TALES FROM AN UNTIDY BUS - washing strewn everywhere and there's a body in the aisle, 1976

EXTRACTS FROM LETTER HOME, WRITTEN IN FLORENCE, ITALY, 1976

" ... refrained from spending small fortunes on leather goods (and of course the pink inflatable pocket size statue of David - thought you'd like it for the new mantelpiece at Suardal!)
However we treated ourselves to real Italian pizzas and ice cream (water melon flavour)

... the rain has caught up with us again I think we're cursed.  Tonight we're going into a disco - the Red Garter.

By the way we're not going to Tehran which is a bit of a shame, so don't write there.  Geoff the driver (a Scot) said that writing on p.cs or aerogrammes to Asia is advisable so no one will break into them.  (It takes about 4 days for a letter to get to Istanbul).

We're a day ahead of schedule if you're following on the map!  The group we met in Paris were a month overdue from Kathmandu, so I may be spending Xmas in the Khyber Pass!  Half their group were struck by hypertytus [sic] and flown home!

Well, signing off - got to tidy the bus!  At the moment all the packs are down, washing is strewn from railings and there's a body sleeping in the aisle (Fred who appeared in Paris and makes himself useful cleaning windows etc - done the trip before).

Off to Venice tomorrow,
Love and kisses,
Jan

FLORENCE AND THE BUS MACHINE - MORE PIZZA THAN UFFIZI? 1976

[18 year old Jan is more impressed with the Italian pizzas than Old Masters - "such early stuff not that appealing" - but at least the dresses were lovely!  A taste of Florence nightlife at the Red Garter is rounded off with yet another spectacular downpour - the expensive beer may not have been flowing but the rain continued to do so.]

FRIDAY 1ST OCTOBER, 1976

"Cold shower.  Some were the worse for wear.  Into Florence to sightsee.  Queued for ages to cash cheque in bank.  Wandered towards river, looked round market, lots of lovely leather bags and pill boxes etc (Went with Janice, Ann and Mark).

Went into Uffizi gallery.  Nicely presented but such early stuff not that appealing; dresses in portraits lovely and views from windows of square and river/Ponte Vecchio.  Veranda on the top floor looks over the square.  Then went over Ponte Vecchio and found small pizza house over the other side - real Italian pizza!

Over another bridge and wandered towards Acadamie - tried to see around Modern Art Gallery - ancient lift deposited us at some doctor's appartment!  Eventually found gallery - closed!

Acadamie also closed by time arrived there (lovely little Italian gent directed us down unimposing street).  So wandered long way round to camp - lots of little side streets - all stops for siesta (although raining), lovely gardens with friends cat - only spoke Italian.  Crossed river again, walked along and up to camp.

Went into the Red Garter disco in evening - good crowd.  Band quite goo too, beer very expensive.  Bus left early so walked back with Mark.  Pam and Sue went off with an Aussie and Italian.

Incredible thunder storm - whole earth seemed to be shaking; thought we'd be struck with all the trees nearby!"

SWAGMAN TOURS HITS TOWN - booze and bad jokes lead to police and irate campers, 1976

[Swaggies hit Pisa and Florence to the consternation of some, as I record in a letter home - "All the more cushy tours (the type who use camp chairs etc) look in either amazement or derision at 'Swagman Tours' - people almost fall out of windows when Swagman hits town!"

Janice, Little Jan, Aussie Jan, Little Pam

At Pisa (or Pizza as I miss-spell it in my diary) I write home, "I'm getting good at pitching a tent in the dark.  My tent mates are 2 Aussies who've been 'doing' Europe and a Londoner who has been doing nursing.  Unfortunately 3 of us are called Jan, but we seem to manage without too much trouble!"  We became identified as Aussie Jan, Little Jan (me), Janice and Little Pam.  When I refer to Jan in the diary it usually means Aussie Jan who became a good friend.

THURSDAY 30TH SEPTEMBER, 1976

"Saw round the Tower (or rather up it).  Felt dizzy because so uneven.  Lovely setting, next to big cathedral and area of grass.  Lots of grockley shops too.  Good view from top.  Cathedral cool, dark, empty, few candles.
Quick coffee (Mark, Jan, Rob and me) then off to Florence.

Camped at Michelangelo campsite.  Walked around (Janice, Hans, Mark and me), nice view looking down hill to Florence, lots of trees.  Bar, shop, jukebox and pinball/football machines.  Did washing.

Early evening drove into Florence, saw round Cathedral square, lots of little art shops, leather shops, pizza smells. (Mark fancied a photo in a window that looked like himself).  Got dark quickly, place began to come alive, lots of people suddenly appeared.  Driving back, saw all the lights along the riverside.

Lots of people drifted to the bar.  Good camp meal.  Back to bar for the night.  Too much wine and beer and bad jokes!  I ended up making coffee in the bus for Geoff, Rob and Jan - sucker.  Camp police or whatever (after a good session themselves) told us to keep the noise down, then one irate camper.  Various people spewed up, coffee knocked over, Jan put into her tent after falling among the foamies!

(C.C.T Tour pulled up today - another posh tour - camping chairs etc!  Classic looks all the way when people see Swagman ride into town!)"