| Date added : | 19-Jun-2009 |
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Friday May 15th Travel Day Headed off to Dublin and onto a direct flight to Pisa Italy. On arrival the sun was out which makes the world always seem like a better place. Checked into the hotel which might I add had just about enough room for me to change in (and I’m a small man) but when in room as they say!!!! Walked around town for a bit, went up the leaning tower of Pisa which scared the be- Jesus out of me as I’m not good with heights ( at all) however it made a man out of me. Walk, dinner bed short and sweet…… night night Saturday May 16th My auntie Angela lived in Pisa for most of her life before she passed away a few years back. She was the woman who gave me a loan of £300 to buy my first drum kit many many moons ago. However I was scared of her all my life and found it very hard in her company. Just before she died she was in Ireland and asked to meet with me seen as I was also her godchild also but I didn’t meet her but yet today after years of her asking me to visit I am going to se where she lived and also her grave, a few years too late though. I was picked up by Angela’s good friend Jenny and she took me around Pisa, For Lunch, and to her home. It was the first time I enjoyed a trip away from my family even though I missed them like crazy Jenny kept my mind occupied. On arrival to her beautiful hone I meet her Kids and her husband who all seemed like carbon cut outs of Jenny, Kind, Gentle and just fantastic people, it was a pure Joy to feel so comfortable and at ease with everything. After that Jenny took me so some amazing ice cream and then to Angela’s grave. To say it was strange is an understatement, I love and have always loved greave yards don’t know why but I just do. I felt guilty and ashamed as I stood over her grave side which she shares with her husband Aldo who died only a few months after Angela. All my life, the drum Kit which started my talent, a leather Wallet Bridge wallet she gave me years ago only now to realise its worth as it’s an expensive item etc. I might not of got on with her or shall I say didn’t want too but I now realise typically now that she is gone that it was her way, she cared and loved in her own way and at the end of the day that is all that matters. Jesus why does it take so long for me or other people so long nowadays to learn our lessons? However back to the hotel after one of the nicest days I have ever spent on any of my 37 years travels and a good sleep awaits……. May 17th Race Day. The Pisa marathon does not start in Pisa it starts in another town a few miles away. Buses take you there and the race starts at 9am. 26.2 miles later of very hot weather, Beautiful small Tuscan roads meandering through little streams, rivers, villages, crowds of people cheering, old Italian men sitting outside drinking there coffee with an expression on there faces saying: who they feck are ye? Where did ye come from? What are ye at? And for god sake would ye just chill out, Relax and sit down and join us for coffee?? Next thing you know you end up with the sights of Pisa in the distance and under the leaning tower of Pisa the Finish. What a lovely lovely marathon, up there in top five for sure. After the race Jenny and her family took me to a very beautiful restaurant in Viareggio where we had just about every fish on the menu and desert basically page 1 and chips and page 2 and cream…….beautiful, then off to airport and home sweet home. Great trip, great marathon, lovely people. I always worry and feel sick when I leave home but today is the tomorrow I worried about yesterday and everything is OK. Chao J xx
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