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Published: July 26th 2015
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Oh, a nut fell off the main skylight support over the cab which I couldn't fix as the bolt head is inaccessible without removig the frame or drilling out 2 rivets – so, we can't use it now but I have sent a stinking email to the dealer which made me feel better...
I had also sent an email to the a camp site in Cassino but had had no reply so I set the Dyson for the memorial on the way to the camp site. The journey was largely motorway, so it was fine.
We found the grave site easily enough, though it was tucked away on the outskirts to the town under a mountain, on top of which is the famous Montecassino Abbey. The little car park was in front of the memorial facade, a huge structure of marble & you couldn't see beyond or round it. Climb the steps, go around the side to be faced with c.4,000 headstones in beautifully maintained grounds – no-one could not be moved faced with this...
We had found out Cathy's great Uncle's details from the War Grave Commission website; I went to the catalogue housed in a small
safe inside a small building which was open despite a sign saying it was only open during 'manned' hours – this due to theft &/or vandalism (sickened at the thought) – to find a site plan, which I found but noticed that the previous page had been ripped out, pathetic.
So we found his grave, Cathy had a weep & we placed my Easter cross I carry in front of his headstone; we were going to buy some flowers but there was nowhere to buy them plus I don't think they're allowed anyway, the simplicity of the headstones & lines adding to the poignancy...
There's a picture on here of a super epitaph – have a look...
So, off to the camp site which didn't exist! Quite odd as Cathy had found it on the web & we had co-ordinates & an email address..so to plan B. It was early afternoon so we decided to go north of Rome to an area recommended to us by a Belgian couple the day before, set the Dyson & away...
We stopped at a motorway cafe which was rammed – it was Saturday. Now, think of the
worst place for acoustics (mine is Costa coffee near Tesco Banbury!) & fill it with 1000 Italian men, women & children. Managing to avoid burst eardrums, flailing arms & rampant children we found a table beneath a mass of debris from the previous family & quickly had our lunch.
Now, the road signs in Italy do take some getting used to, but around Rome they are really bad for the unwitting driver plus the amount of kamikasi drivers increases exponentially. To cut a long story short, the Dyson blew a fuse after us ignoring it after it said 'head for Roma Centro' & us having words we found our way around Rome on the ring road & headed to our next stop next to a Lake; Lago di Bracciano. I have to say again that the toll motorways here are very good but nearly everything else is shocking. I have driven on better farm tracks than some of the roads – in fact the gravel track to the camp site was a millpond in comparison. The roads don't really encourage me to revisit, especially in Billy. The site is smashing – on the lake side, very shady
beneath huge trees & probably the best shower/toilet block we've experienced on the continent & we decided to stay a couple of nights.
Tonight we shall sample the restaurant...the meal was lovely, me a home made pizza, Cathy a carbonara coupled with salads & a bottle of local wine which was Sauvignon based & very good. After the meal the waitress gave us a glass of cherry liqueur which was delicious – must buy a bottle of that.
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