We have had a couple of quiet days around Recanati. Visited Loreto again to see the beautiful church I remember last time we were in Italy 22 years ago.
When we got to the door I wasn't allowed in with my shoulders showing so I had to buy a disposable coat for €1.00. It looked like a navy theatre gown:-/ Rob thought it looked like a Nuns habit and wanted to take a photo!! When we were inside I noticed that although you had to cover your shoulders one could almost wear nothing on your feet!! Anyway it was worth the hassle because it is a beautiful church, and a big place for pilgrims. After Loreto we caught the bus to Porto Recanati for Rob to reminisce about his childhood days when he lived there for a short while. It's very different now and is very popular with holiday makers, Italian's love to sun-bake and don't seem to worry about the consequences.
Rob's cousin Arturo and Rosanna took us out to a lovely restaurant for dinner in the evening.

Wed 24 Aug - we were given a lift to Ancona train station in Arturo's flash top of the range citron (my next car I have decided) and headed on up to Venice, on train journey that took 4 hrs, 2 of which were standing room only. We are actually staying in Montegrotto which is a thermal town 40 mins from Venice, again recommend by Rob's cousin. Saving us a lot by not staying in Venice and getting a five star treatment also (nice to have some local help). The place is a big "spa" town due to thermal springs and is very popular in the cooler months. Fairly quiet this time of the year. The hotel has 4 large spa pools to relax in, we left our swimmers in Arpino thinking we wouldn't need them!! Gino gave a pair to Rob, which look like golf shorts, I however brought a new pair, and the funniest thing is you have to wear a swim cap in the pool, can't work out why, some men have more hair on their body than the head! So with Rob in his Gino swimmers and Ali G cap, and me looking like my mum off we went for a spa/swim. Didn't feel so bad when one looked like everybody else, nearly all the ladies wear a bikini - small or large, old and young, anyway the swim/spa was really relaxing. For dinner we headed to the dining room and formally seated to face a 6 course menu with full silver service...very nice.