29th Sept - 1st October, 2021
Hotel Riviera, Sanremo, Italy
The only reason for chosing this location was as a convenient jumping off point to collect and reunite Pat with some long awaited possessions. It was a 3 hour drive from Turin and the intention was to make the necessary slight diversion for Pat's possessions in a couple of days time en route to our last stop in France. We didn't want to return again to Menton and so Sanremo fitted the bill.
En route from Turin, we looked for somewhere to stop for a coffee. Giovanni had kindly bought croissants for us to take on our journey and we wanted to eat them too!
We passed through a small village and saw a roadside cafe. We were able to pull into a small parking area and decided to have a look across the river at some buildings and a church which seemed interesting. As we drew closer, it became evident that everywhere was derelict. It seemed quite bizarre, and although we did ask the name of the place at the cafe, I don't remember it and cannot find it on the map even though the main, heavily used road passed through it and it's located next to right next to a significant river.
En route from Turin, we looked for somewhere to stop for a coffee. Giovanni had kindly bought croissants for us to take on our journey and we wanted to eat them too!
We passed through a small village and saw a roadside cafe. We were able to pull into a small parking area and decided to have a look across the river at some buildings and a church which seemed interesting. As we drew closer, it became evident that everywhere was derelict. It seemed quite bizarre, and although we did ask the name of the place at the cafe, I don't remember it and cannot find it on the map even though the main, heavily used road passed through it and it's located next to right next to a significant river.
We continued on our way, puzzled as to what had happened to the community. We felt it must have been a fairly recent happening as buildings seemed mainly intact, albeit abandoned.
Sanremo eventually came into view alongside the Mediterranean. Much like any coastal resort, developments merged and all around were hotels - except ours! Following the WhatsApp map details provided, we hunted along the stretch of road where it was supposed to be located, without luck. The car satnav gave a slightly different area when searching for the street rather than hotel and we followed instructions. The hotels seemed plush and the area boasted a casino; things were looking up. We kept rising out of the coastal area and came into a decidedly less salubrious area when we spotted our hotel.
Arriving at the agreed time, we were unhappy to find no-one at reception and with nowhere to park off street. A surreal scenario started to develop as a guy walked towards reception and I followed thinking he was the owner. Turned out that he was just a guest, the same as we were, however was also Italian! He let us into the hotel and then used my phone to call a number pinned on the door; he was evidently told that there was an emergency somewhere. Meanwhile, Chris was investigating the chain across the hotel parking spaces and inadvertently broke a plastic ring holding everything together.
Franco, the owner eventually appeared, a bit disconcerted over the plastic ring breakage, however extremely welcoming and helpful. We checked in and for the first time on our trip, were asked for passports rather than TIEs we offered (we were well aware of the difference, however up until that point, our TIEs had been accepted and details taken from them without comment).
Once installed, we made our way downwards to find somewhere to eat as well as explore. The streets were narrow and dark giving a spooky feeling and a sense of not wanting to be out at night. The area had character though and we found a small bar/restaurant in a back street where we all ate a really delicious lasagne.
Taking a walk along the promenade we came to the harbour wall and could get a sense of Sanremo itself as we walked right to the end and looked back. A nightcap in more modern bar on the front and we made our way back up to the hotel via the road rather than the alley steps.
That night was awful. The bed and pillows hard, the noise both inside and outside the hotel was loud an incessant. The only bonus for me was that I had been able to take photos throughout the night of the lit church as well as a lovely sunrise. We'd planned to have a couple of nights in Sanremo before a long journey across France towards Narbonne. The thought of another sleepless night, together with the planned long journey was not pleasant. After discussion, it was agreed we'd move on into France to be closer to the pick up point for Pat's possessions as well as cut the journey time to the next stop.
Sanremo eventually came into view alongside the Mediterranean. Much like any coastal resort, developments merged and all around were hotels - except ours! Following the WhatsApp map details provided, we hunted along the stretch of road where it was supposed to be located, without luck. The car satnav gave a slightly different area when searching for the street rather than hotel and we followed instructions. The hotels seemed plush and the area boasted a casino; things were looking up. We kept rising out of the coastal area and came into a decidedly less salubrious area when we spotted our hotel.
Arriving at the agreed time, we were unhappy to find no-one at reception and with nowhere to park off street. A surreal scenario started to develop as a guy walked towards reception and I followed thinking he was the owner. Turned out that he was just a guest, the same as we were, however was also Italian! He let us into the hotel and then used my phone to call a number pinned on the door; he was evidently told that there was an emergency somewhere. Meanwhile, Chris was investigating the chain across the hotel parking spaces and inadvertently broke a plastic ring holding everything together.
Franco, the owner eventually appeared, a bit disconcerted over the plastic ring breakage, however extremely welcoming and helpful. We checked in and for the first time on our trip, were asked for passports rather than TIEs we offered (we were well aware of the difference, however up until that point, our TIEs had been accepted and details taken from them without comment).
Once installed, we made our way downwards to find somewhere to eat as well as explore. The streets were narrow and dark giving a spooky feeling and a sense of not wanting to be out at night. The area had character though and we found a small bar/restaurant in a back street where we all ate a really delicious lasagne.
Taking a walk along the promenade we came to the harbour wall and could get a sense of Sanremo itself as we walked right to the end and looked back. A nightcap in more modern bar on the front and we made our way back up to the hotel via the road rather than the alley steps.
That night was awful. The bed and pillows hard, the noise both inside and outside the hotel was loud an incessant. The only bonus for me was that I had been able to take photos throughout the night of the lit church as well as a lovely sunrise. We'd planned to have a couple of nights in Sanremo before a long journey across France towards Narbonne. The thought of another sleepless night, together with the planned long journey was not pleasant. After discussion, it was agreed we'd move on into France to be closer to the pick up point for Pat's possessions as well as cut the journey time to the next stop.