Chris & Kelly's Travel Adventures

This was a small 2 day trip.  Chris was very interested in viewing a part of the Adriatic coastline and walk a beach and I wanted to see the country of San Marino.  As they are not far apart, we combined for a 2 day trip.  We traveled by car (Chris driving, me navigating) from Tuscany to the Adriatic town of Pesaro.  I say the word nativating lightly as my navigating skills in Italy go something like this:  Chris says ok we are coming up to a round-a-bout which exit do I take?  I say take the one on the left, he says "which left?" after thinking for a second too long, I say wait... I meant my other left (as in right) by this time we have circled around twice.  So he tries again, "which town do I go toward" so I say "feedadogabanana" (the real town name is Domagnana, but my Italian sounds like the feedadogabanana), and he understood completely!! Haha, after a few false starts and a couple of lost in translations, we make to the city of Pesaro.  Hotel Perticari is right on the beach and having a room on the 6th floor we have a great balcony view of the ocean.  Our room however is the size of a closet, the bed as comfortable as a college dorm bed and reeks of stale cigarettes...but the view and location can't be beat- after all its only for 1 night.  We take a nice long walk on the beach, find a romantic dinner near Piazza de Popolo and walk around the fountain before heading to bed, while listening to beach bands pump out Bob Dylan and Paul Simon tunes...beach activity was very busy until wee hours so we had to wait to hear ocean sounds until morning.  Chris took a sunrise walk on the beach while I collected more beauty sleep.  Thank him for today's lead photo!

To our grandgirls, this carousel made us think of you.

The next morning we headed out to the small country of San Marino.  Italy has 2 smaller countries within its borders, San Marino & The Vatican City.  San Marino is a country from the 11th century on the top of Mt. Titano, it holds several distinctions 1) smallest and oldest republic in the world 2) 3rd smallest country in Europe...the Vatican City is the smallest.  3) San Marino has 9 districts, the largest population is at the base of the mountain called Borgo Maggiore and you can park there and ride up the mountain side on a cable car.   The actual town of San Marino is beautiful with views all the way to the ocean.  The towns original architecture is intact.  We saw the changing of the guards, strolled the streets and had a nice lunch.  San Marino is famous for its hand painted ceramics.  For Dad/Sandy...I saw this display of law enforcement badges it reminded me of your Secret Service badge, I saw a LLadro display and thought of the figurine you bought me as a little girl and because you love Christmas and dad needs more to do...there are a bunch of Christmas ornament stores :)   We mailed ourselves a postcard and got the official passport stamp of San Marino.  It was a very good & interesting day and just like the little girl in the last photo, we will sleep easily tonight.