The Train ConductorThe next day (one hour later) we caught a train to Nice, to spend the day. There was a night train leaving that night to go to Florence, our next port of call. We wondered through Nice and found the beach.The beach in Nice was a shingle affair. I don't know if it's just me, but that kind of thing shows a remarkable lack of effort. Went for a swim, but once you're in the sea it's extremely hard to get out again. The stones are am...

The BallerinaAn hour later we were in Pisa. We found that the next train for Florence left in an hour and a half, which gave us just enough time to go and look at the Leaning Tower.At the best of times my enthusiasm to go and look at things is weak. At four o'clock in the morning after two days of little or no sleep, it is non-existent. But, like in all such situations, the Mob Rule. It wouldn't be all that bad, I decided. After all, Pisa is a small place...

The Fat Woman And The MidgetsI liked Rome. I liked it a lot. This was even more remarkable, because it was in the face of considerable adversity. For one thing, the camp site we were staying at was an hour's bus ride from the city, and the bus only ran twice a day.For another thing, Rome traffic has a truly unique way of behaving. The pedestrian crossings had three lights on them, red amber and green. It took a while but I was finally able to work out what th...

The AlgeriansOn the last day in Rome, I had some decisions to make. Katie, Kristen and Andy were off to Salzburg to meet up with Katie's boyfriend and do the Sound Of Music tour. I had never seen the Sound Of Music, and wasn't in a hurry to go on a tour. Plus, I didn't want to cramp their style. True, we were all getting on really well, but I was aware of the fact I was tagging along. I didn't fancy the idea of going back to meet Karim and Polly e...

VinnyAfter another night train, a trip to the Internet cafe and a phone call home to his parents, the search for Vinny was almost over. I'd got to the town he was working in, and even phoned ahead to see if I could camp.I hadn't told Vinny I was coming of course. The last he heard I was in Rome, and headed east. I like surprises.When I finally tracked him down we just stood and stared at each other for a while. It took him quite a few moments to even reco...