Driving home from Pescara, Italy in Alvis Drophead FCO 154.

 

Up.

 

Day Three. 6th September.

The drive from Pescara to the Atlantic Hotel, Riccione.

 

It had been extremely wet and stormy overnight and the car was very damp for loading up with luggage. We left the hood up for the drive and did over 40 miles on the SS16 coastal road (via Adriatica Nord). Progress was very slow, with lots of stop/start traffic. We were astonished at the number of garages along the road. Getting petrol in Italy, however, was a logistical nightmare as every garage payment system was different! Some required prepayment, some notes, some cards and very occasionally an attendant appeared. I always fill the tank completely, and trying to judge how many Euros worth I needed was difficult (multiples of 10 in most garages).

 

Having experiences the SS16, we then picked up the A14 motorway. This allowed us to cruise at 60 to 65 mph, making excellent progress. In fact, the views from the A14 were far more spectacular that the SS16 and there wasn't much traffic either. We were one of the first to arrive at the hotel and had to park and find out how to get access to the underground car park. What we hadn't realised was that the lift didn't go up into the hotel, but onto the promenade (the hotel was situated right on the Promenade). Consequently, it was a very wetting experience getting the luggage to the hotel.

 

The hotel itself was excellent and the staff very helpful. Our room had a side balcony which gave us a good view of the sea. One strange aspect was that the bed was set up on a raised platform, making life rather hazardous for Marilyn. The restaurant provided a good dinner. We much appreciated the kettle (also in the first hotel) for making our afternoon and early morning tea! We always have our travelling kettle with as well. Everything but the kitchen sink, as they say.

 

During the night the weather worsened greatly and we had gale force winds. The sea became very rough and angry looking. Not the sort of weather we were expecting so early in September.

 

The hotel entrance from the Promenade.

The view from our Balcony.

Tucked away in the underground car park.