Day Twelve – Tuscany 2015
I thought today was going to be a snooze fest, with nothing to scribble down in my travel journal. Another lazy day by the pool, basking in the Tuscan sunshine. But oh, how wrong I was! Warren and Adam, those mischievous Bray boys, have provided me with a couple of cracking tales to share.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Patience, dear reader.
A Quiet Start… Or Not
The first week at Park Albatross was a dream. Our caravan on Via Levante was surrounded by families who barely made a peep until about 9:00 AM. Bliss. But as we rolled into the second week, a new batch of families moved in. And let me tell you, these lot had children who seemed to wear lead boots as they stomped through their caravans. And, of course, this cacophony started at an ungodly 6:30 AM! Lovely.
The Great Sun Lounger Caper
At precisely 08:55, I met Warren to embark on our daring mission: claiming our sun loungers. This time, we threw caution to the wind and arranged our loungers in two rows instead of one. Living dangerously, aren’t we?
The big pool felt chillier than usual, despite the scorching sun. So, Adam and I retreated to the smaller, warmer pool by our loungers. Warren braved the large pool but returned swiftly, muttering something about it being packed with water aerobics enthusiasts. Picture a 50-metre pool filled to the brim with people flailing about in synchronised exercise. Quite a sight.
The Co-op Adventure
After a leisurely morning and a bite to eat, I accompanied the Brays to the Co-op to stock up on provisions for our final days. Warren hasn’t quite mastered the European driving experience. Twice now, he’s tried to get in the passenger seat to drive. Classic.
Jungle Trail Shenanigans
In the afternoon, Warren, Adam, Josh, and I decided to tackle the jungle trail, Park Albatross’s version of ‘Go Ape’. At €7 each, it promised adventure, albeit on a smaller scale. Adam took to it like a monkey to a tree, swiftly followed by Josh. Then it was Warren’s turn.
He made it up the scramble net to the first ledge with little fuss. But then came the second section, with its log steps and two 15mm wires stretched like train tracks. Warren looked a bit wobbly, and I genuinely thought he might ask to be rescued. But he soldiered on. I followed, and I must agree—the course seemed designed more for children than grown men. The wires sagged awkwardly, making it a challenge to keep balance.
The final section was a zip wire. You had to grab a rope at the end to avoid sliding back to the middle. Adam missed the rope and had to be rescued by the supervising guide, who gleefully tickled his feet after removing his shoes and socks. Poor Adam, but it did give us all a good laugh.
Evening BBQ and Bug Panic
That evening, the Brays invited us over for a BBQ and a few beers. We needed to plan our trip to Florence for the next day. Adam provided the entertainment by spotting a large bug on their car. As he went to shoo it away, I gave the tent fabric a little ruffle. Adam jumped back in sheer terror, thinking the bug had come alive. Priceless.
Not So Quiet After All
So, there you have it. What I thought would be a quiet, uneventful day turned out to be anything but. Thanks to Warren and Adam, there was plenty of excitement to go around.
