Life on the Road...

...is filled with some interesting little experiences, like getting into car crashes with crazy Italians, freezing your butt off in a tent on unexpectedly cold nights (Madonna), cooking pasta on your little gas cooker for what seems like the thousandth time. Of course there are brilliant things too, like stopping and looking out at some magic scenery in contryside the likes of which you have never seen before, and being the only person(s) within eyeshot.

I hate car crashes. I hate the sound, the screeching tyres and the bang. Then the adrenaline, and it doesnt help because what you really want to do is think clearly and make sure you dot all of the Is and cross the Ts to make sure the insurance people will be happy, and all your mind is doing is racing and etc. etc..... Anyone who has been in one will know what I am talking about. However, that is all behind us for now thankfully, we have a temporary (smaller, less gutsy, less fuel efficient, and generally more crap) hire car until the other one is fixed, and we will have to drive to Siena to drop off / pick up when it is all sorted. Plans will probably have to change, but that is easy I guess when your plans are general (at best).

I have a few observations about our travels that I will share with you in parting. Until next time......

The Dutch - The Dutch loooooove to camp. Every place we have been to has been filled with them, all throughout France, Spain, Portugal and Italy. The ones we have spoken to have all been very nice too, and (unsurprisingly given that we were talking to them) had very good english.

The Germans - Also enjoy a bit of camping, but tend to keep to themselves.

French Campsites - In General have had the best facilities, locations, etc.

Americans - Absolutely looooove Italy. They are totally sick for it. They are absolutely everywhere, even in the middle of nowhere. They point, they talk loudly, they take alot of what I assume will later turn out to be suitably average photos, and in general just go completely sick for Italy.

Australians - Are also pretty much omnipresent in most parts of europe, and often sadly are loud, largely ignorant and insensitive, and talk with this strange accent that I seem to remember. It must be said though that most are about 21 and are probably on the equivalent for uni of what schoolies week is to high school.

Madonna - is a brilliant travelling companion, and has improved much in her map reading ability. We are also very slick at putting up that tent by now as well.

The French - Love baguettes. Even in the middle of the countryside you will often see an old lady walking along slowly carrying a bread stick. If you are lucky you will see someone carrying a whole armful, very skillfully, whilst riding a bike in traffic. Very cute. The bread is good too, the best we have had in Europe.

OK, that is all for now. (Poor old Ireland, trampled by the French.)