October 2nd
Jo woke up and forgot that we were gaining an hour of sleep crossing from Greece to Italy. She woke me up too with all her bright and breeziness. Then when I pointed out the time she went back to sleep sulking at not having more sleep. The constant boats and stuff has been draining the last few days.
We arrived in Italy and drove 300km to Bologna where we found a hotel, had a beer and some great food and wine. Old world wine is the nuts. Particularly after only S.A. wine in Africa and then Jordanian, Syrian, Turkish and Greek. We then booked a restaurant for dinner but we are due to be there in ten minutes and Jo is still asleep.
We made to the restaurant in Bologna which was meant to be great (Hey, if you're name checked in a John Grisham novel then that's it, you're aet) but it was sadly disappointing. Drinks with the ceramic salesmen on the table next to us was much more fun.
October 3rd
We got up and drove to Parma where the ham is from. Italian roads are cool. Big and wide (albeit expensive) we spannered 'round Parma and found a hotel and had some food and wandered 'round the very very pretty town.
October 4th
Started driving down the autostrada and after various false starts ended up in Sanremo on the Italian Riveria. Very pretty with an amazing casino. We had dinner and Jo suggested the casino. There was a €100 buy-in tournament which I thought was about to start - mostly 'cause they told me it was, when in fact it was at the third level already. Average chip stack 11000 and they gave me less than 7000. Well more fool them. I promptly won the whole tournament and nearly €800. Having started at a massive disadvantage. And then I offered to pay people out extra money when if I won. Which they turned down. And a guy I offered €250 to to buy out walked away with just €75. I had twenty times his stack at the time but I was very very tired. Anyway good-o - I won lots more money.
October 5th
I for one woke up with a big hangover. Then we drove to Monaco...