I got a text message last night that the boat I am travelling on to go to Italy tonight is going to be delayed a few hours and would now be leaving at 0230 tomorrow morning. Well that set the panic into motion didn't it. What on earth was I going to do between 12 noon check out and 0230 departure with a case that is heavy as and stuffed to the brim, and my other bags and crap I am carting around! When I spoke to the guy at reception he told me that he couldn't tell me if I could book my room for the rest of the day, I had to ask the manager in the morning. And to add to it all, I had to be awake early ready for a 6.45 email then a 7am Skype call.
So, I woke with a headache as would be my normal because I am a stress head, the Skype call went through okay, then I went and saw the manager and asked if I could book the room until 9pm tonight. No, I can't book it until 9pm, I can book it for the whole night and because it is my first stay here and I have been here a week he will give it to me for half price. Well, I'm just standing there looking at him and because he didn't think he was doing me a favour, he thought I would want more (which I didn't) so he then offered to give me a free breakfast ($20 usually) in the dining room so of course, I handed over my card, paid half price for another night, went and ate easily my $20 worth of free breakfast and then went out for a walk to get some fresh air into my head.
I wandered around in a new direction, it's all old in amongst the main streets. A tip for travellers - go off the main streets. The main streets are for tourists, priced for tourists and offer crap food and products. The laneways and smaller streets are the shops, cafes and restaurants the locals go to. Go there.
I've come back to my room, about to have a cuppa and a snooze, will then get up later this arv, go for some dinner somewhere down a laneway off a main street, come back, shower and taxi to the Grimaldi terminal for my voyage to Italia.
I think I have one hour internet during my voyage, otherwise I am uncontactable so fingers crossed! :)
Some pics from my wandering around this morning -
Shops that have been around for more Signs painted onto footpaths
than 100 years get this plaque out the "Free political prisoners" - politicians
front of the shop. agreeing with Catalania becoming
independent have been imprisoned
Everyone walks around with a yellow
ribbon in support of the imprisoned
Pastry shop choices for breakfast
Down a side street where people live - all the buildings are 5 storeys high - the city
allows no higher than 5 storeys so sunlight isn't blocked
I don't know what the tiles and pictures mean but I'm sure they mean something to someone!
Outside my hotel room window, every morning they line up here, I have a feeling it is the dole office
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