutes ride in bike friendly lanes and traffic
dump the bike, wander, shop, eat, watch, listen and observe
spring/summer weather and a happy populace also in the mix
as is our canine flatmate zelda with a want/need for regular walks
bombino, ballet and richard hawley all memorable concerts/gigs
a quick 3 day blast through north to south wales also rewarding
conwy and llandudno in the north noted for a future return visit
swansea in the south - tick - been there - cardiff - yep - good-o
leaving the jousting show behind to get a half-day in at bath
the history lesson well absorbed then the return to london
catch breath, eat burger and lobster, bid farewell and...italy...
budget airline ryanair delivers us to budget airport flumucino
europcar delivers us the pre-booked fiat 500 and we're off
set the controls for the north of rome and get acquainted
left hand drive, right hand manual gears, right side of road
anticipation and excitement far exceeding any trepidation
all good until we hit the first toll gate on our journey north
a machine demands attention so is (force) fed a credit card
it grabs it and won't let go - damn - hazard lights on - help!
eventually a techo and apprentice arrive to save the card and us
good humour prevails and the red-faced journey then continues
head off the highway and the roads then narrow, twist and ascend
long grass, lack of road markings and oncoming traffic combine
it's a short trip and before we know it we are in torrita tiberina
stumble around and recognise our airbnb booked apartment
landlady evelina and mother bridget arrive and welcome us
our home is equally instantly welcoming in this small town
bid farewell, unpack and take a short walk to the local shops
a beer taken overlooking the tiber valley - it all feels g-o-o-d
we load up with enticing food and wine from a small store
and enjoy our first meal on the first day of our italian adventure...
