- We’ve been in italy, where I can verify that even with great weather, a squishy cornetto is always a disappointment
- It’s a sandy, eyeless fate that awaits muad’dib in Dune 2 (if they choose to make it into a film). I’ve previously critically panned this classic novel as too “politics” but having re-read it, turns out it’s great if you like your protagonists to be male and your bechdale tests passed by a worms-width. 7/10
- Talking of sandy and eyeless… I’ve had some sort of terrible fever these past few days. It’s dulled the last few holiday experiences and will probably get better as soon as we get home/go back to work. Poor Lizzy’s stepped in to handle most of organising/vision for the kids.
- We visited Matera, a previous James Bond filming location and european capital of culture. While eating Gelato we took in the ambience of the dense, layered housing and were serenaded by a local italian busker. Once he’d finished his tuneful wailing, our youngest asks “whys he got money on his head?”. Having missed him remove the cash from his fedora before he replaced it.
- The grip on a croc runs out pretty quickly when you cross them with centuries old limestone/marble paving and a three year old that wants to run at race pace the whole holiday.
- In Italy there’s these visible differences in road user classes.
- Tourists in Jeep Cherokees. Following all the road limits/signs, going 50km/h on an empty three lane motorway because there’s a sign saying to do so.
- Locals in usually modern german or scandinavian cars (audi/volvo) following none of the speed limits/road signs. Powering through 30km/h zones at 110km/h overtaking from just 1 metre behind you and coming back into the lane 1 metre in front.
- The old guard/olive grove owners/local farmers driving classic, tiny italian cars, tractors, 3-wheelers, trucks (piaggio, fiat etc). That are still working but aren’t able to reach the speeds necessary to worry any road signs.
- Full-kitted hero cyclists pushing 300-500 watts in 28 degree heat and a headwind.