A day at the seaside

We decided that we would go to the beach this weekend, so try to get some cooler air.  It is a bit further than the Lake but worth it to see the actual sea.  We chose Lido di Jesolo as our destination.  Only an hour and a half away and  very touristy, so there'd be plenty to do.

It was actually alot cooler when we left and a bit cloudy, and by the time we arrived, the sun had given way to some huge black clouds.  Undeterred we rented sunloungers and slept for an hour or so before taking refuge under the parasol whilst it rained.  

No trip is complete without a look around the shops, and we both got new watches, mine being a freebe from Simon's.  (He really needs more watches!!)

They the sun broke the clouds - Simon, like a child went running to the beach and jumper back o the sunlounger.  It was really nice for the rest of the afternoon.  I even treated myself to a 30 minute massage from a little lady on the beach, who was suprisingly good. 

I had a really good day.

HOT HOT HOT

You just can't win.  We Brits hate rainy old England because you can never plan to do something outdoors because chances are it is raining.  No wonder we have barbeques whenever there is a blue patch in the sky.  I don't understand why we are the largest market for convertible cars though?

Anyway, I've just returned from a rainy England.  It was great to go home and catch up and go shopping.  But mainly to cool down.

Italy is a wonderful place to live and I love the fact that I have a great tan, but does it have to be SO hot all the time.  It is presently 40c and rather humid at that.  In fact it has just started to rain and the storm clouds are on their way so for a few hours we will have respite.  But tomorrow, the humidity will rise.  I have been permanently sweaty since I stepped off the plane.  

Maybe it isn't the heat, maybe I am just predisposed to moaning and whinging!!  it could indeed run in the family!!  but I would just like the temperature to fall at night so that sleep is possible.

Bring bad rain and cold

Travelling friends

I have been a bit busy recently and therefore haven't posted for a while.  Firstly I got Sky TV installed which means that I now simply have to watch junk in my spare time.  It is not UK sky so most of the shows that I am watching are shows that I avoided in the UK but they are fine for filling that hour before dinner etc.

Secondly I had my friend from the states come visit for a few days.  We had a really great time.  I got to go to Venice again.  This was only my second time and the first time it was raining.  I have to say that Venice in the sunshine is significantly more beautiful that Venice in the 'sog'.  We also went to the guardini giusti, (pics above) .  They were lovely too but it was 38 degrees and we were beginning to melt.

I feel as though I have missed a huge amount out, but it is too late now.  I have finished school for the summer and therefore I am free to research for the new year.  

Lastly - we had a visitor on our balcony yesterday - he flew into our window and took a day to recover....we called him pip.

My little adventure

We had friends for dinner last night and i decided that I would try to be Nigella.  Firstly I had to go to the big supermarket.  This is not a big deal I hear you cry.  Ah, well it was my first little outing alone in the car.  It was pretty easy to be fair, but Simon's car is a tank and doesn't fit through little gaps like mitsi used to.   I made curry, because as I've mentioned before, we are not in large supply of it here.  I used a jar for the main curry but I did make bombay potatoes and naan breads from scratch.  Domestic goddess.  

Having people over to eat was alot of fun, we all drank far to much and the evening ending in the usual style of us all around the piano in a cross between the von trapp family and a 1940s film.

Today I made Simon drive me around the hills of Verona.  We went to Soave and the Valpolicela.  I have to admit, the scenery was beautiful, but I really hate these hairpin bends.  I entertained Simon by making strange noise around each corner.  

At the very top we came across a family of donkeys which were so sweet and such posers!

TVR Trip Italy

I've begun to realise that in the days and weeks before Simon arrived here I used to write about all sorts of weird and wonderful events.  Now I write about cars.  Maybe I should rename the blog and call it Lindsayscaritalia??

Anyway.  Another car event to report upon!!!

We had a wonderful weekend away in Emilia Romagna and Tuscany.  It did involve cars, but don't be put off.

The TVR Italia club met on Saturday morning at the Pagani factory for a tour.  Now this was the highlight of my month.  I have been brainwashed by Simon into car love and for me the Zonda is the most ostentatious car there is and for that reason, I love it.  The factory was in an industrial estate and looked like "bob's autos".  The sign was rusty and you'd not notice it if your weren't looking.  We were expecting grandeur.  To be honest the cars were incredible, but the factory tour was awful.  My Italian remains terrible but I understood enough to realise that the guide was a complete and utter arse.  When a phone rang during the tour, I thought he was going to punch it's owner.   Suffice to say that the tour became a talking point for all of the wrong reasons.  By the way for those of you who are non car geeks.  The car in the picture (with me) is worth £600,000

For me the treat was the beautiful countryside.  Unfortunately we were on windy country lanes so I spent most of the time with my eyes shut but it was simply stunning.  The photos can't capture the scale of the mountains and the height.  They also fail to capture the 40c heat which was super fun when we have no air con.  

On the way home we found the waterfall.  It was actually running through a glacier and the air temperature was much cooler.  A real welcome break.   We also stopped at an agriturismo is Emilia Romagna for a 2 hour lunch where we ate fabulous food for next to nothing.

Raduno TVR Italia

1000 Miglia

I remember sitting with Simon at Christmas on the Isle of Wight, watching James Martin trying to complete the Mille Miglia.  It was an historic car race that went through Verona and other Northern Italian cities.  I was interested because I was already living in Verona and recognised things, and because the cars were really nice.  To be honest James Martin, TV chef, was the real reason to watch...he is hot!!

Anyway, since then, Simon and I have been waiting for the Mille Miglia to arrive in Verona.  And last week it finally did.  It was a real shame that Simon was in Russia on business!!!

Luckily for him, I quite like cars really and so does my friend Faye, so we decided to go and be official photographers.  It was incredible.  Firstly, Italy being as it is, there were no road blocks or barriers so you could literally touch the cars.  We had a great spot on Castelvecchio bridge.  Secondly, there was hardly anyone there to watch.  It was a bit of a non event.

There were hundreds of cars.  I took 349 photos in total and I didn't get home until 1,30am.  I was shattered the next day.  

Simon was pleased to see ALL of the photos and named almost every car.  He was really jealous, but glad I enjoyed it.