Monday 29 August 2016 - GEA - getting to Pracchia

5.45am - taxi to airport. Oops, I picked up the flight time as the gate closing time. Could have had another half hour in bed!

Through security by 6.20. No banana guard to hold us up today.

Breakfast in the usual place - Starbucks by the prize car in Terminal 1.

Graham turns up - the hold bag containing our walking poles has been safely deposited.

LS883 - Jet2 to Pisa - 8.35 (departed on time).

Land early. Easily through customs and onto the shuttle bus to Pisa. A very short journey.

Al fresco lunch in a square dominated by a statue of Vittorio Emanuel II. A nice salad.

Wander over to ancient artefact of Pisa (pictured) and associated buildings. Hot. Lots of people. To be expected at this iconic site. I first visited it on my first trip abroad, circa 1972, when we travelled in John Clark's Ford Cortina for a holiday in Forte dei Marmi. I still need to develop the photos from that trip! Could be fun!

Easy journey to Pracchia - 2 hours or so; two trains and a bus. Cary had been there for two hours.

Beer o'clock.

We were expecting a room for four at Hotel Melini. We got a twin and a double. That's fine. As was the meal.

It has been a long day. No wifi up in the room, so after a long sleep this should transmit tomorrow.