Italy - Alessandria/Genova Friday 10th September 2010 Over a week in Alessandria

We reached the mile stone of being in one place for a week on Thursday 9th, and we went over a week by a day. We were all hoping we'd only be in the hostel for 4 nights! We estimated wrong. We were all getting a bit depressed and sick of salami sandwiches, so were trying to find some cheap restaurants to eat at. Of course, we failed. Because Alessandria is so popular and everyone wants to go there on holiday, so all of the restaurants are really expensive for basic food. Although we did find a couple of cafe's that did pasta and a drink for €5. So we ate there one day. On Wednesday, we were really bored because we were supposed to be in Croatia by that time. But something really cool happened in the evening while we were watching and episode of Outnumbered. We finished and all got into bed when I saw some flashing outside. They were really bright flashes, and mummy saw them as well. She got up and looked to see what it was and there was a massive thunder storm going on, but it wasn't over us. It must have been ages away, because we could see the lightning really well through the clouds, but we got no sound of thunder claps what so ever! It went on for ages, but didn't come over us at all. So that was interesting any way!

On Thursday, it was just a repeat of the previous days to be honest. The only funny thing that happened was when we went to get a coffee in the middle square. We were having a drink out side a cafe when this guy in white came up too our table behind Beth. He told us to be quiet and not tell Beth he was behind her, which is random enough! Beth is really scared of people acting weirdly in costumes, she'd even get scared of dressed up characters from a show that wander around our shopping centre in Banbury! So when she got tapped on the shoulder by this white man, she got really freaked out! She jumped and went a pale colour and didn't do anything. Turns out he was a beggar! He was dressed really badly and his face paint was more grey that white! He showed us all a plastic cup to put money in, when he didn't even do anything cool! The other funny thing was, Beth couldn't even relax walking home, because we walked around a corner and he was there so we had to dive into a book shop! We're steering clear of random white people now!

Friday 10th was mummy and daddy's wedding anniversary, so we decided to hire a car and go down to Genova which is South and on the coast. We drove down and it took about 1 hour and a half, and we arrived to see clear blue sea, loads of palm trees and lots of boats in the harbor! We went and parked up and then walked over to the harbor to see what boats were there. Turns out that there was a massive Clipper! In case you're not aware of a 'Clipper', it is a very big pirate looking ship which has lots of riggings, looking out points (sorry, the name of those things just slipped my mind!) - ah, mummy just told me. It had riggings, crow's nests (thanks mummy) and lots more pirate looking things, including cannons! It looked like they were filming something there as well. So if a film comes out in England about pirates filmed in Genova, let me know because I saw the set! It was a really beautiful boat as well, with a big mermaid on the front! It was the make of boat that Christopher Columbus took to America when he went traveling. But I don't think the ships would have been in such good condition in pirate times! When we looked at the Clipper, we were walking back to the car when we came across and Indian praying session! they all had their shoes off like they do in India! It was incredible. When we got back to the van, we drove out to find a beach. We found loads of beaches, pretty blue sea, nice waves but they were all private! €7 each just to go on a pebbly beach, that's right, not sand, HOT pebbles! All of the beaches were like that which were private. Eventually, when we did find a free one, it was exactly the same as the private beaches as in it was pebbly, no shade, lots of people. Oh, and the only reason there were lots of people was because the free beach was about 25m LONG! I'm not even joking, it was ridiculous. But me, Beth and Edie went in the sea and it was really warm! The good old Mediterranean that goes out about 3 meters and then has a massive drop. Not the best beach that we've ever been too I must admit. But it was a nice day out any way.

Of course, when we got back to Alessandria to find a restaurant, there were none open because Friday night in Italy means 'bye bye nice Italian made lasagne and hello cocktails'! We ended up eating at a pizza place down our road which wasn't too bad. I mean, what's wrong with being the only people there and a big TV showing Star Trek in Italian while we're eating? None of us actually got a pizza in the end. Me, Beth and daddy got a nice, but buttery risotto, Edie got tomato, but olive oily pasta and mummy got pasta with weird fish meat. All that cost around €80, and on the next night (Saturday), we got a sushi take away which cost €30 less! Alessandria's a great city, isn't it?