1980 San Marino (8/8/1980)

Friday, August 8, 1980

Slept on and off through the night in the stuffy compartment. I couldn't open the window until I discovered it was locked! Did some window-hanging before munching our breakfast of cookies and water. Arrived in Rimini at 09:15 and discovered we had just missed the bus to San Marino. According to the information posted at the station, our only choice was a bus leaving at 15:15. So we went to the beach. We rented a cabina to change into our bathing suits, then laid out on the beach. It was super hot, and constant dips into the lukewarm water full of algae and junk didn't help. Had a lunch of tuna fish sandwiches and nice cold orange Fanta. It was really too hot, and we gave up at about 12:30. Took cold showers and dressed in shorts. Returned to the station to check our bags, and then went on an unsuccessful search for groceries. We waited in the station a while, but were sent on our way by a policeman because we weren't waiting for a train. So we found out where the bus left from and walked across the square to wait. We then discovered that actually several bus companies go to San Marino, so we hopped on one leaving at about 15:00. We were given round-trip tickets.

Bus ticket to San Marino

We wound up and up a mountain, and less than an hour later, we were deposited in the city of San Marino. We were told the bus would return at 19:00, so we had plenty of time to wander around. Passed many shops, most seeming to sell lighters (Bic lighters!) as their feature, and some with interesting flasks. We made our way up to the panoramic rocks for a nice view of the area below, but it was hazy in the distance.

View from San Marino

We could see the fortifications and at least two of the famous three towers. Managed to catch the end of the changing of the guard, and saw their hats and sword tips above the heads of the crowd.

View from fortress

One of the towers

Continued looking for a place to buy a couple of the flasks for souvenirs, and found a place with lower prices. Plus they undercharged us, so we managed to pay in cash. Also found a place where I could buy film fairly cheaply (for less than $10 each including processing) and with my Visa card. We tried some San Marino chocolate which was soft but good; real milk chocolate. Next we found a mini-market where we could buy our dinner more cheaply than in one of the restaurants. San Marino catered to the tourists and we were surprised to find this store. Still had plenty of time, so we looked for a garden with a fountain that Terry and Kathy had viewed from above.

Memorial fountain

The fountain appeared to be a memorial of the "new" aqueduct -- a gift of the American people. A group of two families had Kathy snap their photo at the fountain. We had our dinner of "gelatinned" beef on bread and cantaloupe with a large bottle of Coke.

Postcard of San Marino

We made our way back down to the bus area. We didn't see the exact bus we came up on, but according to the posted schedule, we thought we could take the bus at 19:10. We boarded and the bus started off as the ticketman came to punch the tickets. We apparently had tickets for another bus company, so they stopped the bus and we hopped off. Found our next bus left at 20:30, so we had an hour to watch the sun set. We finally got on the proper bus along with a large number of men and boys who took the opportunity to stare and make comments, but not to try to engage us in any conversation. It was all quite rude considering that I did understand Italian! We were the center of the conversations for a long time, until three Norwegian girls boarded. They tried to engage these girls in English conversation, which led to the "typical" invitation to dine with them, etc. Arrived at the station and got our bags, then went to wait for a train going back down the coast. We continued to be the target of much comment. Finally a couple guys got up enough nerve to talk to us, asking the usual questions (in Italian) of where we were going, where have we been, and told us we should stay in Rimini, we weren't possibly Americans, and said that American women are more ''free" than Italian women. Hah! Our train arrived at about 23:00, and it was super-crowded. Our friends clambered into first-class, and we decided to wait for the next train. We had seen a lot of lightning and heard thunder, and all of a sudden it started raining. Our friends had told us that the sun was always full in Rimini. I guess it only rains at night. They also wondered why I looked directly in their eyes when I talked to them! I’m supposed to look at my shoes? Our train came at 24:00, and we crowded into the corridor expecting to stand for the night.
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