M M M M M MY ANCONA

I Not really mine.  Not my fault!
That's a bit harsh, but from a tourist point of view this has not been the most successful stop on the journey.
There are things to see and places to go, it is just difficult to get there and they are usually closed.

Ancona is very multi-cultural after the mono-culture of Penna San-Giovanni.  You would expect that of a port city, especially when staying by the train station and port.  As a consequence there are always some shops open, which is a blessed relief if you need a bite to eat or a drink.

Yesterday was a public holiday in Italy, Assumption day.  Buses and local trains were not running, even to the posted schedule, and taxis were almost impossible to find unless you were at the main station.  But nothing!  Nothing! was going to stop me going for a swim in the Adriatic.  Not the lack of transport to the beach.  Not the 4 kilometre walk there in thongs, not 3 k of it being along a feeway with no alternative.  I just kept walking til I found access to the beach (fenced railway line between road and water.)  Planned to get a taxi back.

Beautiful swim.  No taxis they told me.  Walk back.  Wet shorts.  Halfway along the freeway a  *#*!ing bus goes past!!  The cars on the freeway don't leave much room between you and them when they pass you from behind, I tell you.  More when you are facing them.  Quite a few other people were walking along the same freeway, faced withthe same lack of public transport.

Today, I have a few hours after check out to wait for the others and then the train to Rome at 3.30.  Off to see the cathedral on the hill and a few other major sights around the place.  Unlikely to get inside any of them, unless I catch them during the hour or two they are actully open.

Cathedral on top of big hill

Ancona from said big hill.

Big stormy wind came up. I had to try and eat this in said wind.

Such trials and tribulations I can deal with.