Swimming & Walking in the rain at Villaggio dei Fiori, Sanremo - 24th Oct ‘19

Brunnehilda sits about 10 yards, as the crow flies, from the sea. This is pretty special as we constantly have the sound and smell of the crashing waves onto the rocks about 2 yards below us. However, when the storms hit it feels and especially sounds, more like you are at sea than beside it.

The weather forecast looked horrendous for today - no more thunderstorms just constant rain after a grey morning. I have to say it didn’t disappoint! Bobby and I got another pre-breakfast swim in. The wee swimming harbour was a little fierce - most early Autumn days this bay would be like a mill pond. The temperature was fine once you got in so, once again, it was a pleasant way to start the day.

No drizzle this morning so we breakfasted outside overlooking a very grey sea. Why does food taste so much better outside? Just to put it out there though, that’s not to say that Kim’s breakfasts need air to breathe light into them .... well, you know what I mean.

We decided to have a lazy day today. Although Bobby is not as programmed to idleness as his 2 old parents! He decided to hire a bike and cycle into Sanremo while we read, relaxed and abluted. He was back by the time we had finished! He had had a couple of chain emergencies so he was as as oily as he was wet - yep, the afternoon rain had arrived on time!

And it didn’t stop. It was one of those UK type days where the rain just gets stuck. To be fair, as rubbish as the weather has been on this trip this was the first time it had really stopped us in our tracks. We soon got fed up of waiting for it to stop - we tried a walk up to the supermarket, another bike ride, book reading... this beast was here to stay, you either take it on or you give into it.

We thought we’d be very British and just ignore the rain... we put on our macs, got out the brolly and at 6pm headed into town - via the well worn but rather damp ex railway track. We got as wet as a prawns in jacuzzi during the 30 mins!

Everywhere was open but there wasn’t that lovely atmosphere that you get with alfresco Mediterranean dining - it had been literally washed away! We found a nice place called Trattoria del Porto .http://www.ristorantedanicosanremo.it/ The food (pasta!) was great and they were very obliging when the menu, as normal, was very un veggie friendly. There were lots of nice little touches with the service as well - including limoncello and shortbread after coffee. Service was included on the bill but we gave them a good cash tip as well. They were delighted and the waiters shook our hands and wished us all the best on our way out. I thought at one stage one of them was going to kiss us!

The rain had finally stopped and it was a fairly pleasant walk home - albeit with slightly damp clothes! The Italians were now out in force in the centre and the place was starting to liven up again.

More red wine and canasta when we got back to Brunnehilda. Bobby is feeling a little crook - I suspect the cheap supermarket vino is hitting back!?

Are you all sitting down? The weather forecast says no rain tomorrow and we might even see the sun!! Now that calls for another red wine... or perhaps not!?